Construction finally will begin this week on the two natural gas pipelines that will run through Moffat County.

Entrega Gas Pipeline rec–eived the go-ahead from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week for their 328-mile natural gas pipeline.

After the FERC approval was announced, Entrega Spokesman Denny Needham said construction definitely will begin this week.

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Most of Entrega’s 1,100 workers will be temporary workers from outside the region, but the project will use some local businesses.

Wagner Construction of Craig is working with U.S. Pipeline, the Texas-based company contracted to build the pipeline, to fill sandbags.

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Wagner President Ray Wag–ner said his company will fill about 350,000 sand bags for the project. The bags will be used to cradle the pipe that stretches from the Meeker Hub in Rio Blanco County to Wamsutter, Wyo.

Wagner said the 10,000 tons of sand make for a big project but that his company has done projects of this size before.

The pipeline could be operational by February.

A pipeline being built by El Paso Corp. will follow the Entrega pipeline. An El Paso spokesman said last week that construction of the line could start Oct. 17 at the earliest. El Paso is awaiting approval from FERC.

New therapist in town

Craig has a new psychotherapist.

Jackie Schnellinger recently joined the staff at Yampa Valley Psychotherapists on Victory Way.

Schnellinger has 16 years of experience and will work with children, teenagers and families.

Her husband, Thom Schn–ellinger, is the new assistant principal at Moffat County High School.

The Schnellingers moved to Craig from Buena Vista, and Jackie said she is happy to be here.

“Craig is a nice place,” she said.

The Schnellingers like to road bike, and the region provides ample opportunity to do that, she said.

She is currently accepting appointments at the Yampa Valley Psychotherapists office at 2045 W. Victory Way. For more information, call 824-2557.

Coal report published

Coal is big business in Colorado, especially Northwest Colorado.

In 2004, Colorado produced 40 million tons of coal, more than the state ever has produced.

Since 1990, Colorado coal production has more than doubled, said Chris Carroll, a coal geologist with the Colorado Geological Survey.

On Friday, the Colorado Geological Survey announced its Colorado Coal Dir–ectory 2005 is available.

The directory provides information about where the state’s coal mines are, where the coal fired power plants are and how coal is transported across the state.

In a statement issued Fri–day, Carroll, the senior auth–or of the directory, said it will be a valuable tool for resource developers, government planners and interested citizens.

For more about the directory or to purchase a copy, visit http://geosurvey.state.co.us.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.