The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection granted a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certificate to DTE Midstream Appalachia LLC for a proposed pipeline project that would deliver up to 79,000 Dth/d of natural gas to a Birdsboro Power LLC power plant.
In a notice posted at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 13, the state agency said the Birdsboro pipeline project would not violate Pennsylvania water quality standards, as long as the developer complies with recommended mitigation measures. The developer had asked for a water quality permit from Pennsylvania on June 23, 2017.
The project would impact 29 streams and 21 wetlands in Pennsylvania. The pipeline would run 14 miles from an interconnection with Spectra Energy Partners LP's Texas Eastern Transmission LP to the Birdsboro Combined Cycle Plant in Berks County, Pa. The project would require approximately 128 acres of earth disturbance, permanent impacts to 493 linear feet of water bodies and temporary impacts to 649 linear feet of water bodies, including the Schuylkill River, along with additional effects on other state waters, according to the state agency.
DTE Midstream, a DTE Energy Co. subsidiary, applied for FERC authorization on May 1, 2017. FERC staff gave the pipeline a positive environmental assessment on Nov. 15, 2017. Staff said that with mitigation measures the project would not have a significant impact on the environment. The project, estimated to cost about $44.8 million in the application, would consist of 12-inch-diameter pipeline and related infrastructure. The DTE Midstream website put the pipeline's estimated in-service date in the third quarter of 2018.
Birdsboro Power contracted for the pipeline's entire capacity. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued permits for the power plant. (FERC docket CP17-409)
