PIPELINES: POTENTIAL RISKS & ADVERSE IMPACTS
RISKS & ADVERSE IMPACTS
It is our responsibility as stewards of the region to educate ourselves and be aware of how the Constitution Pipeline could affect the health of our lands and community – both in it’s construction and it’s long-term operational impacts.
Fracked gas pipelines can introduce significant risks in communities, including the potential for explosions, fires, toxic leaks, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term health hazards like respiratory illnesses. Below, we outline some of the potential risks and adverse impacts a pipeline running through the bioregion could have, and share links to various resources and studies.
WHAT AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN THE APPLICATION & PERMITTING PROCESS?
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent U.S. federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build interstate natural gas pipelines, natural gas storage projects, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, in addition to licensing non-federal hydropower projects. FERC is composed of up to five commissioners who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to staggered five-year terms.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
​The state regulatory agency responsible for reviewing, and denying/approving, critical environmental permits—specifically the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification—for the proposed 99-mile Constitution Pipeline, which aims to cross New York. The DEC actively opposes the project, citing potential environmental damage to wetlands and waterways.
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​Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) is the state agency responsible for protecting air, land, and water resources, crucial in reviewing permits for the Constitution Pipeline. The PA DEP has historically overseen the environmental compliance, mitigation measures, and water quality certifications for the portion of the pipeline running through Pennsylvania.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Health and Safety Risks of Pipelines - The Environmental Health Project
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FERC Documents: Documents submitted to FERC - Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC submits Petition for Reissuance of Certificate Authority and Reaffirmance of Waiver Determination re the Constitution Pipeline Project under CP13-499 et al.
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