Low Turnout For Public Meeting On Major Pipeline Expansion

Only a handful of local residents attended National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation’s public information meeting on the company’s Northern Access Project, held at Potato City Country Inn.  NFG Vice President Ron Kramer explained that the project will allow the company to transport gas produced from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale to the TransCanada Pipeline at Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Preliminary environmental and engineering studies have been completed. Both National Fuel and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. plan to apply for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval next month. Tennessee owns the Niagara Spur Loopline, which is part of this project, in addition to the “300 Line,” an interstate transmission line which traverses Potter County and interconnects with the National Fuel Gas Line X in Ellisburg.

The project will include the addition of two compressor units totaling approximately 9,500 HP at the Ellisburg Compressor Station in Allegany Township. The company expects FERC approval by October and will begin site work then. Construction will begin in April 2012, and the company expects the project to be in service by September 2012. The two compressor units at Ellisburg will be enclosed in building designed to minimize noise. A company engineer said that emissions, which include  nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and nitrous oxides, will fall within state guidelines.  Both DEP and EPA conduct will test  emissions.

To minimize impact to landowners, the company will co-locate new facilities with existing sites where possible. The project will create approximately 100 jobs and some supplies will be purchased from local businesses.

Questions or comments can be faxed to 814-871-8061 or mailed to Feedback, c/o Corp. Communications, PO Box 2081, 1100 State St., Erie PA 16512-2081.

(Mary Anne Heston, a member of the Potter County Natural Gas Task Force, provided this summary.)