Natural Gas News – August 7, 2018

Natural Gas News – August 7, 2018

US Appeals Court Vacates Permit for Atlantic Coast Natural Gas Pipeline to Cross Blue Ridge Parkway

S&P Global Platts reported: Presenting a further legal hurdle to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline natural gas project, the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday vacated a permit the National Park Service issued that allowed the pipeline to cross under the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. The court also fleshed out reasoning for its May order vacating a Fish and Wildlife Service permit that authorized harm to threatened or endangered species from the construction. The 600- mile, 1.5 Bcf/d pipeline project, stretching from Harrison County, West Virginia, to Virginia and North Carolina, is part of a batch of projects totaling 6.5 Bcf/d in capacity that would take Appalachian supply to downstream markets in the Mid-Atlantic region. Like the neighboring Mountain Valley Pipeline, its permits to cross forested, mountainous areas have been the target of legal challenges from environmentalists.

Homes and Business Evacuated After Gas Line Ruptured

Lima Ohio reported: Four homes and one business on the northern edge of Lima were evacuated briefly on Monday after a gas line was struck and ruptured. The incident occurred at approximately 11:45 a.m. on North West Street near the intersection of Northern Avenue. Crews from the city of Lima reportedly were doing excavation work as part of an ongoing highway project in the area when the gas line was ruptured, according to Peggy Ehora, external affairs manager for Dominion Energy. “It happens, especially when you have a lot of utilities working within a small easement area,” Ehora said of the accident. “The evacuations were ordered by the fire department as a safety measure. Safety is first and foremost for us (the gas company) and fortunately no one was hurt. Secondly, there was no interruption of service to our customers,” who were serviced by an alternate gas line.