Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline construction, truck traffic to ramp up soon

(Lebanon) — Atlantic Sunrise pipeline construction has been given the go-ahead at the federal level – meaning Lebanon County residents will see equipment move in, tree-clearing and erosion control efforts being built any day now.

Construction on the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline could begin as soon as September 25, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams – which owns the pipeline – said Monday.

When completed, the 186-mile pipeline will transport natural gas from Marcellus Shale-rich northeastern Pennsylvania to the already existing Transcontinental Pipeline that covers the east coast, crossing Lebanon County from north to south in the process. The pipeline will cross through Union, East Hanover, North Annville, South Annville and South Londonderry townships.

Williams received a notice-to-proceed from federal regulators on Friday, allowing contractors to begin preparing for construction, spokesman Chris Stockton said.

Lebanon County residents may soon see the staging of equipment, development of erosion-control measures, and tree clearing, Stockton said. However, construction activity will increase in mid-to-late October.

Two pipelines will likely soon cross the Lebanon County landscape. Here’s what to expect during pipeline construction. Wochit

 

The “pipe yard” at the former Alcoa plant off of State Drive in South Lebanon Townshipservices the southern half of the pipeline route, so truck traffic may increase as pipes are moved to their final location, Stockton said.

The pipeline will take about 10 months to complete once construction begins, Williams said in a news release. The nearly $3 billion project should be placed into full service by mid-2018.

Four primary contractors will install the pipeline: Henkels & McCoy, Latex Construction Company, Michels Corporation and Welded Construction.

The pipeline has faced opposition - primarily in Lancaster County, but also in Lebanon County and elsewhere – from residents concerned about possible impacts to the environment and local watersheds, and from property owners that unsuccessfully raised eminent domain challenges.

Micheal Dunn, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Williams, said in the news release that Williams is “committed to installing this infrastructure in a safe, environmentally responsible manner and in full compliance with rigorous state and federal environmental permits and standards.”

“Our construction personnel are experienced, highly-qualified professionals who have undergone extensive training to ensure that this important project is installed safely and responsibly,” Dunn said.

This article is part of a content-sharing partnership between WITF and the Lebanon Daily News.