Spectra Energy Partners Texas Eastern Transmission, LP Ohio Pipeline Energy Network Project (OPEN) Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Public Hearing Nov. 18, 2014

Why Hold a Public Hearing? To gather public comment relative to the proposed impacts on water quality.

Why Seek a 401 Water Quality Certification? Anyone wishing to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. and state, must obtain a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. ACE) and a Section 401 Water Quality Certification from Ohio EPA.

General Project Information Applicant: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP Location: Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe Counties Purpose: To construct a new 75.8-mile, 30”diameter, underground natural gas pipeline to provide transportation capacity in these counties.

Project Location

Factors Ohio EPA Considers Existing stream and wetland quality Nature and extent of the proposed impacts Indirect impacts Attempts to avoid and/or minimize impacts Justification for proposed impacts Proposed mitigation for any unavoidable impacts

Factors Ohio EPA Doesn’t Consider Local zoning Noise Traffic Popularity of the project Labor issues Private property/property value issues Materials to be transported in the pipeline

Project Alternatives Ohio EPA’s review process requires the applicant to submit three project alternatives: Preferred Alternative – impacts that occur in the right-of-way Minimal Degradation Alternative – less impact than preferred alternative Non-Degradation Alternative – no impact

Preferred Alternative 217 stream crossings (1,930 linear feet [LF] of impacts) 279 wetland crossings (18.4 acres of impacts)  Most impacts occur in temporary construction rights-of-way

Minimal Degradation Alternative Same alignment 217 stream crossings (1,930 LF of impacts) 279 wetland crossings (10.4 acres of impacts)  Reduced construction right-of-way widths

Non-Degradation Alternative Avoiding all stream and wetland impacts is not technically feasible.

Wetland Mitigation Plan 1:1 wetland restoration on-site Payment into In-lieu Fee Program for remaining mitigation

Stream Mitigation Plan 1:1 stream restoration on-site Payment into In-lieu Fee Program for remaining mitigation

What’s Next ? Written public comments are due by close of business Nov. 25, The Director makes a decision to either issue or deny Water Quality Certification after considering all submitted information. The decision and response to comments are sent to the U.S. ACE and the applicant, and made available to interested parties. The decision is appealable to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission (

Submit Comments to: or Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Surface Water Attn: Permits Processing Unit P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, Ohio Deadline for comment submission is November 25, Be sure to reference Ohio EPA ID #134297

Contacts Technical issues: Todd Surrena – Northeast District Office or (330) Citizens: Kristopher Weiss – Public Interest Center or (614)