Williams Transco Atlantic Sunrise Project
The Atlantic Sunrise Project is designed to add 1,700,000 dekatherms per day of pipeline capacity to the Transco system, the equivalent of daily needs for more than 7 million homes. This expansion will connect producing regions in northeastern Pennsylvania to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states, as far south as Alabama.
The project will consist of compression and looping of the Transco Leidy Line in Pennsylvania along with a greenfield pipeline segment, referred to as the Central Penn Line, connecting the northeastern Marcellus producing region to the Transco mainline near Station 195 in southeastern Pennsylvania. Additional existing Transco facilities are being added or modified to allow gas to flow bi-directionally.
The preliminary project design includes a total of approximately 178 miles of new greenfield pipe (Central Penn North and Central Penn South), two pipeline loops totaling about 12 miles (Chapman Loop, Unity Loop), two and half miles of existing pipeline replacement, two new compressor facilities in Pennsylvania, and other facility additions or modifications in five states (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina). Williams intends to file its Certificate Application for the Atlantic Sunrise Project in early 2015, with an anticipated construction start in summer 2016, and in-service date of summer 2017. To view filings with FERC on this project, please visit http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/docket_search.asp, enter "PF14-8" in the Docket Number box and then click "Submit" in the lower left hand corner. Once the page processes, you will see a list of all items that have posted to the FERC website related to the project.
Williams Transco Rock Springs Expansion Project
The Rock Springs Expansion project is proposed to consist of 11.17 miles of new 20-inch diameter steel pipeline (10.12 miles in Lancaster County and 1.05 in Cecil County) extending from the existing Transco pipeline in Lancaster County, Pa., and terminating at the Wildcat Point facility, approximately five miles from the town of Rising Sun in Cecil County, Maryland. The pipeline is being designed to transport approximately 192,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day.
Additionally, Williams is proposing to construct a 4,000 horsepower, electric motor-driven compressor and metering facility at the terminus of the lateral in Cecil County, as well as other piping and valve modifications to existing facilities. If approved, pipeline construction would begin in August 2015. To view filings with FERC on this project, please visit http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/docket_search.asp, enter "CP14-504" in the Docket Number box and then click "Submit" in the lower left hand corner. Once the page processes, you will see a list of all items that have posted to the FERC website related to the project.
On April 20, 2015, FERC issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplement Environmental Assessment for the Amended Rock Springs Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues. The Chester County Planning Commission received the notice on May 4, 2015. This notice announces the opening of the scoping process FERC will use to obtain input from the public and other interested agencies. In this Supplemental Environmental Assessment, Transco proposes to modify the previously authorized pipeline route in Lancaster County, PA. Transco is proposing to adjust the pipeline centerline alignment from the originally authorized property (at milepost 7.6) to an adjacent property. The scoping period closes on May 20, 2015. Comments may be submitted in writing or verbally, under Docket Number CP15-169-000. View Notice
PennEast Pipeline Project
PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC is developing the PennEast Pipeline. The PennEast Pipeline Company is comprised of the following: AGL Resources; NJR Pipeline Company; PSEG Power LLC; South Jersey Industries; Spectra Energy Partners: and UGI Energy Services.
As proposed, this pipeline will cross through the following counties: Luzerne, Carbon, Northampton and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania, and Hunterdon and Mercer Counties in New Jersey. According to the PennEast website, the study route is approximately 400 feet wide. Within this study corridor, the permanent rig of way area for the final route would be 50 feet wide. Additionally, PennEast is planning to co-locate 50% of the pipeline within existing right of ways.
PennEast Pipeline Company received FERC approval on January 19, 2018. While construction was initially planned to begin in 2017, and take an estimated seven months to complete, PennEast is currently awaiting regulatory approvals for the construction and completion of 68 miles of pipe that will now connect to Columbia Transmission and Adelphia Gateway systems. The estimated timeline for the project indicates that it is now anticipated to be operational in 2023. To view filings with FERC on this project, please visit http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/docket_search.asp, enter "PF15-1" in the Docket Number box and then click "Submit" in the lower left hand corner. Once the page processes, you will see a list of all items that have posted to the FERC website related to the project. Project updates are also provided on the PennEast project's website.
On February 3, 2021, the US Supreme Court granted PennEast Pipeline's appeal, that the US Natural Gas Act allows pipeline companies to use the federal government's eminent domain power, once approved by FERC, which New Jersey, holding more than 40 parcels potentially affected by this power, is disputing. New Jersey contends that, while the law gives the company eminent domain powers, it does not allow them to sue states to enforce that right, under the 11th Amendment to the US Constitution.
On December 22, 2021, PennEast submitted a letter to DEP indicating that all further development of the PennEast Pipeline Project has ceased. PennEast requested withdrawal of the pending Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit applications, and revocation of the previoiusly issued State Water Quality Certification and Air Quality Permit.
On Januay 3, 2022, DEP granted the withdrawal of the Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit applications and revoked the Sate Water Quaility Certification.
