The Atlantic Sunrise is a natural gas pipeline proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco). The proposed Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project is designed to supply natural gas by connecting producing regions in northeastern Pennsylvania to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states. The proposed project will consist of compression and looping of the Transco Leidy Line in Pennsylvania along with a greenfield pipeline segment, referred to as the Central Penn Line, connecting the northeastern Marcellus producing region to the Transco mainline near Station 195 in southeastern Pennsylvania. Additional existing Transco facilities are being added or modified to allow gas to flow bi-directionally. The proposed pipeline corridor will traverse 10 counties from northeastern Pennsylvania to the southern tier of Pennsylvania.
Below please find information concerning applications and approvals associated with the proposed project, the Central Penn Line as well as the Unity and Chapman Loops. Related documents, such as additional correspondence between the DEP and the Applicant, may be in DEP files maintained at that regional office which is conducting the review of the applications. Note: the review of the Lancaster and Lebanon applications has been completed by the North-Central Regional Office. Persons wishing to review the public file for the applications associated with the project should schedule a file review with the appropriate regional office (i.e., Northeast or North-Central).
Atlantic Sunrise Information Sheet
This
Information sheet provides a summary of the proposed project.
Compliance and Enforcement Information
Notices of Violation:
Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits and Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Permit – Central Penn Line
On August 30, 2017, DEP issued the permit from Transco for the Central Penn Line of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project. For the Central Penn Line, DEP reviewed 8 Chapter 105 permit applications and 1 Chapter 102 NOI.
Air Quality Plan Approval for Lancaster County
Comment Response Document
In 2016 and 2017, DEP held two public comment periods. The Comment Response Document summarizes the comments submitted to DEP by 4.255 commentators both public participation process and during the four public hearings. These comments were submitted through the 2 separate comment periods.
Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits and Chapter 102, ESCGP-2 – Unity Loop (Lycoming County)
On August 30, 2017, DEP issued the Chapter 105 permit for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) Unity Loop of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project. The Lycoming County Conservation District, on August 30, 2017, acknowledged the ESCGP-2 for the Unity Loop. Public notices will be provided in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for both the Chapter 105 permit and ESCGP-2 permit authorizations.
Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits and Chapter 102, ESCGP-2 – Chapman Loop (Clinton County)
On April 29, 2016, issued the Chapter 105 Permit for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) Chapman Loop of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project. A notice for the Chapman Loop Chapter 105 Permit was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on May 14, 2016. The Clinton County Conservation District, on May 14, 2016, acknowledged the use of ESCGP-2 for the Chapman Loop. These authorizations were published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 2, 2016.
Air Quality Plan Approval
Plan Approval Application Received for Use of Emission Reduction Credits to Offset Construction Emmissions
On July 14, 2017, DEP received an application for a Plan Approval from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, LLC that authorizes the transfer and use of Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs) generated by the Harford County Resource Recovery Facility located in Harford County, MD. The Plan Approval application authorizes the transfer and use of ERCs for 106.0 tons of oxides of nitrogen to comply with the offset requirements of Plan Approval No. 36-001GC regarding construction emissions from the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project in Lancaster County. Notice of the Intent to Issue the Plan Approval was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 22, 2017. A 30-day public comment period opened on July 22, 2017 and closed on August 21, 2017. A public hearing on the Plan Approval was held on August 14, 2017 at 6:30 P.M. at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Please see the Pennsylvania Bulletin notice for more details.
Documents
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Atlantic Sunrise Plan Approval Application
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Clarification Regarding ERC Source
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Proposed Plan Approval
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Plan Approval Review Memo
Application Material for Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit and Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit for Earth Disturbance Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing, or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities (ESCGP-2), Notice of Intent (NOI) – Central Penn Line
4th Application Submission and Application Supplement
On August 21, 2017, DEP received updated application material from Transco in response to the technical deficiency letters that were sent on July 11, 2017.
On August 17, 2017, Transco provided supplemental application information to DEP. Specifically Transco provided to DEP, an updated version of the ASR Well and Spring Monitoring Plan they previously provided to FERC. The plan includes the following:
- Water well monitoring to 450 feet from the horizontal directional drill (HDD) alignments;
- Procedures for pre-, during and post-construction sampling of water supply wells within the HDD well monitoring corridor; and
- Updated sampling parameters consistent with the PADEP Recommended Basic Oil and Gas pre-Drill Parameters (PADEP 2016).
This supplemental information will be reviewed as part of the Chapter 105 permit application material.
During the week of July 31, 2017, DEP received updated application material from Transco in response to the technical deficiency letters that were sent on July 11, 2017.
The following responses to technical deficiency letters and revised permit applications are under review:
The sensitive species location information has been redacted from the PNDI files. These redacted files are posted below.
3rd Application Submission
During the week of May 1, 2017, DEP received updated application material from Transco in response to the technical deficiency letters that were sent on February 24, 2017. The Department reviewed the responses to technical deficiency, the revised permit applications and sent technical deficiency letters on July 11, 2017.
During the week of May 1, 2017, DEP received updated application material from Transco in response to the technical deficiency letter that was sent on February 24, 2017. The Department reviewed the responses to technical deficiency, the revised permit applications and sent technical deficiency letters on July 11, 2017.
2nd Application Submission
During the week of November 21, 2016, DEP received updated application material from Transco in response to the technical deficiency letters that were sent on July 29, 2016.
1st Application Submission
During the week of August 31, 2015 DEP received the Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits applications and the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit for Earth Disturbance Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities (ESCGP-2) Notices of Intent (NOI). At this time, the Department did not ask for the application material to be submitted in electronic format.
On July 29, 2016, the Department sent to Transco technical deficiency letters. The company requested on September 26, 2016 to extend the timeframe to respond to the Department's technical deficiencies for an additional 60 days. The Department provided the requested extension and provided a response date of November 26, 2016.
The following are the July 29, 2016 technical deficiency letters:
Public Hearings
During the technical review of the 3rd submission, DEP held four public hearings to take comments from the public on the Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment permit applications and Chapter 102 ESCGP-2 NOI for the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project which is proposed by Transco.
Each hearing began at 6:00 p.m. and ended at 9:00 p.m. The dates and locations were as follows:
- Monday, June 12, 2017 — Tunkhannock Middle School Auditorium, Tunkhannock Middle School, 200 Franklin Avenue, Tunkhannock PA 18657
- Monday, June 12, 2017 — Max Smith Auditorium, Lancaster Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601
- Tuesday, June 13, 2017 — Auditorium, Bloomsburg High School, 1200 Railroad Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815
- Wednesday, June 14, 2017 — Lutz Hall, Lebanon Valley College, 101 North College Avenue, Annville, PA 17003
During the hearings, each speaker had the opportunity to present up to three minutes of oral testimony. To ensure that all speakers had a fair and equal opportunity to present their testimony, relinquishing of time to other speakers was prohibited, and groups were asked to designate one speaker. All presenters were asked to bring at least one copy of their written comments and exhibits for submission to DEP.
Those who wished to present testimony during a scheduled hearing were asked to register in advance by contacting the appropriate regional office. Registration for the hearing was taken through the business day prior to the hearing. Individuals were called to testify in the order in which they registered. If time permitted at the hearing, those who did not register in advance were given the opportunity to testify.
Public Participation Information
On May 27, 2017, DEP published notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin the eight Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits and the one Chapter 102 Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit for Earth Disturbance Associated with Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Processing or Treatment Operations or Transmission Facilities (ESCGP-2) Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project proposed by Transco. During this comment period, DEP also held four public hearings to take comments from the public on the Chapter 105 Water Obstruction and Encroachment permit applications and Chapter 102 ESCGP-2 NOI. This second comment period closed on June 26, 2017.
On April 30, 2016, the Department published notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin of the eight Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permits for the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco). DEP extended the comment period for an additional 60-days which was published on June 11, 2016 in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. This first comment period on the 8 applications concluded on August 1, 2016.
State Water Quality Certification
On April 13, 2015, the Department received an application for a state water quality certification (WQC). Following technical review and opportunity for public comment, the Department issued a WQC for the proposed project on April 5, 2016. The WQC is conditioned upon the applicant obtaining certain discharge permits, erosion and sediment control permits, and water obstruction and encroachment permits. Notice of issuance of the WQC was published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin on April 23, 2016.