Draft environmental impact statement, Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline

Dates

Year: 2012

Citation

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Alaska district, 2012, Draft environmental impact statement, Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline: v. 16, 3 vol. p.

Summary

PURPOSE: The construction and operation of a 737-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter pipeline to transport natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) from Alaskas North Slope to Fairbanks, Anchorage and the Cook Inlet area of Alaska are proposed. The Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline Project would connect with the central gas facility (CGF) near Prudhoe Bay, provide for connection to a Fairbanks natural gas distribution system, and connect to ENSTAR Natural Gas Companys (ENSTAR) pipeline system located in southcentral Alaska (Anchorage and the Cook Inlet area). The residential and commercial needs of southcentral Alaska are currently served by the Cook Inlet gas fields, but these existing fields cannot sustain the areas needs without some form of [...]

Summary

PURPOSE: The construction and operation of a 737-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter pipeline to transport natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) from Alaskas North Slope to Fairbanks, Anchorage and the Cook Inlet area of Alaska are proposed. The Alaska Stand Alone Pipeline Project would connect with the central gas facility (CGF) near Prudhoe Bay, provide for connection to a Fairbanks natural gas distribution system, and connect to ENSTAR Natural Gas Companys (ENSTAR) pipeline system located in southcentral Alaska (Anchorage and the Cook Inlet area). The residential and commercial needs of southcentral Alaska are currently served by the Cook Inlet gas fields, but these existing fields cannot sustain the areas needs without some form of supply expansion. Fairbanks has no long-term source of fuel other than oil. Discovered technically recoverable natural gas resources on the Alaska North Slope are estimated to be about 35 trillion cubic feet (TCF). The proposed pipeline would extend from near Prudhoe Bay to Point MacKenzie and would be developed in the general vicinity of the Dalton and Parks Highway Corridors. Approximately 82 percent of the proposed project route would be co-located with or would closely parallel existing pipeline or highway right-of-way (ROW). Stream crossings would be constructed using one of four methods: open-cut, open-cut isolation, trenchless technology using horizontal directional drilling, or bridge crossings. One new pipeline suspension bridge could be constructed across the Yukon River. Up to 500 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas and NGLs would be transported under operating pressure of 2,500 pounds per square inch. Additionally, a new 12-inch-diameter lateral pipeline would extend approximately 34 miles from Dunbar east to Fairbanks. Other project facilities would include: a North Slope gas conditioning facility, a straddle and gas off-take facility near Dunbar, a Cook Inlet NGL extraction plant facility, one or two compressor stations, three meter stations, 37 mainline valves at intervals not greater than 20 miles, operations and maintenance buildings, construction camps, pipeline yards and material sites. In addition to the proposed action, this draft EIS considers a No Action Alternative and one pipeline route variation which would cross seven miles within Denali National Park and Preserve (NPP). Overall, the Denali NPP Route Variation would be of similar length and would stay within the Parks Highway ROW. None of the Denali NPP lands that would be crossed are designated wilderness areas. Should federal legislation allow within the time constraints of the project, the Denali NPP Route Variation is a reasonable alternative that could minimize visual impacts in the area of Denali NPP. POSITIVE IMPACTS: The proposed project would provide a long-term, stable supply of natural gas and NGLs from existing reserves within North Slope gas fields to markets in the Fairbanks, Anchorage and the Cook Inlet area by 2019. The gas and NGLs would be used to heat homes, business and institutions, to generate electrical power, and for potential industrial uses. The utilization of proven gas supplies that are readily available on the North Slope would provide economic benefit to the State of Alaska through royalties and taxes. NEGATIVE IMPACTS: Permanent easement and ROWs of 4,063 acres would be retained in a non-forested condition and vegetation removal could cause erosion and sedimentation. The proposed pipeline would affect 5,387 acres of wetlands, but impacts would be reduced substantially by co-locating the ROW with existing utility corridors. The pipeline would cross 495 waterways and drainages and the loss of riparian vegetation on stream banks may contribute to increased erosion and instability resulting in reduced fish habitat and water quality. Project-related vessel activity could disturb marine mammals, polar bear, and spectacled eider. Habitat loss would impact tree nesting birds. Operational impacts to wildlife would be negligible with the exception of increased road use and d velopment that could increase vehicle collisions with wildlife. South of the Yukon River, the proposed Project would cross two seismic zones. Construction, operation, and maintenance activities would have both direct and indirect effects on subsistence resources, resource use areas, and subsistence users. LEGAL MANDATES: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-487), Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), and River and Harbor Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).

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Author :: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Alaska district

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Web Link	http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/AlaskaGas/Report2/Report_USACE1/index.html

Draft environmental impact statement, Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline

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