March 6, 2017 Angelica - National Fuel Gas (NFG) and Empire Pipeline Inc. have made a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking a change in the FERC Certification findings and/or a re-hearing -- which would release NFG and its proposed Northern Access Pipeline from review under New York State environmental regulations.
NFG has formally filed with FERC to exercise powers under
the Federal Natural Gas Act (and other Federal regulations for reviewing
interstate pipelines) which would, if allowed, preempt New York Environmental
Conservation Law.
The state regulatory process may be overruled by a
federally-appointed five member FERC Commission, affecting the state’s
authority to protect aquifers, streams, fisheries, species of concern, impacts
to wetlands and discharges affecting air quality, as well as public opinion and
private landowner rights.
In July 2016, FERC issued a favorable environmental
assessment of the Northern Access Project, claiming that the construction of
the new pipeline would not have a significant impact on the environment. Last month, FERC enabled the use of eminent
domain to force approximately 40 landowners along the proposed route to host
the right-of-way and pipeline against their wishes.
The proposed 24-inch high-pressure pipeline would transport
four hundred million cubic feet of fracked gas per day from the Marcellus
drilling fields of Pennsylvania across Allegany, Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara
Counties and under the Niagara River for export to Canada.
The proposed pipeline will be 97 miles in total length and
cross more than 450 bodies of water: 180 streams, 7 ponds and 270
wetlands. In order to transport and
treat the gas before it goes to international markets, 20,000 hp of additional
compressor station capacity and a dehydration facility will be constructed.
Approximately 25 % of the gas is anticipated to support energy needs in the
northeast US market.
NYS DEC has held three public hearings and received
thousands of written comments regarding the proposed Northern Access
Pipeline.
Full information on the proposed Northern Access Pipeline
can be found at the National Fuel Gas, NYS DEC and FERC.gov. websites.
