Pipeline plan found flawed

‘Massive project’ needs better plan

By SANDY LONG

WAYNE AND PIKE COUNTIES, PA — An Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) plan that will involve 17 miles and 314 acres of land disturbance in Wayne County and 15 miles and approximately 260 acres in Pike County has been reviewed by conservation district staff in each and deemed “inadequate” by both.

The Tennessee Gas Pipeline 300 Project will affect four additional counties—Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga and Potter in Pennsylvania.

Following initial review of the E&S plan, the local conservation districts concluded it is not adequate for erosion and sediment pollution control and does not meet the minimum requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) rules and regulations, Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control, and the Clean Streams Law.

In his assessment of the plan, Wayne Conservation District resource conservationist Len Grover noted 12 issues that must be thoroughly addressed, such as the need for “fully detailed topographical contours (pre and post construction) for all mapping where work is to be performed.

“As submitted, this is an unreviewable plan which demonstrates a lack of awareness of Pennsylvania’s environmental laws,” said Grover. “Most of Wayne County is a Special Protections Watershed. The plan has very little bearing on erosion and sedimentation controls.”

In her review, Pike County Conservation (PCCD) resource conservationist Ellen Salak detailed 20 areas needing information or corrections, as well as nearly 50 additional comments and/or recommendations. PCCD’s concerns include the level of earth disturbance activity proposed for the project, deforestation and the wetland and waterway crossings and their potential impacts. In Pike County, the expansion will occur in Lackawaxen, Shohola and Milford townships.

According to the plan, expansion of the current right-of-way (ROW) will include the following: “The proposed construction ROW in upland areas will typically consist of a 100-foot-wide corridor of which there will be a 50-foot-wide permanent ROW and 50 feet of temporary construction ROW. The proposed construction ROW in the majority of wetland and waterbody areas will be 75 feet wide. Typical additional temporary workspace of 25-foot widths by varying lengths along the pipeline will be required in addition to the proposed construction ROW to account for site-specific issues including side slope, topsoil segregation, road and waterbody crossings, etc.”

Both conservation districts noted that the plan, which should have been the final plan for construction, is labeled “Issued for FERC Review” and “Not for Construction.” The agencies make it clear that additional comments may result due to the lack of information provided in the plan as submitted.

The points raised by each district in their reviews will be compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) North Central Regional Office and submitted to Tennessee Gas Pipeline and its engineering firm AECOM.

“This is a massive project that will affect many lives and a great deal of land,” said Grover. “It’s critical that they get to know and respect Pennsylvania’s environmental regulations.”