Tell FERC the AIM Pipeline Project DEIS Fails to Evaluate Environmental Impacts
September 22, 2014
Riverkeeper Team
Algonquin Gas Transmission (Algonquin) has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to construct the Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM ) Project, an upgrade of more than 37 miles of natural gas pipeline and associated facilities in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
In New York, the AIM Project involves replacement and expansion of approximately 15 miles of pipeline, a new Hudson River crossing, and the upgrade of 2 compressor stations and 2 metering and regulating stations, all within the Hudson River watershed and New York City (NYC) drinking water supply watershed. It involves 39 waterbody crossings and 77 wetland crossings in New York. And we recently learned that the AIM Project is just the first project planned for our area: Algonquin is planning an additional upgrade to the same pipeline infrastructure, called the Atlantic Bridge Project, which would involve construction in an additional 4 miles of the NYC drinking water watershed.
The AIM Project is now undergoing environmental review. FERC – which has the authority to deny project approval if the environmental impacts are too great – has issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review and comment and proposes to conclude that the project will not result in significant environmental impacts.
Tell FERC not so fast! The DEIS has several flaws, and does not support a conclusion that the project will avoid significant environmental impacts.
The DEIS must be revised and the following must be included:
1) The Atlantic Bridge Project must be comprehensively evaluated in the DEIS. Failing to include the Atlantic Bridge Project impermissibly segments environmental review.
2) Necessary information that FERC identified as missing from the DEIS must be submitted by Algonquin and evaluated before FERC makes a decision about significant environmental impacts. Outstanding information includes the site specific crossing plan for the Catskill Aqueduct and final conclusions regarding potential safety related conflicts with Indian Point.
3) Cumulative impacts must be fully evaluated. In addition to the Atlantic Bridge Project, this analysis should include an evaluation of the impacts associated with increased industrial gas extraction activities that will be facilitated by the AIM Project, which will considerably expand natural gas delivery capacity in the Northeast Region and therefore increase demand for gas extraction.
Ask FERC to revise the DEIS and reissue it for public review and comment.
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To file written comments:
Visit http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.aspby 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 29 to file your comments. Simply click on the eComment button and follow the directions. Make sure to enter docket number CP14-96.
To read Riverkeeper’s prior comments on the AIM project:
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