Chester County Pipeline Information Center Website

The Chester County Board of Commissioners is pleased to announce the Pipeline Information Center website. The website provides a wide range of objective information on proposed pipeline projects, regulatory agencies, the regulatory process, pipeline maps, and other pipeline resources. A goal of this initiative is to promote pipeline safety and public awareness through a partnership with pipeline providers, regulators, municipal governments, and other agencies.

The Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) has been designated as the County’s “point of contact” for issues dealing with proposed pipeline projects within Chester County. We are inviting partner agencies to both visit the website and to provide any pipeline project related information appropriate for posting to the project information page.

On-line Seminar June 20: Landscape Disturbance & Natural Gas Extraction

FREE ON-LINE SEMINAR

Landscape Disturbance Related to Natural Gas Extraction in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Sponsored by ASPRS, CaGIS and GLIS

Date & Time: June 20th, 2014 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST 

The American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) GIS Division in partnership with the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) and the Geographic and Land Information Society (GLIS) would like to invite our members to attend our third online seminar for the 2014 series.

Landscape Disturbance Related to Natural Gas Extraction in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Abstract:Increased demands for cleaner burning energy, coupled with the relatively recent technological advances in accessing unconventional hydrocarbon-rich geologic formations, have led to an intense effort to find and extract natural gas from various underground sources around the country. One of these sources, the Marcellus Shale, located in the Allegheny Plateau, is currently undergoing extensive drilling and production. The technology used to extract gas in the Marcellus shale is known as hydraulic fracturing and has garnered much attention because of its use of large amounts of fresh water, its use of proprietary fluids for the hydraulic-fracturing process, its potential to release contaminants into the environment, and its potential effect on water resources. Nonetheless, development of natural gas extraction wells in the Marcellus Shale is only part of the overall natural gas story in the area of Pennsylvania. Coalbed methane, which is sometimes extracted using the similar technique, is commonly located in the same general area as the Marcellus Shale and is frequently developed in clusters across the landscape. The combined effects of these two natural gas extraction methods create potentially serious patterns of disturbance on the landscape. This presentation quantifies the landscape changes and consequences of natural gas extraction for the natural gas play in Pennsylvania between 2004 and 2010. Patterns of landscape disturbance related to natural gas extraction activities were collected and digitized using National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery for 2004, 2005/2006, 2008, and 2010. The disturbance patterns were then used to measure changes in land cover and land use using the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) of 2001 as a baseline. A series of landscape metrics are also used to quantify these changes and report on the potential ecosystem effects.

About the Speaker:  Terry Slonecker is a research geographer in the United States Geological Survey’s Eastern Geographic Science Center.  He has over 30 years of experience in remote sensing and geospatial analysis including positions with the U.S. Air Force, private industry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  His current research interests include hyperspectral analysis of heavy metals, hazardous substances, hydrocarbons, and related vegetation stress.  He recently taught hyperspectral remote sensing at the Afghanistan Geological Society in Kabul and has been involved in several emergency response efforts including the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010. He received his master’s degree in Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, and his doctorate in Environmental Science and Public Policy from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. He is currently working on mapping and measuring the landscape effects of natural gas development and on evaluating remote sensing as a tool for hazardous waste site monitoring.  On several occasions, he has served as an expert witness for the U.S. Federal Government on remote sensing related matters.

Date & Time: Date & Time: June 20th, 2014 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Remote Access / Registration:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7083743658768443137

       NOTE: Registration is limited to the first 500 people who sign up and log in to the seminar.

If you are unable to attend the live seminar, a recording will be posted at
http://www.asprs.org/GISD-Division/Online-Seminars.html several days after the seminar.

  

Questions, Contact:
David Alvarez, CMS, GISP
GIS Division Director (ASPRS)
davidalvarez76@gmail.com

Precedential Win Against FERC Decision

Please see attached both the press release explaining the findings of the Federal Court which has ruled FERC violated federal law when it issued approvals for the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (NEUP) project, and the decision itself.

Chester County Pipeline Information Center is On-line

The Chester County Commissioners created the Chester County Pipeline Information Center to assist  municipalities, pipeline operators, and residents of Chester County to a better understanding of pipelines and their regulation. Now that the site has gone on-line you will be able to view pipeline corridors on municipal maps and learn how to contact pipeline companies with non-emergency questions.

Natural Gas in SE PA Forum: March 22

Natural Gas Development
Its Impact on Southeastern Pennsylvania

Saturday, March 22, 2014,  11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Hilton Garden Inn
Fort Washington, PA (Exit 339 PA Turnpike)

Forum Features:
Cynthia Dunn, CEO and President PennFUTURE
Andrew Levine, Environmental Law Partner, Stradley Ronan Attorneys at Law
Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Directory, Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Nicholas Walsh, Director of Strategic Planning and Development, Philadelphia Regional Port Authority

Invite others! Find out what might be in store for your community!

Forum cost, with lunch is $30.00/person (Lemon Chicken or Pasta Primavera)

RSVP – Olivia Thorne (olivia.thorne@verizon.net) or call 610-566-5474

Nature Conservancy’s Development by Design

The Nature Conservancy has produced a tool-set “Development by Design”, which seeks to avoid, minimize and mitigate habitat impacts from infrastructure development. These analysis tools can be used by pipeline companies to find routes that minimize ecological damage and overall still be cost effective for the company.  The program analyzes habitat fragmentation and provides information on sediment loss that can be used to evaluate the effect of pipeline crossings of streams. For more on this please see the slides from Marcellus Gas Development Projections and Conservation Impacts.

Gas Pipelines Fragmenting Pennsylvania’s Forests

A recent article that appeared in Bloomberg’s Inside Climate News examines the impact on Penn’s woodland from the wave of natural gas exploitation, see Gas Pipeline Boom Fragmenting Pennsylvania’s Forests.

New Sunoco Pipeline Activities in the Township

Sunoco Pipeline L.P. recently has contacted landowners in East Nantmeal regarding two pipeline projects. One project involves rehabilitation of an existing pipeline and the other a feasibility study for a new pipeline approximating the existing right of way.

For decades Sunoco’s pipeline moved liquid petroleum products, such as heating oil, from their Marcus Hook refinery to the Pittsburgh area. That route utilizes pipelines that run along the western boundary of East Nantmeal in the vicinity of Millard Road. Sunoco currently has two pipes about three feet underground, one 8-inch diameter and one 6-inch diameter; the larger has been taken off-line for inspection and repair. Ultimately the company intends to reverse the flow from the Pittsburgh area to the newly converted refinery in Marcus Hook. And rather than move petroleum products, the pipeline will carry natural gas liquids. To implement this plan, the line has been cleared so it can be inspected and maintained. Remote inspection of the pipeline will indicate areas where the steel might be dented, thinned or in other ways needing repair. Sunoco can exercise the rights granted in their easement to enter onto an individual’s property to survey, inspect and if necessary excavate and repair the pipeline. Residents should expect to see Sunoco or its contractors doing this type of work in the western part of the township until the projected completion date in mid-2014.

The Mariner East Pipeline Project is a separate endeavor to move natural gas liquids from Ohio, across Pennsylvania to the Marcus Hook facility. Sunoco is in the very early stages of Mariner and will be in East Nantmeal conducting a feasibility study. The Company intends to follow the current pipeline route through the township (along the western boundary) using the existing right of way. However, the old right of way may not prove sufficient, which means that the company may need to survey and test areas outside of their right of way. If Sunoco ventures outside the eased areas onto private property, they will need to inform and get permission from the landowner. At this time, no application has been made with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and no permits have been issued for this new pipeline. If the Mariner project is approved and the route determined, then Sunoco may have to also obtain additional right-of-way easements to construct the pipeline.

FERC Public Meeting October 16, 2013

A FERC public scoping meeting to be held at the Wyndham Garden in Exton on Wednesday, October 16 at 7:00 pm. The public will have the opportunity to provide comments on the alternative pipeline routes under consideration for the Columbia Gas East Side Expansion Project.

At 6:30pm on Oct. 16, Columbia representatives will be available to answer questions about the project.

This is a good opportunity for landowners, community organizations and township officials to hear about the alternative routes and to be heard.

DEP Webinar: Public participation in permitting process, July 15

(message forwarded from PA DEP):

The Department of Environmental Protection invites you to participate in an upcomingwebinar on the department’s recently published draft Policy on Public Participation in the Permit Review Process.  This important draft policy establishes a framework for the public’s ability to review and provide comments on permits or authorizations under review by DEP. 

 

The webinar will be held from 2-3 p.m., Monday, July 15.  The webinar is free, but registration is required.  To register for the webinar, visit:  https://copa.webex.com/copa/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=640651244

 

Staff from DEP’s Policy Office will review the draft policy and outline the changes proposed.  The draft policy was published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on June 29 and can be found here: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol43/43-25/1120.html

 

The deadline to comment on the draft policy is July 22. 

 

We look forward to your participation.

 

Regards,

Alisa

 

Alisa E. Harris | Special Deputy Secretary for External Affairs
Department of Environmental Protection
Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717.787.6490 | Fax: 717.705.4980
www.depweb.state.pa.us