Constitution Pipeline NY Joint Application
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CONSTITUTION PIPELINE NEW YORK STATE and U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JOINT APPLICATION SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 of the Clean Water Act – Nationwide Permit 12 (NAN-2012-00449-UBR) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Section 401 of Clean Water Act - Water Quality Certification (0-9999-00181/00001) Article 15, Title 15 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law - Protection of Waters (0-9999-0011181/00002 and 0-9999-00181/00003) Article 24 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law - Freshwater Wetlands (0-9999-00181/00004) Submitted by: Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC 2800 Post Oak Boulevard (77056) PO Box 1396 Houston, TX 77251-1396 November 2013 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Joint Application – Supplemental Information Constitution Pipeline Broome, Chenango, Delaware, and Schoharie Counties i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Pre-Emption Statement .................................................................................................... 1-2 2.0 GENERAL PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Proposed Facilities ........................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Purpose and Need as Defined for the FERC NEPA Process .............................. 2-1 2.1.2 Location and Description of Facilities and Land Requirements ......................... 2-1 2.2 Construction Procedures ................................................................................................ 2-19 2.2.1 Pipeline Construction ........................................................................................ 2-19 2.2.2 Specialized Construction Procedures ................................................................ 2-25 2.2.3 Timeframe for Construction ............................................................................. 2-27 2.2.4 Supervision and Inspection ............................................................................... 2-27 2.3 Operation and Maintenance Procedures ........................................................................ 2-28 2.3.1 Pipeline Facilities .............................................................................................. 2-28 2.4 Permits and Approvals ................................................................................................... 2-29 3.0 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Watersheds ....................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Waterbodies ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Federal Clean Water Act ..................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 NYSDEC Protection of Waters ........................................................................ 3-26 3.2.3 Sensitive Surface Waters .................................................................................. 3-29 3.2.4 Hydrostatic Test Water and Water Withdrawal ................................................ 3-31 3.2.5 Waterbody Construction and Operation Impacts .............................................. 3-34 3.3 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................ 3-57 3.3.1 Palustrine Forested Wetlands ............................................................................ 3-84 3.3.2 Palustrine Scrub-Shrub Wetlands ..................................................................... 3-85 3.3.3 Palustrine Emergent Wetlands .......................................................................... 3-86 3.3.4 Open Water ....................................................................................................... 3-86 3.3.5 Federal Clean Water Act ................................................................................... 3-86 3.3.6 NYSDEC State-Regulated Freshwater Wetlands ............................................. 3-87 3.3.7 Areas of Remote Sensed Wetlands ................................................................... 3-87 November 2013 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Joint Application – Supplemental Information Constitution Pipeline Broome, Chenango, Delaware, and Schoharie Counties ii 3.3.8 Wetland Construction and Operation Impacts .................................................. 3-91 3.3.9 Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation ...................................................... 3-106 3.4 Waterbody and Wetland Crossing Alternatives ........................................................... 3-109 3.4.1 Wet Open Cut ................................................................................................. 3-111 3.4.2 Dry Crossings ................................................................................................. 3-111 3.4.3 Conventional Bore .......................................................................................... 3-112 3.4.4 Horizontal Directional Drill ............................................................................ 3-113 3.4.5 Direct Pipe Method ......................................................................................... 3-120 3.4.6 Summary of Feasibility Issues with Trenchless Installation Methods ............ 3-120 4.0 FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES ......................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Fisheries of Special Concern ........................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 New York State Programs ............................................................................................... 4-1 4.2.1 Trout Waters ....................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2.2 Construction and Operation Impacts and Mitigation .......................................... 4-2 4.2.3 Minimization of Impacts ..................................................................................... 4-3 4.3 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................... 4-4 5.0 NEW YORK STATE LANDS ................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Melondy Hill State Forest ................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 Clapper Hollow State Forest ............................................................................................ 5-2 6.0 COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY STANDARDS........................................................ 6-1 6.1 Federal ............................................................................................................................. 6-1 6.1.1 Section 404 Clean Water Act .............................................................................. 6-1 6.1.2 Section 401 Water Quality Certification ............................................................. 6-4 6.2 New York State ................................................................................................................ 6-4 6.2.1 Protection of Waters ........................................................................................... 6-4 6.2.2 Freshwater Wetlands ........................................................................................... 6-8 6.3 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 6-13 7.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 7-1 November 2013 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Joint Application – Supplemental Information Constitution Pipeline Broome, Chenango, Delaware, and Schoharie Counties iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1-1 Summary of Project Facilities in New York ................................................................... 2-2 Table 2.1-2 Summary of Land Requirements in New York .............................................................. 2-2 Table 2.1-3 Proposed Pipeline Length in New York ......................................................................... 2-3 Table 2.1-4 Land Requirements for the Westfall Road M&R Station ............................................... 2-5 Table 2.1-5 Proposed Main Line Valve Facility Locations in New York .......................................... 2-6 Table 2.1-6 Access Roads Associated with the Constitution Pipeline in New Yorke ........................ 2-9 Table 2.1-7 Proposed Contractor Yards in New York ..................................................................... 2-18 Table 2.2-1 Minimum Specifications for Depth of Cover (inches) .................................................. 2-22 Table 2.4-1 Permits, Licenses, Approvals, and Consultations to be Applied for/Requested for the Constitution Pipeline in New York ..............................................................................