Public Notice
U.S. Army Corps In Reply to Application Number
of Engineers CENAB-OPR-P–2014-00475-P12 (Williams Gas Pipeline – Atlantic Sunrise
Project)
Baltimore District
PN-17-15 Comment Period: March 31, 2017 to April 14, 2017
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING AN A NEW ALTERNATIVE (12W REVISED 3/17/17) PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT AND A CHANGE IN WETLAND AND WATERWAY IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 12W ALTERNATIVE. 12W WAS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IN PUBLIC NOTICE PN-16-68 FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THE OVERALL PROJECT WAS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED IN PUBLIC NOTICE PN-16-30 FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED AT THIS TIME.
APPLICANT:
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC
2800 Post Oak Blvd, Level 6
Houston, Texas 77056
PROJECT PURPOSE AND PROPOSED WORK
The applicant’s stated purpose of the pipeline is to construct, install, and operate the project facilities to provide an incremental 1.7 million dekatherms per day of year-round firm transportation capacity from Marcellus Shale production areas in northern Pennsylvania to its existing market areas, extending to the Station 85 Pooling Point in Choctaw County, Alabama. The project also includes modifications to the existing Transco Mainline system to reverse the direction of flow, enabling new north-to-south capabilities (bi-directional flow) to transport this new source of natural gas to existing markets.
Our original Public Notice describes impacts associated with only waterways and wetlands in Pennsylvania. Approximately 183.7 miles of new 30- and 42-inch diameter gas pipelines; 11.5 miles of new 36- and 42-inch diameter gas pipeline loops; construction of two new compressor stations; additional compression installation at two existing compressor stations; and construction of two meter stations and three regulator stations in Pennsylvania (Enclosure 1 Project Location Map). Details concerning the work associated with the overall pipeline construction can be found in our December 21, 2016 Public Notice PN-16-68 at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices/tabid/10471/Year/2016/Default.aspx.
WATERWAY, LOCATION, AND IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROPOSED CHANGE:
The proposed new alternative is located in Monroe Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania (Enclosure 2 Alternatives Map). The alternatives outlined in the table below are located in Northumberland and Monroe Townships, Wyoming County, and Dallas and Franklin
Townships, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The table includes the impacts associated with the applicants preferred alternative (Current Route), revised impacts for the previously identified 12W alternative, and impacts associated with the new proposed alternative alignment identified as 12W Revised 3/3/17.
CPL North Alternative 12W
|
Impact Comparison
March 10, 2017
|
Factor
|
Current Route Approved by FERC
|
Alt 12W (MOC-0158)
|
Alt 12W Revised 3/3/17 (MOC-0179)
|
Streams
|
Total number of waterways crossed
|
8
|
14
|
14
|
Perennial Impacts (acres)
|
0.02
|
0.13
|
0.19
|
Intermittent Impacts (acres)
|
0.03
|
0.07
|
0.08
|
Ephemeral Impacts (acres)
|
0.04
|
0.04
|
0.01
|
Waterbody Total
|
0.09
|
0.24
|
0.28
|
Wetlands
|
Total number of wetlands crossed
|
11
|
18
|
13
|
PEM Impacts (acres)
|
0.21
|
1.46
|
0.63
|
PSS Impacts (acres)
|
0.02
|
0.44
|
0.18
|
PFO Impacts (acres)
|
1.49
|
1.21
|
0.89
|
Wetland Total
|
1.72
|
3.11
|
1.70
|
Forest
|
|
Forest (acres)
|
46.50
|
40.40
|
57.49
|
Interior forest (acres)
|
24.20
|
4.04
|
4.04
|
Additional information regarding this proposal can be found on the FERC website www.ferc.gov. The FERC Docket Number for this project is CP-15-138.
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonable may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors, which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economic, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, and consideration of property ownership and in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed project. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of
Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental
Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments provided will become part of the public record for this action. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Written comments concerning the work described above related to the factors listed above or other pertinent factors must be received by the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, State College, Pennsylvania Field Office, 1631 South Atherton Street, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, Attention: Mr. Michael Dombroskie Field Office within the comment period specified above.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers neither favors nor opposes the proposed work.
The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts, including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonable may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors, which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered, including the cumulative effects thereof; among those are conservation, economic,
aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, and consideration of property ownership and in general, the needs and welfare of the people.
The evaluation of the impact of this project on the public interest will include application of the guidelines promulgated by the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 (Public Law 04-267), requires all Federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Corps has determined this project will not affect any EFH.
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: The applicant is required to obtain a water quality certification in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The Section 401 certifying agency has a statutory limit of one year from the date of this public notice to make its decision.
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS: This project does not require an approval from an approved Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program.
The applicant must obtain any State or local government permits which may be required.
Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C.1531). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is reviewing the proposal to determine if the proposed project will have an impact on any federally listed or proposed endangered species.
Currently, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is reviewing the proposal to
determine if the proposed project will impact sites that are eligible for listing or are included in the
National Register of Historic Places. Currently unknown archeological, scientific, prehistoric, or historical data may be lost or destroyed by the work to be accomplished under the request permit.
Any person who has an interest, which may be adversely affected by the issuance of this permit, may request a public hearing. The request, which must be in writing, must be received by the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, State College, Pennsylvania Field Office, 1631 South Atherton Street, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, Attention: Mr. Michael Dombroskie Field Office, within the comment period as specified above to receive consideration. Also it must clearly set forth the interest which may be adversely affected by this activity and the manner in which the interest may be adversely affected.
It is requested that you communicate this information concerning the proposed work to any persons know by you to be interested and not being known to this office, who did not receive a copy of this notice.
Wade B. Chandler
Chief, Pennsylvania Section
Regulatory Branch