The Conemaugh River Crossing Project is a pipeline replacement project that includes a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) under the Conemaugh River located in Indiana and Westmoreland Counties.
Below is information on the Department of Environmental Protections (DEP's) review and approval of the permit applications and other useful project information. The material is presented here to enable the public to readily review the application material, any noted technical deficiencies and the company's responses to the technical deficiencies. Additional materials will be added to the site as DEP continues with its review of the permit applications. Persons wishing to schedule a file review for this project should contact DEP’s Regional Permit Coordination Office File Review Coordinator at 717-772-5987 to schedule a file review.
For those unfamiliar with DEP's regulatory jurisdiction, DEP has the authority to review and make decisions on permit applications pursuant to environmental regulations such as:
Chapter 102,
Erosion and Sediment Control which regulates erosion and sedimentation resulting from earthmoving activities and the stability of projects. A pipeline project that exceeds five acres of total earth disturbance must obtain an Erosion Control Permit with plans and practices to control stormwater runoff both during and following earthmoving activities;
Chapter 105,
Dam Safety and Waterway Management which regulates water obstructions and encroachments focused on activities located in, along, or across wetlands, lakes, streams and floodways;
For some pipeline projects, DEP also processes a State Water Quality Certification. Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, DEP will ensure that activities associated with proposed interstate natural gas transmission pipeline projects regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) comply with state water quality standards. This certification is often authorized conditionally and serves as an index for all DEP water-related permits/approvals that may be required for a pipeline project to demonstrate compliance with state water quality standards.
Pipeline projects may also involve other permit applications including DEP's Clean Water (NPDES Permitting for Discharges from Hydrostatic Testing), Air Quality (Air Quality Permitting), Solid Waste Management, Oil and Gas Management, and Bureau of Mining Programs. DEP may also coordinate the review of these permit applications with other resource agencies such as County Conservation Districts, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, the PA Game Commission, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Department of Agriculture, the PA Historical and Museum Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the River Basin Commissions.
DEP's permitting authority does not cover the determination of the overall pipeline route or property rights. Other agencies also have jurisdiction over pipelines, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Conemaugh River Crossing Project Overview Information Sheet
This
information sheet (PDF) provides a summary of the project.
Public Participation Information
State Water Quality Certification
On April 24, 2021, the State Water Quality Certification was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
On March 25, 2021, DEP issued a conditional State Water Quality Certification to Texas Eastern Transmission, LP for the Conemaugh River Crossing Project.
On November 25, 2020, DEP received the following response to the state water quality certification technical deficiency letter.
On October 28, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the Applicant for its state water quality certification.
On August 29, 2020, the request for State Water Quality Certification was published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. Public comments will be accepted by DEP for 30-days after that publication date.
On August 3, 2020, DEP considered the state water quality certification application complete and commenced its technical review. The following completeness review letter was sent to the Applicant.
On July 25, 2020, DEP received the following responses to the state water quality certification incompleteness review letter.
On July 10, 2020, DEP sent the following incompleteness review letters to the Applicant for its state water quality certification.
On June 11, 2020, DEP received a request for a state water quality certification.
Chapter 102 And 105 Permit Applications
On April 24, 2021, the Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits and the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Permit were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
On March 25, 2021, DEP issued the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Permit and the Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits.
On January 21 & 22, 2021, DEP received the following responses to the Chapter 105 and Chapter 102 technical deficiency letters.
On January 12 & 14, 2021, DEP sent technical deficiency e-mails to the Applicant for its Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit applications for Westmoreland and Indiana counties.
On November 25, 2020, DEP received the following responses to the Chapter 105 and Chapter 102 technical deficiency letters.
On October 28, 2020, DEP sent technical deficiency letters to the Applicant for its Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit applications for Westmoreland and Indiana counties.
On August 3, 2020, DEP considered the Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit applications complete and commenced its technical review. The following completeness review letters were sent to the Applicant. On August 29, 2020, these applications were published as complete in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin.
On July 25, 2020, DEP received the following responses to the Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 incompleteness review letters.
On July 10, 2020, DEP sent the following incompleteness review letters to the Applicant for its Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit applications for Westmoreland and Indiana Counties. DEP cannot commence technical review until the applications are complete.
On June 11, 2020, DEP received the following Chapter 102 and 105 permit applications.