Williams Partners Receives Key Pennsylvania DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permits for Atlantic Sunrise Project; Receives FERC Approval to Place Portion of Project into Service on Sept. 1
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Company will immediately commence the process of requesting FERC's
Notice to Proceed for all remaining construction
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Greenfield pipeline construction in Pennsylvania expected to
commence early this fall
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Modifications to existing Transco facilities in Virginia and
Maryland will be placed into service Sept. 1
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Critical energy infrastructure connects abundant, cost-effective
Pennsylvania gas supply with East Coast markets; Supports 8,000 jobs,
$1.6 billion economic impact in project area
Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) today reported that the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers have issued required permits for the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline
project – an expansion of the existing Transco natural gas pipeline to
connect abundant Marcellus gas supplies with markets in the Mid-Atlantic
and Southeastern U.S.
PADEP & USACE Permits
The company received the Chapter 105 (Water Obstruction and
Encroachment) and Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sediment Control) permits
from PADEP on Aug. 30 and the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Aug. 29.
The receipt of these remaining state and federal permits will allow the
company to immediately commence the process of requesting a Notice to
Proceed with construction from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC), targeting commencing greenfield pipeline construction in
Pennsylvania this fall. The full project capacity is scheduled to be
placed into service in mid-2018.
Early Partial Mainline Service
The company also reported today that, in advance of the greenfield
portion of the project coming into service, it has received Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to place a portion of the
project into service early and, accordingly, expects to begin partial
service Sept. 1, providing 400,000 dth/day of firm transportation
service on Transco’s existing mainline facilities to various delivery
points as far south as Choctaw County, Alabama. The partial service
milestone is the result of recently completed modifications to existing
Transco facilities in Virginia and Maryland designed to further
accommodate bi-directional flow on the existing Transco pipeline system.
Company Perspective
“We are very pleased to have reached these important milestones for the
Atlantic Sunrise project,” said Alan Armstrong, Williams’ president and
chief executive officer. “This vital project will leverage existing
infrastructure to deliver economic growth and help millions of Americans
gain access to affordable Pennsylvania-produced clean-burning natural
gas.”
Micheal Dunn, Williams’ executive vice president and chief operating
officer, commented: “The Atlantic Sunrise project has been through a
rigorous, thorough review process in Pennsylvania and we are committed
to installing this important infrastructure in an environmentally
responsible manner and in compliance with the state’s high environmental
standards.”
The FERC authorized the project in February 2017, concluding that
environmental impacts associated with the project would be reduced to
“less than significant levels” with the implementation of mitigation
measures proposed by the company and FERC.
About Atlantic Sunrise
Once complete, the Atlantic Sunrise expansion will help alleviate
infrastructure bottlenecks in Pennsylvania, connecting abundant
Marcellus gas supplies with markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern
U.S. The nearly $3 billion expansion of the existing Transco natural gas
pipeline is designed to increase deliveries by 1.7 billion cubic feet
per day (enough to provide daily service to seven million homes).
Williams Partners’ net investment in the Atlantic Sunrise project is
expected to be approximately $1.9 billion. Pennsylvania State University
researchers forecast the Atlantic Sunrise project to directly and
indirectly support approximately 8,000 jobs in the 10 Pennsylvania
counties during the project’s construction phase, resulting in an
estimated $1.6 billion economic impact in the project area.
Additional information about the Atlantic Sunrise project can be found
at www.williams.com/atlanticsunrise.
About Williams & Williams Partners
Williams (NYSE: WMB) is a premier provider of large-scale infrastructure
connecting U.S. natural gas and natural gas products to growing demand
for cleaner fuel and feedstocks. Headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., Williams
owns approximately 74 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ).
Williams Partners is an industry-leading, large-cap master limited
partnership with operations across the natural gas value chain including
gathering, processing and interstate transportation of natural gas and
natural gas liquids. With major positions in top U.S. supply basins,
Williams Partners owns and operates more than 33,000 miles of pipelines
system wide – including the nation’s largest volume and fastest growing
pipeline – providing natural gas for clean-power generation, heating and
industrial use. Williams Partners’ operations touch approximately 30
percent of U.S. natural gas. www.williams.com
Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking statements”
as defined by federal law. Although the company believes any such
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance
that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such
statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections
provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional
information about issues that could lead to material changes in
performance is contained in the company’s annual and quarterly reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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