The companion expansion projects of Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline and Algonquin Transmission have obtained final environmental clearance from FERC staff, moving them one step closer to receiving certificate authorization from the full Commission.

“We [FERC staff] conclude that, with the use of Maritimes’ and Algonquin’s proposed mitigation, and adoption of our recommended mitigation measures, construction and operation of the proposed facilities would have limited adverse environmental impact,” said staff in their final environmental impact statement (FEIS) on the two projects (CP01-8).

The combined projects call for Maritimes to construct an extension in a southeasterly direction through several Massachusetts counties to the East Coast where the Algonquin line would connect and extend offshore down the coast through Boston Bay to Weymouth on the south side of Boston Harbor. The two pipeline projects are designed to supply up to 230,500 Dth/d to the gas-starved New England region, according to the FEIS, and are targeted for in-service by November 2002.

The so-called Phase III extension of the 600-mile Maritimes pipeline, which imports Atlantic Canadian gas to the Northeast from the Sable Offshore Energy Project offshore Nova Scotia, will include 24 miles of 30-inch diameter pipeline and one mile of 24-inch diameter pipeline, extending from Methuen, MA, through a number of counties to a connection with Algonquin’s proposed extension in Beverly, MA. The project, which has an estimated price-tag of $133.9 million, would provide firm transportation service to serve growing markets on the east end of Algonquin’s system.

Algonquin’s HubLine project, which has a projected cost of $127 million, will include about 29 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline, extending offshore from an interconnection near Beverly with Maritimes’ proposed Phase III project to an interconnection with Algonquin’s existing I-9 lateral in Weymouth. Algonquin also plans to build a 5.4 mile, 16-inch diameter lateral from the proposed pipeline to a wastewater treatment plant owned by Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on Deer Island.

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