Download Chapter EXCOM 6.10.2017 - Sierra Club/Great Falls Group

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Dominion, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and AGL
Resources formed a joint venture to build and own the
proposed 590 miles long Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
Three compressor stations– one at the beginning of the
pipeline in West Virginia, one in central Virginia (Buckingham
County) and one near the Virginia-North Carolina state line.
The capacity of the pipeline is projected to be 1.5 billion
cubic feet/day. Cost is estimated at $4 to $5 billion.
NextEra US Gas Assets, LLC, completed a non binding open
season for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project in July 2014.
The 330-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline project would connect
Marcellus natural gas supply to demand markets in the
Southeast region of the United States and exports overseas.
providing at least two billion cubic feet per day of firm
transmission capacity.
Delivery to Transco station 165 is expected to be in service
by the fourth quarter of 2018. Project costs are $3 to $4
billion dollars.
Columbia Pipeline Group is proposing to
construct and operate two new compressor
stations, approximately 26 miles of pipeline
replacement and approximately 2.9 miles of
new pipeline system in Virginia and West
Virginia. The project increases pipeline
capacity to 1.3 billion cubic feet per day
and includes new pipeline interconnects
Several issues that require attention include:
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Two pipelines create a minimum of 95 million tons of Greenhouse
gas emissions per year, double current GHG emissions in Virginia;
land use impacts, including the exercise of eminent domain and
future land use restrictions;
impacts on property values, tourism, and recreational resources;
safety issues, such as construction and operation of the planned
facilities near existing residences, schools, businesses, and
military training facilities, and in karst and steep slope terrain;
impacts of Fragmentation on forested areas ;
impacts on surface water resources including springs, seeps, and
wetlands;
impacts on groundwater resources and wells;
impacts on protected species and habitat;
impacts on cultural resources including battlefields,
cemeteries, and historic properties; and
concerns regarding construction and operational noise,
especially related to compressor stations.
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The potential total GHG emissions associated
with two proposed pipelines would greatly
increase emissions from this region for decades
into the future. The total from the ACP pipeline is
40.7 MMT/yr and the total from the MVP pipeline
is 54.3 MMT, which equals a total GHG emissions
of 95.0 MMT - almost double the amount of
current GHG emissions in Virginia. The total
contribution from 177 GHG existing sources in
Virginia is 49.4 MMT CO2eq. These are the low
end estimates.
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Review of certificate applications requires an
environmental review under NEPA. The FERC is the
NEPA Lead Federal Agency for the environmental
analysis.
No statutory deadline, but process generally takes a
year.
The draft EIS’s were open to public comment and
FERC held public hearings for the MVP and ACP.
After reviewing, incorporating comments, FERC
publishes final EIS.
MVP Final EIS scheduled for June 23, 2017.
ACP Final EIS scheduled for July 21, 2017.
Certificates of Public Necessity and Convenience
will be issued in September and October.
Administrative appeals will be filed within a
month of issuance of each Certificate.
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Section 106 – Historic Resources
National Historic Preservation Act review of existing historic
structures in proximity to pipeline corridors. Many historic
sites are not included in surveys.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is responsible for
reviews of historic resources. Not much traction on this issue
as FERC has ignored comments on historic resources.
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Section 401 -Clean Water Act and Water Quality permitting.
DEQ began the process for review of the 401 water quality
certification in April 2017. DEQ decided to allow the Corps of
Engineers to perform the water body crossings as part of
their Nationwide 12 permit review. We are taking action to
press DEQ to perform the stream/river/wetland reviews as
part of the Section 401 certification.
Public hearings will be held in August.
State Water Control Board has final approval authority of
Section 401 water quality certification.
Legal team from the Environmental Law Program is working
to develop legal strategy. The 401 certification is required
before pipelines construction can begin. Final decisions by
the Water Control Board by end of the year.
Appalachian Trail/Blue Ridge Parkway crossings
authorizations. The Appalachian Trail
Conservancy (ATC) is strongly opposed to
pipelines crossing the AT. The ATC has
launched a campaign to stop the pipelines
from crossing the AT.
 Currently planning Hands Across the
Appalachian Trail event in two locations at the
end of July 2017. This grassroots event will
publicize and gain more attention to pipelines
crossings of the Appalachian Trail.
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Pipelines are proposed to pass through the
George Washington, Jefferson and
Monongahela National Forests. The Forest
Service is currently reviewing information and
submittals by pipeline companies that will
conclude with a Decision of Record, either
approving or rejecting Amendments to Land
Resource Management Plans (LRMP).
The Forest Service has submitted in-depth,
thorough comments to FERC as part of the
review process.
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The Forest Service is primarily concerned
about forest fragmentation and water
contamination by sediment.
If the FS makes a decision that approves the
LRMP amendments and the Special Use
Permit, then we plan to pursue administrative
appeals followed by legal challenges in court.
Draft Record of Decision by Forest Service for
MVP end of June 2017. 45 day objection
period, followed by 45 day resolution period.
BLM issues Use & Occupancy permit with
concurrence of Forest Service for MVP.
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Draft Record of Decision by Forest Service for
ACP end of July 2017. 45 day objection
period, followed by 45 day resolution period.
Forest Service has authority to issue Use &
Occupancy permit for ACP.
If permits are approved, we are planning to
file challenges to permit approvals in court
this Fall.
The Democratic primary this Tuesday has the
potential to influence approval of the 401
Clean Water Act certifications. In New York,
the Department of Environmental Protection
rejected permits for two major pipelines due
to environmental concerns. The political
attitude by the New York Governor is antipipeline. One of the candidates for the VA
governor’s office has publicly stated
opposition to pipelines in Virginia. If an antipipeline candidate is elected, our chances are
increased that the 401 certifications are not
approved.
A celebratory walk along the proposed
fracked-gas pipeline (ACP) path. See for
yourself what is on the line - The rivers,
forests, mountains, farms and homes that are
in danger of irreversible destruction.
Starting in Highland County, we will follow as
close as possible to the proposed path for
150 miles (1st leg) - Through Bath, Augusta
and Nelson Co, and into the heart of Virginia;
Buckingham County.