Tennessee Gas Pipeline. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company 300 Line Project No Net Loss Reforestation Plan

Transcription

1 Tennessee Gas Pipeline Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company 300 Line Project No Net Loss Reforestation Plan

2 Project Overview PROJECT FACILITIES Pipeline Facilities Eight loop segments of 30-inch diameter pipeline in Pennsylvania (111 miles) and New Jersey (16 miles) Aboveground Facilities Two new compressor stations (PA) and modifications to existing stations (PA & NJ) Mainline valves and internal inspection tool launcher & receiver facilities 2

3 300 Line Project In Service Date: November 1, 2011 Incremental Volume: 350,000 Dth/d 127 miles (16 miles in NJ, 111 miles in PA) 55,000 additional Hp; 34,000 Hp replacement TGP NY VT NH MA CT RI OH PA MD NJ Mahwah, NJ (into AGT) White Plains, NY (into ConEd) Rivervale, NJ (into Transco) Existing Station New Station Modified Station Loop Section Delivery Meter KY TGP EQT s Big Sandy WV VA 3

4 New Jersey Facilities 4

5 NJ State Lands Crossed - Summary State Land Township County Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area Vernon Sussex Wawayanda State Park Bearfort Mountain Natural Area West Milford Passaic Long Pond Ironworks State Park 5

6 NJ State Lands Crossed - Summary 6

7 Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Mgmt Area Forested Impacts: 8.6-ac temporary workspace / additional temporary workspace (TWS/ATWS); 1.1-ac new right-of-way (ROW) 7

8 Wawayanda State Park / Bearfort Mountain Natural Area Wawayanda SP - Forested Impacts: 16.1-ac TWS/ATWS; 4.1-ac new ROW BMNA - Forested Impacts: 5.8-ac TWS/ATWS; 1.5-ac new ROW 8

9 Long Pond Ironworks State Park Forested Impacts: 5.9-ac TWS/ATWS; 2.1-ac new ROW 9

10 No Net Loss Reforestation Act (N.J.S.A. 13:1L et seq.) Reforestation Plan (dated June 2010) prepared in conjunction with and based upon input, guidance and direction from NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry Staff and NJ Forest Service No Net Loss Reforestation Program Guidelines (January 2002; rev. September 2007) Replanting of TWS/ATWS areas Off-Site Restoration ti & Monetary Compensation for new permanent easement impacts Specialized Methods for: Palustrine Forested Wetlands Upland Forest Seed Mixes Areas with Moderate-Poor Suitability for Planting Eastern Hemlock / Oak Community Restoration 10

11 Deforestation Plan Deforestation to be limited to approved workspace areas Stumps will be left in place within wetlands except over trench line Deforestation activities will be conducted in compliance with mandatory Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) timing restrictions for tree clearing Tennessee s Environmental Construction Plan (ECP) best management practices will be followed during clearing activities, including: Implementation of erosion and sediment control measures Measures to prevent spread of invasive plants (track/wheel and equipment mat washing) 11

12 300 Line Reforestation Plan Details Wetland Mitigation Plan will be implemented for forested wetland impacts under Flood Hazard Area Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:16A-50 et seq.) and Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act (N.J.S.A. 13:9B-1 et seq.) Tree species replanting matrices developed for wetlands and open water buffer zones Specialized seed mixes for restoration in wetlands, riparian zones, and open water buffer zones Forested Land Assessment and Forested Community Type Assessment to determine acreage impacts 36.3-ac total ATWS/TWS to be reforested 8.8-ac total new easement for off-site restoration or monetary compensation as directed by DEP Community types identified by milepost from on-theground surveys of vegetation composition 12

13 300 Line Reforestation Plan Details Forested Land Assessment 0.5-ac grid system assessing % cover of forested area 13

14 300 Line Reforestation Plan Details Forested Land Assessment 0.5-ac grid system assessing % cover of forested area 14

15 300 Line Reforestation Plan Details NO NET LOSS REFORESTATION PLAN SUMMARY 300 LINE PROJECT LOOP 325 State-owned Property Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Mgmt Area Total Acres Established Forest Impacts a Total Acres Reforested Subject to NNL Total Acres Reforested not Subject to NNL Established Forest within New Perm ROW Not Reforested b Wawayanda State Park Bearfort Mountain Natural Area Long Pond Ironworks State Park TOTAL a: Includes only the acres of established forest removed within the 33% half acres grids. b: Impacts to established forest not reforested to be mitigated through off-site restoration projects and/or monetary compensation option as directed by DEP. 15

16 300 Line Reforestation Plan Details Forested upland restoration methods Temporary and permanent erosion control measures Limit mature tree cutting and stump removal where practicable Restore pre-construction contours & grades Specialized wildlife forage seed mixes Lime, fertilizer, seed & mulch in consultation with DEP Forest species replanting matrices by community type Specifically developed based upon existing community composition present in area Replanting method and individual sizes vary by site limitations 2-3 Caliper balled & burlapped (B&B) Whip-sized individuals Seedlings 16

17 300 Line Reforestation Plan Details Hemlock / Oak Community Special Considerations Hemlock seedlings will be harvested from construction workspace prior to initial land-clearing operations and will be maintained by a qualified nursery during construction to ensure ample supply of reforestation seedlings Topsoil segregation during construction for restoration topdressing will preserve available seedbank to supplement planting with natural revegetation 17

18 2-3 Caliper balled & burlapped (B&B) Individuals 204 individuals/acre (statutory density for established forest) where accessibility and soil conditions allow Ruggedness of landscape and linear distance of project limits planting of B&B specimens to areas adjacent to roadways Allows for faster re-establishment of forest within areas frequented by public Limiting factors include: shallow depth to bedrock, very or extremely stony soils, steep slopes, and accessibility for trucks and heavy equipment Proximity to access roads is key for supplemental watering needs 18

19 Whip-sized individuals (2-3 tall & containerized) 1,210 individuals/acre to reach statutory tree replacement factor stem count of 408 (standard for emerging forest) while accounting for deadloss More appropriate to rugged landscape and linear distance of project Allows for faster re-establishment of forested cover while accommodating landscape and limitations Steep slopes, very or extremely stony soils, and accessibility for trucks and equipment are less limiting factors when planting whip-sized specimens All-terrain vehicles can be utilized to facilitate hauling & staging activities, with planting completed via foot traffic and simple hand tools Limiting factors include: extreme shallow depth to bedrock and presence of extremely stony soils 19

20 Seedlings (1-2 tall bare root stock) 1,210 individuals/acre statutory planting density using tree replacement factor identified in guidelines More appropriate to extremely rugged landscapes and long distances from available equipment access points Allows for faster re-establishment establishment of forested cover over natural successional processes while accommodating landscape and limitations Appropriate for areas where extreme shallow depth to bedrock, steep slopes, very or extremely stony soils, and accessibility for trucks and equipment are limiting factors All-terrain vehicles can be utilized to facilitate hauling & planting activities with planting completed via foot traffic and simple hand tools. Likely implemented in conjunction with specialized seed mix containing tree species seeds 20

21 Tree Maintenance Schedule and Activities Conducted for minimum of 3 growing seasons Minimum of 4 inspections per season (April, May, June, November) Supplemental watering weekly when seasonal rainfall insufficient to maintain proper soil moisture content for tree establishment Use of water polymer to minimize need for watering Mulch ring to 36 diameter & 3 thickness shall be maintained for all B&B specimens throughout 3 year maintenance period Tall growing weeds shall be controlled in areas of whip or seedling plantings to prevent adverse competition All B&B specimens shall be supported by stakes and guy wires for one maintenance year 21

22 Tree Maintenance Schedule and Activities (Cont.) All B&B specimens will be maintained in a plum position for the maintenance period All B&B specimens will be monitored for insects and disease and will be diagnosed and treated on a case by case basis In areas with signs of heavy deer browse damage to vegetation, measures will be taken to protect newly planted trees as necessary, including fencing, bud caps during dormant season, repellents, and ultimately replanting with deer-resistant species if necessary Slow release fertilizer will be applied to B&B specimens at end of first growing season to trees within uplands only (not in wetlands) Pruning as necessary to remove damaged, dead, or infested branches 22

23 Survivorship Monitoring and Success Rates Annual monitoring of survivorship and calculation of success rates will occur in all reforested areas for a minimum of 3 years following completion of replanting activities Quantitative sampling will determine the type and quantity of woody species colonizing the construction ROW, including planted and volunteer species Results will be compared to pre-determined threshold success criteria (80% survival for seedlings, 90% survival for whips, 95% survival for B&B individuals) Restoration shall be considered successful if upon visual survey the density and cover of non-nuisance vegetation are similar in density and cover to adjacent undisturbed land 23

24 Survivorship Monitoring and Success Rates (Cont.) Annual monitoring reports shall be submitted to the NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry at the end of each growing season If actual field stem counts fall short of the pre- determined threshold values, Tennessee will develop supplemental plans in conjunction with the appropriate state and federal agencies Areas that do not meet the minimum survival rate percentage shall have all unhealthy stock replaced within 120 days of receiving notification from the NJ Forest Service. Inspections and replacement plantings shall continue with the same time frames until the minimum survival rate is achieved. 24

25 New ROW Impacts New ROW cannot be reforested for safety reasons as well as operations & maintenance purposes (8.82-ac impact to forest for new ROW) Mitigation for permanent deforestation includes: On-site Reforestation of 0.5-ac grids with <33% forest cover (i.e. non-forested areas under NNL Regulations) Off-site Restoration Projects Monetary Compensation Option On-site Reforestation of 0.5-ac grids with <33% forest cover Using the 0.5-ac grid assessment technique required by the NNL rules, approx ac of the project workspace within non-forested areas Reforestation of this ac will provide additional mitigation for 8.82-ac of impact to forest for new ROW 25

26 New ROW Impacts (Cont.) Off-Site Restoration Projects subject to availability and recommendation by NJ DEP Division of Parks and Forestry / Fisheries & Wildlife Tennessee to work with Division to identify and conduct suitable off-site restoration projects Monetary Compensation Option 204 trees/acre x $300/tree = $61,200 per acre compensation rate 26

27 300 Line Project No Net Loss Reforestation Plan Available for review at: y 27