The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has extended the comment period on water obstruction and encroachment permits related to the proposed Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline.

The comment period will be extended for 60 days and will close on August 1, 2016.

"A project of this size requires thoughtful public input," said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "Based upon public interest in this project, DEP decided that a 30-day comment period on the water obstruction and encroachment permits for the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline was insufficient, and in the interest of transparency and public participation, we have extended the comment period."

The proposed project will involve approximately 195 miles of pipeline and would cross ten counties in eastern and central Pennsylvania – Clinton, Columbia, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, and Wyoming – before crossing into Maryland.

Permits required from DEP are for water obstruction and encroachments, erosion and sedimentation control and air quality.

Interstate pipelines, such as the Atlantic Sunrise, are overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and need to meet applicable state law and permitting requirements.

The water obstruction and encroachment permits can be viewed in the April 30, 2016 PA Bulletin beginning on page 2211.

A full draft Environmental Impact Statement of the Atlantic Sunrise project can be found on the FERC website.

To submit comments on the DEP permits during this extended comment period, please submit to the DEP regional office associated with the permit.

For comments on the permits for Luzerne, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties, please submit comments to: EP, WW-NERO@pa.gov or Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Regional Office, Waterways and Wetlands Program, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

For comments on the permits for Columbia and Northumberland Counties, please submit comments to: EP, WW-NCRO@pa.gov or Department of Environmental Protection, Northcentral Regional Office, Waterways and Wetlands Program, 208 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701.

For comments on the permits for Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, please submit comments to EP, WW-SCRO@pa.gov or Department of Environmental Protection, Southcentral Regional Office, Waterways and Wetlands Program, 909 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Comments will be accepted for the public record until August 1, 2016.

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