Opinion

On December 21, 2001, Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. (Iroquois) petitioned the Council for a declaratory ruling that no Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (Certificate) is required for the proposed modification of an existing Iroquois pipeline by the addition of a natural gas compressor station, located off High Meadow Road, Brookfield, Connecticut (Petition 540). On March 25, 2002, Iroquois petitioned the Council for a declaratory ruling that no Certificate is required for the proposed modifications of an existing Iroquois pipeline by additions to a natural gas compressor station, located off High Meadow Road, Brookfield, Connecticut (Petition 555).

The Connecticut Siting Council (Council) does not have jurisdiction to rule whether or not there is a need for the proposed projects (Petitions 540 & 555). The projects are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FERC encourages the applicants to cooperate with agencies, such as the Council, regarding the siting of pipeline facilities, environmental mitigation, and construction procedures. The FERC alone will decide whether there is a need for the proposed projects, and whether these projects or other ones can best provide that service. The Council also does not have jurisdiction over the safety standards of the proposed projects, which is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT).

The proposed projects (Petitions 540 & 555) would be on two parcels, totaling 68.3 acres, located to the west of High Meadow Road in Brookfield, Connecticut. One of the two parcels is currently owned by Iroquois and is the site of Iroquois’ existing sales meter station. Iroquois has an option to purchase the adjacent 65-acre parcel, which was previously used for a fuel and material company, sand and gravel company, an asphalt plant, and construction companies. Areas of unpermitted solid waste dumping were observed on the proposed site. The proposed projects would permanently occupy a total of approximately 7.2 acres of the 68.3 acre site.

The proposed compressor station (Petition 540) project would include a natural gas-fired 10,000 horsepower (nominal) turbine-driven centrifugal compressor unit to be located within a compressor building; high-pressure piping and two delivery taps to connect the compressor unit with the Iroquois pipeline; utility/control and storage buildings; a motor control center building; a domestic gas building compressor station; and paved parking and access areas. The proposed Brookfield Additions (Petition 555) would consist of a new gas filtration system; a new gas meter station at the interconnection with the Algonquin piping facilities; and reconfigurations of the proposed compressor unit and associated high-pressure piping.

The proposed compressor station (Petition 540) would allow Iroquois to deliver gas more efficiently to customers throughout its system and provide additional reliability. The proposed Brookfield Additions (Petition 555) would enable Iroquois to receive gas from the adjacent Algonquin Gas Transmission Company (Algonquin) pipeline.

Iroquois investigated potential alternative sites for the proposed compressor station project (Petition 540), all of which were rejected by Iroquois. The Council believes that of the alternatives proposed by Iroquois, the proposed site is the most feasible location for the construction of the proposed project (Petition 540). Locations upstream of the proposed site would result in a high gas temperature, which would require upstream cooling, increasing the project impacts and costs. Of the four alternative sites that Iroquois investigated downstream of the proposed site, none were feasible. Site 1 is dominated by wetlands, is only about ¾ mile from Whisconier Middle School, and is located between two ridges, which may limit the dispersion of air emissions at the site. Site 2 is mostly covered by a residential development and use of the remaining land would require grading and filling which may impact environmental resources. Site 3 is predominately undeveloped forestland with a stream and wetland complex and would require extensive grading and filling. Site 4 is primarily wetlands and surface water, and use of the remaining land would require grading and filling. Iroquois also investigated a looping alternative, which was rejected because it would impact more land than the construction of the proposed project (Petition 540).

Visibility of the proposed compressor station (Petition 540) would be minimized through screening from existing wooded buffers and the elevation of the proposed site, which is lower than High Meadow Road. Iroquois intends further minimize the visual impact of the site through landscaping and the use of non-intrusive exterior lighting. The Council will require that the Development and Management (D&M) Plan include a plan for landscaping, lighting, and architecture of the buildings.

Iroquois would use best available control technology including lean pre-mix dry combustors to control nitrogen oxides. Construction related air impacts would be minimized through the use of dust suppression techniques. Iroquois would obtain a Permit to Construct and a Permit to Operate from the DEP for the construction and operation of the proposed project.

Iroquois estimates that approximately 200 to 300 gallons of water would be needed per day to meet the proposed compressor station’s (Petition 540) water needs. Approximately 40 to 50 gallons of potable or distilled water would be used for each turbine blade cleaning, which would total approximately 200 gallons per year. The Council will require that provisions for water disposal, including the off-site disposal of the water used for the turbine blade cleaning, be incorporated in the D&M Plan.

The proposed site was previously the location of a gravel and asphalt plant and therefore contains soil and groundwater contamination. A site investigation, completed in July 2002, revealed solid waste debris, petroleum contaminated soil, and groundwater samples with total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations that are above the Connecticut Remediation Standard Regulation (RSR) Criteria for groundwater. The Council will require provisions to: initiate efforts to substantially remediate soil contamination prior to commencement of construction of the proposed project; conduct ongoing remediation of groundwater contamination to be in compliance with GA areas under RSR criteria with reports certified by a Connecticut Licensed Environmental Professional (LEP) on a quarterly basis to the Council, DEP, Town of Brookfield, and FERC; sample for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) on the proposed site and remove ACMs from the site in accordance with applicable State and Federal requirements.

No state or federally listed threatened or endangered species are known to occur at the proposed site according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Environmental and Geographic Information Center. The Council does not believe that the proposed projects (Petitions 540 & 555) would have an adverse impact threatened or endangered species.

The noise level from the proposed compressor station (Petition 540) is expected to be in compliance with the FERC, DEP, and Town of Brookfield noise standards. The Council’s Decision and Order will require that Iroquois conduct post-construction noise surveys following the construction of the proposed compressor station project and the proposed Brookfield Additions (Petition 555) and provide the results of such surveys to the Council.

The proposed projects (Petitions 540 & 555) will be in compliance with the United States U.S. DOT federal pipeline safety standards. The proposed project would have safety systems that exceed the U.S. DOT minimum requirements including an over-pressure protection system. The Council’s Decision and Order will require that Iroquois notify the Council and the Town of Brookfield in the event that it applies to FERC to increase the maximum operating pressure of the pipeline above 1,440 pounds per square inch gauge (psig).

If the proposed projects (Petitions 540 & 555) receive certificates from the FERC, the Council will require that Iroquois not subdivide the proposed site, or develop the site for energy, industrial or commercial use without the Council’s review and approval. The Council is interested in maintaining a buffer between the site and the adjacent land uses to the maximum reasonable amount.

With the conditions listed above, the Council will issue a declaratory ruling that no Certificate is required for the proposed modification of an existing Iroquois pipeline by the addition of a natural gas compressor station, located off High Meadow Road, Brookfield, Connecticut (Petition 540); and a declaratory ruling that no Certificate is required for the proposed modifications of an existing Iroquois pipeline by additions to a natural gas compressor station, located off High Meadow Road, Brookfield, Connecticut (Petition 555).

To ensure that the proposed projects (Petitions 540 & 555) are properly developed, we will require the petitioner to submit a D&M Plan which will include detailed site plans; an erosion and sediment control plan consistent with the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control; a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan; provisions to initiate efforts to substantially remediate soil contamination prior to beginning construction of the proposed project; provisions to conduct ongoing remediation of groundwater contamination to be in compliance with GA areas under RSR criteria; provisions for sampling for asbestos containing materials (ACMs) on the proposed site and remove ACMs from the site in accordance with applicable State and Federal requirements; provisions for access by emergency vehicles and personnel, and a turnaround area for emergency vehicles; and provisions for landscaping, lighting, and architecture of the buildings.