Dominion Energy’s Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline Friday received a broadly favorable environmental impact statement from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff, marking a major milestone for the 600-mile, 1.5 Bcf/d line, among several high-capacity projects designed to bring gas to the Eastern Seaboard. The greenfield project (CP15-554) would move gas to points along its mainline in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina, and in concert with other projects aimed at the downstream market, would likely put downward pressure on Transco Zone 5 pricing, despite the demand growth expected there. FERC staff concluded that the project would have some adverse impacts on the environment but that most would be reduced to “less-than-significant levels” through a host of proposed plans, mitigation measures and steps laid out by the commission. Staff included 71 environmental conditions. FERC highlighted adverse impacts on steep slopes and adjacent water bodies, aquatic resources, forests, endangered species, as […]