Federal officials approve Marathon Ashland pipeline

COLUMBUS, Ohio - State and federal permits were issued to allowconstruction of a $50 million petroleum pipeline that activists saycould damage pristine woods and gorges in southeastern Ohio.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers both issued permits Friday for the 149-mile pipelinefrom Kenova, W.Va., to Columbus.

The pipeline would be built and owned by a Marathon AshlandPetroleum unit called Ohio River Pipe Line LLC.

Marathon said the pipeline could be operating next summer. Thepipeline will carry up to 80,000 barrels of …