FERC gave the go-ahead Friday to begin construction on the $4.2 billion Rover Pipeline and related Panhandle and Trunkline backhaul projects.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a notice to proceed with construction activities in most areas along the project route, with certain exceptions identified as part of the review process and Rover’s implementation plan [CP15-93].

The timing of the FERC order is consistent with comments made by executives of backer Energy Transfer Partners LP during a recent 4Q2016 earnings call.

Rover backer Energy Transfer Partners LP has been in a race against time to clear trees along the route before the federally-approved seasonal tree-clearing window closes at the end of the month.

Despite a prolonged environmental review at FERC, Energy Transfer is sticking to an aggressive timeline for Rover and plans to hit its original in-service targets of partial service to Defiance, OH, by July and full in-service by November.

The 3.25 Bcf/d Rover Pipeline will connect Appalachian Basin production to markets in the Midwest and the Gulf Coast by interconnecting with the Vector Pipeline in Michigan and the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada.

Rover received a certificate order from FERC in early February, part of a flurry of orders issued before the resignation of former Chairman Norman Bay left the Commission without a quorum.