The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas project proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., LLC (Transco).
Transco requests authorization to expand its existing pipeline system from the Marcellus Shale production area in northern Pennsylvania to deliver an incremental 1.7 million dekatherms per day of year-round firm transportation capacity to its existing southeastern market areas.
FERC staff determined that construction and operation of the Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of Transco’s proposed and FERC staff’s recommended mitigation measures.
The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of about 199 miles of pipeline.
There would be almost 190 miles of new 30-inch and 42-inch-diameter greenfield natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania. There would also be 11 miles of new 36- and 42-inch-diameter pipeline looping in Pennsylvania. There would also be two-and-a-half miles of 30-inch-diameter replacements in Virginia; and associated equipment and facilities.
There would also be two new compressor stations in Pennsylvania. There will also be additional compression and related modifications to two existing compressor stations Pennsylvania and one in Maryland.
The project would also include minor modifications at existing aboveground facilities at various locations in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina to allow for bi-directional flow and the installation of supplemental odorization, odor detection, and/or odor masking/deodorization equipment.
The case involves Docket No. CP15-138-000. The final EIS itself is more than 700 pages.
https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis/2016/12-30-16-FEIS.asp
