Pipelines

Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | NEXUS Pipeline | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

CORNballs Strike Again, File Lawsuit to Stop NEXUS Pipeline
May 15, 2017May 15, 2017

A group of landowners in Ohio calling themselves the Coalition to Reroute Nexus (CORN), whom we affectionately call CORNballs, have filed a lawsuit in court against the NEXUS pipeline project. Not to actually reroute NEXUS, but to kill it. To stop it. The landowners are asking a federal court to block the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from allowing the project to proceed–which of course is not going to happen–and to legally bar the NEXUS Gas Transmission project from building the pipeline. Which has been the aim of the CORNballs from the beginning–contrary to the party line that they just want it rerouted around them. The CORNballs seem to be in league with antis in the City of Green, OH, who recently voted to give $100,000 of taxpayer money to high-priced Cleveland lawyers to try and stop NEXUS (see Green, OH Paying Lawyers $100K to Fund Stop NEXUS Crusade). Green also gave CORN $10,000, which no doubt is helping fund CORN’s legal effort to stop NEXUS… Read More “CORNballs Strike Again, File Lawsuit to Stop NEXUS Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Transco | Williams

PA State Senator Introducing Law to Send Protesters Cleanup Bill
May 15, 2017May 15, 2017

Here’s a story we LOVE! As we previously reported, anti-fossil fuel “protesters” (i.e. paid thugs) in North Dakota, there to try and stop the Dakota Access Pipeline from being completed (which didn’t work), left a major mess behind when they finally moved on (see Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters Turn Violent; Coming Here Next?). The protesters, supposedly there to protect Mom Earth, left behind massive piles of garbage which, with the spring floods, threatened the local environment they were supposedly there to protect. State and local governments ended up paying millions of dollars to clean up the filth left behind to avoid an environmental catastrophe. As we’ve also reported, a number of times, anti-fossil fuel zealots from Lancaster County, PA are attempting to lure the same group of paid rabble-rousers to peaceful Lancaster County to reenact the same destruction–in a bid to stop the Williams Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project (see PA Anti Hopes to Bring Standing Rock Disaster to Lancaster County). Earlier this month a local state senator from Lancaster, Scott Martin, convened a closed-door meeting to help local law enforcement and first responders prepare for the coming lawlessness of the protesters (see Lancaster Forum to Focus on Handling Anarchists in Pipeline Protest). Now Sen. Martin is set to introduce legislation that will give the bill for any cleanup of a large protest camp–to the protesters! That’s right, if they want to “assemble peaceably” and speak their minds–go right ahead. But if you create a massive dump like you created in North Dakota, this time you (the nutty protesters) are going to pay to clean it up. LOVE IT!… Read More “PA State Senator Introducing Law to Send Protesters Cleanup Bill”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation

Slight Delay: New Date for FERC Approval of Atlantic Coast Pipe
May 15, 2017May 15, 2017

There has been a slight delay from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the approval process for Dominion’s $5 billion, 594-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline–a natural gas pipeline that will stretch from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina. On Friday, FERC issued an official update to Dominion to say that instead of issuing a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on June 30, 2017, as previously promised, the agency will now provide the final EIS on July 21, 2017–three weeks later. The final EIS is an important step in the process–perhaps THE most important step. When/if FERC issues a positive EIS that finds a project will not cause undue environmental harm, it’s usually all over. Yes, other steps are involved, but a final approval is then a foregone conclusion. So IF the final EIS is delivered on July 21, a 90-day clock begins ticking. FERC will then have until Oct. 19 to deliver their final final final approval of the project…
Read More “Slight Delay: New Date for FERC Approval of Atlantic Coast Pipe”
Industrywide Issues | Lancaster County | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide MD | Statewide PA

Delmarva Pipeline Expansion Gets Positive FERC Enviro Review
May 15, 2017May 15, 2017

Click for larger version

In July 2016 MDN told you about a smallish, but important pipeline project in the Delmarva Peninsula area, which includes most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia. Eastern Shore Natural Gas’ 2017 System Expansion project will bring new sources of natgas from an interconnection Eastern Shore has with the mighty TETCo (Texas Eastern Company) pipeline near Philadelphia (see PA/MD/DE Pipeline Project Heats Up with Open House Mtgs This Week). Although Eastern Shore, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, ran a non-binding open season in 2015, and although they pre-filed for the expansion project in May 2016, they didn’t file a full, official application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) until January of this year (see Eastern Shore Files with FERC to Expand Delmarva Pipeline). The project includes 22.7 miles of new looping pipeline (laid next to existing pipeline) in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware; a 16.9-mile extension to a pipeline in Sussex County, DE; and upgrades to compressor and valve stations. Chesapeake Utilities, the parent company, calls the project the single largest such expansion in Eastern Shore’s history, a project that will bump up gas delivery volumes by 25%. Good news: FERC has just released the initial Environmental Assessment (EA). View the full 295-page document below. Interested parties now have until June 12 to comment on the EA, after which FERC will evaluate those comments and issue a final EA…
Read More “Delmarva Pipeline Expansion Gets Positive FERC Enviro Review”
Accidents | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

ET Disputes Ohio EPA Action on Rover, Says there Is No $431K Fine
May 12, 2017May 12, 2017

Somebody somewhere isn’t telling the truth. Earlier this week MDN brought you the news that Energy Transfer’s Rover Pipeline project has been fined by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) for $431,000 for “18 incidents involving mud spills from drilling, stormwater pollution and open burning at Rover pipeline construction sites have been reported between late March and Monday” (see Ohio EPA Slaps Rover Pipe with $431K Fine for Spills, Other Issues). Based on OEPA’s report to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC then told Rover to stop any new horizontal drilling underground (see FERC Slaps Rover Pipeline with Stop Drilling Order). But a recently filed report with FERC for the Rover project indicates only three spills and takes the tone it’s no big deal. And, a spokeswoman for Energy Transfer told the ace reporters at Natural Gas Intelligence that Rover has not been fined by the OEPA…
Read More “ET Disputes Ohio EPA Action on Rover, Says there Is No $431K Fine”
Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY

The Coming Clash Between DC and NY re Pipeline Approvals
May 12, 2017May 12, 2017

Yesterday MDN brought you the news that Williams is talking with White House officials about federal intervention into the illegal refusal by the New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue water crossing permits for their Constitution Pipeline project (see Williams Tries an End-Run Around NY DEC for Constitution Permit). As we explained in that post, NY has authority granted to it by the federal government to award stream crossing permits under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The DEC, for purely political reasons and under the direction of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has refused to do so–not only for the Constitution, but also for a second major pipeline project in the western part of the state (NFG’s Northern Access Pipeline project). According to an analyst from Height Securities, there is “political will” in Washington “to strip New York of its permitting authority.” Andrew Cuomo has gone rogue. He ignores federal law. Will Washington allow NY to continue thumbing its nose at the law? It looks like this is a battle royale between Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo. Our chips are on Trump… Read More “The Coming Clash Between DC and NY re Pipeline Approvals”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Transco | Williams

PA Roars Its Approval of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline with Petition, Comments
May 12, 2017May 12, 2017

While Williams is battling New York State in court, and in Washington, to get its Constitution Pipeline approved, another Williams project in neighboring Pennsylvania is much closer to construction–the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project. Atlantic Sunrise is a $3 billion, 198-mile pipeline project running through 10 Pennsylvania counties to connect Marcellus Shale natural gas from northeastern PA with the Williams’ Transco pipeline in southern Lancaster County. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its final seal of approval for the project in February (see Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Final Approval by FERC). But like NY, PA is holding up the project. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has not, so far, granted necessary permits to allow construction to begin. Williams embarked on a public relations campaign to enlist support to pressure PA Gov. Tom Wolf and the DEP to grant the permits so construction can begin. The DEP is holding up this project and the 8,000 jobs it will create during construction. Yesterday, Williams delivered a petition to Gov. Wolf with the signatures of 3,000 people supporting the project. Will it be enough to get Wolf and the DEP off their collective rear ends to issue the permits?…
Read More “PA Roars Its Approval of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline with Petition, Comments”
Accidents | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

FERC Slaps Rover Pipeline with Stop Drilling Order
May 11, 2017May 11, 2017

You can’t see we didn’t warn Rover Pipeline. In our story yesterday about the Ohio EPA’s frustration with Rover over regular spills of drilling mud (and other violations), we pointed out that the OEPA’s language is “Not good news for Rover, when one of the main state regulators (that can stop the project) is leveling criticisms like that” (see Ohio EPA Slaps Rover Pipe with $431K Fine for Spills, Other Issues). We also said, in the last sentence of that post, “Rover needs to get this situation under control before an emergency stop work order is slapped on them.” Such an order, more or less, has now been issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Yesterday FERC sent a letter (copy below) to Rover telling the pipeline it can no longer drill horizontally underground for the pipeline in some locations–until it complies with certain measures outlined by FERC and gets FERC staff sign-off every step of the way. In other words, Rover has likely just been delayed–due to its own haste and by not displaying the proper contrite attitude toward the OEPA. No one to blame but themselves…
Read More “FERC Slaps Rover Pipeline with Stop Drilling Order”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

Williams Tries an End-Run Around NY DEC for Constitution Permit
May 11, 2017May 11, 2017

Does Williams have an “ace in the hole” with respect to the Constitution Pipeline? The Constitution, a ~$900 million, 124-mile pipeline planned to run from Susquehanna County, PA into Upstate New York, was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in December 2014 (see FERC Issues Final Approval for Constitution Pipeline in PA/NY). After a year and a half of delays from the New York State Dept. of Conservation (DEC), an organization now corrupted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the DEC capriciously denied stream crossing permits for the project (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). Williams, the builder of the project, subsequently sued in federal court to force the state to issue the permits. The outcome of that lawsuit is due any month now (see Constitution Pipeline Still Waiting on “Biggie” Court Decision). However, Williams is now attempting another strategy, parallel to their lawsuit, that may grant them game, set and match. The stream crossing permits withheld by the NY DEC are permits issued under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. The DEC has the (delegated from the federal government) responsibility for issuing or denying Water Quality Certification (WQC) under Section 401. What if the feds were to snatch back that responsibility for themselves? Williams is asking the Trump White House to have the Army Corps of Engineers step in and grant the WQC for the Constitution under Section 401–as a replacement or substitute for the DEC. Such a move is allowed under the law–if a state refuses to act within a “reasonable” time period. If the Army Corps does step in and grant the Constitution a WQC, it would, in a word, emasculate the DEC and strip them of a great deal of their power–something we’ve previously warned about (see Bloomberg Predicts Court Will Strip NY’s Right to Stop Constitution). Will it work?… Read More “Williams Tries an End-Run Around NY DEC for Constitution Permit”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

Ohio EPA Slaps Rover Pipe with $431K Fine for Spills, Other Issues
May 10, 2017May 10, 2017

Rover mud spill in April

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) is frustrated with Energy Transfer and its management of constructing the ~$4 billion Rover Pipeline through the state. As MDN reported in April, Rover spilled some 2 million gallons of non-toxic drilling mud (i.e. bentonite) in three separate incidents (see Rover Pipeline Accident Spills ~2M Gal. Drilling Mud in OH Swamp and Rover Update: Half of 15K Workers Now Hired, 2% Pipeline Laid). We know that the biggest spill happened in Stark County, and another sizable spill in Richland County. It appears spilling some mud wasn’t the only environmental violation. The OEPA has just assessed a $431,000 fine against Energy Transfer for “18 incidents involving mud spills from drilling, stormwater pollution and open burning at Rover pipeline construction sites have been reported between late March and Monday.” The latest mud spill happened on Monday–200 gallons in Harrison County. OEPA Director Craig Butler said, “All told, our frustration is really high. We don’t think they’re taking Ohio seriously…Normally when we have…a series of events like this, companies respond with a whole lot of contrition and whole lot of commitment. We haven’t seen that. It’s pretty shocking.” Not good news for Rover, when one of the main state regulators (that can stop the project) is leveling criticisms like that… Read More “Ohio EPA Slaps Rover Pipe with $431K Fine for Spills, Other Issues”
Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation

Trump Nominates 2 New FERC Commissioners – Powelson & Chatterjee
May 10, 2017May 19, 2017

Finally! President Trump has proffered two candidates to fill the (soon to be) four empty slots as commissioners for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FERC board is supposed to have five commissioners. It currently has two, and soon to be one. Three commissioners are needed to fulfill a quorum, allowing votes to be taken on important infrastructure (i.e. pipeline) projects. A number of vital Marcellus/Utica projects are on hold due to lack of quorum. The not-so-secret rumor running around Washington since March was that Trump would nominate Kevin McIntyre, Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson (see Breaking: Kevin McIntyre, Neil Chatterjee are Trump Picks for FERC and Names Mentioned for 3rd FERC Post, Incl. PA’s Powelson). Kevin McIntyre is an attorney with the Jones Day law firm. Neil Chatterjee is a senior energy adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. And Rob Powelson is a member of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, and currently the president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). The rumor was that McIntyre would be put forward as chairman of FERC. Yet, when Trump finally nominated, McIntyre was not in the mix. Will he come along later? Is he now off the list? At least with Chatterjee and Powelson, FERC will once again have a quorum. When? Both candidates have to be vetted by the Senate. If everything goes smoothly, a final vote could happen by early June. Unless the Democrats try to slam the breaks on… Read More “Trump Nominates 2 New FERC Commissioners – Powelson & Chatterjee”
Delaware County (PA) | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Sunoco Logistics

6 Middletown Antis Sue Sunoco LP to Stop Mariner East 2 Pipe
May 10, 2017May 10, 2017

As we reported last week, six anti-pipeline residents living near where the Mariner East 2 pipeline will pass asked the Middletown (Delaware County, PA) town council to reject the path of the pipeline near their property because it would, supposedly, pass closer than town code allows. At a meeting earlier in the week, town council told the residents they’re out of luck–the town will not pursue any action to block Mariner East 2. Period. The residents, amped up and agitated by Big Green groups, was rumored to be considering a lawsuit against the pipeline to force it to conform with Middletown’s ordinance. It’s no longer a rumor. The amped up antis, spurred on and using lawyers from said Big Green groups, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Common Pleas on Friday… Read More “6 Middletown Antis Sue Sunoco LP to Stop Mariner East 2 Pipe”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pipelines | Regulation

Federal EPA Writes a PennEast Pipeline Love Letter to FERC
May 9, 2017May 9, 2017

Once upon a time, during the Obama reign of terror, the out-of-control Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as headed by the odious Gina McCarthy, blasted the PennEast Pipeline project (see Obama EPA, National Park Service Try to Rain on PennEast Parade). The Obama/McCarthy EPA made an outrageous claim: That building PennEast “may” end up causing arsenic in groundwater supplies. Totally bogus. And pathetic. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) didn’t fall for EPA’s arsenic and old lace. They approved the project in April (see FERC Issues Favorable Final EIS for PennEast Pipeline Project). Along with the change in the presidency has come some clear-headed thinking in Washington, DC–including at the EPA. Make no mistake–the EPA is still overly populated with Obamadroids that need to be canned. However, there’s enough of a change at the EPA that the agency has just sent what we would call a love letter to FERC, about PennEast. In it, the EPA says, “FERC’s efforts to consider and actively engage EPA to discuss comments, which resulted in improved or modified documentation provided in the [Final] EIS and improved safeguards for protection of human health and the environment.” And because of that, “many of our concerns and objections [to PennEast] have been or will be addressed.” In other words, everybody has now kissed and made up. EPA is feelin’ good about PennEast. And so are we…
Read More “Federal EPA Writes a PennEast Pipeline Love Letter to FERC”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Spectra Energy | Statewide NY

NY DEC Grants Water Permits for Atlantic Bridge Pipeline Project
May 9, 2017May 9, 2017

Very good news for Spectra Energy’s Atlantic Bridge project in (of all places) New York State. In January the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its final stamp of approval for Atlantic Bridge (see FERC Approves Atlantic Bridge Project for New England/Canada). Atlantic Bridge will beef up capacity on the Algonquin Gas Transmission and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline systems–to move more Marcellus/Utica gas to New England and Canada. Even though FERC “approved” Atlantic Bridge, Spectra Energy must still ask for “Mother May I?” permission to begin construction on specific, individual portions of the project. FERC granted Spectra Energy permission to begin construction on all of their requests in Connecticut in March (see FERC Grants Atlantic Bridge Pipe OK to Begin CT Construction). However, the part of the project located in New York State was stalled, waiting for a water crossing permit from the Cuomo corrupted Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Miracle of miracles–the DEC has granted those permits… Read More “NY DEC Grants Water Permits for Atlantic Bridge Pipeline Project”
Alternative Energy | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Seneca County (OH)

Seneca County, OH – Where All Forms of Energy Come Together
May 9, 2017May 9, 2017

Generally speaking, the western side of Ohio is seeing a lot of activity with new solar and wind installations. And the eastern side of the state is seeing a lot of activity with shale drilling and natural gas pipelines. But there is one county, Seneca County (slightly left of center, in the northern part of the state) where both renewable projects like solar and wind, and fossil fuel projects like pipelines, are both active. And that means landowners in Seneca County are being bombarded with offers from solar, wind, pipelines and electric lines. Some sage advice from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation for landowners: hire a lawyer before you sign anything… Read More “Seneca County, OH – Where All Forms of Energy Come Together”
Empire Pipeline | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Seneca Resources | Statewide NY

NFG Update – Getting “Lousy Treatment” in NY, Threatens to Leave
May 8, 2017May 8, 2017

National Fuel Gas Company (NFG), headquartered in Western New York State, is making noises (threats) that Gov. Andrew Cuomo should be very concerned about. NFG covers the full span of the oil and gas business–from upstream (with its wholly-owned drilling subsidiary Seneca Resources), to the midstream (with wholly-owned subsidiary Empire Pipeline) to downstream (NFG’s natural gas utility service to 740,000 customers in NY and PA). It’s a big company that generates a lot of jobs and revenue for New York State. Yet NY is metaphorically crapping all over NFG–and the company is signaling its willingness to retaliate by leaving. No, not move the company HQ, or sell off its gigantic utility business. Nothing of that sort (yet, anyway). But NFG CEO Ronald Tanski said on an earnings call last Friday that NFG is “getting lousy regulatory treatment in New York State” and that “Given this type of regulatory treatment in the state, we have to take a serious look at our ability to achieve any reasonable growth in New York.” Translation: We’ll stop launching new projects that invest billions in the Empire State, and instead invest that money and the jobs it creates in PA and other states. The “lousy treatment” NFG is getting is related to NY’s corrupt Dept. of Environmental Conservation decision to deny it permits to build the Northern Access Pipeline (see NFG Calls Cuomo DEC Denial of Northern Access Pipe “Troubling”). NFG has taken the Cuomo DEC to court to try and get the DEC’s capricious pipeline decision overturned. However, the damage is now done. NFG is threatening to invest elsewhere–and we take them at their word. This is not an empty threat…
Read More “NFG Update – Getting “Lousy Treatment” in NY, Threatens to Leave”