Industrywide Issues

Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Statewide WV | Virginia | West Virginia

Atlantic Coast Pipe Asks FERC for More Time to Cut Trees
March 20, 2018March 20, 2018

Dominion Energy’s $6.5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline (running from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina) is supposed to get built this year. ACP began to cut trees along the pipeline’s path in late January (see Atlantic Coast Pipeline Begins Cutting Trees in WV & VA (Not NC)). ACP chainsaws have been busy since that time. Due to restrictions for species like the threatened Indiana bat, tree cutting season is limited–from November 16 to March 31. ACP says it won’t be done by March 31 and is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to continue clearing trees in WV, VA and NC until May 15th. Antis are making loud noises that FERC should deny the request. What will FERC do? If they don’t grant permission, ACP will be delayed–perhaps by a year…
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Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lebanon County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Sunoco Logistics

ME2 Construction in Lebanon County Stopped for 50 Gal Mud Spill
March 19, 2018March 19, 2018

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has just shut down further drilling for the Mariner East 2 Pipeline project at Snitz Creek in Lebanon County, PA because of a 50 gallon spill of non-toxic drilling mud. This isn’t the first time the DEP has stopped underground horizontal directional drilling (HDD) work at Snitz Creek. Last November they did the same thing for a piddly 1 gallon spill (see PA DEP Shuts Down ME2 Drilling in Lebanon, PA for 1 Gal Mud Spill). In the parlance of today, leaking 50 gallons of drilling mud into Snitz Creek is a nothing-burger. Biased reporters like those at PBS StateImpact Pennsylvania make it out to be the environmental crime of the century. There’s more environmental damage from overfilling a gas tank at the local Sheetz that spills two gallons of gasoline onto the pavement than there is from spilling 50 gallons of non-toxic kitty litter (or toothpaste, or lipstick) into Snitz Creek. But there you go. Sunoco voluntarily reported the incident, and was promptly shut down at that site until further notice. Meanwhile, a few weeks ago a farmer in nearby Lancaster County spilled 100,000 gallons of manure into two creeks–with zero consequences. Why didn’t the DEP shut down the farm?…
Read More “ME2 Construction in Lebanon County Stopped for 50 Gal Mud Spill”
Columbia Pipeline Group | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Approves NatGas Pipeline Under Potomac River
March 19, 2018March 19, 2018

Anti-fossil fuel nutters have been on a holy mission to stop a 3.5-mile, 8-inch pipeline from being built under the Potomac River by Columbia Gas (see Maryland Antis Oppose 13th Pipeline Under Potomac as “Dangerous”). The pipeline will be built to feed a larger pipeline project being built by Mountaineer Gas called the Eastern Panhandle Expansion–a pipeline to deliver natural gas via local distribution channels to a new industrial facility in Berkeley County, WV, and to provide gas to other local businesses and residents in the Tri-State area. Last week MDN reported that Mountaineer has just begun work on their project (see Mountaineer Gas Begins Work on Morgan County, WV Pipeline). We commented that Maryland, under RINO Gov. Larry Hogan, had not (yet) caved to radical antis and their pressure to block the Columbia project–which would be the 13th pipeline Columbia has built under the Potomac River (see Maryland Antis Oppose 13th Pipeline Under Potomac as “Dangerous”). Good news. On Friday Maryland (surprisingly) granted the necessary permits for the Columbia project…
Read More “Maryland Approves NatGas Pipeline Under Potomac River”
Empire Pipeline | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Ontario County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Tioga County (PA)

Empire Pipe Plans 2 Compressors in PA & NY to Move Marcellus Gas
March 19, 2018March 19, 2018

Click image for larger version

Empire Pipeline, the midstream (pipeline) subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Company (based in Buffalo, NY), earlier this month filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build two new compressor stations along the Empire Pipeline–one in Tioga County, PA, the other in Ontario County, NY. Without building any new pipeline, the addition of these two compressor stations will allow an extra 205,000 dekatherms per day (or 205 million cubic feet/day) of PA Marcellus gas to flow through the Empire Pipeline system. The project, called Empire North Project, will provide much-needed natural gas for Upstate NY and Canada. It will also connect to the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, so who knows? Maybe some Marcellus molecules will find their way into New England too. The gajillion dollar questions is, will the Andrew Cuomo-corrupted NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation try to stop this project as they have just about all other Marcellus-to-NY projects?…
Read More “Empire Pipe Plans 2 Compressors in PA & NY to Move Marcellus Gas”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Transco | Williams

FERC OKs Transco Garden State Expansion Phase 2 for Startup
March 19, 2018March 27, 2018

In April 2016, three Obama-appointed Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) commissioners approved the $116 million Williams Transco Garden State Expansion pipeline project (see FERC Approves NJ Pipeline – More Marcellus Gas on the Way!). The project was created to address supply disruptions following Superstorm Sandy in 2012. By upgrading compressor stations and adding a new meter station, the Garden State Expansion project will supply an extra 180 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas to a new delivery point on Transco’s existing Trenton Woodbury Lateral pipeline. However, two towns in Burlington County, NJ (Bordentown and Chesterfield), where some of the work would be done for Phase 2 of the project, filed a lawsuit last year asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to overturn FERC’s previous decision to allow the project (see FERC Fights NJ Town Effort to Decertify Garden State Expansion). We’re happy to report the lawsuit was unsuccessful. We’re even happier to report that both compressors are built and as of Friday, FERC granted permission for both stations to come online and begin pumping extra Marcellus gas through the system…
Read More “FERC OKs Transco Garden State Expansion Phase 2 for Startup”
Industrywide Issues | Monroe County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines

PA State Program Spends $980K for NatGas Pipe in Monroe County
March 19, 2018March 19, 2018

Monroe County, PA

Every now and again Pennsylvania spends money to build new local distribution pipeline systems to bring home-grown Marcellus Shale gas to PA residents. The state has a program called the Pipeline Investment Program (PIPE). Last November the PIPE program committed $1 million (out of a $2.4 million project) to fund natural gas lines in Tunkhannock Township (Wyoming County), to provide Marcellus Shale gas to 102 residential homes, 13 businesses and several civic buildings (see PA Approves $2.4M Project to Run NatGas Pipes in Wyoming County). The program continues. On Friday the state announced another such investment–this time in Monroe County. The PIPE program is chipping in $980,000 as part of a $2.7 million project to construct a natural gas line extension along the Route 611 corridor in Pocono Township to the Monroe County Transit Authority…
Read More “PA State Program Spends $980K for NatGas Pipe in Monroe County”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Potter County | Wastewater

Spirited Defense of Proposed Potter County Shale Wastewater Plant
March 19, 2018March 19, 2018

In January MDN told you that a new shale wastewater treatment facility that works in tandem with a local sewage treatment plant may be on the way in Coudersport (Potter County), PA (see Shale Wastewater Treatment Plant Planned for Potter County, PA). Epiphany Water Solutions, via a subsidiary company called Epiphany Allegheny, plans to build a centralized water treatment facility in Coudersport. That brought out the antis who made all sorts of wild accusations, including the Seneca Indians which live 65 miles down the Allegheny River from the proposed site (see Seneca Indians Fighting Proposed Potter County Wastewater Facility). The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently published an update on the controversy. It is an extensive article written by anti-fossil fuel “reporter” Don Hopey. The way it’s spun: shale wastewater has high levels of radioactivity (a false assertion, but it’s made nonetheless), and over time even treated wastewater with radioactivity will “degrade” the Allegheny River–a river that provides drinking water for “millions of people downstream, including Pittsburgh.” That’s the anti argument against this project, in a nutshell. Scare millions of people that their drinking water supply will be threatened by this nasty, filthy, vile recycling plant. However, the article uncharacteristically presents the Epiphany side of the argument, the counterargument to these false claims…
Read More “Spirited Defense of Proposed Potter County Shale Wastewater Plant”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

FERC Grants Limited Rehearing Request for Constitution Pipeline
March 16, 2018March 16, 2018

There’s a number of threads to the ongoing saga of Constitution Pipeline, a $683 million, 124-mile pipeline from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY to move Marcellus gas into New York State and from there, into New England. The Andrew Cuomo-corrupted NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) refused to grant the pipeline necessary federal stream crossing permits, blocking construction, in April 2016 (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). There have been a number of court cases and regulatory actions since that time. Williams, the builder of Constitution, asked the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) to overrule the DEC and allow construction to begin. In January of this year, FERC denied that request (see Death of the Constitution Pipeline? FERC Refuses to Overrule NY DEC). In February of this year, Williams asked FERC to reconsider their decision (see Constitution Pipe Files for FERC Rehearing, Then Back to Court). FERC has 30 days to rule on the rehearing request. If they don’t do anything, it’s considered an automatic rejection. However, on Wednesday (just under the wire), FERC granted a “limited” rehearing request–meaning FERC wants more time to consider the request before making a final decision. It’s not a “yes” that they will reconsider and perhaps overrule the DEC–but it’s also not a “no.” Which is a good thing…
Read More “FERC Grants Limited Rehearing Request for Constitution Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Westmoreland County

H&H About to Drill Well in Upper Burrell as Antis Plead with Judge
March 16, 2018March 16, 2018

In some places, drillers have to fight tooth and nail, every inch of the way, just to drill a simple Marcellus Shale well. Such is the case in Upper Burrell (Westmoreland County), PA. Huntley & Huntley has plans to drill four shale wells in Upper Burrell Township. Sure there’s been push-back, but we thought the corner had been turned when town supervisors voted last November to approve H&H’s plans (see H&H Drilling in Upper Burrell Gets Final Approval, Raucous Crowd). The supporters of drilling far outnumbered the antis at the meeting. However, a small group of antis remains committed to blocking H&H’s drilling plans. The latest twist is that antis are asking a judge to rule that the supervisors, who were discharging their duties in accordance with the law, erred in their decision to grant final approval for H&H’s drilling plans. Here we go again…
Read More “H&H About to Drill Well in Upper Burrell as Antis Plead with Judge”
Berkeley County | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Morgan County (WV) | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide MD | West Virginia

Mountaineer Gas Begins Work on Morgan County, WV Pipeline
March 15, 2018March 19, 2018

Anti-fossil fuel nutters have been on a holy mission to stop a 3.5-mile, 8-inch pipeline from being installed under the Potomac River (see Maryland Antis Oppose 13th Pipeline Under Potomac as “Dangerous”). They are trying to pressure the pusillanimous RINO governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, to block the project–a project from Columbia Gas Transmission (now part of TransCanada). Don’t tell the antis, but the pipeline system Columbia’s proposed 3.5-mile pipeline will feed is now under construction in West Virginia, just on the other side of the Potomac. In 2017, Mountaineer Gas launched the Eastern Panhandle Expansion pipeline project–a project to deliver natural gas via local distribution channels to a new industrial facility in Berkeley County, WV, and to provide gas to other local businesses and residents in the Tri-State area. Mountaineer’s pipeline expansion will be fed by the 3.5-mile Columbia Gas pipeline under the Potomac. There are three phases to the Eastern Panhandle Expansion project: Phase One runs a 22.5-mile, 10-inch-diameter steel pipeline from Morgan County to Martinsburg; Phase Two includes a loop to Charles Town; and Phase Three will build a four mile segment of pipeline into Martinsburg. The West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection approved the Eastern Panhandle Expansion in February (see WV DEP Issues Permit for Mountaineer Gas Pipeline in Eastern WV). As of last week, work on Phase One has begun, on both ends of the 22.5-mile pipeline…
Read More “Mountaineer Gas Begins Work on Morgan County, WV Pipeline”
Crime | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Seismic Testing | Westmoreland County

Whoops! Stolen Seismic Testing Nodes in SWPA have Tracking Devices
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

Click for larger version

To the person or people who recently stole nine seismic testing nodes in Westmoreland County, PA, know this: You have until March 26 to return the devices (worth $1,500 each). After that, you will be tracked down and prosecuted for the multiple felonies you’ve committed. Yes, each stolen seismic device has a tracker embedded in it, and you WILL be found (loser!). The seismic testing devices were legally placed in various locations by Geokinetics, hired by Huntley & Huntley to map what’s below the surface in preparation for drilling shale wells. Are anti-drilling wackos responsible for stealing the devices as a way to prevent H&H from drilling shale wells? It’s certainly possible and fits the pattern of previous actions by some of the more insane among the movement. However, we’ll reserve judgment. The thefts could have been your garden variety dopers who steal to get money to buy drugs. Either way, the loser or losers who have stolen the equipment will be found out–unless they decide to do the right thing and return the equipment. The clock is ticking, loser(s)…
Read More “Whoops! Stolen Seismic Testing Nodes in SWPA have Tracking Devices”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA Senator from Philly Slanders Marcellus, Accepts $635K in Union $
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

PA State Senator Vincent Hughes

Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes from Philadelphia is smug, arrogant, and completely wrong about the Marcellus industry–and he enjoys being wrong. Maybe because he’s being paid to be wrong. At a recent PA Department of Revenue Senate Appropriations Hearing (watch it below), Hughes attacked the Marcellus industry with slanders, slurs and outright lies in an attempt to paint the industry as greedy because they have resisted a severance tax on top of an impact tax. Hughes’ testimony was so full of lies, so egregiously wrong, the Marcellus Shale Coalition felt compelled to respond with a document to correct the whoppers the arrogant Hughes pedaled at the hearing (see it below). Why does Hughes attack the industry? We think we know. The Commonwealth Foundation recently published the Top 10 recipients of funds received from public sector unions (including Philly teacher’s unions). Senator Hughes received the second largest amount since 2010–topping $635,000. Yeah, Hughes is BOUGHT AND PAID FOR by Philly teacher’s unions–the same unions Gov. Wolf has promised, repeatedly, that he would shower with money from a Marcellus Shale severance tax…
Read More “PA Senator from Philly Slanders Marcellus, Accepts $635K in Union $”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

How to Remove Law-Breaking MVP Tree Sitters without Hurting Them?
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

Last week MDN told you about two radical anti-fossil fuel activists who built tree houses in the Jefferson National Forest and are living in them (for now) in an attempt to prevent the trees and the trees around them from being cut to make way for the legally permitted Mountain Valley Pipeline (see Radicals Go Up a Tree in Quest to Illegally Block MVP Construction). Their strategy is to stay up a tree until March 31, when the trees can no longer be cut due to bat season–a prohibition on tree clearing to prevent killing a threatened species of bats that may roost in those trees (season lasts until October). MVP needs those trees to come down now, before the end of the month, or the pipeline won’t get built this year. On Tuesday a judge agreed, granting an injunction that says the tree sitters have to come down. Just one problem–when MVP reps tried to serve the tree sitters with a summons, the radicals refused to identify themselves or “hear” the summons, hiding out in their magic tree houses so they couldn’t be served. What can MVP (and the Forest Service) do now to get them out of the trees?…
Read More “How to Remove Law-Breaking MVP Tree Sitters without Hurting Them?”
Dominion Energy | Duke Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation

NC Republicans Slam Democrat Gov. for Approving Atlantic Coast Pipe
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

We’re not quite sure what to make of this story. North Carolina has been, as we’ve long pointed out, nitpicking in an attempt to slow down (or stop) the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) from traversing the state (see NC Plays “Death by a Thousand Questions” with Atlantic Coast Pipe). Dominion Energy and Duke Energy are building the $5-$6.5 billion, 594-mile ACP–a natural gas pipeline that will stretch from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina–reaching almost to the border with South Carolina. NC has a Democrat governor, Roy Cooper, whose administration has been hassling ACP for months. But then, all of a sudden, the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality issued permits approving the pipeline–which happened at the same time Dominion and Duke set up a $58 million fund “to protect the environment” in those counties where the pipeline will run. Sure sounds like a $58 million bribe to us, but hey, what do we know? If it gets the job done, it’s a cost of doing business, right? So now NC Republicans, who would normally be in favor of a project like ACP, are crying foul and launching an investigation into NC Gov. Roy Cooper’s $58 million “slush fund,” threatening to hold up work on ACP…
Read More “NC Republicans Slam Democrat Gov. for Approving Atlantic Coast Pipe”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

EPA Throws Bankrupt Philly Refinery a Lifeline
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

In January MDN brought you the sad news that the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES), which operates the East Coast’s largest refinery on the banks of the Delaware River, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (see Philadelphia Refinery Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy). PES’ stated reason for bankruptcy is due to an onerous EPA requirement that refiners must blend in biofuel with gasoline and diesel, or purchase very expensive credits. PES can’t blend, so they must buy the credits, and buying the credits put them under water financially. Sadly, the Trump administration caved to the Midwest corn growers lobby and decided to uphold the Obama EPA’s onerous requirement to buy credits. But what’s this? Following withering criticism of the EPA, and visits to PES from luminaries like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the EPA has had a change of heart. The EPA has asked the bankruptcy court judge to waive $350 million PES owes for the credits (about half of the total bill). Will it be enough to save PES?…
Read More “EPA Throws Bankrupt Philly Refinery a Lifeline”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

WV DEP Orders Rover Pipe to Stop Construction for Violations
March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

Rover Pipeline is in hot water again. This time it’s not Captain Craig “Ahab” Butler from the Ohio EPA, but the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection. In a letter just released publicly (dated March 5), WVDEP slapped Rover with a “cease-and-desist” order, stopping all construction of Rover in the state, because of inspections in February that found 14 violations of water pollution regulations. The violations occurred in Doddridge, Tyler and Wetzel counties. Violations ran the range of leaving trash behind at construction sites to improper perimeter controls (no erosion devices installed) to failure to clean up the roads they used. In addition to trouble in WV, Rover is also facing new issues in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. In February heavy rains in the region caused “slippage issues” where the pipeline is being installed. Rover filed a report with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last week to say it has eight crews working to correct slippage issues at six locations along its 51-mile Burgettstown Lateral. Here’s the latest on WV shutting down Rover, and Rover’s work to fix slippage issues…
Read More “WV DEP Orders Rover Pipe to Stop Construction for Violations”