NORTHERN ACCESS PROJECT
PROJECT OVERVIEW
On March 17, 2015, National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation ("Supply") and Empire Pipeline, Inc, ("Empire")(collectively known as "National Fuel"), both subsidiaries of National Fuel Gas Company, filed a joint application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") at Docket Number CP15-115-000 for authorization to construct the Northern Access Project. On Nov. 2, 2015, National Fuel filed an amendment to its Joint Abbreviated Application under Docket Number CP15-115-001. This project will transport regionally produced supplies of natural gas to multiple markets in North America, providing reliable supplies of energy to Western New York, the Midwest and Canada.
The Northern Access Project will include the following:
- Supply will construct 96.49 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline, beginning from Sergeant Township, McKean County, PA, and ending at Supply's existing Porterville Compressor Station in the Town of Elma, Erie County, NY.
- Supply will install an additional 5,350 horsepower of compression at the existing Porterville Compressor Station.
- Supply will construct an interconnection with Tennessee Gas Pipeline in the Town of Wales, Erie County, NY
- Empire will construct a new 22,214 horsepower compressor station adjacent to Killian Road in the Town of Pendleton, Niagara County, NY.
- Empire will construct approximately 2 miles of 16-inch/24-inch pipeline in the Town of Pendleton, Niagara County, NY
- Empire will construct a new natural gas dehydration facility on Liberty Drive in the Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, NY
NEWS & UPDATES
Whether you're a member of the media, a landowner, a public official or any other interested party, we want to keep you informed and answer all of your questions regarding this project. Get the facts.
PROJECT TIMELINE
March 2014—Began preliminary route review
May 2014—Held Supply informational meetings & contacted landowners
May 2014 - February 2015—Conducted environmental & engineering studies of preferred route
July 2014—Began FERC NEPA pre-filing process
August 2014—Held additional public meetings, including Empire
November 2014—Held FERC Supply scoping meetings
March 2015—Submitted FERC 7(b)/7(c) filing
May 2015—Held FERC Empire scoping meeting
May 2015—Begin right-of-way acquisition
May 2015 – December 2016—Complete additional studies
February 2017—Received FERC 7(b)/7(c) certificate
Fall 2019—Planned in-service date
PUBLIC MEETINGS & OUTREACH
There have been several public meetings to introduce landowners and other stakeholders to the Northern Access Project and provide them with information about how it might affect them. Meeting dates and locations are listed below.
May 13, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Smethport American Legion 419 West Main St. Smethport, PA 16749
May 20, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Premier Banquet Center 2000 Constitution Ave. Olean, NY 14760
May 21, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Franklinville Fire Hall 75 North Main St. Franklinville, NY 14737
May 28, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Sardinia Town Hall 12320 Savage Rd. Sardinia, NY 14134
Aug. 26, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Premier Banquet Center 2000 Constitution Ave. Olean, NY 14760
Aug. 27, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Sardinia Town Hall 12320 Savage Rd. Sardinia, NY 14134
Aug. 28, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Wendelville Fire Hall 7340 Tonawanda Blvd. North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Nov. 3, 2014 — 7 p.m.
St. Bonaventure University Doyle Hall 3261 West State St. St. Bonaventure, NY 14778
Nov. 5, 2014 — 7 p.m.
Springville-Griffith High School 290 North Buffalo St. Springville, NY 14141
May 20, 2015 — 6 p.m.
Wendelville Fire Hall 7340 Tonawanda Blvd. North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Sept. 18-19, 2015 — 2 p.m. | 10 a.m.
Compressor Station Tours East Aurora, NY and Oakfield, NY
Oct. 7, 2015 — 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Wendelville Fire Hall 7340 Tonawanda Blvd. North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Nov. 7, 2015 — 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wendelville Fire Hall 7340 Tonawanda Blvd. North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Jan. 13, 2016 — 6 p.m.
Wheatfield Community Center 2790 Church Rd. Wheatfield, N.Y. 14120
MEETING PRESENTATIONS
FOR LANDOWNERS
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") requires National Fuel to provide a brief summary of your rights at FERC and in the proceedings under the eminent domain rules of your state. The following summaries should not be construed as legal advice, but only as brief descriptions for this limited purpose. If you have questions about your rights, you should discuss them with an attorney of your choice.
More information about landowners' rights and ways to become involved in this process can be found on FERC's website.
Additional Information:
NEXT STEPS
Company representatives have contacted landowners to request permission to survey properties along the proposed pipeline route and to conduct environmental, civil and archaeological surveys. These surveys provided both National Fuel and the landowners with the data needed to determine the most suitable route for this pipeline project. Factors used in making this determination include, but are not limited to: environmental or archeological sensitivity, the presence of threatened and endangered species, pipeline engineering and constructability issues, site conditions (including locations of buildings, drain tiles, wells and other natural and manmade features), geological conditions, and cost.
Upon completion of these studies, National Fuel began contacting landowners along the preferred route to acquire rights-of-way where the new pipeline will be constructed. A right-of-way is an agreement by which a property owner grants permission to the company to use a defined portion of his or her property to install, operate and maintain the pipeline facilities. The rights acquired will be for a permanent 50-foot easement along the pipeline corridor, plus additional temporary work space as required to safely construct the new pipeline and to perform agricultural mitigation. Right-of-way compensation is based on open market property values, which are established by recent sales of comparable properties in the area. Historically, the presence of a natural gas pipeline, which is buried a minimum of 3 feet underground, has not reduced property values. Landowners will be compensated for any damage caused by the pipeline construction, including lost agricultural production and timber. In addition, the company is committed to restoring the areas affected during construction to original or better condition, and allowing the continued use of the land for agricultural and recreational purposes.
FERC FILINGS
In order to access National Fuel's FERC filings, please visit www.ferc.gov and complete the following steps:
- Click on eLibrary in the upper right-hand corner.
- Under "Search Options," click on "General Search."
- Switch the "Date Range" to "All" and type in "CP15-115-000" or "CP15-115-001" in the box that asks for the "Docket Number."
A copy of the FERC application and the subsequent amendment for the Northern Access Project can also be viewed at the following public libraries:
Hamlin Memorial Library
123 South Mechanic Street P.O. Box 422 Smethport, PA 16749
Blount Library, Inc.
5 North Main Street Franklinville, NY 14737
Delevan – Yorkshire Public Library
28 School Street PO Box 185 Delevan, NY 14042
North Tonawanda Public Library
505 Meadow Drive North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Olean Public Library
134 North Second Street Olean, NY 14760
David A. Howe Library
155 North Main Street Wellsville, NY 14895
Aurora Town Library
550 Main Street East Aurora, NY 14052
SAFETY
With more than 110 years of experience in the natural gas industry, National Fuel is tied to the cities, towns and villages where we do business. We have a personal stake in the communities where we operate as our 2,000 employees, their families and 2,270 retirees live in our service territories. Within our Pipeline and Storage businesses, we have more than a century's worth of experience in building and operating natural gas facilities and are committed to safely constructing pipeline systems to minimize environmental and community impacts. As such, National Fuel is committed to working with federal, state and local regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to the following agencies listed below:
FEDERAL AGENCIES
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District and Pittsburgh District
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – New York and Pennsylvania Field Offices
- Various Native American Tribal Group Contacts
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
STATE OF NEW YORK AGENCIES
- New York Natural Heritage Program
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
- New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AGENCIES
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
- Pennsylvania Game Commission
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau for Historic Preservation, State Historic Preservation Office
- PADEP & McKean County Conservation District
LOCAL/MUNICIPAL AGENCIES
- Town Building Permits
- Road Use/Opening Permits
PIPELINE SAFETY
National Fuel has committed to adopt design features and operating practices that will exceed already stringent industry and regulatory pipeline safety standards. Some of the measures would include:
- Remote controlled shut off valves monitored 24 hours a day
- More frequent inspections than are required by law, including regular inspections with highly sophisticated internal inspection tools
- X-raying 100 percent of pipeline welds
- In certain areas, installing thicker steel pipe than is required by regulations
Across the country, pipelines make it possible to safely deliver American consumers and businesses the affordable natural gas that makes our country a global energy leader. Click here to learn more.
COMPRESSOR STATION SAFETY
National Fuel safely operates thousands of miles of pipeline and 134 compressor units at 38 stations in New York and Pennsylvania. The Company's engineers have extensive experience in pipeline engineering and construction and bring the latest state-of-the-art knowledge and techniques to every project. National Fuel's compressor stations and high-pressure pipelines consistently receive "clean" audits for the company by federal safety regulators. Some of the safety measures featured would include:
- Monitored 24/7 local Gas Dispatch Center and on-site safety control systems
- Highly trained and qualified personnel
– On-site daily inspection (M-F)
– Additional local support available
– After hours on-call staff available
- State-of-the-art control system
– Fire detection
– Gas detection
– Automatic emergency shutdown (ESD system)
– 100 percent Weld X-ray
– Hydrostatic test of piping >150 percent
CONTACT INFORMATION