FERC has issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s (Transco) proposed pipe and compression expansion of its system in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to serve natural gas markets in the Northeast.

“Approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment,” the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concluded in the EA on the Sentinel project [CP08-312]. The favorable EA puts Transco one step away from receiving a certificate for the expansion.

The project, which Transco filed at FERC in December 2007, would increase Transco firm transportation capacity by 142 MMcf/d, according to Transco, a subsidiary of The Williams Cos. Phase 1 of the project would provide 40 MMcf/d by a target date of Nov. 1, 2008, while Phase II would provide 102 MMcf/d of additional capacity by Nov. 1, 2009.

In December 2006, Transco said it executed precedent agreements with seven shippers for capacity on the Sentinel expansion (see NGI, Dec. 18, 2006).

The proposed expansion would increase total system capacity on the 10,500-mile Transco pipeline to about 8.3 Bcf/d. Transco said the expansion is designed to meet the needs of various customers in the Northeast region, particularly utility companies and electric generators.

The project calls for the addition or replacement of approximately 21 miles of pipe at various locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as compressor facility modifications at Station 195 in Delta, PA. Transco said it plans to build four new sections of pipe (loops) and replace an existing segment of pipeline.

The pipeline expects to begin construction of the Phase I facilities in the summer of 2008, and of Phase II facilities in spring 2009.

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