The Quoddy Tides

2007 January 12

Permit sought for gas pipeline expansion

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline LLC is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with the installation of a natural gas line in coastal Maine. The proposed work includes the discharge of dredged or fill material in numerous waterways and wetlands in Washington County and in Eliot, Westbrook, Searsmont, Brewer and Township 35 in order to install 1.7 miles of 30" natural gas loop line running parallel to an existing 30" gas pipeline and to construct new compressor stations along the existing gas line.

The new work will allow Maritimes & Northeast to accept and transport new natural gas supplies to New England markets. The project will result in approximately .91 acres of permanent wetland impact and 7.16 acres of temporary wetland and waterway impacts. All temporary impacts will be restored upon completion of the work.

The proposed project also includes new meter stations at the existing Baileyville compressor station and the proposed Westbrook compressor station as well as modification to the existing compressor station at Richmond and to existing meter stations in Baileyville and Dracut, Mass. Work at Dracut, Richmond, and Westbrook will not impact waterways or wetlands.

To compensate for the project's projected unavoidable permanent impacts to waterways and wetlands primarily at the Brewer compressor station site (.73 acre of permanent impact), Maritimes & Northeast is currently proposing off-site compensation. This work includes the preservation of approximately 81 acres of mixed upland and wetland off of Wilson Street and adjacent to Felts Brook in Brewer.

Maritimes & Northeast is proposing these measures seeking to lessen the project's impact on aquatic resources. After receipt of all comments, the corps will obtain any necessary additional information and determine whether the proposed measures are practicable and serve to help mitigate this project's unavoidable impacts.

The public notice can be reviewed online at the corps website <www.nae.usace.army.mil>. Select regulatory/permitting and then weekly public notices.

Public comments referencing this permit request (File E NAE-2005-1618) should be forwarded no later than January 19 to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office, Attention Jay Clement, 675 Western Avenue #3, Manchester, ME 04351. Additional information is available from permit project manager Jay Clement at 207-623-8367.