By Pipeline Portal, an online site that allows companies to post press releases on various petroleum industry related websites and RSS feeds, is a valuable tool for locating and distributing information regarding pipeline projects. Pipeline projects can be categorized as Dry Natural and Wet Natural. According to the US Secretary of Energy’s website, “Pipeline projects are classified as Dry when there is no prospect for further oil or gas.”
The two types of pipeline infrastructure are located in Texas and in Wyoming. The first category, Dry Natural, is characterized by the absence of liquids. These include oil, natural gas liquids and other gaseous products. Approximately 5% of pipeline projects are classified in this category. Wet Natural on the other hand, involves the transportation of liquid products. Approximately 25% of pipeline infrastructure in the U.S. is classified in this category.
Both Wet and Dry Natural pipelines are located within the states of Texas and Wyoming. In addition to the two mentioned categories, there are also a few oil pipelines which are located within Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington State. These are all comprised of natural gas, oil and orations and/or steam turbines. As far as the number of pipeline projects which are classified as Wet Natural, it is believed that there are over a dozen such projects currently in operation.
The Mariner East project which is located within the state of West Virginia, is one example of a Wet Natural pipeline project. In 2021, the Mariner East Project was opened which will connect North West Virginia to Pennsylvania. This new pipeline is being constructed in increments. Approximately half of the project will run through Virginia while the remaining half will go through West Virginia.
Another example of a Wet Natural pipeline is the Perdido pipeline, which is located within the state of Texas. In August of 2021, the PennDOT ( Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) released the following information pertaining to the permitting procedure for the project. In order to obtain a permit to construct the Perdido Causeway, NPDES permits must first be secured. The permit to construct the causeway will only be issued when all necessary permits have been secured.
In July of 2021, a group of individuals filed a legal suit against the US Army Corps of Engineers for violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The group of citizens, named as plaintiffs, alleged that the defendants negligently violated numerous federal statutes and then failed to take proper measures to correct the violations. Among other things, they claimed that the defendants failed to perform an environmental analysis for the pipeline project. When the pipeline project was completed, no environmental analysis was conducted. The plaintiffs further alleged that the defendants waived their rights to an environmental analysis by signing a binding contract with a firm which is not an approved consultant for the project. When this contract was presented to the court, it was determined that the contract was legally binding.
The pipeline that will run through the reservation is located in West Whiteland Township, and it will run approximately two miles from the present location of the North Carolina Utilities Commission’s Perdido Island Power Plant. The West Whiteland Township was chosen by the defendant because of its easement with the utility company, according to the latest news reports. During the public hearing, lawyers for the plaintiffs expressed their concerns about the dangers of the pipeline crossing beneath the soil, which they claimed could lead to the contamination of drinking water supplies.
The court found that the plaintiffs had a likelihood of prevailing on their claims regarding the pipeline’s effect on public utility. However, the court did not resolve the merits of the case. This means that the plaintiffs may still pursue their lawsuit against the defendants under the common pleas law. The defendants have 30 days to appeal the court’s denial of their request for an injunction, and they must also show why an injunction should be granted. If no request for an injunction is made, then the pipeline will continue to operate until further notice.
Comments