West Texas pipeline nearer to reality

The stark, mostly empty land between Fort Stockton and Presidio in far West Texas is a place where beauty can be in the eye of the beholder. Let’s just say it’s unique and, to many Texans, beautiful.

Understandably, those Texans and ranchers, environmentalists and landowners from the area don’t want to see a proposed 143-mile natural gas pipeline built there.

They suffered a setback Monday when the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a draft environmental assessment saying the pipeline poses no significant threat.

Everybody knows there will be an impact, primarily during the construction phase.

The company proposing the pipeline says it will clean up its mess.

But benefits could come if cities and industries in Mexico switch from coal, wood and heating oil to cleaner-burning natural gas.

Smog from Mexico has dirtied the air around the Big Bend for years. Improvement would be welcome.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:51 PM with the headline "West Texas pipeline nearer to reality."