[The Electrician]

I suspect the reason for the "Minimum Burial Depth" is to protect it from trawlers, ships running aground, etc.

The primary purpose of the "minimum burial depth" requirement is to give environmental extremists and Communists a legal tool with which to hammer the power company and thereby advance their anti-capitalist, anti-business, anti-rational-thought objectives.

[ctlpdad]

The purpose for the 6' min burial depth is to provide protection from anchor dragging. there are quite a few fuel tankers that use the port of new haven whose anchors could penetrate such a depth easily. there is a valid reason for them not being allowed to fire it up, which was usurped by this inconvenience we are feeling.

I am by no means an environut ( i work in heavy & marine construction for a contractor), but this cable project trenched through the richest commercial & recreational oyster & other shellfish beds this country has. it will be quite a while before they are restored.

If this cable were to fail once fired up, there would likely be little affect to the rest of the grid, seeing as it is not currently in use (ok, it may be this afternoon).