mailing address: p.o. box 1642 houston, tx 77056-5310 … · 2015-05-06 · taurus 70 (10,915 hp)...

5400 Westheimer Court

Houston, TX 77056-5310

713.627.5400 main

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1642

Houston, TX 77251-1642

June 10, 2015

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

Re: Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, Docket No. PF15-12-000

Monthly Progress Report

Dear Ms. Bose:

On February 20, 2015, the Director of the Office of Energy Projects of the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) issued a letter to Algonquin Gas Transmission,

LLC (“Algonquin”) in the above-referenced docket approving Algonquin’s request to use the

pre-filing review process for the Atlantic Bridge Project. Pursuant to Section 157.21(f)(6) of the

Commission’s regulations,1 Algonquin herewith submits its monthly progress report for the

Atlantic Bridge Project.

Should you have any questions regarding this filing, please contact me at (713) 627-5113

or DeAndra Black at (713) 627-5350.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Chris Harvey

Chris Harvey

Director, Rates and Certificates

Enclosures

cc: Maggie Suter (FERC)

Danny Laffoon (FERC)

1 18 C.F.R. §§ 157.21(f)(6) (2014).

20150610-5174 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 6/10/2015 11:41:27 AM

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Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.

Atlantic Bridge Project - FERC Docket No. PF15-12-000

FERC Pre-Filing Process

MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT

Period Ending: May 31, 2015 Report No. 3

By letter order dated February 20, 2015, Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (“Algonquin”) and

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (“Maritimes”) (collectively, the “Applicants”), were

granted approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) to utilize FERC’s Pre-

Filing Review Process for the Atlantic Bridge Project (“Project”) with facilities proposed in New

York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Project has been assigned Docket No. PF15-12-000.

This Monthly Progress Report provides a brief summary of significant Project activities or changes

that have occurred over the last month (May 2015). Activities and milestones covered in this

report are associated with the FERC Pre-Filing Review Process, field surveys, landowner survey

permission, Project facilities, agency contacts, and stakeholder outreach. A summary is provided

below.

1.0 FERC NEPA REVIEW

Pre-filing conference calls were held with FERC staff, Project team members, and agency

representatives on May 5, 2015 and May 19, 2015. These bi-weekly calls will continue

throughout the Pre-Filing Review Process.

FERC held public scoping meetings from May 11 - May 14, 2015 in the Project area.

Meetings were held in Yorktown, NY, Glastonbury, CT, Weymouth, MA and Franklin,

MA. The FERC scoping period opened on April 27, 2015 and closes on June 11, 2015.

2.0 PROJECT ROUTING AND FACILITIES

Algonquin has reduced the overall Project facilities to reflect current expectations for customer

participation in the Atlantic Bridge Project. The Atlantic Bridge Project capacity has been reduced

from 153,000 dekatherms per day (“Dth/d”) as reported in the April 1, 2015 monthly report to

132,000 Dth/d. The changes in pipeline and aboveground facilities for the Project are described

in more detail in the following sections.

Pipeline Facilities

The total length of pipeline for the Project has been reduced from 18.4 miles to 6.3 miles, a

reduction of approximately 12.1 miles from the previous Project scope (see updated Figure 1.1-1).

This reduction has been achieved through the removal of the Upstream Ramapo Take-up and

Relay, Cromwell Discharge Loop, and Q-1 System Loop from the Project scope. The remaining

proposed Project pipeline segments are all take-up and relay construction.


2

Table 2.1 provides a side-by-side comparison of the original 222,000 Dth/d Project scope, the

previously modified 153,000 Dth/d scope and the new 132,000 Dth/d scope. The 222,000 Dth/d

scope was filed with FERC in the Applicant’s March 23, 2015 preliminary drafts of Resource

Report 1 (General Project Description) and Resource Report 10 (Alternatives). The 153,000 Dth/d

modified scope was filed with FERC on April 2, 2015 in the Applicant’s monthly progress report.

Table 2.1: Atlantic Bridge Project Pipeline Facility Scope Changes

Pipeline Facility Original Scope

222,000 dekatherms per

day (“Dth/d”)

Pipeline Length (Miles)

Previously Modified Scope

153,000 Dth/d


New Project Scope

132,000 Dth/d


Upstream Ramapo Take-up

and Relay 1.3 1.3 Removed from scope

Stony Point Discharge Take-

up and Relay 5.9 4.0 4.0

Southeast Discharge Take-up

and Relay 3.9 2.3 2.3

Cromwell Discharge Loop 10.6 7.2 Removed from scope

Chaplin Discharge Loop 2.5 Removed from scope -

G-2 System Loop 2.2 Removed from scope -

Q-1 System Loop 10.2 3.6 Removed from scope

Total: 36.6 18.4 6.3

Aboveground Facilities

In addition to the pipeline changes, the compression horsepower (“hp”) scope for the Project has

been modified with the new 132,000 Dth/d scope. This includes the installation of Taurus 70 units

at each station rated at 10,915 hp each (see Table 2.2 below) instead of the Taurus 60 units (7,700

hp each) included with the 153,000 Dth/d scope. In addition, the proposed Centaur 50 unit

horsepower has been increased by 200 hp at the Chaplin Compressor Station. In summary, the

total amount of additional compression proposed by the Project under the new 132,000 Dth/d scope

is 29,630 hp, which is 6,630 hp more than the 153,000 Dth/day scope but 1,400 hp less than the

original 222,000 Dth/d scope.

The new 132,000 Dth/d scope also includes the removal of the Fall River metering and regulating

(“M&R”) station from the Project and the addition of piping modifications at the existing

Westbrook M&R Station located in Westbrook, Maine on the Maritimes system.

Table 2.2 provides a side-by-side comparison of the original 222,000 Dth/d Project scope, the

previously modified 153,000 Dth/d scope and the new 132,000 Dth/d scope.


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Table 2.2: Atlantic Bridge Project Aboveground Facility Scope Changes

Project Facility Original Scope

222,000 Dth/d

Previously Modified Scope

153,000 Dth/d

New Project Scope

132,000 Dth/d

Compressor Stations

Oxford Compressor

Station

Oxford, CT

Add Taurus 70 (10,915 hp)

gas plus cooling

Add Taurus 60 (7,700 hp) gas

plus cooling

Add Taurus 70 (10,915 hp)

gas plus cooling

Chaplin Compressor

Station

Chaplin, CT

Add Taurus 60 (7,700

hp) gas plus cooling,

Replace two existing 42-

ppm NOx Taurus 60 gas

fired compressor units

(6,950 hp each) with two

new 9-ppm NOx Taurus

60 gas fired compressor

units (7,700 hp each).

Add Centaur 50 (6,100

hp) gas plus cooling,








Add Centaur 50 (6,300

hp) gas plus cooling








Weymouth

Compressor Station

Weymouth, MA

Taurus 70 (10,915 hp) gas

plus cooling

Add Taurus 60 (7,700 hp) gas

plus cooling

Taurus 70 (10,915 hp) gas

plus cooling

Total Compression

Increase: 31,030 hp 23,000 hp 29,630 hp

Meter and Regulator Stations

Yorktown M&R

Station,

Yorktown, NY

Install OPP facilities for

existing station


existing station No change

Somers M&R Station

Somers, NY

Install over pressure

protection (“OPP”) facilities

for existing M&R station

Removed from scope -

Danbury M&R Station

Danbury, CT


existing station


existing station No change

Salem Pike M&R

Station

Norwich, CT

Construct new M&R station

to replace existing

Construct new M&R station to

replace existing No change

Needham Regulator

Station

Needham, MA

Modify existing regulator

station

Modify existing regulator

station No change

Pine Hills M&R

Station

Plymouth, MA

Rebuild existing M&R station Rebuild existing M&R station No change

Plymouth M&R

Station

Plymouth, MA

Rebuild existing M&R station Rebuild existing M&R station No change

Fall River M&R

Station

Fall River, MA

Not part of original scope Rebuild existing M&R station Removed from scope

Westbrook M&R

Station,

Westbrook, ME

Existing M&R station under

evaluation

Existing M&R station under

evaluation

Added to Project scope.

Proposed piping modifications

at existing Westbrook M&R

Station.


")

")

")

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

N E W Y O R K

M A S S A C H U S E T T S

C O N N E C T I C U T

N E W H A M P S H I R EV E R M O N T

R H O D EI S L A N D

N E W J E R S E Y

M A I N E

Androscoggin

Ulster

Worcester

Suffolk

Litchfield

Orange

Berkshire

Bristol

HartfordDutchess

Greene

Fairfield

Plymouth

Franklin Middlesex

ColumbiaHampden

Albany

Tolland

Norfolk

Windham

New LondonNew Haven

Morris

Hampshire

Schoharie

Providence

Westchester

Kent

Bergen

Putnam

Washington

Essex

Rensselaer

Nassau

PassaicRockland

Barnstable

Dukes

Queens

Bronx

Newport

Hudson

New Yo

rk

Union Kings

Middlesex

Essex

Bennington

Windham Cheshire Hillsborough Rockingham

MerrimackSullivanWindsor

York

Cumberland

Strafford

Belknap

Existing Oxford C/SIncrease HP

Existing Chaplin C/SIncrease HP

ProposedWeymouth C/S

DANBURY

NEEDHAM

YORKTOWN

PLYMOUTH

PINE HILLS

SALEM PIKE

WESTBROOK

Stony Point Discharge Take-Up and Relay (4.0 miles)

Southeast Discharge Take-Up and Relay (2.3 miles)

Legend") Compressor Station (C/S) (Proposed Modification)") Compressor Station (C/S) (Proposed New)! M&R Station (Modification Required)! M&R Station (Proposed New)

Proposed PipelineExisting Maritimes & Northeast PipelineExisting Algonquin Gas Transmission PipelineState BoundaryCounty Boundary

Created on 6/10/2015

!K0 40Miles

Atlantic Bridge Project

Project Overview MapFigure 1.1-1

Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLCMaritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.

RegionalSuppliers

Atlantic BridgeProject

QC

ON

NB

NSNY

ME

PA

VT NH

MA

NJ

CT RI Maritimes & NortheastAlgonquinTexas Eastern


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3.0 LANDOWNER SURVEY PERMISSION

Table 3.1 summarizes the status of landowner survey permission for the Atlantic Bridge Project.

Table 3.1: Status of Survey Permission for the Atlantic Bridge Project

Project Facility Survey Permission Granted (%)

Pipeline Facilities

Stony Point Discharge Take-up and Relay 83%

Southeast Discharge Take-up and Relay 95%

4.0 FIELD SURVEYS

Civil Surveys

Civil surveys for the Project are ongoing. Algonquin has completed about 95 percent of

the centerline survey for the Project pipelines and about 90 percent of the detailed pipeline

survey.

Algonquin has also completed approximately 95 percent of the civil surveys required for

the aboveground facilities.

Algonquin is in the process of obtaining survey permission for the remaining parcels that

have not yet been surveyed.

Geotechnical Surveys for Horizontal Directional Drilling Evaluation

Algonquin is currently conducting a geotechnical survey to recover rock core samples to

document existing subsurface conditions and bedrock properties along the proposed HDD

alignments. The geotechnical survey work will continue through the spring and summer

of 2015.

Wetland and Waterbody Surveys

2015 wetland and vernal pool surveys were completed for the Q-1 System Loop in May

2015.

Threatened & Endangered Species Surveys

Algonquin continues to informally consult with federal and state resource agencies

including the USFWS, NMFS, State Natural Heritage Programs, and State fisheries and

wildlife agencies.

Phase 2 bog turtle surveys were started in May 2015 in New York.

An Indiana bat and Northern long-eared bat survey protocol is being prepared in

anticipation of June 2015 surveys.


6

Cultural Resource Surveys

The cultural resources identification field surveys for the Project resumed in May 2015

where landowner access has been obtained.

Archaeological site evaluations also commenced in May 2015 along the Stony Point

Discharge Take-up and Relay.

Historic architectural properties identification survey is planned to commence in June

2015.

Cultural resource identification survey fieldwork progress is as follows:

Table 4.1: Cultural Resource Survey Progress

Atlantic Bridge Project Facility

Archaeological

Identification Survey

Fieldwork Progress

Archaeological Site

Evaluation Fieldwork

Progress

Aboveground

Resource

Identification Survey

Fieldwork Progress

Stony Point Discharge Take-up and Relay 79% 100% (for known sites) 0%

Southeast Discharge Take-up and Relay 91% To Be Determined (TBD) 0%

NY Aboveground Facilities 100% N/A 0%

CT Aboveground Facilities 100% N/A 0%

MA Aboveground Facilities N/A N/A 0%

5.0 STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH

Algonquin participated in a Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board public hearing

held in the Town of Weymouth on May 27, 2015.

6.0 AGENCY CONTACTS

Algonquin received a letter response from the Connecticut Department of Energy and

Environmental Protection (“CTDEEP”) Natural Diversity Data Base on May 22, 2015.

Algonquin met with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New England Field Office on May

15, 2015 to discuss the Project and federally endangered and threatened species.

Algonquin met with the CTDEEP on May 20, 2015 to provide an overview of the Project

and discuss anticipated permits and approvals. Algonquin also informed the CTDEEP of

the reduced project scope.

Algonquin informed both the New England and New York Divisions of the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers of the reduced scope of facilities and requested a pre-application

meeting to coordinate the permitting process.

Algonquin informed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

(“NYSDEC”) of the reduced scope of facilities although the New York segments were not

changed. Algonquin is coordinating a project briefing meeting with the NYSDEC.


Document Content(s)

AB Monthly Status Report No 3.PDF.....................................1-7


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