The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday announced it has approved the Chapter 105 and Chapter 102 permit applications for the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project. The pipeline will transport natural gas from northeast Pennsylvania to mid-Atlantic and southern states.

“DEP undertook a thorough review of these permit applications, and factored in thousands of comments from Pennsylvania residents,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “DEP’s technical staff reviewed the comments in evaluating the revised plans and final permit conditions that must be met throughout the construction process of this pipeline.”

The project required Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit for each of the 10 counties the project crosses (Susquehanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Wyoming, Columbia, Northumberland, Lancaster, Lycoming, Clinton and Lebanon), as well as 3 Chapter 102 erosion and sediment control permit authorizations.

“Transco is required to implement new protocols for alerting homeowners of activities near their homes and water supplies. In addition, Transco must offer to pre-test private water supplies along the pipeline route so that any impacts from construction can be quickly identified and remediated,” said McDonnell.

The permits were issued with strict special conditions designed to ensure the strongest possible protections for streams and wetlands, as well as additional stipulations for landowners with private drinking water wells.

An Air Quality Plan Approval for air emissions related to construction activities in Lancaster County is still under review by DEP. There is no timeline for a decision.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco), the operator of the pipeline, will require approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin construction.

“This is not the end of DEP oversight of this project. DEP will continue to hold the project accountable to regulatory standards that protect the environment and ensure the health, public safety, and welfare of local communities,” said McDonnell.

More information, including all of the permits, visit DEP’s Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline webpage.

NewsClips:

Crable: Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Gets Last 3 Permits, Could Begin Work In Weeks

Cusick: DEP Issues Water Quality Permits For Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline

PA Regulators Approve Permits For Atlantic Sunrise Gas Pipeline

Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Ready To Move Forward After DEP OK’d Permits

Crable: Agencies Investigate Mariner East 2 Pipeline Spill That Killed Trout In Lebanon County

DEP Issues Mariner East 2 Pipeline Violation For Another Spill Of Drilling Fluid

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Op-Ed: Pipelines Are Key To Safely Transporting Energy

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[Posted: August 31, 2017]

9/4/2017