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In an effort to secure the natural gas pipeline located above the Grand Central Parkway, Keyspan has blindsided the Jamaica rail yard – where the pipe ends up after coming up from the ground – by making it susceptible to intrusion.

Since the Tribune first reported the story in its May 10 issue, Keyspan has formulated a plan to secure the pipe by building a fence around it. As of Tuesday, not only was there no additional security around the pipe, a 10-foot gash in the fence Keyspan is replacing now provided easy access to the MTA rail yard.

A three-foot mesh, plastic fence is now in its place, and with no cameras or security present, it can be easily circumvented. This compounds the original safety concerns about a high-pressure, natural gas pipeline above a major highway that feeds into a rail yard that houses close to 80 percent of Queens’ trains.

Keyspan spokeswoman Karen Young said the pipe – she didn’t give a date for its launch – would not be activated until the fence goes up. She also added that “discussions are ongoing” about other safety measures surrounding the pipeline. Young directed inquires about the opening in the fence toward the MTA, which did not return interview inquiries.

Uproar from local residents, MTA workers and local politicians has kicked up such a furor that the issue is now on Borough President Helen Marshall’s docket. She contacted Keyspan and State Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno asking that a full investigation be conducted.

“I would appreciate you looking into this matter so it may be remediated before there is vandalism or an accident occurs,” Marshall’s letter read. “The spectacle from what appears to be a volatile possibility must be avoided, especially with the government agencies having full knowledge of this existent danger.”

Spokesman Dan Andrews said Marshall’s contact with Keyspan had been established, and that Marshall has called for “a detailed security plan for this pipeline. What she wants is a detailed security plan and one that includes more than a fence.”

He added that OEM might conduct a “multi-agency site visit” to the pipeline with the City’s emergency response agencies to determine the level of precaution that should be taken.

In the wake of the terror threat on JFK Airport’s fuel reserves and pipeline, new light has been shed on petroleum and gas pipelines. Assemblyman Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) cosponsored legislation that would allow the Office of Homeland Security to conduct a security review of all natural gas and petroleum pipelines, which would take about a year and a half.

At the end of the review, any pipelines deemed unsafe would have to be replaced by the owner, whether that is the state or a private company. The Public Service Commission would have the power to order them to do it.

Gianaris said Keyspan’s pipeline is an example of what the legislation covers.

“It does seem remarkably exposed considering what we know almost happened at JFK,” he said. “The passage of this bill takes an important step towards improving anti-terror and security measures in New York and that one day could save thousands of lives.”

He added: “After it’s signed by the Governor, this new law will help ensure the safety and security of all natural gas and petroleum pipelines in New York State and protect the communities in which these pipelines are located.”