Take Action: Tell FERC the Atlantic Bridge Pipeline Project Requires a Comprehensive Environmental Review
May 20, 2015
Riverkeeper Team
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has begun environmental review for the Atlantic Bridge Project and is requesting input regarding the scope of that review. The Atlantic Bridge Project is the second planned expansion of the Algonquin natural gas pipeline system, following the Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) Project. We need your help to urge FERC to conduct a comprehensive environmental review.
The Atlantic Bridge Project spans New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. It would entail an additional five miles of construction in New York, including four miles within the watershed supplying New York City's drinking water. Construction could harm water quality by cutting through wetlands and waterbodies and increasing stormwater runoff.
Tell FERC it must undertake a comprehensive environmental review of the Atlantic Bridge Project’s likely impacts:
- The Atlantic Bridge Project is the second of three planned projects that will upgrade and expand capacity of the Algonquin pipeline system, including the AIM Project and planned Access Northeast Project. These three projects are connected, cumulative, and similar actions that must be evaluated together.
- The likely environmental impacts of the Atlantic Bridge Project must be comprehensively evaluated in an Environmental Impact Statement. Significant water quality impacts include wetland and buffer degradation, erosion and sedimentation, and increases in stormwater runoff, and could affect New York City’s drinking water supply.
- FERC’s evaluation of environmental impacts must include those to 100-foot wetland and stream buffers, stormwater impacts, and potential impacts to downstream reservoirs within the NYC drinking water supply watershed. This evaluation must also include submission of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for public review.
To file written comments:
Visit www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp by 5:00pm Thursday, June 11 to file your comments. Simply click on the eComment button and follow the directions.
Make sure to enter docket number PF15-12.
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