Pipeline Gas Venting Announced In Southeast Per New State Law

SOUTHEAST, NY — Due to new state regulations, which went into effect Jan. 1, the company that owns the Algonquin Pipeline through Southeast notified the government that 10,700 standard cubit feet of natural gas was vented into the air at 10:17 p.m. Tuesday at its compressor station in town.

Venting is the direct release of natural gas into the atmosphere. It happens typically in small amounts for operational, safety, and economic reasons. It is a source of greenhouse gas emissions– especially methane, which has a greater global warming potential than CO2, according a 2021 report from the U.S. Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. "Flaring and venting pose obvious environmental challenges and represent losses of valuable natural resources," the OFECM report said.

New York State officials, as part of a multi-year effort to protect the environment and combat climate change, now require pipeline companies to notify local government officials whenever more than 10,000 scf of natural gas is vented, down from the previous 1 million scf threshhold.

To follow the new regulations, Algonquin officials notified Southeast about Tuesday's venting, saying it was due to a unit shutdown that lasted two minutes. The town will also be notified whenever a planned maintenance operation could result in more than 10,000 scf of gas vented, company officials said.

Pipeline owner Enbridge has listed sustainability goals on its website.

SEE ALSO:

• Algonquin Pipeline Venting in Southeast May 4-9
• Algonquin Pipeline Expansion Will Remove, Restore Southeast Stone Wall