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Challenges in Transmission . Environmental and Public Affairs Consulting for the Energy Industry. Energy Sectors Oil & Gas Pipeline Storage LNG Electric Transmission Construction, Operation & Maintenance Existing Oil & Gas Pipeline Construction Compliance Facility Compliance
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Environmental and Public Affairs Consulting for the Energy Industry • Energy Sectors • Oil & Gas • Pipeline • Storage • LNG • Electric Transmission • Construction, Operation & Maintenance • Existing Oil & Gas Pipeline • Construction Compliance • Facility Compliance • Air Quality Monitoring
Client Services • Feasibility Studies • and Routing • GIS & Data Management • Permitting & Field Surveys • Public Affairs • Construction and Operational • Compliance
Federal Agency Work • Primarily 3rd Party NEPA Reviews • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission • US Forest Service • Bureau of Land Management • California State Lands Commission
Some Recent or Current Projects • Zephyr Transmission Line Project • (500kV HVDC – Duke Energy, American • Transmission Co.) • Skiffes Creek Transmission Line Project • (500/230kV – Dominion Virginia Power) • Blue Grass Pipeline Project • (1,100-mile liquids pipeline - Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners)
Siting and Permitting Large Interstate Projects • Barriers for Projects Requiring Federal Authorizations • Identification of NEPA lead (if needed) • Application may be needed to begin consultation • Interagency coordination during consultation • Long and uncertain regulatory schedule • Lower predictability • Higher project risk for meeting commercial targets • Higher project cost
DOE Integrated Inter-Agency Pre-Application (IIP) Process • Coordinates Pre-Application Activities – proponent and agencies, tribes, and non-federal entities • Requires federal agencies to participate in pre-application consultations • Focuses on project siting (study corridors, routing) and public outreach process • Forces proponent to do its project planning • Identifies the NEPA lead agency • Sets the stage for faster NEPA review and greater project predictability
What IIP Does Not Address • Committing the agencies to a defined NEPA review schedule • Initiating NEPA review earlier • FERC’s typical major pipeline EIS schedule - 16-18 months • Includes FERC’s pre-application process • Proponent planning and pre-application process overlaps NEPA review