FERC Details Environmental Review Plans for Constitution Pipeline
FERC has established an August timeline for completing its environmental assessment of the proposed Constitution Pipeline and Wright Interconnect projects, marking another milestone in the long-running permitting process.
(P&GJ) — The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has established a schedule to complete an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Constitution Pipeline and Wright Interconnect projects, with the review targeted for release on Aug. 21 for public comment.
The June 24 notice marks the next major milestone in FERC's review of petitions filed by Constitution Pipeline Company and Iroquois Gas Transmission System seeking reissuance of certificates for the previously approved projects. The commission also established a Nov. 19 deadline for other federal agencies to complete required authorization decisions.
According to the notice, FERC staff intends to prepare an environmental assessment evaluating the projects before issuing the document for public review.
According to the notice, "This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the Projects and the planned schedule for the completion of the environmental review."
The Constitution Pipeline and Wright Interconnect projects were originally certificated by FERC in 2014 but were never built. The proposal includes approximately 125 miles of new 30-inch natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania and New York, along with an expansion of the existing Wright Compressor Station in New York that would add 22,000 horsepower of compression.
Earlier this year, FERC reopened environmental review of the projects and requested public comments. According to the commission, commenters raised issues including requests for a new environmental impact statement, Clean Water Act permitting, wetlands and waterbody crossings, forest clearing, habitat fragmentation and impacts to previously disturbed properties. FERC said those issues will be addressed in the environmental assessment.