PN16-30 (Williams Gas Pipeline - Atlantic Sunrise Project) - 2014-00475

                                          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-16-30                           Comment Period:  May 16, 2016 to June 30, 2016

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THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC NOTICE IS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE WORK DESCRIBED BELOW.  NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A PERMIT WILL BE ISSUED AT THIS TIME.

 

The Baltimore District have received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and/or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33. U.S.C. 1344) as described below:

 

APPLICANT:

 

                                    Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC

                                    2800 Post Oak Blvd, Level 6

                                    Houston, Texas 77056

 

REGULATED ACTIVITY:

 

Discharge of fill material into regulated waters and wetlands of the United States to enable the construction of approximately 183.7 miles of new 30- and 42- inch diameter pipelines, 11.5 miles of new 36- and 42-inch diameter 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.

 

This Public Notice describes impacts associated with only waterways and wetlands in Pennsylvania. 2.5 miles of piping replacement will also occur in Virginia will involve impacts to waters of the United States and wetlands.  Installation of additional compression at existing compressor stations, modifications to existing compressor stations to allow for bi-directional flow, and installation of supplemental odorization, odor detection, and odor masking/deodorization equipment at various meter and valve stations will occur in Maryland, Virginia and North and South Carolina and do not involve regulated work in waters of the United States, including wetlands (Attachment 1 Project Location Map).

 

WATERWAY:

 

Multiple rivers, streams and wetlands in the Susquehanna River Basin.

 

LOCATION:

 

The proposed pipeline and supporting compressor stations are located in Susquehanna, Wyoming, Luzerne, Sullivan, Lycoming, Clinton, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Lebanon and Lancaster Counties, in Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

 

 

A detailed description of the applicant’s activity are within this public notice to assist in your review.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the Lead Federal agency for this project.  As the lead agency, FERC has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The DEIS includes a review under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as well as other applicable Federal regulations. The DEIS was published in the Federal Register on  May 13, 2016, with instructions about submitting comments concerning the above referenced Federal regulations.  The DEIS and instructions for submitting comments can be found at FERC’s website www.ferc.gov. The FERC Docket Number for this project is CP-15-138.

 

FERC will hold public comment meetings on the DEIS for the proposed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project.  The Baltimore District Corps of Engineers will participate in the public comment meetings to gather information on this proposal to assist in the review of the permit application for the proposed activity.

 

The dates and locations of the meetings are as follows:

 

 

The comment meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.  The meetings will end once all speakers have provided their comments or at 10:30 p.m., whichever comes first.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, 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 the proposed regulated work in waters and wetlands, through this Public Notice.  Any comments received by our office or FERC will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify,

 

condition or deny a permit for the proposed work.  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 Impact Statement pursuant to the NEPA.  Comments provided will become part of the public record for this action.  Comments are also used to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity.  Written comments concerning the work described in this public notice  related to the factors listed below or other pertinent factors, must be received by the District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, State College Field Office, 1631 South Atherton Street, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, Attention: Mr. Michael Dombroskie, within the comment period specified above, or received by FERC within their public comment period.

 

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. 

 

                                                   WORK DESCRIPTION:

 

The Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC, has requested Department of the Army authorization to perform work in various waters and/or wetlands associated with the construction of approximately 182.5 miles of new 30 and 42-inch diameter pipelines, 11.5 miles of new 36- and 42-inch diameter 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. The project generally runs in a north-south direction beginning in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and terminating in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

 

Summary of Pennsylvania Pipeline Facilities

Facility	County	Length (miles)
CPL North
30-inch-diameter pipeline	Columbia	5.1
	Luzerne	22.2
	Wyoming	23.3
	Susquehanna	6.6
	CPL North Total	57.3
CPL South
42-inch-diameter pipeline	Lancaster	36.5
	Lebanon	27.6
	Schuylkill	18.4
	Northumberland	8.9
	Columbia	33.6
	CPL South Total	125.2
Chapman Loop
36-inch-diameter pipeline	Clinton	2.9
	Chapman Loop Total	2.9
Unity Loop
42-inch-diameter	Lycoming	8.6
	Unity Loop Total	8.6
	Pennsylvania Loop Total	194

CPL = Central Penn Line

 

Summary of Pennsylvania Aboveground Facilities

Facility	Type	Municipality	County
New Aboveground Facilities
Compressor Station 605	New compressor station	Clinton Township	Wyoming County
Compressor Station 610	New compressor station	Orange Township	Columbia County
Zick Meter Station	New meter Station	Lenox Township	Susquehanna County
Springville Meter Station	New meter Station	Nicholson Township	Wyoming County
North Diamond regulator Station	New regulator station	Lehman Township	Luzerne County
West Diamond Regulator Station	New regulator station	Sugarloaf Township	Columbia County
River Road regulator Station	New regulator station	Drumore Township	Lancaster County
Modifications to Existing Aboveground Facilities
Compressor Station 520	Upgrade existing compressor station	Mifflin Township	Lycoming County
Compressor Station 517	Upgrade existing compressor station	Benton Township	Columbia County

 

 

 

 

The proposed project in Pennsylvania is solely located within the Baltimore Corps District.

 

PROJECT PURPOSE

 

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.

 

PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

 

TRANSCO proposes to utilize the following right-of-ways during construction of the pipeline facilities:

 

A 90-foot-wide construction right of way is proposed for installation of the 30-inch diameter CPL North Pipeline. For approximately 21.3 miles of the Central Penn Line (CPL) North that are co-located with the existing Transco Leidy Line system right-of-way, Transco will utilize 30 feet of its existing maintained right-of-way and an additional 60 feet of new construction right-of-way.  Approximately 5.0 miles of the CPL North would be co-located with several existing Williams Field Services (midstream) pipelines and 0.3 mile of existing powerline right-of-way.  Transco will utilize 5 feet of existing right-of-way and an additional 85 feet of new construction right-of-way for these areas.

 

A 90-foot-wide construction right-of-way would be used for installation of the 36-inch-diameter Chapman Loop.  Transco will utilize approximately 30 feet of its existing Leidy Line system maintained right-of-way and an additional 60 feet of new construction right-of-way.

 

A 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way would be used for installation of the 42-inch-diameter CPL South Pipeline.  For the approximately 14.9 miles of CPL South that are co-located with existing pipelines and powerline right-of-way, Transco will utilize 10 feet of the existing right-of-way and an additional 90 feet of new construction right-of-way.

 

A 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way would be used for installation of the 42-inch diameter Unity Loop.  Transco will utilize 35 feet of its existing Leidy Line system maintained right-of-way during construction and an additional 65 feet of new construction right-of-way.

 

In an effort to minimize the project footprint, Transco proposes to co-locate the pipeline facilities within or directly adjacent (i.e. abutting) to existing pipeline and other utility corridors, to the extent practicable.  The portions of the proposed project that are planned for co-location with existing right-of-way are as follows:

 

Approximately 47 percent of CPL North is co-located with the existing, Transco Leidy Line system, Williams Field Services (midstream) pipelines, and electric powerline right-of-way.

 

 

 

 

 

Approximately 12 percent of CPL South is co-located with electrical powerline right-of-ways.

 

The Chapman Loop and Unity Loop are 100 percent co-located with the existing Transco Leidy Line system.

 

Construction right-of-ways will be reduced to a width of 75 feet in most wetlands.

 

Permanent right-of-ways

 

Transco proposes to maintain a 50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way along the greenfield (non-co-located areas) segments of CPL North and CPL South. At mainline valves the permanent right-of-way in greenfield segments will be expanded to approximately 92 feet wide to allow for access around the facility during operations.  Transco will also maintain a 50-foot wide permanent right-of-way where CPL North is co-located with Williams Field Services (midsurface waters) pipelines and other foreign utility right-of-ways. Transco proposes to maintain additional 25 foot-wide permanent right-of-ways adjacent to the existing right-of-way along the proposed Chapman Loop and the Unity Loop, and portions of CPL North that will be co-located with the Transco Leidy Line system.  In these areas, 25 feet of the existing Transco right-of-way will also be used for operation of the pipelines.

 

Areas disturbed by construction that are not part of the permanent right-of-way will be restored to preconstruction contours, stabilized, and vegetated following the completion of construction activities per landowner and applicable agency requests. Routine vegetation mowing or clearing over the full width of the permanent right-of-way will not be conducted; however to facilitate periodic corrosion and leak surveys, a 10 foot wide corridor centered overtop of the pipeline will be cleared at a frequency necessary to maintain a herbaceous state.  Additionally, trees

 

within 15 feet of either side of the pipeline will be selectively cut to preclude the potential of root growth that may compromise the pipeline integrity. Palustrine forested wetlands will be converted to PSS/PEM wetlands within the permanently maintained right-of-way.  These temporal conversions will be mitigated for and will be discussed later in this public notice.  No vegetation clearing or mowing shall occur in wetlands that are between horizontal directional drill entry and exit points.

 

Contractor/pipe yards and staging areas

 

During construction of the pipeline facilities, areas off of or adjacent to the construction right-of-way will be required for contractor/pipe yards and staging areas. Contractor/pipe yards and staging areas will be used for temporary field offices, equipment/pipe/material storage, and pipe preparation/field assembly areas.  Approximately 650 acres will be needed for contractor /pipe yards.  These yards will not have any temporary or permanent wetland or waterbody impacts.

 

 

 

 

 

Contractor/Pipe Yards

County	Type	Nearest milepost	Size (acres)
CPL North
Luzerne	Contractor Yard	8.1	9.7
Wyoming	Contractor Yard/ Pipe Yard/ Rail Yard	35.8	44.0
Columbia	Contractor/Pipe Yard/Rail Yard	22.0	76.7
CPL South
Lebanon	Contractor/Pipe Yard	72	349
Lebanon	Contractor/Pipe Yard	82.2	43.2
Schuylkill	Contractor Yard	71.5	22.3
Columbia	Contractor/Pipe Yard	100.6	46.7
Chapman Loop
Clinton	Contractor/Pipe Yard/Rail Yard	L187.0	25.3
Unity Loop
Lycoming	Contractor/ Pipe Yard	122.5	84.9
Lycoming	Contractor Yard	N/A	4.83
Lycoming	Contractor Yard/ Staging	121.0	14.2
Lycoming	Contractor Yard	120.75	3.4

 

Access Roads

 

Transco will utilize existing and new roads to access project workspace during construction. A total of 119 temporary access roads and 39 permanent access roads will be needed for construction and operation of the project facilities.  Areas impacted by temporary access roads will be restored to preconstruction contours, and streams and/or wetland areas will be monitored to ensure successful restoration of the areas following project completion.  Transco will maintain permanent access

roads during the life of the facility.  New temporary and permanent access roads will have a typical width of 20 feet.

 

Additional Temporary Workspace (ATWS)

 

Typically, pipeline construction may require ATWS areas at road, railroad, wetland, and waterbody crossings, agricultural land locations, and for areas where specialized construction techniques are required, such as areas of steep slopes and bedrock requiring blasting.

 

 

 

 

 

Avoidance, Minimization, and Compensation

 

During development of the project, Transco implemented measures to avoid and minimize impacts on surface waters and wetlands. Other routing constraints influenced the development of the proposed routes and included the following:  (1) Identifying crossing locations of the Susquehanna River where, based on terrain, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) appeared to be technically feasible; (2) Minimizing visual impacts on the Appalachian Trail; (3) Crossing areas of significant topographic relief where technically feasible; (4) Avoiding state lands, including state parks, state forests, and state game lands to the maximum extent practicable; and (5) Avoiding densely populated areas to the extent possible.

 

After taking the above into consideration, Transco narrowed its analysis to 600-foot-wide study corridors for both the CPL North and South pipeline routes.  Transco evaluated three major route alternatives prior to selecting its 600-foot-wide study corridor.

 

In addition, numerous minor route alternatives where investigated in response to landowner and other stakeholder comments. Minor route deviations occurred as well, typically to avoid a specific feature (e.g. topography, sensitive habitat, structures) and/or accommodate requests by specific landowners.

 

To identify a constructible centerline along CPL North and CPL South corridors Transco developed a routing process that considered engineering, environmental, land and cultural constraints.

 

Waterbody Crossings

 

There will be no permanent filling in or permanent loss of waterways from construction of this project.

 

The following tables provides a summary of waterbody classifications crossed by the proposed project and impact totals. Remotely Sensed waterbody and wetland impacts are located within areas that currently the applicant does not have access to complete onsite verification of the resources.  Thus Remotely Sensed impacts are calculated with the use of aerial photos and other documentation:

 

Facility	Perennial waterbody crossings	Intermittent waterbody crossings	Ephemeral waterbody crossings	Open Water	Total
Pennsylvania
CPL North	69	22	16	2	109
CPL South	119	49	22	4	194
Chapman Loop	1	1	1	0	3
Unity Loop	15	7	1	0	23
Total	204	79	40	6	329

Summary of Field Delineated and Remotely Sensed Waterbody Impacts: Atlantic Sunrise Project Based on Impacts Provided in USACE Supplemental Application #1
Facility	County	Waterbody Type	Waterbody  Impacts (acres)	Waterbody Linear Impacts (Feet)
CPL North	Columbia	Perennial	0.37	881.82
		Intermittent	0.00	127.21
		Ephemeral	0.00	0.00
	Luzerne	Perennial	0.92	3,386.02
		Intermittent	0.13	773.64
		Ephemeral	0.09	727.77
	Wyoming	Perennial	0.78	1,869.28
		Intermittent	0.10	913.38
		Ephemeral	0.08	821.97
	Susquehanna	Perennial	0.20	574.63
		Intermittent	0.05	248.65
		Ephemeral	0.01	247.05
	TOTAL		2.73	10,571.42
CPL South	Lancaster	PEM	1.57	4,579.62
		PSS	0.12	745.64
		PFO	0.04	391.73
	Lebanon	PEM	1.06	2,921.61
		PSS	0.17	1,483.49
		PFO	0.11	631.47
	Schuylkill	PEM	0.58	1,908.94
		PSS	0.10	611.11
		PFO	0.02	204.46
	Northumberland	PEM	0.34	539.11
		PSS	0.02	76.64
		PFO	0.00	0.00
	Columbia	PEM	0.88	2,298.12
		PSS	0.23	1,965.06
		PFO	0.14	848.64
	TOTAL		5.38	19,205.64
Unity Loop	Lycoming	PEM	0.33	1,570.07
		PSS	0.07	687.71
		PFO	0.01	75.65
	TOTAL		0.41	2,333.43
Chapman Loop	Clinton	PEM	0.01	130.48
		PSS	0.01	172.77
		PFO	0.01	115.82
	TOTAL		0.03	419.07

 

 

 

 

Transco anticipates that most of the waterbody crossings will be completed using one of the dry ditch crossing methods (dry open cut, dry-ditch crossings, or trenchless crossings). A dry open-cut crossing would be used if a waterbody were dry or frozen. Dry-ditch crossings would use either flume pipe, cofferdam, or dam and pump to divert flows around the stream crossing construction area prior to trenching across the waterbody to enable the work to be completed in the dry, and trenchless methods would include conventional bore, horizontal directional drill (HDD), or a direct pipe method. Wet, open-cut crossings may be utilized on a limited basis upon review and approval by local, state and federal regulatory agencies. .

 

Transco proposes to use HDD for the Conestoga River crossing and two crossings of the Susquehanna River.

 

To minimize adverse effects at stream crossings Transco will utilize best management practices and procedures such as construction during low or no flow in streams whenever possible, sediment control structures and equipment bridges.  Time of year instream work restrictions, for high quality waters will also be followed.  A total of 279 Pennsylvania – Designated High-quality Waters, Exceptional Value Waters and Waters with Trout Designations are proposed to be crossed by this proposed project.  In addition, this project will cross 40 waterbodies currently listed as impaired on the Pennsylvania Section 303(d) list.

 

Once the pipe has been constructed across the waterway, the trench will be backfilled and the original surface water bed and bank contours will be reestablished.  Transco will then seed the banks and may utilized the use of erosion control matting.

 

In-stream construction activities will be completed within 24 to 48 hours, except for areas that require blasting or other rock-breaking measures.

 

Water Withdrawal

 

Transco will be required to perform hydrostatic pressure testing of the new pipeline segments prior to placing them into service. To conduct this testing approximately 61 million gallons of water will be withdrawn from a combination of surface waters and municipal sources to be used for the test.

 

Transco proposes to use withdrawal methods that will not reduce water flow to a point that will substantially affect base flow conditions, fish habitat and other aquatic wildlife or recreational uses.

 

Following testing, Transco will depressurize each test section and, if needed, direct water into a filter bag or other erosion-control barrier.  Treated water will be discharged into well-vegetated upland infiltration sites, at discharges rates low enough to not affect surface water. .  Transco will conduct activities in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, including monitoring receiving waters before and after discharge for contaminants.  If discharging directly to receiving waters, Transco will use diffusers (energy dissipation devices) to minimize the potential for surface water scour.

 

 

 

 

 

Wetland Impacts

 

There will be no permanent filling in or permanent loss of wetlands from construction of this project.

 

The project will include temporary impacts to Palustrine Emergent (PEM), Scrub Shrub (PSS) and Forested (PFO) wetlands during construction and permanent conversion of 6.52 acres of PFO and PSS to PEM will occur within the permanent right-of-way.  Transco will restore all temporarily disturbed PEM wetlands to pre-construction conditions. PFO and PSS wetlands within the

temporary workspace will be affected during construction, but will be allowed to return to their original state over time (Transco has proposed to mitigate for all temporal impacts to PFO wetlands). A 10 foot-wide corridor centered on the pipeline in wetlands will be annually maintained in an herbaceous state.  Transco will permanently maintain a 30 foot-wide corridor through PFO wetlands and trees taller than 15 feet will be selectively cut and removed on a reoccurring bases on either side of the pipeline to ensure that the root systems do not affect the coating of the pipeline. Transco would be required to mitigate for the permanent conversion of PSS and PFO to PEM.

 

To minimize impacts to wetlands, the width of the construction right-of-way will be reduced to 75 feet in wetlands, except where Transco has requested an additional 15 feet of additional workspace in specific wetlands.

 

Summary of Field Delineated and Remotely Sensed Wetland Impacts: Atlantic Sunrise Project Based on Impacts Provided in USACE Supplemental Application #1
Facility	County	Cowardin Class	Permanent Conversion Impacts (acres)1	Temporary Impacts (acres)1	Total (acres)
CPL North	Columbia	PEM	0.00	2.38	2.38
		PSS	0.00	0.17	0.17
		PFO	0.39	0.44	0.83
	Luzerne	PEM	0.00	7.55	7.55
		PSS	0.06	0.78	0.83
		PFO	1.85	1.91	3.76
	Wyoming	PEM	0.00	4.97	4.97
		PSS	0.00	0.81	0.81
		PFO	0.88	0.69	1.57
	Susquehanna	PEM	0.00	2.45	2.45
		PSS	0.00	0.03	0.03
		PFO	0.55	0.30	0.85
	TOTAL		3.73	22.48	26.20
CPL South	Lancaster	PEM	0.00	2.22	2.22
		PSS	0.00	0.01	0.01
		PFO	0.32	0.20	0.52
	Lebanon	PEM	0.00	1.44	1.44
		PSS	0.01	0.09	0.10
		PFO	1.31	0.92	2.23
	Schuylkill	PEM	0.00	1.04	1.04
		PSS	0.01	6.07	6.08
		PFO	0.18	0.21	0.39
	Northumberland	PEM	0.00	0.09	0.09
		PSS	0.00	0.00	0.00
		PFO	0.09	0.08	0.17
	Columbia	PEM	0.00	3.37	3.37
		PSS	0.01	0.49	0.50
		PFO	0.70	0.53	1.23
	TOTAL		2.63	16.76	19.39
Unity Loop	Lycoming	PEM	0.00	2.09	2.09
		PSS	0.00	0.00	0.00
		PFO	0.13	0.20	0.33
	TOTAL		0.13	2.29	2.42
Chapman Loop	Clinton	PEM	0.00	0.10	0.10
		PSS	0.00	0.00	0.00
		PFO	0.03	0.09	0.12
	TOTAL		0.03	0.19	0.22
1 All impacts in the USACE waters upload sheet are reported as temporary. In this summary table, permanent PSS impacts are reported as a 10-foot wide corridor that will be permanently converted from scrub-shrub to emergent wetland. Permanent PFO impacts are reported as a 30-foot wide corridor that will be permanently converted from forested to scrub-shrub or emergent wetland.  The remaining PSS and PFO impacts within the construction workspace are reported as temporary impacts.

 

Transco will use one of four of the following methods to install the pipeline within wetlands: (1) Standard Pipeline Construction (not saturated or inundated wetland); (2) Conventional Wetland Construction (saturated wetland); (3) Push-Pull technique (inundated wetland); and/or (4) Trenchless Construction.

 

Standard pipeline construction will be used in wetlands where soils are not saturated or inundated and able to support construction equipment at the time of the crossing.  This method requires segregation of topsoil from subsoil along the trench line. Where present, Transco will segregate 12 inches of topsoil from the area disturbed. .  Once this is done Transco will conduct trench excavation, pipe laying, backfilling, and grade restoration.  Immediately after backfilling is complete, Transco will replace the segregated topsoil and install applicable erosion control measures.

 

 

 

 

 

Transco will use Conventional wetland construction for wetlands with saturated soils or soils unable to support construction equipment without considerable soil disturbance. Prior to crossing and movement of construction equipment through these wetlands, Transco will stabilize the right-of-way using equipment mats to prevent significant rutting/soil disturbance. Transco will temporarily store spoil in a ridge along the pipeline trench, leaving gaps at appropriate intervals to provide for natural circulation or drainage of water.  Topsoil will not be segregated where standing water is present or soils are saturated. While digging the trench, Transco will attempt to assemble the pipeline in a staging area located in an upland area unless the wetland is dry enough to support skids and pipe.  The pipe will then be  lowered into the trench.  Transco will then work from the mats to backfill, cleanup and grade the area if necessary.

 

The push-pull technique can be used in large inundated wetland areas (>300 feet crossing length) where sufficient water is present to float the pipeline in the trench and where grade elevation over the length of the push-pull area will not require damming to maintain adequate water levels for flotation of the pipe.  This technique will be used when inundated conditions prevent the use of conventional open-cut wetland construction techniques.

 

This method involves pushing the pipe from the edge of the wetland or pulling the pipe with a winch from the opposite side of the wetland into the trench.  Limited clearing within the wetland will be needed to install the pipeline. Transco will use a amphibious excavators (pontoon-mounted backhoes) or tracked backhoes (supported by mats or floats) and store the excavated material next to the trench, if practicable. If storage is not practicable, the material will be stored in an upland area near the trench, in construction vehicles, or an approved offsite staging location.  The pipe will be stored and joined outside of the wetlands.  The pipe will then be floated into place, floats removed, and the pipe allowed to settle into place.  Once installed the excavated material will be used to backfill the trench.

 

Trenchless construction is the use of conventional bore or HDD method.  This technique will be utilized in several wetlands located immediately adjacent to roadways.

 

To further minimize impacts to wetlands, temporary sediment control devices will be utilized between the upland construction areas and the wetlands, and removal of the root mats for woody vegetation will only be allowed directly over the trench area, or where required to ensure a safe work area.  Compaction of wetland soils and rutting within wetlands will be minimized by using low-ground-pressure equipment and temporary equipment mats. 

 

In general, storage of equipment, hazardous materials, chemicals, fuels, and lubricating oils, will occur at least 100 feet from wetlands and waterbodies.

 

Following construction, wetland areas within the right-of-way will be restored to preconstruction contours and revegetated with annual ryegrass where standing water is not present.

 

 

 

 

 

Wetlands will be monitored for a period of three to five years after completion to ensure successful restoration and revegetation of the project area. Revegetation will be considered successful when the vegetative cover returns to 80% of the type, density, and distribution of the native vegetation in adjacent, undisturbed portions of the wetland. If success is not met, the applicant would be required to continue monitoring and/or complete remedial actions to ensure successful reestablishment of the wetland.

 

Pipeline Maintenance

 

Transco will limit annual vegetation maintenance within wetlands along the permanent ROWs to only within the 10-foot-wide corridor centered over the pipelines, to facilitate route patrols and emergency access. Transco will selectively cut and remove trees within wetlands that are located within 15 feet of the pipelines.  In all other respects, wetland crossings will be allowed to return to preconstruction conditions.

 

Wetland Mitigation

 

The project is proposed to permanently convert 6.52 acres of PFO and PSS to PEM wetlands.  In addition, a temporal loss 5.57 acres of PFO and PSS wetlands will occur.

 

In order to compensate for the proposed wetland impacts (conversion and construction impacts), associated with their proposal, the applicant is designing a wetland mitigation plan. The objective of the wetland mitigation sites are to restore, enhance, and preserve wetland and riparian resources to replace the functions and values that are lost in association with temporary construction impacts and permanent operational (conversion) impacts to PFO and PSS wetlands.

 

The primary functions and values of the existing wetlands being impacted include; wildlife habitat, flood flow alteration, nutrient removal and retention and sediment/toxicant reduction.

 

The mitigation for the project will occur across five sites that include the following:

Headwaters of Larrys Creek in Lycoming County, Towanda Creek, in Bradford County, Hibred Farms in Lancaster County, Briar Creek in Columbia County and Swatara Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

 

 

Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project Impact and Mitigation Summary Table US Army Corps Supplement #1 Impacts (June, 2015)
IMPACT PER COUNTY					MITIGATION NEED	MITIGATION PROVIDED	MITIGATION PROVIDED FROM***
COUNTY	IMPACT TYPE	PSS* (1.5:1)	PFO** (2:1)	TOTAL IMPACT			Towanda Creek	Headwaters of Larry's Creek	Briars Creek	Hybrid Farms	Swatara Creek
Clinton	Delineated and Remote Sensed	-	0.12	0.12	0.24	0.24		0.24
Lycoming	Delineated and Remote Sensed	-	0.33	0.33	0.66	0.66		0.66
Susquehanna	Delineated and Remote Sensed	-	0.85	0.85	1.70	1.70	1.70
Wyoming	Delineated and Remote Sensed	-	1.57	1.57	3.14	3.14	1.50		1.64
Luzerne	Delineated and Remote Sensed	0.06	3.76	3.82	7.61	7.61	1.47	2.50	2.54	1.10
Columbia	Delineated and Remote Sensed	0.01	2.06	2.07	4.14	4.14		0.46	3.43	0.25
Northumberland	Delineated and Remote Sensed	-	0.17	0.17	0.34	0.34					0.34
Schuylkill	Delineated and Remote Sensed	0.01	0.39	0.40	0.80	0.80					0.80
Lebanon	Delineated and Remote Sensed	0.01	2.23	2.24	4.48	4.48				4.48
Lancaster	Delineated and Remote Sensed	-	0.52	0.52	1.04	1.04				1.04
TOTALS		0.09	12.00	12.09	24.15	24.15	4.67	3.86	7.61	6.87	1.14
This table represents the numbers in the 'Wetland Impact Summary v1 1 for USACE_050216' provided by Williams  on 5/4/2016						Total Mitigation Available at Site	4.67	3.86	8.94	7.03	5.00
* The PSS Impacts listed in this table are all permanent impacts						Remaining Mitigation Available at PRM Site	-	-	1.33	0.16	3.86
** The PFO Impacts listed in this table are temporary and permanent impacts					Surplus:	5.35
*** Please note that wetland acreages and mitigation approaches used to generate the total mitigation per site are provided on the Mitigation Approach Summary Table on the following page					Shortage:	-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project

Mitigation Approach Summary Table

 

PRM Site	Mitigation Approach	Wetland Type	Site Acreage	Mitigation Ratio	Mitigation Acreage
Headwaters of Larrys Creek Lycoming County Watershed 10	Re-establishment	NA	0.77	1:1	0.77
	Rehabilitation	PEM	3.03	1.5:1	2.02
	Enhancement	PEM	2.36	2:1	1.18
	Permanent Impact from Restoration1	PEM	(0.11)	1:1	(0.11)
	TOTAL		6.16		3.86
Towanda Creek Bradford County Watershed 4	Re-establishment	NA	1.37	1:1	1.37
	Rehabilitation	-	-	1.5:1	-
	Enhancement	PEM/PSS	6.60	2:1	3.30
	Preservation	PFO	8.052	-	-
	TOTAL		16.02		4.67
Hibred Farms Lancaster County Watershed 7	Re-establishment	-	-	1:1	-
	Rehabilitation	PEM/PUB	5.96	1.5:1	3.97
	Enhancement	PEM/PUB	6.11	2:1	3.06
	TOTAL		12.07		7.03
Briar Creek Columbia County Watershed 5	Re-establishment	NA	0.46	1:1	0.46
	Rehabilitation	-	-	1.5:1	-
	Enhancement	PEM/PSS	16.96	2:1	8.48
	TOTAL		17.42		8.94
Swatara Creek Schuylkill County Watershed 7	Re-establishment	NA	3.70	1:1	3.70
	Rehabilitation	-	-	1.5:1	-
	Enhancement	PEM/PSS	2.59	2:1	1.30
	TOTAL		6.29		5.00

 

Notes:

 

1 – Please note the 0.11-acre of permanent wetland impact associated with the restoration at Headwaters of Larrys Creek has not been subtracted from the mitigation site acreage, as the mitigation site acreage is the amount of wetlands that will be on-site post-construction.  The permanent wetland impacts are, however removed from the mitigation total to account for their impact.

 

2 – The Towanda Creek PRM Project  will preserve 8.05 acres of PFO wetlands within the Chippewa easement.  While the USACE recognizes preservation as mitigation at a ratio of 6.66:1, the PADEP does not and therefore PFO preservation was not included in the final mitigation acreage total. 

 

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 effect 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.

 

It is requested that you communicate the foregoing information concerning the activity to any persons known by you to be interested and who did not receive a copy of this notice.

 

 

 

 

                                                                        Wade B. Chandler

                                                                        Chief, Pennsylvania Section

                                                                         Regulatory Branch