1. Sam Koplinka-Loehr, Shale Gas Organizer Clean Air Council
Proposed Pipelines In The Delaware River Watershed
Sam Koplinka-Loehr, Shale Gas Organizer Clean Air Council
Williams Transco, Chester County. Source: Pipeline Safety Coalition

2. Clean Air Council Marcellus Shale Program
Lawsuits against polluters or agencies
Track current rulemaking and write comments on regulations
Work with residents to comment and testify on gas infrastructure
Community actions to achieve goals outside of regulatory pathways

3. Presentation Overview
Proposed Pipelines in the Watershed
Environmental Impacts
Social Impacts
Regulatory and Legal Frameworks
Available Resources
Photo Source: Bob Donnan 3

4. An Overview: Proposed Pipelines in the Watershed4

5. What Pipeline? Natural Gas: Methane
Natural Gas Liquids: Ethane, Propane, and Butane
In the Delaware River Watershed, we are seeing a proliferation of proposals for both types of pipelines
Williams Transco, Chester County. Photo source: Pipeline Safety Coalition

6. Transmission Pipelines
Photo Source: Bob Donnan

7. Point of Extraction
Susquehanna County Drilling Rig. Photo Source: Sam Koplinka-Loehr, CAC

8. Distribution and Export
Cove Point LNG Export Facility. Photo Source: Associated Press

9. Proposed Pipelines in the Watershed
Even without active drilling in the watershed, proposed shale gas pipelines present a significant threat to the ecological and community resources of the region
Pipelines in the DRW. Map source: Sam Koplinka-Loehr, CAC

10. Scope of Potential Impact
2,000 miles of existing pipelines in Watershed
290 miles of proposed pipelines
15% increase in pipeline infrastructure in the next two years, directly impacting over 3,500 acres of land and hundreds of water bodies
Pipelines in the DRW. Map source: Sam Koplinka-Loehr, CAC

11. Environmental Impacts11

12. Streams and Wetlands Open cuts across streams and tributaries
Erosion and sedimentation
Williams Transco, Chester County. Photo source: PSC

13. Waterway Protections not Guaranteed
Pipeline companies are notorious for violations of water regulations
State Impact PA

14. Drinking Water
Digging and rock blasting during construction can affect private water wells
Arsenic mobilization during construction in areas with high existing levels
Map Source: Arsenic Concentrations in Private NJ wells. NJDEP

15. Forests
Between 60,000 and 150,000 acres of forests in PA will be cleared by 2030 for new pipeline construction
Pipelines create forest fragmentation and disrupt important bird areas
Williams Transco, Chester County. Photo source: Pipeline Safety Coalition
Source: Natural Gas Pipelines. The Nature Conservancy Available online:

16. Important Bird Areas and the PennEast Pipeline
Proposed Pipeline example: 15 percent of PennEast's proposed route would impact six Important Bird Areas:
Hickory Run
Kittatinny Ridge
Musconetcong Gorge
Everittstown Grasslands
Baldplate Mountain
Pole Farm
Source: FERC Comment. Fairfax Hutter, Washington Crossing Audobon Society Board. September, 2015

17. Farms and Wildlife
Topsoil disturbances for farmers, including soil compaction
Permanent right-of-way changes animal pathways and movement
Impacts to endangered species
Williams Transco, Chester County. Photo source: Pipeline Safety Coalition

18. Preserved Open Spaces
Pipeline companies often target preserved spaces as preserved forests and farms are often large tracts of land, with no allowable future development
Garden State Greenways. Map Source: NJ Conservation Foundation

19. Air Pollution
2014 Warning Signs study finds elevated rates of benzene and formaldehyde adjacent to pipeline above-ground infrastructure
Source: Global Community Monitor, Coming Clean. Warning Signs. 2014

20. Climate Change
Methane is 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a twenty year period
According to the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, 6.8 percent of gas is lost due to fugitive emissions during pipeline transmission and storage
Hurricane Sandy: New Jersey Filled with Scenes of Devastation. Source: Fox News.
Source: “Emissions From the Natural Gas Industry.” Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.
Available online:

21. Cumulative Impacts
Areas in the watershed with 3 simultaneously proposed pipeline projects
Cumulative impacts are still unknown as regulatory agencies do not conduct a meaningful analysis
Pipelines in the DRW. Map source: Sam Koplinka-Loehr, CAC

22. Community Impacts 22

23. Scope of Community Impacts
Community groups and nonprofits are beginning to see a wide range of social impacts from transmission pipelines but research is still needed to quantify the full scope of these impacts on residents and communities
Pam Judy, Washington County. Used with permission

24. Economic Impacts
Losses for businesses in the construction right-of-way
Decreases in property values
Economic impacts from construction and installation
Easement Agreement. Source: Pipeline Safety Coalition

25. Eminent Domain
Proposed pipelines are one of the few examples of large- scale eminent domain for private corporations
Eminent domain proceedings are often used as intimidation to pressure landowners to sign easements
Source: Scranton Times. February, 2015

26. Psychological Impacts
Increasingly, communities are recognizing psychological impacts of proposed transmission pipelines on landowners
Need for additional research to fully understand psychological impacts
ATEX Pipeline Explosion in West Virginia. Source: The Intelligencer

27. Native Rights
Proposed pipelines would impact Native sacred and community sites
Many tribes are not federally-recognized with access to land due to legacy of colonization
Tribes are actively involved in action around proposed pipelines in region
Photo: Chief Shelley DePaul. Indian Country Today Media. 2014

28. Regulatory and Legal Frameworks28

29. FERC-Regulated Pipelines
Most transmission pipelines regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) pursuant to the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C  § 717 et seq.
Companies are required to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from FERC before they can construct a natural gas transmission line that crosses state boundaries, 15 U.S.C § 717(f)
A CPCN gives the company the power of eminent domain for building the project described in that certificate

30. NEPA National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C § 4332
Any federal agency engaging in an action that may significantly affect the quality of the human environment must first prepare a detailed statement describing:
the environmental impact of such an action;
adverse environmental effects that cannot be mitigated; and
alternatives to the proposed action
Agencies must consider
Connected and related projects
Cumulative effects
Growth-inducing effects

31. NEPA Cont’d
How does the agency go about fulfilling its NEPA obligation?
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
If agency is confident there will be a significant impact
Intended to be detailed document fully carrying out the analysis described above
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Meant to determine whether an EIS is necessary
Conclusion is either a Finding of No Significiant Impact (FONSI) or a finding that there will be a significant impact, triggering requirement for EIS

32. The Public Utility Commission
Not all transmission pipelines of concern may be regulated by FERC
Particularly true with the increased interested in transporting natural gas liquids (fracking byproduct) which are not covered by Natural Gas Act that gives FERC its jurisdiction
In PA we have seen companies seek to get a project approved by going through the Public Utility Commission and local zoning hearing boards

33. Available Resources 33

34. Online Resources
Online Shale Gas Infrastructure Map of PA:
Pipeline Online Resource Library:
Shale Gas Infrastructure. Map Source: Sam Koplinka-Loehr, CAC

35. Educational Presentations
Catered presentations to the specific needs of community organizations and residents
In-person as well as webinars depending on audience
Presentation on the AIM Pipeline. Source: Erick Mc Gregor, Sane Energy Project

36. Regulatory Assistance
Understanding the regulatory process and relevant issues surrounding proposed pipelines in the Watershed
Commenting on proposed Pipelines
Docket Intervention
Opportunities for Legal Action
Answering Questions
FERC Homepage. Available online:

37. Organizing Support
Achieving organizational goals in relation to proposed pipeline infrastructure
Due to the current lack of regulatory accountability, organizing is necessary to allow opportunities for real and meaningful public participation in decision-making processes
Protest at Easton Compressor Station. Source: Lehigh Valley Live

38. Thank You! Sam Koplinka-Loehr, Clean Air Council SKL@cleanair.org 38