Proposal To Enlarge Gas Pipeline Across Indian Point

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC) has put out for public comment a draft environmental impact statement concerning a proposed pipeline expansion project in the Northeast. The expansion includes property belonging to the Indian Point Nuclear power plant.

The draft environmental impact statement, or EIS, is for the Algonquin Incremental Market Project, or AIM Project. Algonquin Gas Transmission wants to expand its existing pipeline system from an interconnection at Ramapo, in Rockland County, to deliver additional natural gas transportation service to the Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts markets. The draft EIS addresses the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of nearly 38 miles of pipeline.

Houston-based Spectra Energy, which operates the 1,127 mile pipeline that goes from Lambertville, New Jersey to Boston. The expansion is for a portion of this pipeline and Hanley says the pipeline will be built in existing rights of way.

Spectra will use the same trench lifting the 26-inch pipeline and replacing that 26-inch pipeline with a 42-inch-diamer pipeline. Spectra is seeking to expand its existing infrastructure to meet the region’s needs.  Construction would begin in spring of 2015 if all regulatory permits are in place. Part of the expansion includes a portion of the property of the Buchanan-based Indian Point nuclear power plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) primary interest has to do with whether this could impact the safe operation of the plant.  The NRC will provide comments to FERC. Entergy is taking no position on the project, but has analyzed any potential impact to safety.  Entery is required by regulation to analyze potential external impacts to safety of the plant.   Entergy's engineers have analyzed the pipeline. They worked with Spectra to understand different aspects of how it was going to be constructed, where it was going to be sited, the depth of the pipeline and determined that there’s no risk to the plant from the pipeline being sited where it’s proposed.

The pipeline replacement is for an area of Indian Point that is considered owner-controlled property, not near the reactors or vital plant structures.
“Indian Point sits on about 240 acres of land and what’s called the owner-controlled area is the outermost ring of the plant.

The public comment period ends September 29. There will be four public comment meetings September 8-11 – one in Massachusetts; two in Connecticut, in Norwich and Danbury; and one in New York, in Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County. The New York public meeting is September 11. (WNPRNews, 8/29/2014)