EIS projects less-than-significant impact from Leach XPress and Rayne XPress Expansion Projects

In a final environmental impact statement (EIS) released on Thursday, the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) indicated that the Leach XPress and Rayne XPress Expansion Projects would have a less-than-significant environmental impact.

The Leach XPress Project will include a total of approximately 160 miles of new 20- to 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, as well as three compressor stations, three regulator stations, nine mainline valves and five odorization stations. The smaller-scale Rayne XPress Expansion Project will see two new compressor stations built in Kentucky.

“We determined that construction and operation of Columbia Gas’ LX Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts,” FERC staff said. “These impacts would occur during both construction and operation of the Project on vegetation, aquatic resources, wetlands, and wildlife as discussed in Section 4. However, if the proposed Project is constructed and operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the mitigating measures discussed in this final EIS, and our recommendations, these impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels.”

FERC anticipates a significant impact to forests affected by clearing for the LX Project, but regrowth projections as well as intentional mitigation efforts are expected to reduce impact levels to below significant.