General Landowner Questions
On October 19, 2009 and February 17, 2010, National Fuel hosted public meetings at the Radisson Hotel in Corning, N.Y. On February 18, 2010, another public meeting was hosted at the Victor Education Center in Victor, N.Y. The questions listed below were raised during these public meetings by attendees.
Pipeline Questions
Right-of-Way Questions
Project Logistics Questions
Landowner Compensation Questions
Pipeline Facility and Measurement Station Questions
Pipeline Questions
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Right-of-Way Questions
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Project Logistics Questions
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Landowner Compensation Questions
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Pipeline Facility and Measurement Station Questions
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Pipeline Questions
- How large will the proposed pipeline be?
The proposed pipeline will have a 24-inch diameter.
- How close will the Tioga County Extension be to existing natural gas wells?
Local producers need a pipeline system in place to transport product to market. Our pipeline will be close enough to serve these local producers.
- What happens when the proposed pipeline needs to cross existing pipelines? Will pipelines be left on the surface?
Our plan is to route our pipeline underneath any perpendicular pipelines. We will not leave pipeline exposed on the surface when crossing existing pipelines.
- How close will the Tioga County Extension be in relation to other pipelines in the area?
We will work with landowners to route pipeline around any existing structures. After construction, structures will not be allowed in the permanent right-of-way. Generally, we try to offset new pipelines
25 to 30-feet away from existing pipelines.
- How close can pipelines be constructed in relation to structures?
Applicable safety regulations would permit the installation of a pipeline as close as one foot away from a structure. For this project, we are planning to construct our pipeline at least 75-feet away from any structure. Our Company’s goal is to construct our pipeline as far away from housing as possible. Once the pipeline is constructed, new housing cannot be built within the permanent right-of-way. Landowners should let us know in advance if they require timber access roads or future driveway crossings so that we can incorporate these items into our pipeline design.
- How close would National Fuel construct a pipeline next to a landowner’s home?
We do not want to go through landowner yards or go too close to residences. If we are too close, a Residential Mitigation Plan for those properties must be filed.
- What will the proposed pipeline’s operating pressure be?
We currently anticipate that the pipeline pressure will be approximately 1,200 to 1,300 pounds per square inch. The southern end of the line will run close to the maximum pipeline pressure.
- How much gas will travel through the proposed pipeline?
The pipeline will transmit 350 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
- What is the typical life of a natural gas pipeline?
There are pipelines that are more than 100 years old, but it is common for lines to operate for 60 to 70 years. Modern pipelines have a significantly higher quality compared to older pipelines. With modern corrosion protection systems, pipelines may last even longer since these protection systems are much better.
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Right-of-Way Questions
- How wide will the proposed right-of-way be?
The permanent right-of-way will be 50-feet wide. However, during construction the right-of-way will generally be 75-feet wide for vehicle and equipment use and up to 125-feet wide for agricultural areas.
- Will the Company maintain a 75-foot-wide right-of-way through the woodlands?
Our Company tries our best to only take up to 75-feet for the right-of-way. However, if there is a side hill, we will need to widen the right-of-way beyond 75-feet.
- What happens to timber that is cut on the right-of-way?
All timber cut on the right-of-way belongs to the landowners. Timber will be stacked according to instructions received from landowners.
- Who pays taxes on the right-of-way land?
Right-of-way land still belongs to the landowners. Taxes associated with right-of-way land will be the responsibility of the landowners.
- Can right-of-way land used for existing pipelines in the area be used for the proposed pipeline as well?
There is a strong preference to parallel existing right-of-ways whenever possible. We would need to acquire our own right-of-way parallel to the existing right-of-way, but the right-of-ways can overlap each other.
- Has National Fuel considered using road right-of-ways?
Yes, the main problem with pursuing this option is population size. Highways and roads typically parallel homes, apartments and businesses and we generally prefer to route our pipeline as far away as we can from these structures. Also, roads generally are not straight enough for a pipeline right-of-way. In order to accommodate the same right-of-way, we would need to make more bends and fittings to the pipeline during construction.
- Will National Fuel use the same right-of-way as TEPPCO?
Our Company is required to maintain a distance of 25-feet from the TEPPCO line. Our right-of-ways can certainly overlap, but we want to keep a distance between the two lines to ensure safety. Generally we would overlap 25-feet, with the permanent right-of-way extending an additional 25-feet and the construction right-of-way extending an additional 25-feet beyond that.
- Which side of the TEPPCO line will the proposed pipeline be located?
The majority of our line is located to the east of the TEPPCO line. However, in some spots, our line does cross over TEPPCO to the western side.
- If landowners grant National Fuel land for a right-of-way, will that right-of-way be specific to this pipeline project?
Yes, the right-of-way that landowners agree to is designated specifically for this pipeline project. National Fuel cannot add additional pipelines to this right-of-way without obtaining another right-of-way agreement.
- Can Fortuna use National Fuel’s right-of-way for their construction?
Our right-of-way is non-exclusive, which means that it provides us rights to land. However, it does not exclude others from using the land in ways that do not impinge on the operation of our pipeline. Fortuna would need to secure right-of-way agreements again with landowners if the company would like to use the same land. Fortuna cannot use our agreements for this pipeline project for their own projects.
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Project Logistics Questions
- Does National Fuel plan on getting road agreements for town and county roads?
Yes, the Company’s engineering contractor will work with local municipalities to obtain agreements for road crossings and for access roads.
- Will National Fuel enter into agreements to repair roads if damage is caused during construction?
National Fuel requires contractors to repair roads to their pre-existing conditions. This is a requirement in our contracts with them. Contractors will post bonds as needed for this purpose.
- How will local producers access the Tioga County Extension?
Local producers will develop high pressure gathering systems to collect natural gas from their wells and inject that natural gas into our pipeline system. Individual wells generally will not flow directly into our high pressure transportation system due to pressure requirements, as well as the need for fairly expensive interconnection facilities.
- Will code welders be used for this construction project?
Yes, API 1104 certified welders will be required to work on this project.
- Are any additional landowner meetings scheduled?
National Fuel has finished all of their scheduled landowner meetings, but FERC will offer scoping sessions for additional landowner comments.
- Will FERC scoping sessions cover environmental issues?
Yes, scoping sessions will cover environmental issues and any other issues that landowners have. FERC will compile all of National Fuel’s information and landowner concerns into one document. This document will be made available to the public. This answer was provided by Shannon Crosley with FERC.
- If the Marcellus Shale did not exist, would National Fuel be investing in this pipeline project?
If the Marcellus Shale did not exist then National Fuel would not be investing in this pipeline project.
- If drilling in the New York Marcellus Shale is not allowed, will National Fuel still be committed to this project?
Yes, our project is not supported by natural gas drilling in New York. Instead, the Company’s project is supported by current natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania.
- Does National Fuel know something that the landowners do not know about the pipeline project being speculative?
This project is not speculative because natural gas is being produced in Pennsylvania. Our project is backed by producers in the area.
- What are the criteria for sending out letters to landowners?
Our Company follows FERC’s established guidelines for mailing materials to landowners. We have to send letters to all landowners within a certain distance of the project. It is possible that landowners in the area will receive letters from us that ultimately will not be involved in the project.
- Will federal regulations from FERC make National Fuel exempt from State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requirements in New York State?
FERC’s environmental review of proposed pipeline facilities generally satisfies any applicable SEQRA requirements.
- Is Fortuna planning to run a pipeline parallel to National Fuel’s pipeline?
At this point in time, we have not formally heard of any projects of this nature from Fortuna.
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Landowner Compensation Questions
- How will landowners be compensated?
Landowners will receive one right-of-way payment based on their property’s fair market value. In addition, landowners will be compensated for damages such as agricultural losses during the construction process.
- Is right-of-way compensation determined by feet or acres?
Right-of-way compensation is based on land value, converted to acres using current fair market prices. There is also compensation for the temporary right-of-way, which is also based on acreage.
- How is tree value determined?
The diameter breast height by species is measured for existing trees to determine value. There is no additional compensation for future trees or for the ongoing value of the trees. All existing trees are paid for and the landowner will get to keep the timber.
- Who determines fair market values for landowner property?
Local third party appraisers will be used to determine fair market values for landowner property.
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Pipeline Facility and Measurement Station Questions
- Will there be any noise from the new pipeline?
There will be no noise from the new pipeline when in operation. However, metering stations and compressor stations that support this pipeline will produce some noise.
- Will National Fuel be conducting noise studies for above ground facilities associated with this pipeline project?
FERC requires us to meet a 55-decibel noise level. Most of the facilities associated with measurement stations are located underground and are surrounded by an insulated building. Blanketing can be installed around above ground facilities in order to mitigate noise from those facilities if required.
- Will towers be constructed to facilitate communication with measurement stations?
No, there will likely be a small satellite dish installed.
- Would National Fuel be open to giving tours of measurement facilities?
Yes, we have provided tours before with other facilities that we are building. We would have to find a similar station, but would be happy to provide tours once again.
- Are pump stations planned as part of this project?
No.
- When National Fuel reveals the location of the measurement station, will there be another opportunity for landowner comments?
Once a location has been determined, National Fuel will send letters to those landowners that are located within one half of a mile from the proposed site, to notify them of the location. At a later date there will be a FERC scoping session, where landowners will have another chance to comment.
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