Adelphia Gateway
This page was last updated on June 1, 2021
Adelphia Gateway, LLC, is proposing a project to repurpose an existing pipeline in Southeastern Pennsylvania from oil to natural gas, traversing Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties. This project, subject to review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), also requires approvals and permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Below is information on DEP's review and approval of the permit applications and other useful project information. The material is presented here to enable the public to readily review the application material, any noted technical deficiencies and the company's responses to the technical deficiencies. Additional materials will be added to the site as the Department continues with its review of the permit applications. Persons wishing to schedule a file review for this project should contact the Southeast Regional Office for Records Review at 484-250-5910.
For those unfamiliar with DEP's regulatory jurisdiction, DEP has the authority to review and make decisions on permit applications pursuant to environmental regulations such as:
Chapter 102,
Erosion and Sediment Control which regulates erosion and sedimentation resulting from earthmoving activities and the stability of projects. A pipeline project that exceeds five acres of total earth disturbance must obtain an Erosion Control Permit with plans and practices to control stormwater runoff both during and following earthmoving activities;
Chapter 105,
Dam Safety and Waterway Management which regulates water obstructions and encroachments focused on activities located in, along, or across wetlands, lakes, streams and floodways;
For some pipeline projects, DEP also processes a State Water Quality Certification. Pursuant to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, DEP will ensure that activities associated with proposed interstate natural gas transmission pipeline projects regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) comply with state water quality standards. This certification is often authorized conditionally and serves as an index for all DEP water-related permits/approvals that may be required for a pipeline project to demonstrate compliance with state water quality standards.
Pipeline projects may also involve other permit applications including DEP's Clean Water (NPDES Permitting for Discharges from Hydrostatic Testing), Air Quality (Air Quality Permitting), Solid Waste Management, Oil and Gas Management, and Bureau of Mining Programs. DEP may also coordinate the review of these permit applications with other resource agencies such as County Conservation Districts, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, the PA Game Commission, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Department of Agriculture, the PA Historical and Museum Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the River Basin Commissions.
DEP's permitting authority does not cover the determination of the overall pipeline route or property rights. Other agencies also have jurisdiction over pipelines, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Adelphia Gateway Project Overview
Information Sheet
This
information sheet (PDF) provides a summary of the project and current status.
Additional Information Related to Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Activities
On July 6, 2020, Adelphia Gateway provided the following plans associated with the project, which are provided below:
State Water Quality Certification
On February 28, 2020, DEP issued a conditional State Water Quality Certification. The conditional State Water Quality Certification was published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin on March 14, 2020.
On October 25, 2019, Adelphia Gateway provided a response for the technical deficiencies they received from DEP on August 16, 2019 for the 401 State Water Quality Certification.
On August 16, 2019, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to Adelphia Gateway for the 401 State Water Quality Certification.
On March 4, 2019, DEP received a request for a state water quality certification which evaluates whether the proposed project, will be constructed in a manner that achieves Pennsylvania’s state water quality standards. The request for State Water Quality Certification was published in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin on March 16, 2019. Submitted public comments were evaluated by DEP prior to the request being approved.
Chapter 102 and 105 Permit Applications
On May 28, 2021, DEP sent the following Permit Coverage Approval to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Phase 1, Major Amendment, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit Application.
On April 7, 2021, DEP received a response to the March 25, 2021, technical deficiency letter for the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control General Permit, Phase 1, Major Amendment, from the applicant.
On March 26, 2021, DEP sent the following Permit Coverage Approval to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Phase 2B, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit Application.
On March 25, 2021, DEP sent the following Technical Deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 1, Major Permit Amendment application.
On February 26, 2021, DEP sent the following Completeness Notification letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 1, Major Permit Amendment application.
On February 16, 2021, DEP received a Major Amendment for Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 1 from the applicant.
On January 26, 2021, DEP received a Major Amendment for Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 1, from the applicant.
On January 14, 2021, DEP received a response to the December 23, 2020 technical deficiency letter for the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B, from the applicant.
On December 23, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Control Permit, Phase 2B application.
On December 11, 2020, DEP received a response to the November 20, 2020 technical deficiency letter for the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B, from the applicant. An update to Drawing Number SR-7 (Tilghman Lateral Phase 2B Details) was received on January 22, 2021 to address a topographical error/omission.
On November 25, 2020, DEP received Major Amendments for the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 1, from the applicant.
On November 20, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Control Permit, Phase 2B application.
On October 27, 2020, DEP received a response to the October 5, 2020, technical deficiency email for Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B, from the applicant.
On October 5, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency email for Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B.
On September 25, 2020, DEP received a response to the August 28, 2020, technical deficiency letter for the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B, from the applicant.
On September 8, 2020, DEP sent the following permit coverage approval to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 2A application.
On August 28, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 2B application.
On August 21, 2020, DEP sent the following permit coverage approval to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 1 application.
On August 10, 2020, DEP received a response to the July 30, 2020, technical deficiency letter for the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2A, from the applicant.
On July 30, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 2A, application.
On July 22, 2020, DEP sent the following completeness notification letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 2A application.
On July 16, 2020, DEP received a response for the July 2, 2020, Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B, incompleteness review letter from the applicant.
On July 6, 2020, DEP received a Water Supply Assessment, Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency Plan (July 2020), a Void Mitigation Plan for Karst Terrain and Underground Mining (June 2020) and an Inadvertent Release Contingency Plan (July 2020) from the applicant.
On July 2, 2020, DEP sent the following incompleteness review letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 2B application.
On June 19, 2020, DEP received a response for the June 15, 2020, Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2A, incompleteness review letter from the applicant.
On June 15, 2020, DEP sent the following incompleteness review letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 2A application.
On June 12, 2020, DEP received the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 2B application from the applicant.
On May 22, 2020, DEP received the Chapter 102, ESCGP-3 Phase 2A application from the applicant.
On May 18, 2020, DEP received a response for the April 24, 2020, Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 1, technical deficiency from the applicant.
On May 7, 2020, DEP received a Noxious Weed and Invasive Species Control Plan (March 2020), a Preparedness, Prevention, and Contingency Plan (May 2020), an Inadvertent Release Contingency Plan (May 2020), a Void Mitigation Plan for Karst Terrain and Underground Mining (May 2020) from the applicant.
On April 24, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 1 application.
On March 24, 2020, DEP received a response for the February 25, 2020, Chapter 102, ESCGP-3, Phase 1, technical deficiencies from Adelphia Gateway.
On February 25, 2020, DEP sent the following technical deficiency letter to the applicant for its Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit, Phase 1 application.
On January 9, 2020, DEP considered the Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit Application complete and commenced its technical review. The following Phase 1, completeness review letter were sent to the Applicant.
On March 18, 2019, DEP received the following Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control Permit Application.
On August 6, 2018, DEP received Chapter 105, Water Obstruction and Encroachment General Permit Applications No. 8 and No. 11 for the construction, operation, and maintenance of temporary road crossings; and for the maintenance, testing, repair, rehabilitation or replacement of water obstructions and encroachments, respectively.
Air Quality
DEP reviewed and approved two plan approval applications for the construction and operation of two new natural gas compressor stations. Air quality plan approvals are intended to address air pollution sources and applicable control devices. After a thorough and complete review of the application, DEP generates a plan approval that contains specific conditions, including monitoring and recordkeeping, that will ensure the construction and operation are conducted in compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
Construction and operation of these compressor stations cannot begin until all necessary local, state and federal approvals are received.
DEP operates under Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code. Under that code, environmental approvals, permits and/or certifications will be required for this project. DEP reviewed two permit applications submitted to the Air Quality program and is currently reviewing applications submitted to the Waterways Engineering and Wetlands program.
Quakertown Compressor Station, West Rockhill Township, Bucks County:
Marcus Hook Compressor Station, Lower Chichester Township, Delaware County:
Public Participation Information
On November 3, 2018, Notice of the Intent to Issue Plan Approval was published notice in the
Pennsylvania Bulletin. A public comment period was held beginning November 3, 2018 and closed on December 14, 2018. Two public hearings on the Plan Approval were held on December 4, 2018 om West Rockhill Township, Bucks County and Lower Chichester Township, Delaware County.