FERC issues draft EIS for proposed Atlantic Coast gas pipeline

Jan. 3, 2017
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline and supply header project, as proposed respectively by Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC (ACP) and Dominion Transmission Inc. (DTI). Comments must be received by Apr. 6, FERC said in its Dec. 30, 2016, announcement.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline and supply header project, as proposed respectively by Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC (ACP) and Dominion Transmission Inc. (DTI). Comments must be received by Apr. 6, FERC said in its Dec. 30, 2016, announcement.

ACP and DTI seek authorization to construct and operate a 641.3-mile gas pipeline and associated facilities and three gas-fired compressor stations, and to modify four existing compressor stations, FERC said. The projects would provide 1.44 bcfd of gas to electricity generation, gas distribution, and other markets in Virginia and North Carolina, it indicated.

ACP and Piedmont National Gas Co. also are requesting authorization to allow Atlantic to lease capacity for its use on Piedmont’s existing distribution pipelines in North Carolina. The capacity lease proposal contains no proposed construction of facility modifications, FERC said.

It said its staff concluded that approving the projects would have some adverse and significant environmental impacts, but added that most of these would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with implementation of ACP and DTI’s mitigation levels and additional measure that the draft EIS recommends.

FERC also scheduled 10 public meetings where comments on the draft EIS will be taken. They will be held in Fayetteville, NC, on Feb. 13; Wilson, NC, on Feb. 14; Roanoke Rapids, NC, on Feb. 15; Suffolk, Va., on Feb. 16; Farmville, Va., on Feb. 21; Lovingston, Va., on Feb. 22; Staunton, Va., on Feb. 23; Monterey, Va., on Feb. 28; Elkins, W.Va., on Mar. 1; and Marlinton, W.Va., on Mar. 2.

Cooperating agencies

The US Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service (specifically, its Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge), West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources participated as cooperating agencies in the draft EIS’s preparation, FERC said.

The project’s partners—Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and Southern Co. Gas—initially proposed it in 2014 (OGJ Online, Sept. 2, 2014).

ACP identified several alternate route segments in Augusta and Nelson counties in Virginia as potentially having the lease environmental, historical, and cultural impacts, and incorporated them into the pipeline’s proposed route the following spring (OGJ Online, May 19, 2015).

It applied to FERC for permission to build 5 months later and hired Spring Constructors LLC as the $4.5-5 billion project’s main construction contractor a year later (OGJ Online, Sept. 22, 2016; Sept. 21, 2015).

A coalition of 19 Chambers of Commerce across Virginia sent the commonwealth’s two US senators, Democrats Timothy M. Kaine and Mark R. Warner, a letter expressing their strong support for the proposed pipeline earlier (OGJ Online, Sept. 19, 2016).

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].