Have your say on Penneast Pipeline's environmental impact

By Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com 
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on July 25, 2016 at 9:27 PM, updated July 26, 2016 at 9:32 AM

Federal energy regulators are visiting the Lehigh Valley and Hunterdon County next month to take input on the environmental impact of the proposed PennEast Pipeline.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conducts a scoping meeting for the planned PennEast Pipeline Project on Feb. 25, 2015, in West Trenton, New Jersey. (NJ Advance Media file photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday released the draft environmental impact statement for the planned 118.8-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline between Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and Mercer County, New Jersey.

A consortium of natural gas companies hopes to complete the $1.13 billion pipeline in late 2018. Its daily capacity of 1.1 million dekatherms would provide enough natural gas for 4.7 million homes. PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC has said the gas would be sold to markets throughout the region, and multiple tie-ins to existing pipelines are planned.

FERC set a March 16, 2017, deadline on authorizing the project. A separate review is planned by the federal-state Delaware River Basin Commission for the 45.26 million gallons of day of water projected to be withdrawn and discharged as part of construction.

Opponents cheer PennEast Pipeline announcement

Critics of the proposal dismissed the draft environmental impact statement, whose release Friday opened a 45-day public comment period that runs through Sept. 12. 

Available via FERC's eLibrary by searching Docket No. CP15-558-000, the draft addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the following project facilities:

115.1 miles of new, 36-inch-diameter pipeline extending from Luzerne to  Mercer counties (77 miles in Pennsylvania and 38 miles in New Jersey).

the 2.1-mile Hellertown Lateral consisting of 24-inch-diameter pipe in Northampton County.

the 0.1-mile Gilbert Lateral consisting of 12-inch-diameter pipe in Hunterdon County.

the 1.5-mile Lambertville Lateral consisting of 36-inch-diameter pipe in Hunterdon County.

a new, 47,700-total-horsepower Kidder Compressor Station in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.

associated aboveground facilities including eight metering and regulating stations for interconnections, 11 main line valve sites and four pig launcher/receiver sites. Pigging in the maintenance of pipelines refers to use of pipeline inspection gauges, or pigs, to perform various operations on a pipeline without stopping the flow of the product in the pipeline, according to manufacturer Jamison Products.

Public comment on the draft environmental impact statement is being taken in the following ways, according to FERC:

File comments electronically using the eComment feature on the commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and
Filings.

File comments electronically by using the eFiling feature on the commission's website under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on "eRegister." Those filing a comment on a particular project should select "Comment on a Filing" as the filing type.

File a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the following address, and referencing the project docket number (CP15-558-000) with your submission:

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street NE, Room 1A
Washington, DC 20426

Alternatively, the public can be heard at six meetings scheduled to accept comment. No public presentation is planned at any of the meetings, all of which are scheduled 6 to 10 p.m. On the schedule are meetings:

Monday, Aug. 15, at the Best Western Lehigh Valley and Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive in Hanover Township, Northampton County, outside Bethlehem, 610-866-5800.

Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Grand Colonial, 86 Route 173 West, Hampton in Hunterdon County, 908-735-7889.

PennEeast Pipeline route as of Feb. 25, 2016

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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