Click here to subscribe today or Login.
As project director for the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline project, I often compare the regulatory process for siting an interstate transmission pipeline to a funnel. There’s a multitude of data, ideas and analysis that enter the top of the funnel at the beginning of a project, but over time that focus begins to narrow.
This week we filed our certificate application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, initiating the formal regulatory review of our Atlantic Sunrise project. Although we haven’t reached the end of the funnel yet, the valuable input we’ve received has helped shape the project scope.
If you aren’t aware, the Atlantic Sunrise project is a proposed expansion of our existing Transco natural gas transmission pipeline, connecting massive natural gas-producing regions in northern Pennsylvania to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states. The proposed $3 billion project would include adding new pipeline infrastructure in Pennsylvania, as well as modifying existing Transco facilities in other states.
Although the Marcellus basin already provides one-third of the natural gas consumed in this country, it’s estimated that one-quarter of Pennsylvania gas wells can’t get to market because of insufficient pipeline capacity. The Atlantic Sunrise project would address that problem.
Determining the best location for pipeline facilities is a long regulatory process that involves a significant amount of public input. Throughout this process, our goal has been to create a dialogue with interested parties to identify issues up front so we can address them before the project design is complete.
Fortunately, we aren’t developing this project in a vacuum. During the past year we’ve solicited valuable input from property owners, communities, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders that has directly shaped our project footprint. In fact, our FERC filing incorporates more than 100 route changes affecting nearly 50 percent of the original pipeline alignment.
Other steps we’ve taken in response to input we’ve received can be found in the various environmental resource reports that make up the FERC Certificate Application.
For example, we’ve heard from property owners with questions about safety. Resource Report 11 identifies design features and operating practices we’ve committed to adopt which will exceed industry and regulatory safety standards, including standards for pipe material, wall thickness, construction inspections, pipe burial depth, post-construction integrity testing and more.
We’ve heard from agricultural landowners asking how we plan to protect farmland. Resource Report 7 includes a special Agricultural Construction and Monitoring Plan, which details construction techniques and restoration methods appropriate for the area’s soils, crops and farming practices. It was developed after consultations with soil scientists, agronomists and local agricultural experts.
We’ve heard from communities asking about benefits of the project. Resource Report 5 details research from Pennsylvania State University that forecasts the project could pump $1.6 billion into state and local economies and support as many as 8,000 jobs. It also notes how the ongoing operation of the pipeline could generate $1.9 million in annual economic impact.
Finally, we know there is an expectation from some people that we demonstrate our environmental commitment by going above and beyond traditional permitting requirements. That’s why we’ve partnered with The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit leader in environmental preservation, to develop an environmental stewardship program to fund local environmental resource needs within the project area. This program is purely voluntary and does not supplant traditional compensatory mitigation.
Filing the certificate application with FERC is certainly a significant milestone, but it doesn’t mean that our work is complete, or that we are done soliciting input. We’re still gathering information and working with stakeholders to even further refine the route to address potential issues.
Siting a transmission pipeline is a long process, but thanks to your input our funnel is filled with invaluable insight, data and information. We still have a long way to go, but your feedback and participation in helping us reach this important milestone is greatly appreciated.