Section 4.2.2.2
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4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS 4.1 GEOLOGY 4.1.1 Existing Resources 4.1.1.1 Geologic Setting The proposed LX Project is located entirely in the Kanawha Section of the Appalachian Plateaus physiographic province. The Appalachian Plateaus consist primarily of Pennsylvanian and Permian layered deposits, with Quaternary Alluvium overlying most geologic formations (USGS, 2015a). Elevations along the project range from 455 feet to 1,500 feet above mean sea level (USGS, 2015b). Topography in the project area ranges from relatively flat-lying rocks and rolling hills to steep slopes, with a local relief of up to several hundred feet (West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey [WVGES], 2004a; Greene County Government, 2013; ODNR, 2014a). The proposed RXE Project Grayson CS is located in the region known as the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field (Kentucky Geological Survey [KGS], 2012a), in an area of Quaternary alluvium composed of sand, silt, clay, and gravel created by floodplain deposits of present day streams. The thickness of the alluvium ranges from 0 to 60 feet (Whittington and Ferm, 1967). The proposed RXE Project Means CS is located within the Lexington Plains Section of the Interior Low Plateaus physiographic province (USGS, 2015a), in a region known as The Knobs, that consists of hundreds of isolated, steep-sloping, cone-shaped hills (KGS, 2012b). The nearest knob, Kashs Knob, is approximately one-quarter mile north of the proposed compressor station site (USGS, 1975). The USDA Soil Conservation Survey (SCS) County soil survey information indicates there are restrictive layers (potentially shallow bedrock) within the upper five feet of the ground surface at both CS locations (USDA SCS, 1974 and 1983). A more detailed discussion of shallow bedrock is included in section 4.2.2.2. Table 4.1.1-1 provides a summary of the geologic formations crossed by the LX Project facilities, and the location by MP of each geologic formation crossed is presented in appendix F. A summary of shallow bedrock areas crossed by the LX Project is provided in appendix G. 4-1 TABLE 4.1.1-1 Geologic Formations in the LX and RXE Project Areas Geologic Primary Secondary Formation/Unit Facility Period/Era Lithology Lithology Description Monongahela Group LEX (23.9 miles) Pennsylvanian Sandstone Siltstone Black, red, gray, and Mainline Valve 6 green shale, siltstone, and Summerfield Compressor mudstone. Station LEX launcher Dunkard Group LEX (47.8 miles) Permian, Sandstone Siltstone Non-marine cyclic Pennsylvanian sequences of Mainline Valves 1, 2, 3 sandstone, siltstone, shale, limestone, and 4 and coal. Lone Oak Compressor Station Greene Formation LEX (0.3 mile) Permian Sandstone Shale Cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, red beds, thin limestone, and thin, impure coal. Washington LEX (0.1 mile) Permian Sandstone Shale Sequences of Formation sandstone, red shale, limestone, and coal. Waynesburg LEX (0.4 mile) Permian and Sandstone Shale Sequences of Formation Pennsylvanian sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal. Conemaugh Group LEX (35.5miles) Pennsylvanian Siltstone Shale Black, red, gray, and BM-111 Loop (1.8 miles) green shale, siltstone, and Mainline Valves 5 and 7 mudstone. Allegheny and LEX (11.5 miles) Pennsylvanian Shale Siltstone Gray, olive, and Pottsville Groups, R-801 Loop (14.4 miles) greenish shale, Undivided siltstone, and BM-111 Loop (0.1 mile) underclay. Locally RS-1286 contains marine McArthur Regulator Station fossils. Mainline Valves 9 Benton Regulator Station BM-111 Loop launcher Oak Hill Compressor Station R-486 Odorization Station R-130 Odorization Station R-543 Odorization Station R-300 / R-500 Odorization Station 4-2 TABLE 4.1.1-1 (cont’d) Geologic Formations in the LX and RXE Project Areas Geologic Primary Secondary Formation/Unit Facility Period/Era Lithology Lithology Description Maxville Limestone: LEX (7.1 miles) Mississippian Shale Siltstone Gray, yellow, brown Rushville, Logan, LEX1 (0.6 mile) shale, siltstone, and and Cuyahoga R-801 Loop (6.8 miles) sandstone. Formations, K-260 Regulator Station Undivided Mainline Valve 8 Black Hand LEX (4.9 miles) Mississippian Sandstone Conglo- Yellow-gray to white Sandstone Member R-801 Loop (3.0 miles) merate sandstone and of Cuyahoga conglomerate that LEX1 (0.6 mile) Formation grade laterally into R-System Regulator shale and siltstone. Station Crawford Compressor Station Benton Compressor Station Quaternary Alluvium LEX (<0.1 mile) Quaternary Alluvium N/A Alluvial deposits of BM-111 Loop (0.9 mile) sand, gravel, silt, and clay. Ceredo Compressor Station Grayson Compressor Station Nancy and Farmers Means Compressor Station Mississippian Shale Siltstone Olive and gray Member of Lower shales and siltstone, Mississippian including Borden Formation discontinuous iron- impregnated beds of siltstone. Dark- reddish- and yellowish-brown, iron-rich, siliceous, and calcareous concretions, occur sporadically in both shale and siltstone. ____________________ Source: USGS, 2005a-g. 4.1.1.2 Mineral Resources The primary nonfuel mineral resource in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia is crushed stone. Other prevalent mineral resources include Portland cement, lime, construction and sand (USGS, 2011) and clay, specifically in Carter County, Kentucky (USGS, 2015b). No active quarries are located within 0.2 mile of the LX and RXE Project areas (PADEP, 2015; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources [PADCNR], 2015a; KGS, 2001; USGS, 2003 and 2015b). No mine spoil areas are located within 0.5 mile of the project areas (West Virginia GIS Technical Center, 1996; Freidhof; 2015; Pennsylvania Spatial Data Clearinghouse [PASDA], 2015c). However, based on data provided by local mining companies and review of publicly available online resources, 41 underground mines are identified within 0.25 mile of the LX Project area in Ohio and West Virginia (KGS, 2001; ODNR, 2014c; PASDA, 2015d; West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training, 2011; WVDEP, 2014). Of the 41 mines, 17 are identified as underground coal mines, 3 as longwall coal mines, 19 as surface coal mines, 1 as a surface gravel mine and 1 as a surface limestone 4-3 mine. Seven of the 41 mines identified are being actively mined or are planned for future mining, including three longwall mines and four surface mines. Additionally, Columbia Gas is currently negotiating with two mining companies regarding the purchase of material rights for a surface gravel mine and surface coal mine along the proposed LEX crossing. Coal is a major resource for Kentucky, which has two separate major coalfields: the western Kentucky coalfield and the eastern Kentucky coalfield. Although, the RXE Project’s Grayson CS is located in the eastern Kentucky coalfield, there are no mines within five miles of the proposed site (Kentucky Mine Mapping Information System, 2015). Appendix I presents the location (by MP) of each future, active, and abandoned mine crossed or located within 0.2 mile of the LX and RXE Project areas. Columbia Gas conducted geotechnical investigations at the proposed Lone Oak, Summerfield, and Oak Hill CS sites as well as at the existing Ceredo CS to characterize subsurface conditions for use in the development of facility foundation design and construction considerations. The proposed Summerfield CS occurs over land characterized by reclaimed abandoned coal mines of past and potential future mining activities. However, based on analysis of the results of the geotechnical investigation performed for the Summerfield CS, undisturbed stable soils occur beyond the expected depth of foundations. Based on a review of publicly available resources and discussions with mining companies, Columbia Gas has identified a potential area near the proposed Lone Oak CS in which future longwall mining activities may occur. Columbia Gas coordinated with the associated mining company to determine when future mining activities would occur at the Lone Oak CS. Longwall mining activities are tentatively scheduled to occur in the area between 2023 and 2025; however, impacts at the Lone Oak CS as a result of mining activity are not anticipated. Columbia Gas and the associated mining company are developing a commercial solution for impacts associated with construction or operation of the Lone Oak CS and mining. A total of 64 oil and gas wells were identified within the LX Project area in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, including 11 active wells and 51 inactive wells and 2 historic wells (appendix H) (WVDEP, 2014; 2011; PASDA 2015a, 2015b; ODNR, 2014b). The data provided in appendix H was obtained through publicly available state records, and the location and distances from the proposed construction workspace limits presented in the appendix may not be exact. Once Columbia Gas is able to conduct its final engineering and civil surveys, these locations would be marked, mitigated and/or avoided. Given the uncertainty of the locations of oil and gas wells within the LX Project workspace at this time, we recommend that: Prior to construction, Columbia Gas should file with the Secretary the results of civil surveys identifying the location of any conventional or unconventional oil and gas well locations (including permitted, drilled, producing and abandoned oil and gas wells) within the LX Project footprint, as well as identify measures to minimize hazards for any wells located within 100 feet of the proposed LX Project pipelines. In the RXE Project area in Kentucky, 158 oil and gas wells were identified within 5 miles of the Means CS, but none within 1 mile. The majority of the wells (124 of the 158 wells) within 5 miles of the Means CS are gas wells. Of the remaining wells, 29 are dry and/or abandoned wells, 4 are newly permitted wells, and one is a water supply well (KGS, 2015a). Similarly, 102 wells within 5 miles of the Grayson CS, but none within 1 mile. Within 5 miles of the Grayson CS there are 38 gas wells, 34 dry 4-4 and/or abandoned wells, 5 newly permitted wells, 2 combined oil and gas producing wells, 12 oil wells, and 11 terminated wells, for which the permit has been cancelled or has expired (KGS, 2015a).