US FERC prepares EA for Leidy South-East expansion project

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Leidy South-East expansion project.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) has proposed the project, which will expand the natural gas delivery capacity to the north-east region of the US by around 525,000 dekatherms per day.

Transco plans to build around 29.8 miles of a new 42in-diameter pipeline loop in four separate segments in Mercer, Somerset and Hunterdon Counties in New Jersey, and Monroe and Luzerne Counties in Pennsylvania.

The proposals include additional compression and modification of existing compressor stations 205, 515, 517 and 520 in Mercer County, New Jersey, and Luzerne, Columbia and Lycoming Counties in Pennsylvania, respectively.

Plans also include the modification of existing compressor stations in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, as well as refurbishing the current meter, regulating stations and mainline valves.

The FERC concluded that the approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Potential impacts are expected to be reduced by implementing Transco’s proposed minimisation and mitigation measures, as well as the measures recommended in the EA.

Transco should secure all the required federal authorisations prior to the start of construction work on the project.