Commonwealth ofmassachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office

Transcription

1 Cmmnwealth fmassachusetts Executive Office f Energy and Envirnmental Affairs Massachusetts Envirnmental Plicy Act (MEPA) Office Envirnmental Ntificatin Frm Fr Office us EEA#: I S MEPA Analys Q2(J ~ The infrmatin requested n this frm must be cmpleted in rder t submit a dcument electrnically fr review under the Massachusetts Envirnmental Plicy Act, 31 CMR 11.. Prject Name: Cnnecticut Expansin Prject Street Address: Multiple public ways and existing pipeline right-f-way. Refer t Supplemental Reprt. Municipality: Agawam, Sandisfield, Tyringham Watershed: Farmingtn River and Cnnecticut River Universal Transverse Mercatr Crdinates: Latitude:Multiple Sites. See supplemental Reprt Multiple sites. See Supplemental Reprt Lngitude:Multiple Sites. See supplemental RepOr1 Estimated cmmencement date:4 th Qtr. 215 Estimated cmpletin date:3 rd Qtr. 216 Prject Type: Natural Gas Pipeline Status f prject design: 3 %cmplete Prpnent: Tennessee Gas Pipeline Cm~an~, L.L.C. Street Address: 11 Luisiana Street Munici~ality: Hustn I State: Texas I Zi~ Cde: 772 Name f Cntact Persn: Mark Gardella Firm/Agency: AECOM I Street Address: 1 Orms Street, Suite 45 Municipality: Prvidence I State: RI Zip Cde: 294 Phne: I Fax: Mark.Gardella@aecm.cm Des this prject meet r exceed a mandatry EIR threshld (see 31 CMR 11.3)? ~Yes DN If this is an Expanded Envirnmental Ntificatin Frm (ENF) (see 31 CMR 115(7)) r a Ntice f Prject Change (NPC), are yu requesting: a Single EI R? (see 31 CMR 11.6(8)) ~Yes DN a Special Review Prcedure? (see 31CMR 11.9) DYes ~N a Waiver f mandatry EIR? (see 31 CMR 11.11) DYes ~N a Phase I Waiver? (see 31 CMR 1111) DYes ~N (Nte: Greenhuse Gas Emissins analysis must be included in the Expanded ENF.) Which IIJ1EPA review threshld(s) des the prject meet r exceed (see 31 CMR 113)? Wetlands, Waterways, & Tidelands; Land Disturbed Which State Agency Permits will the prject require? MADEP 41 Permit (Water Quality Certificate), Twn Apprvals/Permit - Orders f Cnditins Identify any financial assistance r land transfer frm an Agency f the Cmmnwealth, including the Agency name and the amunt f funding r land area in acres: Massachusetts Department f Cnservatin and Recreatin - apprximately 6 acres f new area and 24 acres within an existing Right f Way. Effective January 2 II

2 Summary f Prject Size & Envirnmental Impacts Existing Change Ttal New acres f land altered Acres f impervius area Square feet f new brdering vegetated wetlands alteratin Square feet f new ther wetland alteratin Acres f new nn-water dependent use f tidelands r waterways 41,77 ttal 18,295 ttal Grss square ftage Number f husing units Maximum height (feet) TRANSPORTATION Vehicle trips per day Parking spaces WASTEWATER Water Use (Gallns per day) Water withdrawal (GPD) Wastewater generatin/treatment (GPD) Length f water mains (miles) Length f sewer mains (miles) Has this prject been filed with MEPA befre? DYes (EEA # ) N Has any prject n this site been filed with MEPA befre? DYes (EEA # ) N - 2

3 GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION - all prpnents must fill ut this sectin PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Tennessee Gas Pipeline Cmpany, L.L.C. (''Tennessee'') is filing an applicatin fr a Certificate f Public Cnvenience and Necessity with the Federal Energy Regulatry Cmmissin ("Cmmissin") fr The Cnnecticut Expansin Prject ("the Prject") in Hampden and Berkshire Cunties, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Lp is lcated in Sandisfield, Massachusetts and cnsists f apprximately 3.8 miles f new 36-inch utside diameter ("") pipeline C-lcated within r adjacent t Tennessee's existing 2 Line Mainline right-f-way ("ROW"). The lp segment cmmences near Tennessee's existing Mainline Valve ("MLV") 258 at MP. adjacent t Twn Hill Rad and extends sutheast t apprximately MP 3.8 sutheast f Suth Beech Plain Rad. The Cnnecticut Lp cmmences in Agawam, Massachusetts, in the yard f Cmpressr Statin 261 at MP. and extends suthward apprximately 8.1 miles t the terminus in Suffield, Cnnecticut The prtin f the pipeline alng this lp sectin in Massachusetts cnsists f apprximately.11 miles f 24-inch pipeline c-lcated within r adjacent t Tennessee's existing ROW terminating at the Massachusetts and Cnnecticut state line. The pipeline lp segments will be lcated within r directly adjacent t Tennessee's existing permanent ROW in Sandisfield and Agawam, Massachusetts. Additinal permanent ROW will be required alng with temprary wrkspace (''TWS'') and additinal temprary wrkspace ("ATWS") t facilitate cnstructin f the pipeline. The ruting fr the pipeline lp was cnducted in a manner t avid significant areas f residential develpment, minimize the number f affected landwners, and effectively minimize envirnmental impacts. Appurtenant facilities assciated with the Prject will include tw pig launchers, ne pig receiver and ne relcated mainline valve t be cnstructed by Tennessee. One pig launcher will be cnstructed within the existing wrkspace at the Agawam Cmpressr Statin prperty at the beginning f the Cnnecticut lping segment and a secnd pig launcher will be cnstructed within the wrkspace at MP. in Sandisfield ff f Twn Hill Rad at the beginning the Massachusetts lping segment. A pig receiver and MLV will be lcated at the terminus f the Prject at MP 3.8 in Sandisfield. Tennessee plans t relcate the existing valve site lcated ff f Twn Hill Rad t the terminus at MP 3.8 t minimize impacts t state lands and place the valve site n private prperty at the terminus f the lp. All appurtenant facilities will be cnstructed within the prpsed wrkspace in the pipeline ROWand will nt require additinal impacts. The cnstructin wrkspace (including TWS, A TWS, permanent ROW, access rads and cntractr/pipeyards) fr the Prject in Massachusetts will ttal apprximately 58.8 acres. Operatin f the Prject facilities in Massachusetts will require apprximately acres that will be maintained as new permanent ROW. The majrity f the existing landuse in the Prject area cnsists f upland frests, pen land, agricultural land and wetlands. There are virtually n residential land impacts and the pipeline alignment itself des nt crss any residential land use. Typically, pipeline cnstructin will require between 1 t 125 feet f wrkspace depending n the size f the pipeline t be installed. The varying cnstructin ROW widths fr this prject fr the 36-inch lp in Sandisfield and the 24-inch lp in Agawam are based n guidelines fr safe cnstructin f similarly sized pipelines develped by the Interstate Natural Gas Assciatin f America ("INGAA"). The prpsed standard cnstructin ROW widths are expected t allw fr safe installatin f the pipeline facilities based n the variable tpgraphic terrain and diverse land use types crssed by the Prject. Fllwing cnstructin, vegetatin within the permanent ROW will be maintained in an herbaceus state, except in wetlands and adjacent t perennial streams, where maintenance clearing f wdy vegetatin. 3

4 will be limited. Here, a 1 O-ft wide crridr centered ver the pipeline will be permanently maintained in an herbaceus state while the remaining temprary and permanent ROW will revert t its pre-cnstructin land use/land cver nce cnstructin is cmplete. Crp prductin will be allwed t cntinue in agricultural areas. N permanent lss f wetlands will ccur due t the cnstructin r peratin f the Prject, and N Net Lss f Wetlands will be met. Alternatives Sectin C f the Prject Narrative f this Expanded ENF prvides a detailed alternative analysis fr the Prject and includes alternatives such as a n-actin alternative, energy cnservatin, energy alternative and system alternatives including efficiency imprvements, Greenfield pipeline ptin, lping and replacement with larger pipeline. Efficiency Imprvements Tennessee evaluated the use f internally cated pipe as an energy saving alternative fr the Prject. The use f internal pipeline cating reduces the rughness f the pipe's internal wall. A smth internal wall reduces the resistance r internal frictin between the flwing gas stream and the wall f the pipe. Therefre, reducing internal frictin reduces energy lss and als reduces required hrsepwer and fuel cnsumptin t transprt a given quantity f gas. Tennessee will use internally cated pipe fr the Prject as it cncluded this wuld save energy and be cst effective fr this Prject. Tennessee evaluated the needs f the Prject alng with the existing system cnfiguratin and chse t install 36-inch diameter pipeline lping in Massachusetts. This chice cincides directly with the fact that the existing Line 2-3 already cnsists f 36-inch diameter pipeline, and this chice represents the mst lgical and efficient chice in terms f hydraulic mdeling evaluatins as well as prudent pipeline peratins t cntinue these existing lped sectins with similar pipe diameter selectins. Greenfield Pipeline In lieu f the established Prject bjectives and selectins, Tennessee evaluated the alternative f cnstructing a new Greenfield pipeline ptin ruted frm its Wright Meter Statin lcated in Schharie Cunty, New Yrk t the East Granby Sales Meter Statin in Hartfrd Cunty, Cnnecticut. This ptin wuld require Tennessee t acquire ROWand create new impacts t the envirnment and t landwners fr apprximately 1 miles f primarily previusly undisturbed land. N impacted land wuld be c-lcated within 15 feet f existing utilities. The new impacts t resurces wuld far exceed the impacts that wuld be anticipated when lping existing lines and using at least a prtin f existing permanent ROV fr wrkspace. In additin, the cst f Greenfield cnstructin in this area wuld far exceed the cst f lping existing lines. Tennessee did nt select this ptin because, when cmpared t the preferred ptin, this ptin has: (1) a much lnger verall rute length and land requirements; (2) mre extensive permitting requirements assciated with a Greenfield pipeline; and (3) greater ptential fr wetland and habitat disturbance and disturbance f threatened and endangered species. Lping Tennessee cnsidered installing 42-inch diameter pipeline lping as an alternative t the Prject bjective f installing 36-inch diameter pipeline lping in Massachusetts. The selectin f 42-inch diameter pipe wuld allw fr a shrter distance f pipeline lping alng ur selected rute and reduce the amunt f required ROWand landwner impacts. The calculated length f the 42-inch diameter pipeline lping required t fulfill the Prject scpe and bjectives wuld be 3.5 miles in Massachusetts. This pssible reductin f.3 miles in Massachusetts, might pssibly lead t a smaller verall impact t the envirnment. Tennessee did nt select this ptin fr several reasns. Installing 42-inch diameter pipeline lping directly cnnected t existing 36-inch diameter pipeline wuld als require the installatin f transitin pieces f pipe t transitin frm the smaller diameter pipe t the larger diameter pipe fr cnstructin purpses. - 4

5 Operatinally, the need t internally inspect ur pipelines thrugh the use f in-line inspectin tls wuld require the installatin f mre abve grund facilities in the frm f tw mre launchers and receivers. In additin, all existing abve grund facilities wuld need t be kept in place fr the existing pipelines and als install additinal abve grund facilities than specified in ur current Prject scpe. The financial cst t the Prject's custmers wuld als be increased since the anticipated cst t install the required amunt f 42-inch diameter pipeline lping wuld exceed the estimated cst required t install the Prject's scpe 36-inch diameter pipeline lping in thse same areas. Prject Mitigatin Wetlands In cmpliance with federal. state and lcal regulatry permitting framewrks relative t wetland prtectin, Tennessee will develp a Prject-specific wetland mitigatin plan prir t cnstructin. The mitigatin plan(s) will detail measures t avid, minimize, and mitigate fr temprary and permanent wetland impacts assciated with the Prject. Mitigatin fr permanent wetland impacts will likely cnsist f ff-site wetland restratin and cnservatin. Tennessee will cnsult with the applicable federal and state regulatry agencies fr guidance during develpment f the prpsed mitigatin measures and plans, and t incrprate specific recmmendatins f the agencies. N permanent filling r ther lss f wetlands is prpsed fr the Prject. All wetlands will be substantially restred t their pre-cnstructin grades, cnturs, and drainage patterns, and reseeded r replanted with native hydrphytic vegetatin species. As such, the permanent impacts t wetlands assciated with the Prject will cnsist f a cnversin f frested wetlands t scrub shrub r emergent wetland vegetatin cver types. Wdy vegetatin within the new permanent ROW will be allwed t regenerate within such ROW except fr a 1-ft wide area centered ver the pipeline lps that will be maintained in an herbaceus/scrub-shrub state t allw fr inspectin and maintenance f the pipeline lps nce the Prject service. In additin, trees within 15 feet f the pipeline that are greater than 15 feet in height may be selectively cut and remved frm the permanent ROW. T prevent indirect impacts t wetland ecsystems assciated with clnizatin by invasive species, Tennessee will develp a Prject-specific Invasive Species Management Plan ("ISMP") t be implemented prir t cnstructin and t cntinue fr a minimum f five years pst-cnstructin. The gal f the ISMP is t cntrl existing ppulatins f nn-native invasive species ccurring within the Prject wrkspace and prevent the establishment and spread f additinal invasive species fllwing disturbance f the existing vegetatin cmmunity. Waterbdies All waterbdies crssed by the pipeline lps r within the cnstructin wrkspace will be prtected by t the Cmmissin's Plan and Prcedures, as well as any additinal specific permit cnditins required by federal, state and lcal agencies. The measures t prtect and minimize ptential adverse impacts t streams, include: expediting cnstructin and limiting the amunt f equipment and activities in waterbdies; crdinating cnstructin activities t avid high flw and spawning perids; installing ersin cntrls t prevent sediment and siltatin frm entering streams; cnstructing waterbdy crssings perpendicular t the axis f the waterbdy channel as engineering and ruting cnditins allw; maintaining ambient dwnstream flw rates; - 5

6 remving cnstructin material and structures frm the waterbdy after cnstructin; restring stream channels and bttms t their riginal cnfiguratins and cnturs; permanently stabilizing stream banks and adjacent upland areas after cnstructin; inspecting ROWs regularly during and after cnstructin and repairing any ersin cntrls and/r perfrming restratin, as needed, in a timely manner; and reducing the amunt f clearing and maintaining existing vegetatin in place n stream banks t the extent practicable. AREAS OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN: Is the prject within r adjacent t an Area f Critical Envirnmental Cncern? DYes (Specify ) ~N if yes, des the ACEC have an apprved Resurce Management Plan? _ Yes _ N; If yes, describe hw the prject cmplies with this plan. Will there be strmwater runff r discharge t the designated ACEC? _ Yes _ N; If yes, describe and assess the ptential impacts f such strmwater runff/discharge t the designated ACEC. RARE SPECIES: Des the prject site include Estimated and/r Pririty Habitat f State-Listed Rare Species? (see DYes (Specify ) [gin HISTORICAL IARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES: Des the prject site include any structure, site r district listed in the State Register f Histric Place r the inventry f Histric and Archaelgical Assets f the Cmmnwealth? DYes (Specify ) ~N If yes, des the prject invlve any demlitin r destructin f any listed r inventried histric r archaelgical resurces? DYes (Specify ) DN WATER RESOURCES: Is there an Outstanding Resurce Water (ORW) n r within a half-mile radius f the prject site? _X_Yes _N; if yes, identify the ORW and its lcatin. One certified Vernal Pl is lcated nrtheast f the pipeline rute, apprximately 13 feet frm the centerline and 14 feet frm temprary wrkspace. (NOTE: Outstanding Resurce Waters include Class A public water supplies, their tributaries, and brdering wetlands; active and inactive reservirs apprved by MassOEP; certain waters within Areas f Critical Envirnmental Cncern, and certified vernal pls. Outstanding resurce waters are listed in the Surface Water Quality Standards, 314 CMR 4..) Are there any impaired water bdies n r within a half-mile radius f the prject site? _ Yes _X_ N; if yes, identify the water bdy and pllutant(s) causing the impairment Is the prject within a medium r high stress basin, as established by the Massachusetts Water Resurces Cmmissin? Yes _X_N STORMWATER MANAGEMENT: - 6