FERC has delayed by two months the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC, according to a revised notice Tuesday [CP15-558].

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had originally scheduled the final EIS for Dec. 16 but pushed it to Feb. 17, with a 90-day federal authorization decision deadline of May 18. FERC cited “new route modifications filed by PennEast” as a contributing factor in its decision to prolong the environmental review schedule. In September, PennEast filed 33 minor route variations as part of ongoing efforts to limit impacts on landowners and the environment (see Shale Daily, Sept. 23).

PennEast received a favorable draft EIS from FERC in July (see Shale Daily, July 22). The 114-mile, 36-inch diameter greenfield PennEast would transport 1.11 million Dth/d of Marcellus Shale gas to markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

New Jersey Natural Gas Co. is the largest taker of capacity with 180,000 Dth/d. PSEG Power LLC and Texas Eastern Transmission each have 125,000 Dth/d. South Jersey Gas. Co. has 105,000 Dth/d, and Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc., Elizabethtown Gas, and UGI Energy Services LLC each have 100,000 Dth/d.

PennEast is a joint venture backed by NJR Pipeline Co., Public Service Enterprise Group, SJI Midstream, Southern Company Gas, Spectra Energy Partners LP and UGI Energy Services.

Like other Northeast pipeline proposals, the project has faced vocal opposition from environmental groups. New Jersey’s utility consumer advocate also came out against the pipeline, arguing to FERC that the project isn’t needed and would be an unfair burden on ratepayers (see Daily GPI, Sept. 16). PennEast refuted those claims (see Daily GPI, Oct. 17).

Atlantic Sunrise, another planned Marcellus takeaway project that would add 1.7 million Dth/d moving south on Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s system, recently received a delayed environmental review timeline from FERC. The delay also related to route variations on greenfield segments in Pennsylvania (see Daily GPI, Oct. 20).