Williams Partners LP has modified the open season for Atlantic Access, a proposed expansion of its Transco interstate pipeline, as a result of discussions with potential shippers (see Shale Daily, Feb. 7). Transco is increasing the total firm transportation capacity, offering additional firm transportation paths and revising the proposed in-service date to December 2015. The revised open season runs through July 13. Atlantic Access would connect gas supplies originating in western West Virginia and Pennsylvania to markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Gulf Coast regions. Transco is now proposing a total of six firm transportation paths under the project. Two of the three original paths have been fully subscribed. For customer inquiries, contact Gary Duvall at (713) 215-2589.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined Exco Resources Inc. $160,000, claiming that the producer continued to inject drilling wastewater into a disposal well in Bell Township, PA, in Clearfield County for four months after discovering a leaking underground pipeline. EPA also accused the Dallas-based company of failing to notify regulators in a timely manner. The settlement with EPA allows Exco to fix the well and pay a civil penalty, resolving violations of the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act. No allegations were made that the leaking pipe impacted groundwater, EPA said.

Oil and Gas IQ, a division of international conference promoter IQPC, will hold a new training seminar, “Water Management in the Marcellus and Utica Gas Shale Plays,” from June 18-20 in Pittsburgh at a venue still to be determined. The subject matter will reportedly include cost-effective and environmentally sound methods to manage water for use in hydraulic fracturing, as well ways to treat, recycle and dispose of wastewater. For more information call (646) 378-6026, or email enquire@iqpc.co.uk.