NY Pipeline To Go Through Sites Containing Ancient Artifacts

FILE - In this July 29, 2010, file photo, a worker monitors water in Talmadge Creek in Marshall Township, Mich., near the Kalamazoo River as oil from a ruptured pipeline, owned by Enbridge Inc., is trapped by booms. ... FILE - In this July 29, 2010, file photo, a worker monitors water in Talmadge Creek in Marshall Township, Mich., near the Kalamazoo River as oil from a ruptured pipeline, owned by Enbridge Inc., is trapped by booms. The suit filed Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 by the National Wildlife Federation says the federal Oil Pollution Act prohibits operators from handling, storing or transporting oil until their spill response plans get federal approval. The plans are supposed to make sure enough resources are available to contain and remove spilled oil and limit environmental damage. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) MORE LESS
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SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) — Upstate New York officials who found out a planned natural gas pipeline could go through sites containing prehistoric artifacts have been barred from getting more details because of a federal law aimed at preventing looting.

Constitution Pipeline LLC plans to build a 124-mile pipeline from Pennsylvania’s shale fields to northeastern markets. As part of the permitting process, it has filed documents with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission describing three sites with archaeological value on its route. The sites could contain artifacts such as arrowheads and stone tools.

Schoharie County officials want to know where the sites are so they can weigh in on protective measures. But their information requests have been denied due to federal regulations intended to protect such sites.

An archaeologist working on a dig in the area says state officials will ensure any artifacts are preserved.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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