ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
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`Cost: $4,600,000.
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`Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
` Office of Energy Projects, Division of Gas-Environment & Engineering
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`Name of Applicant: Adelphia Gateway, LLC (Adelphia)
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`Date Filed: 12/7/20
`Docket No: CP21-14-000
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`Supplemental Filings: 1/15/21
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`Type: Sections 157.205, 157.208 – Prior Notice under Blanket Certificate
`Authority
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`Facilities
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` Adelphia Gateway, LLC (Adelphia) requests under its blanket certificate authority granted in Docket
`No. CP82-487-000 et al., to install and operate an electric motor-driven 3,000-horsepower (HP)
`compressor unit at its Marcus Hook Compressor Station in Delaware County, Pennsylvania (Marcus Hook
`Electric Compression Project or Project). The Marcus Hook Electric Compression Project is designed to
`increase the discharge pressure and reduce the gas heat temperature level at the outlet of the Marcus Hook
`Compressor Station to provide firm service to a new shipper that will transport gas on Adelphia’s system
`to the interconnection with Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gas). The certificated capacity
`of the Adelphia pipeline system would increase by 16,500 Dekatherms per day (Dth/d), from 250,000 to
`265,500 Dth/d. There would be no abandonment or reduction in service to any customer of Adelphia as a
`result of the Project.
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`Environmental Impact -- Conclusions:
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` Categorical Exclusion
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` Environment Not Involved
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` X Environment Complete
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`Environmental Considerations or Comments:
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` See attached environmental comments.
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`Prepared by:
`/s/ John J. Wisniewski
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` Date:
` 2/8/21
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` Deficiency Letter Required
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` EA/EIS Required
` No NOI Required
` NOI Required
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` Approved by Branch Chief:
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` Date:
` 2/9/21
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` ATTACHMENT
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`Adelphia Gateway, LLC (Adelphia)
`Marcus Hook Electric Compression Project
`Docket No. CP21-14-000
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`Environmental Comments
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`Proposed Action
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`A.
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`On December 7, 2020, Adelphia Gateway, LLC (Adelphia) filed a request with the
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`Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) for a Prior Notice under
`its Blanket Certificate issued in FERC Docket No. CP18-46-000 for the Adelphia
`Gateway Project. Adelphia proposes to install and operate an electric-motor driven
`(EMD) 3,000-horsepower (hp) compressor unit and associated equipment at Adelphia’s
`certificated Marcus Hook Compressor Station (MHCS) in Delaware County,
`Pennsylvania. The new electric compressor would be in addition to the three 1,875-hp
`natural gas-fired reciprocating compressor units that are part of the Adelphia Gateway
`Project.
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`Adelphia is proposing the Marcus Hook Electric Compression Project (Project) to
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`deliver 75,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of firm natural gas capacity from the
`certificated MHCS to Adelphia’s customer at Adelphia’s interconnection with Columbia
`Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia). Adelphia’s certificated capacity would increase
`from 250,000 to 265,500 Dth/d. Adelphia states that the purpose of this Project is to
`enable Adelphia to install facilities necessary to meet demonstrated market need for
`75,000 Dth/d of firm natural gas capacity from the MHCS to an interconnect with a
`Columbia-owned pipeline at the Delmarva Meter Station at the western terminus of the
`Parkway Lateral. No interruptions of service are planned or anticipated as a result of the
`proposed Project.
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`The Project consists of the installation of an EMD 3,000-hp fourth compressor
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`unit and related ancillary facilities, entirely within the MHCS’s certificated footprint.
`The new unit would be installed in the same building as the other three certificated units
`at the MHCS, and no modifications to the building would be required. Proposed
`ancillary facilities would be installed within the MHCS’s limits of disturbance (LOD).
`Adelphia would use a state highway (i.e., Ridge Road) to access the site, and construction
`materials would be staged within the MHCS’s LOD. No additional contractor yards or
`temporary workspace would be required. No facilities would be abandoned as part of
`this Project. Appendix A contains Project mapping.
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`In addition to the EMD 3,000-hp compressor unit, the Project would include the
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`following ancillary facilities installed within the MHCS’s certificated LOD:
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`• one horizontal process gas cooler with two 25-hp electric-driven motors;
`two variable frequency drives;
`•
`• a motor control center assembly to control the electric compressor engine from a
`central location;
`instrumentation and communication equipment necessary to monitor and control
`the operation of the Project components; and
`• electrical infrastructure to handle the required motor loads.
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`•
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`Adelphia proposes to start Project construction during the 2nd quarter of 2021
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`after receipt of all required federal, state and local authorizations and permits. The
`Project’s in-service date is expected to occur in the 4th quarter of 2021. Construction is
`expected to require 40 workers per day; last four to six months, ten hours per day, six
`days per week; and occur concurrently with the Adelphia Gateway Project construction
`activities in the same area.
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`Land Requirements
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`Construction of the proposed Project would require approximately 4.3 acres of
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`paved and graveled, industrial use land within the existing 7.5-acre MHCS Site. Of the
`4.3 acres affected during construction, Project operations would affect 0.3 acre of land for
`the ancillary facilities. Adelphia and its contractors would access the Project site via
`Ridge Road during construction and operations. No improvements to Ridge Road would
`be required for the Project.
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`Construction Procedures
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`The Project facilities would be constructed, tested, operated, and maintained in
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`accordance with applicable federal, state and local regulations. This includes but is not
`limited to, the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968, as amended; the U.S.
`Department of Transportation of Natural Gas or Other Gas by Pipeline; Minimum
`Federal Safety Standards (49 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 192); and the
`FERC’s Siting and Maintenance Requirements (18 CFR § 380.15). Construction
`activities associated with the Project would primarily consist of conventional
`construction techniques. No vegetation clearing beyond that required for the
`concurrently constructed Adelphia Gateway Project would be required for the Project.
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`The work would be performed by the same contractors for the Adelphia Gateway
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`Project and would not require incremental construction equipment. Erosion control
`devices would already be in place at the Project site, and Project work would begin and
`end prior to completion of the Adelphia Gateway Project. Work sequencing would
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`include the installation of foundations for ancillary equipment followed by the
`trenching for electrical infrastructure and would conclude with the placement and
`connection of Project components. Adelphia would minimize or avoid impacts on soil
`during construction by adhering with the FERC’s Upland Erosion, Revegetation, and
`Maintenance Plan (FERC’s Plan), and FERC’s Wetland and Waterbody Construction
`and Mitigation Procedures (FERC’s Procedures), as applicable. Following facility
`installation and completion of other on-site construction activities associated with the
`Adelphia Gateway Project, all areas used as construction workspace would be cleaned
`up and returned to pre-construction conditions.
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`Adelphia would hire one full-time environmental inspector (EI) for the Project.
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`The EI position would be in effect throughout the duration of construction; would report
`directly to Adelphia’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager; and would have stop-
`work authority. The EIs’ duties would be consistent with the FERC’s Plan and would
`include ensuring compliance with Adelphia’s environmental designs and specifications,
`and other permits and authorizations.
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`Adelphia does not currently have any future plans for expansion or abandonment
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`for the Project facilities.
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`Non-Jurisdictional Facilities
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`Non-jurisdictional facilities are limited to connecting existing electrical supply to
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`the Project components at the MHCS. Such facilities are minimal and would not require
`upgrades to the existing electrical supply to accommodate the Project. Any
`environmental review of the non-jurisdictional facilities would be conducted by the
`applicable state and local agencies.
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`
`B.
`Environmental Analysis
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`Based on our1 review of the Project, the following resources and hazards are
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`either not present or would not be affected by the Project’s activities and would not be
`discussed further:
`• surface waterbodies and wetlands (none present);
`• vegetation and wildlife (Project area is located in a highly developed
`industrial/commercial area and consists of a maintained gravel lot and existing
`facilities with no vegetation);
`threatened and endangered species (Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory
`review dated October 12, 2020 indicated no known impacts on threatened and
`endangered species from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Pennsylvania
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`1 “We,” “us,” and “our” refer to the environmental staff of the FERC Office of Energy Projects
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`•
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`(OEP).
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`•
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`(PA) Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Fish and Boat
`Commission, and PA Game Commission);
`the project is not within a flood hazard zone;
`•
`• no hydrostatic testing would occur as part of this Project;
`• mineral resources: there are no mineral producers, including oil and gas wells;
`coal mines; or non-fuel mineral resources near the MHCS. Similarly, an online
`search did not identify any potentially exploitable mineral resources within 0.25
`mile of the MHCS;
`• subsidence from previous mining or karst terrain: the Project is not in an area of
`known active or previous mining and the Project is not with any known karst
`areas;
`landslides and steep slopes: the Project is confined to an area identified as low
`susceptibility and low incidence of landslide and slumping occurrence, and the
`Project site does not have any steep slopes;
`• active faults: the closest active fault/seismic zone is the Central Virginia Seismic
`Zone located southeast of Charlottesville, Virginia. There are no active faults in
`proximity to the Project.
`• blasting: the Project would not require blasting;
`• cultural resources (in a letter dated December 18, 2020 the Pennsylvania
`Historical and Museum Commission State Historic Preservation Office provided
`comments that there are no historic or archaeological properties in the area of this
`Project);
`there are no National Park System Lands, Indian Reservations, National
`Wildlife Refuges, or National Wilderness Areas within 0.25 mile of the
`Project. Additionally, there are no All-American Roads, Natural Areas,
`historic areas, hiking trails or scenic areas identified within 0.25 mile of the
`Project; and
`the Project is not located on any state, federal, or conservation lands.
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`•
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`Groundwater
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`Adelphia would require additional water during construction of the Project for
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`dust suppression and concrete work (i.e. foundations and supports). Adelphia would
`obtain water for these activities from municipal sources.
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`The Project overlies crystalline rock-type Piedmont and Blue Ridge bedrock
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`aquifer. The Project is also within the Delaware River Streamflow Zone / New Jersey
`Coastal Plains Aquifer sole source aquifer zone. Four groundwater supply wells are
`within 150 feet of the Project Area; all four are abandoned. Adelphia did not identify
`any springs during its field survey of the Project Area. No excavation would occur
`along the access road, and the Project would not require blasting. Furthermore,
`Adelphia is not aware of any contaminated soil or groundwater at the MHCS Site.
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`Some excavation would be required to install foundations for the ancillary facilities.
`Excavation depths would range from 5 to 8 feet below ground surface. A boring log
`collected at the northeast corner of the MHCS Site found depth to groundwater to be 9
`feet below ground surface. Therefore, it is not expected that groundwater would be
`encountered during construction. Should groundwater be encountered, Adelphia would
`dewater the excavation area in accordance with its Soil, Groundwater, and Drilling
`Fluid Management Plan2 for the Adelphia Gateway Project as well as the FERC’s
`Procedures and Plan. Given groundwater conditions in the Project area and with
`implementation of the measures discussed above, we conclude that construction and
`operation of the planned Project facilities would not significantly adversely impact
`groundwater quality or supply.
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`Geologic Resources
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`The proposed Project would be located entirely within the certificated LOD of the
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`MHCS. The Project facilities are located within the Lowland and Intermediate Upland
`Section of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Province. Bedrock underlying the MHCS consists
`of anorthosite from the Lower Paleozoic and Trenton gravel from the tertiary. The site
`has been historically maintained as an industrial site and is well graveled and mostly
`level.
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`Geologic Hazards
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`site:
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`The following geologic hazards have a low potential of occurring at the Project
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`• Seismicity – Probabilistic seismic-hazard maps show the Project is within an area
`where Peak Ground Acceleration are estimated to be 2-3 percent gravity with a ten
`percent probability of being exceeded in 50 years;
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`• Soil Liquefaction – Due to the low probability of a significant seismic event and
`the industrial nature of the Project site, the risk of soil liquefaction occurring and
`affecting the Project is minimal. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has mapped
`areas susceptible to liquefaction but there are no areas identified within
`Pennsylvania or Delaware.
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`Due to the lack of mineral resources and low potential of geologic hazards in the
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`Project area, we conclude that the Project would not impact local geological resources
`and would not be impacted by geologic hazards.
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`2 The Soil, Groundwater, and Drilling Fluid Management Plan for the Adelphia Gateway Project
`is available on the FERC docket at accession number 20201005-5008.
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`Soils and Erosion Control
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`Adelphia compiled soil descriptions for the Project from information in the U.S.
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`Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Web Soil
`Survey. The Web Soil Survey provides soil characteristics that can be used to describe
`limitations of the soils including shallow depth-to-bedrock, poor revegetation potential,
`high compaction, high wind erodibility, high water erodibility, and farmland
`classification. Two soils, Othello Silt Loam (4.0 acres) and Urban Land (0.3 acre), occur
`within the Project area.
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`The Urban Land soil type does not have any relevant soil limitations. Othello Silt
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`Loam has a high compaction potential, moderate wind and water erosion potentials, and a
`moderate revegetation potential. Shallow depth to bedrock is not associated with this
`soil. Neither the Othello Silt Loam nor Urban Land are considered Prime Farmlands,
`Farmlands of Statewide Importance, or hydric soils. Because the Project area is an
`industrial area that has been completely graveled or paved, no Project-related adverse
`impacts to soils are expected to occur. Adelphia would minimize or avoid impacts on
`soil during construction by adhering with the FERC’s Plan, as applicable.
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`Based on the limited scope of the Project and because Adelphia would minimize
`or avoid impacts on soil during construction by adhering with the FERC’s Plan and
`Procedures, we conclude that the Project would not have a significant impact on soils.
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`Land Use
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`The Project area is located entirely on industrial use land, including Project access
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`roads, associated ancillary facilities, and parking areas. The Project would be entirely
`located within the certificated MHCS’s paved/graveled LOD, and the fourth unit would
`be housed within the certificated compressor building. The industrial use category
`describes paved, graveled, or maintained areas with little to no vegetation. The MHCS
`was certificated for 7.5 acres of operational impacts, and this Project would use 4.3 acres
`within that 7.5 acres. No expansion of the existing fence line or additional temporary
`workspace is proposed as part of the Project.
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`Residences and Special land Uses
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`One public recreational area, Analine Village Park, is located 0.1 mile from the
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`Project. In addition, the Lawncroft Cemetery is located 0.1 mile north of the Project.
`Potential Project-related impacts to Analine Village Park and Lawncroft Cemetery would
`be limited to those associated with traffic. However, Adelphia does not anticipate any
`traffic impacts to Analine Village, because the only road that accesses the park would not
`be used or affected by the Project. However, there may be some temporary traffic
`impacts to Lawncroft Cemetery during construction of this Project that would coincide
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`with construction of the Adelphia Gateway Project. No temporary or permanent
`restrictions on land use to either area would occur as part of the Project. Adelphia made
`an agreement with Lawncroft Cemetery to maintain unrestricted access to the Cemetery’s
`entry and exit points during construction and operations of the Adelphia Gateway Project
`and would also honor this agreement during all phases of this Project.
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`There is a residential area to the northwest and west of the Project, and the areas to
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`the east and south consist of industrial and commercial properties. There are a total of 27
`residences and 4 non-residential buildings within 100 feet of the Project, all of which are
`included in the existing outreach plan in place for the Adelphia Gateway Project, and will
`continue to receive the appropriate notifications of construction activities. Adelphia is
`committed to minimize disruption to traffic flow to the greatest extent possible and
`maintain access to these residences at all time. No residences are within 50 feet of the
`edge of the Project’s LOD. Because Project construction would take place concurrently
`with construction of the Adelphia Gateway Project, Adelphia would implement
`applicable measures in its Residential and Traffic Management Plan for the Adelphia
`Gateway Project to avoid and/or mitigate adverse Project-related impacts on nearby
`landowners and traffic.3 The Air/Noise Section of this Environmental Assessment
`Report discusses measures Adelphia would implement to minimize fugitive dust
`emissions and noise levels.
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`The Project would be located within the Delaware Estuary Coastal Zone. In
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`accordance with the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, Adelphia submitted a
`federal consistency determination to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
`Protection Coastal Resources Management Program for the Project on the date this
`application was filed. Adelphia would obtain all required permits or authorizations prior
`to initiating Project construction.
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`Therefore, based on the above information, we conclude the Project would have a
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`minimal impact on residences and special land uses.
`Contaminated Sites
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`According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Cleanups in
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`My Community website, there are no Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
`Corrective Action Sites that occur within 250 feet of the Project. Adelphia’s January 15,
`2021 data response indicates that based on a review of the USEPA’s Cleanups in My
`Community website and the Pennsylvania Environmental Facility Application
`Compliance Tracking System (eFACTS), the following landfills or hazardous waste sites
`are located within 0.25 mile from the Project’s LOD that may affect soil and groundwater
`media: Chemtrade Solutions, LLC (Formerly General Chemical Corporation), (0.25 mile
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`3 Adelphia’s Residential and Traffic Management Plan for the Adelphia Gateway Project is on
`the FERC docket at accession number 20201001-5029.
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`South); Honeywell International, Inc., ( 0.25 mile South); Lawncroft Cemetery, (0.25 mile
`Northeast); and Allied Chem DDT Disposal (0.1 mile Southeast).
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`Adelphia indicates that Project-related excavation activities would be minimal and
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`limited to a small area in the Project site. In addition, Adelphia would adhere to its Soil,
`Groundwater, and Drilling Fluid Management Plan and its Unanticipated Discovery of
`Contamination Plan submitted for the Adelphia Gateway Project during construction of
`this Project. Therefore, Adelphia does not anticipate any of the above-listed sites to be
`impacted by the proposed Project, and no associated Project mitigation or
`permits/approvals/consultations would be required.
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`Adelphia conducted a phase one environmental site assessment for the MHCS as
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`part of its purchase of the property for the Adelphia Gateway Project. Five Historical
`Recognized Environmental Conditions (HRECs) were identified during the assessment.
`No Recognized Environmental Conditions or Controlled Recognized Environmental
`Conditions were identified. Contaminated soils are not expected to be encountered
`during construction of the MHCS. If any contaminated soils are encountered, they would
`be disposed of during construction of the Adelphia Gateway Project. Therefore, no
`contaminated soils, sediments, or groundwater are expected at the MHCS. If during
`construction, contaminated soils are encountered Adelphia would follow the procedures
`in its Unanticipated Discovery of Contamination Plan for the Adelphia Gateway Project.4
`Therefore, we conclude the Project would have a minimal impact on contaminated soils,
`sediments or groundwater.
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`Visual Resources
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`The Project would not have a significant effect on visual resources in the area.
`Construction would be visible to the residences located to the northwest and from
`commuters using Ridge Road. However, the Project operationally would not
`significantly affect visual resources in the area as the major facilities and equipment
`would be located within the compressor building. Equipment not installed in the
`building would be in-kind with equipment being installed on the site as part of the
`Adelphia Gateway Project and would not change the visual character of the Project site.
`Therefore, we conclude the Project would have a minimal impact on visual impacts.
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`4 Adelphia’s Unanticipated Discovery of Contamination Plan for the Adelphia Gateway Project
`is on the FERC docket at accession number 20200814-5282.
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`Air Quality/Noise
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`Air Quality
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`Construction of the Project would cause a temporary reduction in local ambient air
`quality due to fugitive dust and emissions generated by construction equipment. This
`impact would occur only in the immediate vicinity of the construction activities.
`Construction emissions would be temporary in nature and limited to various construction
`activities and equipment occurring over a four to six month period. Federal and state air
`quality standards are designed to protect human health. The USEPA has developed
`National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants such as
`oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and inhalable
`particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). PM2.5 includes particles with an aerodynamic
`diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers, and PM10 includes particles with an
`aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometers. The NAAQS were set at
`levels the EPA believes are necessary to protect human health and welfare. Volatile
`organic compounds (VOC) are regulated by USEPA mostly to prevent the formation of
`ozone (O3), a constituent of photochemical smog. Many VOCs form ground-level ozone
`by reacting with sources of oxygen molecules such as NOx in the atmosphere in the
`presence of sunlight. NOx and VOCs are referred to as ozone precursors. Hazardous air
`pollutants (HAP) are also emitted during fossil fuel combustion and are suspected or
`known to cause cancer or other serious health effects; such as reproductive effects or
`birth defects; or adverse environmental effects.
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`Pennsylvania is in the Ozone Transport Region, a group of states in the
`northeastern United States classified as moderate nonattainment for ozone that are
`required to install a certain level of controls for the pollutants that form ozone. The
`Project is in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, which is part of the Metropolitan
`Philadelphia Interstate Air Quality Control Region (AQCR), and is listed as attainment
`for all criteria pollutants, with the exception of being designated as nonattainment for
`2015 and 2008 O3, and maintenance for 1997, 2006 and 2012 PM 2.5.
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`Greenhouse Gases (GHG) produced by fossil-fuel combustion are carbon dioxide
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`(CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). GHGs status as a pollutant is not related
`to toxicity. GHGs are non-toxic and non-hazardous at normal ambient concentrations,
`and there are no applicable ambient standards or emission limits for GHG under the
`Clean Air Act. GHGs emissions due to human activity are the primary cause of increased
`atmospheric concentration of GHGs since the industrial age. These elevated levels of
`GHGs are the primary cause of warming of the climatic system. These existing and
`future emissions of GHGs, unless significantly curtailed, will cause further warming and
`changes to the local, regional and global environmental resources. During construction
`of the project, these GHGs would be emitted from construction equipment. The project
`entails installation of a new electric driven compressor unit; no operational emissions
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`would be realized from the Project, other than minor fugitive emissions. Emissions of
`GHGs are typically expressed in terms of CO2 equivalents (CO2e).5
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`Fugitive dust is particulate matter that arises from the mechanical disturbance of
`soil or rock material and is lifted into the air. It typically is comprised of particles of
`various sizes. Fugitive dust results from activities such as the physical movement of soil,
`vehicles traveling over unpaved surfaces, heavy equipment operation, blasting, and wind.
`Fugitive dust typically contains a mix of particle sizes (PM2.5, PM10 and larger
`particulates). Smaller particulates can be health hazards while larger particulates may be
`a public nuisance (visibility impacts, deposition, and physical irritant).
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`As mentioned earlier, to mitigate fugitive dust and exhaust emissions during
`construction, Adelphia would implement dust control measures outlined in Adelphia’s
`existing Fugitive Dust Emissions Control Plan for the Adelphia Gateway Project 6,
`including watering roadways, removing debris from paved surfaces, as well as ensuring
`proper maintenance of equipment, and compliance with federal, state, and local
`regulations for exhaust emissions from construction equipment. These temporary
`impacts would occur only in the immediate vicinity of the construction activities. Once
`completed, fugitive dust and emissions would subside. The estimated construction
`emissions in tons per year (tpy) for the project construction are presented in table 1
`below.
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`Table 1
`Estimated Construction Emissions
`VOC HAP CO2e
`PM10 PM2.5 NOX
`CO
`SO2
`Emission Source
`0.03
`0.06
`2,948
`0.25 0.24
`3.40
`1.23
`0.02
`Construction Equipment Exhaust
`0.02
`0.01
`168
`0.01 0.01
`0.22
`0.40
`0.01
`On-Road Vehicle Traffic
`--
`--
`--
`14.29 1.43
`--
`--
`--
`Off-Road Vehicle Traffic
`--
`--
`--
`0.01 0.01
`--
`--
`--
`Earthmoving Fugitives
`--
`--
`--
`1.53 0.15
`--
`--
`--
`Construction Activity – Fugitives
`--
`--
`--
`0.03 0.01
`--
`--
`--
`Pile Erosion
`0.05
`0.07
`3,116
`16.12 1.85
`3.62
`1.63
`0.03
`Total
`25
`NA
`NA
`NA
`100
`25
`NA
`100
`General Conformity Rule De Minimis
`General Conformity de minimus thresholds only apply to nonattainment/maintenance pollutants, which include O3 , with precursors of NOx and
`VOCs; and PM2.5, with precursors of SO2 NOx, ammonia and VOCs. Delaware County is nonattainment for O3 and maintenance for PM 2.5
`
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`There would be no operational emissions from the new electric driven compressor
`unit, but small quantities of emissions would result from piping component fugitives,
`valves, and natural gas venting operations for maintenance purposes. These would be
`considered negligible and are presented in table 2.
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`5 Other GHG gases are converted to CO2e by means of the global warming potential of each gas.
`6 Accession number 20200612-5119
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`11
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`

`

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`
`
`
`Table 2
`Operational Emissions (tpy)
`
`
`Pollutant
`
`Post-Project Potential
`to Emit
`(tpy)
`
`Project
`Current
`Potential to
`Potential to
`Emit
`Emit
`(tpy)
`(tpy)
`1.9
`NA
`1.9
`PM10
`1.9
`NA
`1.9
`PM2.5
`0.1
`NA
`0.1
`SO2
`10.8
`NA
`10.8
`CO
`17.1
`NA
`17.1
`NOx
`23.7
`1.2
`22.5
`VOC
`41,463
` 407
`41,056
`CO2e
`a. PSD = Prevention of Significant Deterioration permitting program
`b. NSR = New Source Review permitting
`
`
`Major Source
`Threshold (tpy)
`
`Major Source
`Program
`
`Subject to Major
`Source
`Permitting
`
`250
`250
`250
`250
`25
`25
`NA
`
`PSDa
`PSD
`PSD
`PSD
`NSRb
`NSR
`PSD
`
`No
`No
`No
`No
`No
`No
`No
`
`
`
`Based on the short duration of construction activities and minor operational
`fugitive emissions, we conclude that there would not be significant impacts on air quality
`due to the Project.
`
`Noise
`
`
`Adelphia previously identified three residential Noise Sensitive Areas (NSAs)
`surrounding the MHCS during noise surveys conducted on December 12, 2017 as part of
`the Adelphia Gateway Project to characterize the existing ambient sound quality. Since
`the time of the survey, no new NSA’s have been constructed and the noise environment
`remains similar to the time of the initial survey.
`
`Short term, temporary noise impacts associated with construction activities, would
`primarily result from the use of heavy construction equipment and machinery. Noise
`levels would vary throughout construction depending on the phase of work. Typically,
`the most prevalent sound source during construction would be the internal combustion
`engines used to power the construction equipment. Noise levels of major construction
`equipment including cranes, rollers, and trucks have a measured sound level of 85
`decibels (dBA) at 50 feet from the source, diminishing with distance. To mitigate these
`short-term impacts, Adelphia would restrict construction to daytime hours, six days a
`week, and maintain vehicles and equipment in accordance with manufacturers’
`recommendations.
`
`
`
`
`12
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`

`

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`
`
`Operational noise levels are presented in table 3. The closest NSA is
`approximately 530 feet from the proposed unit. The noise model developed for the
`MHCS as part of the Adelphia Gateway Project was updated to incorporate the additional
`equipment to be installed as part of the Project using the most recent site plans for the
`MHCS. Considering the current environment and lack of construction in the area since
`the completion of the initial noise survey, those conclusions reached are not impacted by
`the Project’s modifications.
`
`
`Estimated Total
`Ldn (dBA)
`
`66.1
`66.1
`63.2
`
`Predicted Change
`from Existing
`Ambient Ldn
`(dBA)
`+0.3
`+0.3
`+0.0
`
`NSA-1a
`NSA-1b
`NSA-2
`
`Due to the temporary nature of construction activities and that construction of the
`project would be limited to daytime hours, we believe that construction of the Project
`would not have a significant impact on noise quality in the Project area. Based on the
`minimal projected increase in operational noise from the approved MHCS, and as
`Adelphia would be required to file a full load noise survey within 60 days of the placing
`the MHCS in-service as part of their Adelphia Gateway Project requirements, we
`conclude that operation of the Project would not have a significant impact on noise
`quality in the project area.
`
`Staff’s Conclusion
`
`Based on the above environmental analysis, the staff has determined that approval
`
`of th