CONCORD, Mass. – Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to impact waters of the U.S. in conjunction with work that is part of the expansion of its existing pipeline system in Danbury and Norwich, Conn.
The Atlantic Bridge Project (ABP) involves the discharge of approximately 1.5 acres of direct permanent and temporary fill and 0.85 acre of secondary impacts to wetlands and waters within the Southeast Discharge Take-Up and Relay section of the project in the city of Danbury and 0.07 acre of direct impacts for temporary fill in wetlands near the Salem Pike M&R (Metering and Regulating Station) section of the project in the city of Norwich.
The work in Danbury involves the removal (take-up) of approximately 2.3 miles of the existing 26-inch diameter mainline in Algonquin’s right of way (ROW) and its replacement (relay) with a new 42-inch diameter pipeline, starting at the existing mainline valve 19 (milepost 0.0) and extending to the east, crossing Route 37 and East Hayestown Road before heading south for a short distance to a parallel configuration with the northern shoulder of Interstate 84. The take-up and relay segment runs in parallel with the northern edge of Interstate 84 crossing Great Plain Road and Rockwell Road before terminating at a new launcher and receiver site at milepost 2.3 in Danbury (Southeast Discharge Take-up and Relay).
Direct permanent and temporary impacts for the take up and relay portion of the Atlantic Bridge Project are mostly within Algonquin’s right of way and involve the removal of wetland shrubs and soil, excavation of the old pipe and its replacement with a larger pipe, and the back filling of the trench with gravel and the excavated soil.
The work in Norwich involves the replacement of the existing Salem Pike M&R Station, with a new station approximately 300 feet from the existing one, directly across Briar Hill Road on Algonquin’s E-3 Lateral System in the city of Norwich. The parcel where the new M&R station will be located is owned by Norwich Public Utilities, which is one of the project shippers.
The Atlantic Bridge Project includes other work in New England and New York not covered in this notice. The impacts to waters of the U.S. in New England identified above are in Connecticut only. Impacts related to the New York project will be addressed by the Corps office in New York.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead federal agency for this project which is identified as Docket No. CP16-9000. As the lead agency, FERC has prepared an Environmental Assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA was issued on May 1, 2016. The Environmental Assessment and instructions for submitting comments to FERC are available at http://www.ferc.gov. Using the “eLibrary” link on the FERC website, select “General Search” from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and the FERC “Docket No.” and follow the instructions. For assistance call, 1-866-208-3676 or email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
The project purpose and need is to expand Algonquin’s existing pipeline system to provide gas transportation service of up to 132,705 dekatherms per day from its receipt point at Mahwah, New Jersey, to its distributors in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine.
The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice can be viewed on the Corps website at: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on the work proposed in New England by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (file #NAE-2014-2192) should be forwarded no later than June 24, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Barbara Newman), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Barbara Newman at 978-318-8515 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: barbara.h.newman@usace.army.mil.