Pipelines

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    PA State Senator Introduces Bill to Regulate Gathering Pipelines

    PA Senator Lisa Baker

    We’re not quite sure what to think about this one. A Republican PA State Senator, Lisa Baker, on Monday introduced a bill in the PA Senate (SB 488, see a copy below) to regulate low-pressure natural gas gathering pipelines. Currently those lines, over 3,600 miles of them, are not regulated by any state or federal agency. Baker’s bill would put them under the oversight of the PA Public Utility Commission. Hey, we’re not against regulation in general. It’s an important part of the puzzle that makes energy possible. We are, however, against unnecessary and onerous regulation. We are against barriers that would slow, to a crawl, the installation of new gathering lines–what are by all accounts very safe pipelines. When was the last time you heard about a local gathering line that sprung a gas leak, blew up, etc.? Yeah, us too. Never. So the real question here is: Is regulating these lines even necessary? We suspect not, but we’ll keep an open mind while this plays out…
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    Gutsy: NFG Asks FERC to Cut NY DEC Out of Pipeline Approval

    On Feb. 3, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a long-delayed project–National Fuel Gas Company’s (NFG) Northern Access 2016 pipeline project (see NFG’s Northern Access Pipe in NY/PA Gets FERC Approval). The $455 million project includes building 97 miles of new pipeline along a power line corridor from northwestern Pennsylvania up to Erie County, NY. The project also calls for 3 miles of new pipeline further up, in Niagara County, along with a new compressor station in the Town of Pendleton. Although FERC has now given permission to build it, the State of New York, specifically the state’s Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC), must issue stream crossing permits. Sound familiar? The DEC faced a similar task with the FERC-approved Constitution Pipeline and ultimately, under political pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, made the decision to refuse granting Williams the permits it needs to build the Constitution. Williams sued and sometime this spring NY will almost certainly lose the case (see Bloomberg Predicts Court Will Strip NY’s Right to Stop Constitution). With the approval arriving, the DEC decided maybe it was time to begin conducting circus public hearings about the project (see Battle Begins to Get NY DEC to Approve Northern Access Project). But NFG is in no mood to screw around with the Cuomo DEC, so they’ve asked FERC for a “reconsideration and clarification” on the role of the DEC in reviewing the project. Specifically, NFG wants FERC to rule that the DEC has NO role in reviewing the Northern Access 2016 project. Wouldn’t that be sweet?…
    Read More “Gutsy: NFG Asks FERC to Cut NY DEC Out of Pipeline Approval”

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    Standing Rock Wannabes in Lancaster Threatened with $1K/Day Fines

    Barn illegally hosting encampment

    Two days ago MDN brought you the news that anti-fossil fuelers opposed to the Williams Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project are using the same (losing) playbook to oppose Atlantic Sunrise as they used to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline (see Protesters Try to Resurrect Failed ND Pipeline Fight in Lancaster). What is that playbook? Establish a protest “camp” where hundreds or thousands of “protesters” (i.e. paid activists) can assemble to “fight” the pipeline. When you get a bunch of lazy hippies together, you need some logistics–a place to stash food, water, toilet paper, condoms (whoops, did we say that out loud?). You also need a meeting hall. The antis in Lancaster found a sympathetic local landowner who is loaning them his barn–as a place to store things and for meetings. The problem is, the barn isn’t zoned as an “encampment” and meeting hall, and the local municipality is threatening to slap the property owner with a $1,000 per day fine if the illegal protest meetings being held in the barn aren’t stopped. Now. The antis, who see evil methane monsters behind every tree, claim “Somebody’s out to get us, we don’t know who”…
    Read More “Standing Rock Wannabes in Lancaster Threatened with $1K/Day Fines”

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    Williams Keeps Pressure on PA DEP to Issue Atlantic Sunrise Permits

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Atlantic Sunrise in early February (see Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Final Approval by FERC). Even though the project is approved, that’s not the end of the story. Regulatory work still remains, including approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction of Atlantic Sunrise is scheduled to begin later this year, pending the receipt of these regulatory approvals. Williams is gently pressuring the DEP to hurry it up. Fortunately for Williams, the PA DEP is not like the corrupt New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In NY, the DEC caved to political pressure from Gov. Cuomo and denied Williams stream-crossing permits (a matter now in court, see Constitution Pipeline Case Goes to Court in 2 Weeks, Briefs Filed). In PA, the DEP will no doubt do its job and grant the permits. The problem is, they’re taking waaaaaaay too long to do it…
    Read More “Williams Keeps Pressure on PA DEP to Issue Atlantic Sunrise Permits”

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    Rover Pipeline Challenges FERC re Demolishing “Historic” House

    On Feb. 3, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its final approval to Energy Transfer’s Rover Pipeline project–a $3.7 billion, 711-mile Marcellus/Utica natural gas pipeline that will run from PA, WV and eastern OH through OH into Michigan and eventually into Canada (see ET Rover Pipeline Gets Final Approval by FERC). Normally when FERC approves such a project, they issue a “blanket certificate” that allows the pipeline company to move forward with construction without getting “Mother May I?” permission for every step along the way. But FERC denied ET a blanket certificate for Rover. Why? Because Rover demolished a house that was under consideration for a national registry of historic homes, without first telling FERC (see Rover Pipeline in Hot Water Over Demolishing Historic House in OH). In May 2015, Rover purchased a house in Carroll County, OH, located near where the pipeline, and a compressor station for that pipeline, is due to run. Rover bought the house to use for offices for several Rover affiliate companies. After buying it, Rover determined the house was “ill-suited for its intended purpose” and decided to demolish it. Problem was/is, that house was under consideration to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. The house was not yet on the list of Historic Places, but was on a list of properties under consideration. FERC says Rover should have reported their decision to demolish the house, which has Rover in hot water with FERC and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. That’s why FERC didn’t issue a blanket certificate for construction of Rover. So ET and Rover have now filed for a rehearing, claiming FERC erred in not granting the blanket certificate…
    Read More “Rover Pipeline Challenges FERC re Demolishing “Historic” House”

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    Proposed 13-Mile Pipeline in SW OH Under Review, DOPEs Oppose

    Duke Energy Ohio, an LDC or “local distribution company” serves some half a million customers with natural gas in Ohio. The company has a ~12 mile pipeline to flow gas it needs to move from one point to another in Hamilton County (Cincinnati), the southwest corner of the state. The Duke pipeline has been around and in service since the 1950s. Duke needs to replace that pipe or some of the half million Duke customers won’t get natural gas any more. Because anything to do with “fracking” or “pipelines” has been so thoroughly bastardized by the media and anti-fossil fuel protesters, there was, of course, opposition to Duke’s plan. So Duke “listened” and has scaled back their plans. Instead of building a 30-inch gas pipeline running at 600 psi (pounds per square inch), the revised plan calls for a 20-inch pipeline running at 400 psi (see Duke Energy Modifies/Scales Back Plan for SW OH Pipeline). Duke proposed two potential routes, both of which are opposed by antis, including a group calling themselves NOPE–Neighbors Opposing Pipeline Extension. We’d call them DOPEs–Dummies Opposing Pipeline Extensions. Will these people volunteer to shut off the natural gas to their homes and businesses if the pipeline doesn’t get built?…
    Read More “Proposed 13-Mile Pipeline in SW OH Under Review, DOPEs Oppose”

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    PA DEP Sec McDonnell Defends Overreach of GP-5/5A

    At last week’s Oil & Gas Awards’ 2017 Northeast Industry Summit, MDN editor Jim Willis heard former Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary, Michael Krancer, say that the DEP’s proposed changes to General Permit (GP) 5 and 5A are “a big deal” and that the permits, as drafted, have the potential to stop PA natural gas production for 12-18 months while new regulations get sorted out (see Big News from the O&G Awards Northeast Industry Summit). We’ve written a fair bit about GP-5/5A, most recently in December (see PA DEP Extends Public Comment Period for Methane Regs). Our take on GP-5/5A is that it will target a reduction in fugitive methane. However, Krancer said the new rule would also stop any new pipeline construction through wetlands (virtually any and all new pipelines) until new permitting procedures are hashed out–hence his startling statement about production stopping for more than a year. Krancer also said GP-5/5A will regulate small gathering lines. PA’s legislators are very concerned about GP-5/5A and submitted a letter to DEP Acting Secretary Pat McDonnell in February with 21 questions about the new rule change. McDonnell met with several Senators and subsequently responded, in writing, by addressing each of the 21 questions. We have McDonnell’s letter and responses below…
    Read More “PA DEP Sec McDonnell Defends Overreach of GP-5/5A”

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    7 Major Marcellus/Utica Pipelines Coming This Year & Next

    Yesterday MDN brought you a story about the difference, in the price drillers get for their gas, that a single pipeline can make (see The Difference One Utica Pipeline Can Make on Gas Prices). That story was about how the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) reversed its flow from Ohio to Missouri adding 800 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of extra capacity for a total of 2.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of gas now flowing from the Utica/Marcellus to the Midwest. REX is an existing pipeline. Just think about all of the pipeline projects in the queue for the Marcellus/Utica. In fact, there are seven major projects that are either already-approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or under review now. If you add them all together, it represents almost 12 Bcf/d of additional natural gas flowing out of our region to other regions, where it will fetch higher prices. What are the seven projects? How much gas will each flow? When will they go online? We need a scorecard! We now have one…
    Read More “7 Major Marcellus/Utica Pipelines Coming This Year & Next”

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    Josh Fox, Maya & Friends Plan to Protest Any FERC Appointments

    You know it’s a slow week for anti-fossil fuel crackpots like Josh Fox and Maya van Rossum (THE Delaware Riverkeeper) when they have to hold a conference call to begin protesting something that hasn’t even happened yet. The Donald has been a busy boy, trying to weed out Obamadroids deeply embedded in the federal government. The President is responsible to appointing something like 5,000 people to positions throughout the federal government. Most of them pass through Presidential Personnel (an office MDN editor Jim Willis once worked in during the Reagan Administration, back in the Jurassic period) and do not require Congressional approval. But one agency of primary concern for us, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), is still missing three of five Commissioners. Trump has not (yet) put forward nominees to staff it, nominees who will have to be approved by the Senate. But lack of nominees isn’t stopping Josh Fox, Maya van Rossum, a PA pig farmer and others with an abject hatred of FERC because FERC is responsible for evaluating and approving pipeline projects. You know, pipelines that flow evil, disgusting, horrible fossil fuels that are poisoning Mom Earth. On a conference call scheduled for tomorrow, Josh, Maya & friends will outline their opposition to ANYONE Trump puts forward. Doesn’t matter who it is. The Dalai Lama? Against him. BH Obama? Against him too. Meryl “hates Donald Trump’s guts” Streep? Against her, even though she’s a hater. Queen Hillary? She’s yesterday’s news. Mickey Mouse? Set out a mousetrap. That will be the strategy outlined on tomorrow’s conference call…
    Read More “Josh Fox, Maya & Friends Plan to Protest Any FERC Appointments”

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    FERC Green Lights Rover Pipeline Construction

    Along with chainsaws buzzing (until Mar. 31) and wood chips flying, Rover Pipeline has now started the backhoes. As MDN previously reported, on Feb. 3 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its final approval for Energy Transfer’s Rover Pipeline project, a $3.7 billion, 711-mile Marcellus/Utica natural gas pipeline that will run from PA, WV and eastern OH through OH into Michigan and eventually into Canada (see ET Rover Pipeline Gets Final Approval by FERC). At the time we observed Rover had received permission to clear trees before the Mar. 31 “can’t kill roosting bats” deadline. However, Rover did not have permission to begin digging trenches and laying pipeline. That permission came this past Friday…
    Read More “FERC Green Lights Rover Pipeline Construction”

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    Ohio EPA Begins Using New General Permits for Compressor Stations

    Compressor stations in Ohio, needed to flow natural gas through numerous new pipelines being built, require a permit from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to get built. The Ohio EPA considers each application independently, a laborious and long process. In an effort to streamline that process, the Ohio EPA began work on a plan in September 2015 to issue “general permits” for compressor stations (see Ohio EPA Seeks “Pre-Comments” on Compressor Station Permit Plan). A general permit is, essentially, a cookie cutter approach. If midstream companies agree to the provisions in the general permit, i.e. they commit to using certain types of equipment and certain standards, the permit process will speed along much faster. In April 2016 Ohio EPA floated draft versions of the new general permits (see Ohio EPA Seeks Comments on New Permits for Compressor Stations). The long wait is over. Ohio EPA announced last week that the new general permits (there are a BUNCH of them) are ready for use…
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    The Difference One Utica Pipeline Can Make on Gas Prices

    What happens when you build a major interstate natural gas pipeline–and you’ve guessed wrong about the market. That happened to Tallgrass Energy and their Rockies Express Pipeline (REX), which runs from Colorado and Wyoming in the West to Ohio in the East. The REX Pipeline was completed in 2009, just in time for the shale revolution to begin in the Marcellus and now in the Utica. What to do when you’re pumping gas into a saturated market? You reverse the flow (see Reversing the Fortunes for “Wrong Way” REX Pipeline). On August 1, 2015 the section of REX from Monroe County, OH to Mexico, MO (called Zone 3) reversed the flow and began to carry 1.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of Utica and Marcellus Shale gas to the Midwest, including to the greater Chicago area. In January 2017, REX completed the reversal project and now flows 2.6 Bcf/d of Marcellus/Utica gas to the Midwest (see REX Pipe Completes Expansion Today, 2.6 Bcf/d Flowing East-to-West). The ace researchers at Natural Gas Intelligence have been looking at prices Utica drillers were able to get for their gas at key locations before and after REX reversed the pipeline and have found that single pipeline has “erased” the price differences between Utica and Marcellus gas. That is, Utica drillers now fetch much higher prices for their gas, everywhere they sell it (in Ohio and out), because of the REX pipeline and the new markets it has opened up…
    Read More “The Difference One Utica Pipeline Can Make on Gas Prices”

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    Protesters Try to Resurrect Failed ND Pipeline Fight in Lancaster

    Click for larger version

    Anti-fossil fuelers opposed to the Williams Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline project–a $3 billion, 198-mile pipeline running through 10 Pennsylvania counties to connect Marcellus Shale natural gas from PA with the Williams’ Transco pipeline in southern Lancaster County–are using the same (losing) playbook to oppose Atlantic Sunrise as they used to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline. They claim, falsely, that the pipeline will disturb ancient Indian burial grounds and other hogwash about disturbing archaeological sites. As we’ve previously reported, local antis in Lancaster County, PA aided and abetted by national Big Green groups hope to recreate the disaster of Standing Rock, ND in Lancaster County, PA (see PA Anti Hopes to Bring Standing Rock Disaster to Lancaster County). As we reported last week, most of the funding for their troublemaking is coming from a British cosmetics company nobody ever heard of (see Cosmetics Firm, Church Fund Anti “Camps” Against Atlantic Sunrise). Just in case the general reading public is too stupid to understand that Lancaster is the new Standing Rock, they’ve painted “Welcome to the Stand” (channeling Standing Rock) on the side of a barn near where the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline is due to run. And they openly admit, even trumpet the fact, that “Standing Rock is the playbook” they are using. That is, they seek anarchy and lawlessness as their preferred means to bully other people into doing something they want done…
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    Antis Find Solace in Bay’s Final Pot Shot at FERC

    Norman Bay, formerly of FERC

    Anti-fossil fuel groups adamantly opposed to new pipeline projects are finding solace, and perhaps legal assistance, in the remarks made by former Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Norman Bay. There were three FERC Commissioners, the minimum required to vote on projects, until Bay left. Why did he leave? When Bay (a Democrat) joined FERC, he was promoted by Barack H. Obama to be the Chairman of the Commission, displacing Cheryl LaFleur (another Democrat) from her role as Chairman. LaFleur didn’t let Obama’s decision affect her–she stuck around and kept working. When Donald Trump took office, he decided, which is his prerogative, to elevate LaFleur to be Chairman once again, “demoting” Bay to regular old Commissioner. Bay immediately resigned in a huff. Thing is, Bay’s resignation was calculated to do maximum damage to current pipeline projects under review, most of them in the Marcellus/Utica. On his last day in office, along with a flurry of FERC approvals, Bay issued a statement as part of one of the approvals that FERC should “analyze the environmental effects of increased regional gas production from the Marcellus and Utica” shale regions (see FERC Commissioner Norm Bay Targets M-U on Way Out the Door). Now, anti-fossil fuel lawyers are using his words to help make their case against authorizing pipeline projects…
    Read More “Antis Find Solace in Bay’s Final Pot Shot at FERC”

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    Cosmetics Firm, Church Fund Anti “Camps” Against Atlantic Sunrise

    Ding dong–Lush is calling. A British cosmetics company (think UK version of Avon), looking to get bought-and-paid-for publicity here in the states, has donated $22,000 to the anti-Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline group, Lancaster Against Pipelines (LAP). Anti-drilling losers like those in LAP would flare out if not for the backing of companies and Big Green groups with deep pockets. Which cosmetics company did the donating? The name is Lush. You’ve never heard of them and almost certainly have never purchased any of their forgettable products–which is why they donate money to groups like LAP, to get far more exposure than advertising can buy. There’s enough nutjobs out there that will buy products from companies like Lush to make “donating” money for “causes” to these groups a profitable venture. Another funder of LAP? The Universal Unitarian Church in Lancaster, which forked over $5,000 of parishioner contributions to LAP. Hello IRS! Will you please investigate the non-profit Universal Unitarian Church for giving money to an overtly political cause? Who else is donating money to the small group of LAP rabble-rousers?…
    Read More “Cosmetics Firm, Church Fund Anti “Camps” Against Atlantic Sunrise”

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    WV Hare Krishnas Settle with Rover Pipeline, Crossing Commune

    Here’s an interesting story. A religious commune of Hare Krishnas in Marshall County, WV steadfastly refused to sign an easement with Rover Pipeline to allow the pipeline across ~3,000 feet of commune-owned property. Rover had offered the Krishnas $7,000 for the easement, but no dice. You may recall that the Krishnas have no problem accepting oil and gas money, and have done so by leasing their land for shale drilling–even though the official view of the Krishnas is that “gas drilling is exploitative, that it is unsustainable and ‘contributes to the culture of death and toxicity’” (see WV Hare Krishnas “Purify” Gas Money to Benefit Commune). Apparently when there’s enough money involved, official Krishna doctrine changes. Back to Rover. On Tuesday, the Krishnas filed a lawsuit in federal court to block Rover from using eminent domain to enter the property to cut trees–a lawsuit based on religious grounds. A hearing was held on Thursday in federal court in Wheeling. The Krishnas loaded a bunch of followers into a fossil fuel-belching van to cart them to the court house to protest and make a scene. Lots of publicity. The judge granted a brief recess to allow the two sides to talk, and following the recess the Krishnas and Rover announced they had signed a deal. The official line is that Rover is changing the route of the pipeline to avoid certain holy places on Krishna property. The pipeline will now traverse MORE Krishna property–nearly twice as much more (5,300 feet). So much for objecting to the pipeline based on “religious” grounds, right? What is not mentioned, conspicuously so, is how much more money the Krishnas were able to get out of Rover, so Rover could make the bad publicity go away…
    Read More “WV Hare Krishnas Settle with Rover Pipeline, Crossing Commune”