Hearing on Next Stage of Algonquin Pipeline Expansion: May 17

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold a public hearing May 17 on the next stage of the controversial Algonquin Pipeline expansion program. This one is called the Access NorthEast project.

It's the only hearing in New York -- the next closest are the day before in Southbury and Storrs, Connecticut -- and it will be at Sleepy Hollow High School, 210 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591.

The Algonquin natural gas pipeline owned by Spectra Energy runs through Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties on its way to New England. Spectra’s plan to enlarge the pipeline includes three projects so far.

The AIM Project involves the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of 37.4 miles of pipeline and related facilities in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Most of the pipeline installation will replace existing pipeline with larger diameter pipeline.

Atlantic Bridge includes replacement of another 10.9 miles of existing pipeline with new larger diameter pipe.

Access Northeast includes the expansion of approximately 125 miles of the existing Algonquin pipeline system, plus new lines and facilities, including a new Liquified Natural Gas Storage Facility in Acushnet, Massachusetts.

While the projects cover segments of an expansion plan for the pipeline from New Jersey to New England, FERC is considering each separately.

RELATED:

• Pipeline Project Making Progress Under the Hudson
• Pipeline Foes Step Up Protest Blockades in Cortlandt
• Algonquin Pipeline Foes File Appeal

Here's some of what FERC had to say about the May 17 hearing, which includes a description of the project:

The purpose of these meetings is to provide the public an opportunity to learn more about the Commission’s environmental review process and to verbally comment on the ANE Project. Affected landowners and other interested parties concerned about the ANE Project are encouraged to attend these meetings and to give their comments on the issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Individuals wishing to provide comments on Algonquin’s Incremental Market and Atlantic Bridge Projects should file their comments in the respective FERC administrative records (CP14-96-000 and CP16- 9-000).

Individuals wishing to comment at a meeting may begin registering to speak one hour prior to each meeting.

Pipeline representatives will be available before each meeting to answer questions about the ANE Project.

The meetings will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. To ensure everyone has a chance to be heard, the time allotted for speakers may be limited to three minutes. If a time limit is implemented, it will be strictly enforced. Commenters should prepare their remarks accordingly. All comments will be transcribed and entered into the Commission’s administrative record. Due to potential large turnouts in Acushnet and Weymouth, Massachusetts, two court reporters will be present at each meeting to transcribe comments. One court reporter will be present in the main room and another will be present in an adjacent room for those who wish to speak and not attend the entire meeting. The meetings will end once all speakers have provided their comments or at 10 p.m., whichever comes first.

Summary of the Planned Project

Over the past several years Algonquin has expanded its existing natural gas transmission system in the Northeastern United States to meet demand as it arises in the region. In response to growing demand and interest from shippers, Algonquin plans to modify its existing system in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. If constructed, the ANE Project would be capable of providing up to 925 million cubic feet per day of natural gas at various delivery points on the existing Algonquin pipeline system. The planned ANE Project facilities are described below.

Pipeline Facilities:

Replacement of approximately 45.0 miles of existing 26-inch-diameter pipeline with 42-inch-diameter pipeline as follows:

• • 1.2 miles in Rockland County, New York (Hanover Take-up and Relay (Take-up and relay refers to a construction method by which an existing pipeline is removed and replaced with a new pipeline.)
  • 12.7 miles in Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York (Stony Point Take-up and Relay);
  • 17.6 miles in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut (Southeast Take-up and Relay; and
  • 13.5 miles in New Haven and Hartford Counties, Connecticut (Oxford Take-up and Relay.

Extensions of existing pipeline loops; approximately 22.7 miles of additional 36-inch-diameter pipeline and 25.9 miles of additional 30-inch-diameter pipeline as follows:

• • 13.3 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Hartford, Middlesex, and Tolland Counties, Connecticut (Cromwell Loop);
  • 9.4 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Windham County, Connecticut (Chaplin Loop);
  • 21.7 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Norfolk County, Massachusetts (Q-1 Loop); and
  • 4.2 miles of 30-inch-pipeline in Norfolk County, Massachusetts (I-8 Loop).

Installation of approximately 26.8 miles of new 16-inch-diameter lateral pipeline in Norfolk and Worcester Counties, Massachusetts.

Installation of approximately 2.9 miles of new 24-inch-diameter lateral pipeline in Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Algonquin would also need to construct pig launcher and receiver facilities and new mainline valves.

Compressor Stations and other pipeline-related aboveground facilities

Algonquin plans to modify six existing compressor stations, expand one currently proposed compressor station, construct one new compressor station, modify seven existing metering and regulating (M&R) stations, and construct two new M&R stations.

The modifications to the six existing compressor stations would be located in Rockland and Putnam Counties, New York, New Haven, Middlesex, and Windham Counties Connecticut, and Providence County, Rhode Island. The expansion of the currently proposed compressor station would be located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts and the new compressor station would be located in Bristol County, Massachusetts. These eight compressor stations would add a total of 165,560 horsepower to Algonquin’s pipeline system.

The modifications to the seven existing Algonquin M&R stations would occur in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts to accept the new gas flows associated with the Project. The new M&R stations would be constructed in Bristol and Worcester Counties Massachusetts.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage Facility

The planned LNG Storage Facility would be located on a 210-acre site in Acushnet, Massachusetts adjacent to an existing LNG peak-shaving facility (the existing facility would not be affected). The facility would include; two full containment LNG storage tanks with a total combined capacity of 6.8 billion standard cubic feet (84.6 million gallons), feed gas pretreatment systems, liquefaction and regasification capabilities, a new permanent access road, a flare or other venting system yet to be determined, electrical service facilities, and a refrigerant compressor driver with appropriate noise suppression and emission controls. This facility would be connected to Algonquin’s existing natural gas transmission system by a new approximately 2.86 mile pipeline.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 1,866 acres of land including forested, open, agricultural, industrial/commercial, and residential lands. Of the lands affected, about 1,590 acres for the pipeline facilities, 118 acres for the compressor stations, 150 acres for the LNG Facility, and 8 acres for the M&R stations.

About 1,100 acres of land that would be affected by pipeline construction activities has already been disturbed by existing pipelines or other utilities. Similarly, about 95 acres of land that would be affected by the compressor stations has already been disturbed.

Following construction, Algonquin would retain about 494 acres of new, permanent easement outside of its current operating footprint. This amount includes approximately 327 acres of permanent easement for the new pipeline right-of-way, 20 acres for the new compressor station, 150 acres for the LNG Facility, and a total of 2 acres for the M&R stations.

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 under

Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This discovery process is commonly referred to as "scoping". The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. All comments received will be considered during the preparation of the EIS, and addressed as appropriate.

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

 geology and soils;

 land use;

 water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;

 cultural resources;

 vegetation and wildlife;

 air quality and noise;

 threatened and endangered species;

 public safety and reliability; and

 cumulative impacts.

Staff, in cooperation with other federal agencies, has already begun an evaluation of alternatives to the ANE Project, including pipeline route alternatives, compressor station equipment and locations, and LNG Storage Facility sites. This alternatives analysis will be included in the EIS along with any recommendations we may have on how to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate 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 have contacted 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 carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.

MAP: http://accessnortheastenergy.com