Real Estate & Property Law

Algonquin Gas Transmission, Intent to Prepare an EIS

By Alan Ackerman

Trading Markets, October 24, 2007

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will identify and address the environmental impacts that could result from the construction and operation of the East to West HubLine Expansion Project (E2W Project or Project). The E2W Project is proposed by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin), which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Spectra Energy Corp. The Commission will use the EIS in its decision-making process to determine whether or not to authorize the Project. This notice describes the proposed Project facilities and explains the scoping process that will be used to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the Project. Your input will help determine the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS.

Summary of the Proposed Project
Algonquin proposes to modify portions of its existing pipeline system in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The E2W Project consists of the construction and operation of 46.1 miles of various diameter pipeline and associated ancillary pipeline facilities. Of this total, 13.0 miles consist of new pipeline in Massachusetts and 33.1 miles consist of the replacement of existing pipeline in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A significant portion of the 46.1 miles of the proposed pipeline facilities would be either within the existing Algonquin right-of-way or adjacent to an existing powerline right-of-way. No new right-of-way corridors would be created based on the alignment as currently proposed with the exception of several minor alignment deviations to facilitate construction.

In addition, Algonquin proposes to construct 2 new compressor stations in Massachusetts, install over-pressure protection regulation at 4 sites in Massachusetts, and install minor modifications at 5 existing compressor stations and 29 existing meter stations along Algonquin's system in the 5 Project states as described below. A general overview of the major Project facilities is shown in Appendix 1. /2/

-A major gas pipeline will be installed in new areas, as well as along old pipelines, in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The project is a major facility expansion traversing hundreds of miles. This will be a closely followed and much debated project affecting numerous landowners.

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on October 30, 2007 (boomark / email).