FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC) DOCS/ATLANTIC SUNRISE EXPANSION OF THE TRANSCO: NOTICE OF INTENT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)

Pipeline construction, CYNOG Compressor, Sullivan County, PA
Photo Wendy Lynne Lee

LIST OF CITIZEN DEMANDS

For FERC EIS DOC, DOCKET PF14-8-000:  ELibrary File List

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a Notice of Intent that it will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Atlantic Sunrise Expansion of the TRANSCO natural gas pipeline. This pipeline will entail about 177 miles of new 30 to 42 inch, high-pressure natural gas transmission line and will bisect at least 8 counties in Pennsylvania. The environmental and socio-economic impacts associated with this project pose a grave threat to the integrity and security of our region. You can find the notice in full here: ELibrary File List.

As a citizen, you have a right to demand FERC develop a thorough and complete EIS. Unfortunately, FERC has a history of producing inadequate and substandard analyses of impacts. Now is the time to insist that FERC fully account for all the social-economic and environmental consequences of yet another massive natural gas transmission line. What we know from experience is that a full account will show that the only sensible course of action is to STOP THE PIPELINE.

CITIZEN DEMANDS 

Ø  FERC consistently refuses to address the full cumulative consequences of expanding interstate transmission pipelines. A recent circuit court decision has found this to be  inadequate and unlawful.

() DEMAND that FERC account for the increased upstream drilling activity, and ultimate climate instability, that will result from expanding natural gas transmission capacity!

http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/30B6F48600A85C1E85257CEF004E34F1/$file/13-1015-1496336.pdf

Ø  FERC is required to develop an “alternatives analysis” that considers other options besides the construction of the proposed pipeline. DEMAND an alternatives analysis that includes decentralized power generation (a model based upon private homeowner and community solar panels and wind turbines).

Ø  FERC has a history of ignoring the full impacts associated with fragmenting interior forest and creating new forest edge environments. DEMAND that FERC include 300 feet on each side of the pipeline as acreage impacted WHEREVER the pipeline crosses interior forest!

Ø  FERC has repeatedly allowed the pipeline companies to avoid paying for replanting of removed forest vegetation when “temporary workspaces” (often another 60 feet of right-of-way width) are cleared. DEMAND that FERC require a full restoration and replanting plan for EACH forest area “temporarily” denuded!

Ø  FERC often requires that agricultural soils be separated, stockpiled, and replaced during pipeline construction. However, they devalue and destroy forest soils, despite the inherent fragility of these resources. DEMAND that FERC require the pipeline company fully protect ALL soil systems.

Ø  FERC consistently fails to provide for adequate and comprehensive invasive species control. DEMAND that FERC require the same level of invasive suppression in both wetland and upland systems for the ENTIRE service life of the pipeline AND for newly created forest edge habitat adjacent to the maintained right-of-way!

Ø  FERC repeatedly allows open trenching of small and medium size streams during pipeline construction. Yet they require directional drilling under LARGE streams. This preferential treatment of watercourses is arbitrary and ultimately damaging to watershed health. The cumulative linear footage of water crossings involving smaller streams is potentially orders of magnitude greater than that associated with one or two larger water bodies. DEMAND that FERC require directional drilling during all stream crossings!

Ø  FERC allows pipeline companies to permanently maintain and mow a right-of-way width of 50 feet in upland systems. Yet they restrict the width to 10 foot in wetlands. There is no ecological rationale behind this arbitrary difference in right-of-way width. If a smaller right-of-way is possible for wetlands, it is possible for uplands. DEMAND that FERC respect the private property rights of upland land owners!

HOW TO FILE FERC COMMENT?

Citizen comments are due on or before August 18, 2014. We encourage you to submit your comments electronically using the “eComment” feature located on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under the link “Documents and Filings.”

WHY TO FILE?

FERC has a long history of advancing virtually every project seeking approval. Hence, it is unrealistic to expect FERC to deny the Atlantic Sunrise Expansion solely based upon community concerns or the comments of private citizens. If, however, citizens DEMAND that FERC develop a thorough and comprehensive EIS that addresses the full spectrum of socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with this pipeline, it will become apparent to both FERC and Williams Partners that this project is cost-prohibitive. 

In other words, if FERC took seriously its responsibility to assess the actual impacts of the proposed Atlantic Sunrise expansion,  it would become clear that Williams' Partners' intent is to externalize the risks and the cost onto the taxpayers and communities who will bear the environmental, health, property value and divisive community impacts of this project--but enjoy few if any of the benefits.

The only sound conclusion to draw is not that the pipeline can be moved, relocated, made more efficient. but that the pipeline should not and must not be built.

Kevin Heatley, Restoration Ecologist

Wendy Lynne Lee, Professor of Philosophy

FERC's Public Scoping Meetings: 7-10PM; 

Williams Partner's Open House, 6-7PM

8.4.14: Millersville University, Student Memorial Center, 21 South George StreetMillersville, PA 17551. 8.5.14: Lebanon Valley College, Arnold Sports Center, 101 North College Ave.Anneville, PA 17003. 8.6.14: Bloomsburg University, Haas Center for the Arts, 400 East Second StreetBloomsburg, PA 17815. 8.7.14: Lake Lehmon High School, 1128 Old Route 115, Dallas, PA 18612

FERC TEXT: NOTICE  OF  INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC

Docket No. PF14-8-000

NOTICE OF INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE PLANNED ATLANTIC SUNRISE EXPANSION PROJECT REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS

(July 18, 2014)

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will address the environmental impacts of the Atlantic Sunrise Expansion Project (Project). This planned Project would involve construction and operation of facilities by Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC (Transco), a subsidiary of Williams Partners L.P. (Williams), in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity.

This notice announces the opening of the scoping process that the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the Project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please note that the scoping period will close on August 18, 2014.

Williams staff will be available for an open house from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, prior to the public scoping meetings at the listed locations.

This notice is being sent to the Commission’s current environmental mailing list for this Project. State and local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this planned Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with state law.

A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?” is available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a number of typically-asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission’s proceedings.

Summary of the Planned Project

Transco plans to construct and operate certain facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina which would provide about 1,700,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas transportation service from various receipt points in Pennsylvania to various delivery points along Transco’s existing interstate pipeline system.

The planned Project would consist of the following components:

␣ construction of approximately 177.3 miles of new 30- and 42-inch-diameter pipelines in Columbia, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties, Pennsylvania;

␣ construction of approximately 12 miles of new 36- and 42-inch-diameter pipeline loops1 in Clinton and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania;

␣ replacement of 2.5 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Prince William County, Virginia;

␣ construction of two new compressor stations:

␣ Compressor Station 605 – installation of two electric-driven Solar Mars 100S 15,000-horsepower compressors in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania; and

␣ Compressor Station 610 – installation of one electric-driven Solar Titan 250S 30,000-horsepower compressor and one electric-driven Solar Titan 130S 20,500-horsepower compressor in Columbia County, Pennsylvania;

␣ installation of additional compression at three existing compressor stations: ␣ Compressor Station 520 – installation of one 16,000-horsepower

Solar Mars 100S gas turbine in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania;

␣ Compressor Station 517 – installation of one 16,000-horsepower Solar Mars 100S gas turbine in Columbia County, Pennsylvania; and

␣ Compressor Station 190 – installation of one 25,000-horsepower electric-driven compressor in Howard County, Maryland;

␣ modifications at six existing compressor stations in Virginia and North Carolina to allow bi-directional flow and/or installation of supplemental odorization, odor detection, and odor masking/deodorization equipment;

construction of two meter stations and three regulator stations:

␣ Zick Meter Station – a new receipt meter station and pig 2 launcher in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania;

␣ Oswego Meter Station – a new receipt meter station in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania;

␣ Regulator Station – a new regulator station at milepost (MP) L92.7 along the Transco Leidy Line system;

␣ Regulator Station – a new regulator station and pig launcher/receiver at MP L113.8 along the Transco Leidy Line system; and

␣ Regulator Station – a new regulator station and pig receiver at MP 1682.7 along the Transco Mainline system;

␣ installation of mainline valve assemblies at multiple locations along the planned pipeline segments; and

␣ installation of supplemental odorization, odor detection, and odor masking/deodorization equipment at various meter stations and valve sites in North Carolina and South Carolina.

The general location of the planned project facilities is shown in Appendix 1. 3 Land Requirements for Construction

Transco is still in the planning phase of the Project and workspace requirements have not been finalized. However, Transco is planning on using a 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way for the 42-inch-diameter pipeline segments and a 90-foot-wide construction right-of-way for the 30- and 36-inch-diameter pipeline segments. Following construction, Transco would retain a 50-foot-wide easement for operation of the pipelines. Transco would also require land for additional workspaces at road, railroad, waterbody, and wetland crossings; topsoil storage; access roads; storage or pipeyards; and other purposes during construction.

The EIS Process

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us4 to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as scoping. The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues to address in the EIS. We will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.

In the EIS, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the planned Project under these general headings:

␣ geology; ␣ soils; ␣ water resources and wetlands; ␣ vegetation and wildlife; ␣ fisheries and aquatic resources; ␣ threatened, endangered, and other special-status species; ␣ land use, recreation, special interest areas, and visual resources; ␣ socioeconomics; ␣ cultural resources; ␣ air quality; ␣ noise; ␣ reliability and safety; and ␣ cumulative environmental impacts.

We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.

Although no formal application has been filed, we have already initiated our NEPA review under the Commission’s Pre-filing Process. The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we participated in public Open House meetings sponsored by Transco in the project area in May and June 2014 to explain the environmental review process to interested stakeholders. We have also begun to contact federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EIS.

The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please follow the instructions in the Public Participation section beginning on page 7.

With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues related to this Project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS5. Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has expressed its intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.

Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Offices and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the Project’s potential effects on historic properties.6 We will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include the construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EIS for this Project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities, comments filed with the FERC, comments made to us at Transco’s open houses, preliminary consultations with other agencies, and the environmental information provided by Transco. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis:

␣ ␣ ␣

impacts on forested areas including fragmentation; impacts on agricultural areas including impacts to soils; impacts on residential areas;

impacts ␣ impacts ␣ impacts ␣ impacts ␣ impacts ␣ impacts ␣ impacts

on property values; on recreational areas including parks and nature preserves; on the Appalachian Trail; on surface water including the Chesapeake Bay; on groundwater including wells and springs; on wildlife and vegetation; on federal and state-listed threatened, endangered, and sensitive on quarries or mining; ␣ geologic hazards including karst and seismic areas;

␣ impacts on air quality due to construction and operation; ␣ impacts related to noise during construction and operation; ␣ assessment of alternatives including the no action alternative and system

alternatives consisting of various combinations of looping Transco’s existing system and/or replacing existing pipeline with larger diameter pipeline and adding compression;

␣ assessment of alternative pipeline routes and compressor station locations; ␣ visual and other impacts from forest clearing; ␣ eminent domain; and ␣ cumulative impacts.

Public Participation

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before August 18, 2014.

For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the project docket number (PF14-8-000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.

Environmental Mailing List

The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined by the Commission’s regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the Project. We will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the planned Project.

Copies of the completed draft EIS will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of a CD version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

Once Transco files its application with the Commission, you may want to become an “intervenor” which is an official party to the Commission’s proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the User’s Guide under the “e-filing” link on the Commission’s website. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for the project.

Additional Information

Additional information about the Project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF14- 8). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Finally, Transco has established a toll-free phone number (1-844-785-0455) and an email support address (AtlanticSunrise@Williams.com) so that parties can contact it directly with questions about the Project.

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary.

For a version of the list of demands including photographs, please see: 

THE WRENCH: The Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline EIS: Demand FERC Do it Right!

FOR A PRINTABLE FLIER VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT, PLEASE EMAIL WENDY LYNNE LEE AT: wlee@bloomu.edu