FERC staff needs more time to consider additional environmental information on the proposed PennEast Pipeline and on Monday pushed back its review of the project.

The new issuance date for the project’s final environmental impact statement (EIS) is to be April 7. The previous date was Feb. 17. The new authorization deadline date is July 6, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in a notice [CP15-558].

“After a two-and-a-half year review of PennEast Pipeline Co.’s application, including the 33 route adjustments announced in September to further reduce environmental impact, the additional 49-day review period FERC announced today will help ensure a complete and thorough review,” PennEast spokesperson Pat Kornick said. “PennEast looks forward to receiving the final environmental impact statement (EIS) and anticipates the line will be operational in the second half 2018.”

FERC staff determined in its initial environmental assessment that the pipeline would have minimal environmental impact.

The 114-mile, 36-inch diameter greenfield PennEast would transport 1.11 million Dth/d of eastern Marcellus Shale gas to markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. About 990,000 Dth/d of that capacity is spoken for. New Jersey Natural Gas Co. is the largest taker 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 Company of New York Inc., Elizabethtown Gas, and UGI Energy Services LLC each have 100,000 Dth/d.

PennEast is a joint venture owned by AGL Resources Inc. unit Red Oak Enterprise Holdings Inc. (20%); New Jersey Resources’ NJR Pipeline Co. (20%); South Jersey Industries’ SJI Midstream LLC (20%); UGI Energy Services LLC’s UGI PennEast LLC (20%); PSEG Power LLC (10%); and Spectra Energy Partners LP (10%). The partnership is managed by UGI Energy Services.