FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION FIELD INSPECTION REPORT

Transcription

1 FIELD INSPECTION REPORT Date September 19, 2018 Project Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) Cedar Station Upgrade Project Dakota County, Minnesota Authority: Section 7(c) Personnel FERC Staff: Company Staff: David Hanobic Terry Plucker, John Bass, Jr. Holly McLendon (Northern) Inspection Summary 0 Problem Area(s) 0 Noncompliance(s) No No Follow-Up Letter Required Refer to Enforcement Introduction On September 19, 2018, David Hanobic of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) performed a construction inspection of the Cedar Station Upgrade Project. The project consists of: construction of about 7.86 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline loop 1 ; construction of a pig 2 launcher and takeoff valve setting at milepost (MP) 0.0 within the existing Rosemount Junction facility boundaries; construction of a pig receiver, tie-in valve setting, and modification of existing regulators within the existing Cedar Station boundaries (MP 7.86); and replacing a 10-foot-long segment of 12-inch-diameter pipeline with the same size and diameter pipeline and replacing about 105 feet of 8-inch-diameter bypass pipeline with A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe installed parallel to an existing pipeline. 2 A pig is an internal pipeline tool used to clean a pipeline and/or to inspect for damage or corrosion. 1

2 feet of 10-inch-diameter pipeline, both within the Cedar Station boundaries, to facilitate tie-ins of the new pipeline to existing station piping. The project in-service date is tentatively scheduled for November 1, FERC staff and company representatives listed above were present throughout the inspection. The purpose of the inspection was to determine Northern s compliance with the environmental conditions of the Commission s August 22, 2017 Order Issuing Certificate for the subject project and to inspect the condition of the right-of-way (ROW) and construction workspaces. The findings of the inspection were that no instances of problem areas or noncompliance were observed. A site map and photographic record are also presented in this report. Inspection On September 19, 2018, the weather conditions were cloudy and temperatures were in the mid 60 s (degrees Fahrenheit). Approximately 2.2 inches of rain was recorded during the past two weeks, which all fell on September 18, The inspection began at the northern end of the Project. The right-of-way adjacent to and workspace for horizontal directional drill (HDD) #22 (Station No ) was seeded and mulched. Restoration was proceeding satisfactorily (Photo Number [No.] 1). Restoration at the HDD #21 exit site (Station No ) was also proceeding satisfactorily. Northern recently mowed non-native velvetleaf which was prolific on the ROW in this location (Photo No. 2). At the entrance to HDD #19 and exit to HDD #20 (Station No ), Northern backfilled the pipe and seeded the area, but had not finished restoration because it is planning to installed cathodic protection in this area. The area was seeded and the topsoil had be removed for the installation of the cathodic protection. Northern committed to reseeding and mulching this area if construction of the cathodic protection did not begin by Monday, September 24. In this same area, the silt fence was knocked down by a large amount of runoff on the day prior to the inspection. Northern replaced the silt fence and installed a rock berm to prevent future issues until permanent restoration can be completed in this area (Photo No. 3). The workspace at HDD #19 (Station No ) was graded, but the topsoil was not yet replaced. The ROW was seeded, but not mulched. Northern plans to install cathodic protection in this area, so final restoration is delayed, and as noted above, Northern would seed and mulch the area if construction does not begin by Monday, September 24. Revegetation is proceeding satisfactorily in areas adjacent to the school. Erosion control devices (ECDs) were appropriately maintained along the edge of Sandstone Road (Photo No. 4). Curlex was installed on areas of the ROW, which were previously revegetated, but had to be reworked because of the need for additional soil. Revegetation in the areas adjacent to Highline Trail were proceeding satisfactorily (Station No , Photo No. 5). The inspection continued to Johnny Cake Ridge Road (Station No ); Northern completed the tie-in the week prior to the inspection and restoration of the ROW was ongoing (Photo No. 6). The final tie-in was completed adjacent to Thomas Lake Road (Station No ) and the area was being graded. The hillside had multiple ECDs, including temporary berms, installed to help control water from flowing onto Thomas Lake Road. After recent heavy rains, no concerns were noted, but Northern was going to ensure that all silt fence was cleaned out where sediment had collected due to additional rain in the forecast (Photo No. 7). 2

3 In Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Northern had previously hydromulched the area prior to the last inspection, and subsequently placed all natural erosion matting on the hillside (Station No ). The area adjacent to the rollers for the drill was temporarily seeded and ECDs were maintained (Photo No. 8). At Interlachen Drive (Station No ), the segment of pipe for HDD #8 was being welded and x- rayed; straw bales were installed at the entrance to the ROW on either side of the road and construction safety fence was maintained along the ROW (Photo No. 9). The ROW was seeded and mulched at HDD #4 and #5 drill sites (Station No ). Some water was noted on the ROW and Northern is reviewing the area to determine if it held water after heavy rains prior to construction (Photo No. 10). The inspection ended at wetland W-07 (station number 73+67), which was seeded and mulched. Some wetland vegetation was noted at the very edge of the ROW and some rutting was noted from the mulch crimping machine. The soils in this area have been noted as being saturated during previous inspections. Northern plans to remove the ruts and apply additional mulch and seed (Photo No. 11). HDD #8 is the only remaining drill on the Project and Northern is currently in the drilling process. Northern continues to finish tie-ins of pipe sections between the HDDs and focus is on restoration of these areas. Northern has committed that all backfilled areas where cathodic protection installation is pending, would be seeded and mulched if installation does not start within the next week. Conclusions and Recommendations A follow-up letter is not required at this time because no instances of problem areas or noncompliance were observed. Overall the ROW conditions were acceptable and active restoration efforts were well underway. Another construction inspection is tentatively scheduled for the week of October 15, 2018, to inspect and document the environmental conditions of the Project. 3

4 SITE MAP 4

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6 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD Company: Northern Natural Gas Company Project: Cedar Station Upgrade Project Spread/Loop/Facility: Pipeline Loop Photo No.: 1 Sta. No.: Direction: North Comments: Open area. HDD #22. ECDs were maintained. Restoration was proceeding satisfactorily. Photo No.: 2 Sta. No.: Direction: South Comments: Open area. HDD #21 exit. Northern mowed some nonnative plants that were present on the ROW. Revegetation is proceeding satisfactorily. 6

7 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD Company: Northern Natural Gas Company Project: Cedar Station Upgrade Project Spread/Loop/Facility: Pipeline Loop Photo No.: 3 Sta. No.: Direction: North Comments: Open area; HDD #19 entry site/hdd #20 exit site. In this staging area adjacent to the ROW, heavy rainfall overwhelmed the silt fence. Northern installed a berm to slow the water and repaired all ECDs. No concerns were noted. Photo No: 4 Sta. No.: Direction: West Comments: Maintained ROW corridor. The ROW was seeded adjacent to Sandstone Road, but topsoil was not replaced. Northern will mulch this area if cathodic protection does not begin within the next week. Revegetation along the ROW adjacent to Highline trail was proceeding satisfactorily. Northern indicated that water pooled on the trail (as seen in the photo) prior to their construction. 7

8 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD Company: Northern Natural Gas Company Project: Cedar Station Upgrade Project Spread/Loop/Facility: Pipeline Loop Photo No.: 5 Sta. No.: Direction: East Comments: Maintained ROW. Northern replaced Highline Trail and sidewalks in this area. The area was seeded and mulched. No concerns were noted. Vegetation adjacent to the areas that were recently disturbed was proceeding satisfactorily. Photo No.: 6 Sta. No.: Direction: West Comments: Maintained ROW. The tie-in and backfill of the pipeline in this area was completed the week prior to the inspection. The grade was being restored. No concerns were noted. 8

9 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD Company: Northern Natural Gas Company Project: Cedar Station Upgrade Project Spread/Loop/Facility: Pipeline Loop Photo No.: 7 Sta. No.: Direction: West Comments: Maintained ROW; Thomas Lake Road. Northern was working on restoring final grade Multiple ECDs were installed on the hillside to help manage stormwater runofff. The ECDs were functional and no problem areas were noted. Northern indicated that it was reviewing the ECDs to ensure that sediment from future storm events would be contained to the ROW. Higline Trail will be replaced in this area when construction is complete. Photo No.: 8 Sta. No.: Direction: Northeast Comments: Open area; Lebanon Hills Regional Park. The disturbed area that will be used for the pullback of HDD #8 was seeded and growth was noted. After the adjacent hillside was hydromulched, Northern installed erosion blanket to help prevent rill erosion from forming. ECDs were maintained. No concerns were noted. 9

10 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD Company: Northern Natural Gas Company Project: Cedar Station Upgrade Project Spread/Loop/Facility: Pipeline Loop Photo No.: 9 Sta. No.: Direction: West Comments: Residential area at Interlachen Drive. The pipeline was being welded and x-rayed. ECDs and construction safety fence adjacent to the residential areas were installed and maintained, including straw bales at the entrance to the ROW off of Interlachen Road. No concerns were noted. Photo No.: 10 Sta. No.: Direction: Southeast Comments: Open area. Northern seeded and mulched the area. A small pool of water was visible on the ROW (yellow arrow). Northern is conducting research to determine if this area held water prior to construction during heavy rain events. Northern will work with the landowner to regrade the area, if necessary. 10

11 PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD Company: Northern Natural Gas Company Project: Cedar Station Upgrade Project Spread/Loop/Facility: Pipeline Loop Photo No.: 11 Sta. No.: Direction: East southeast Comments: Wetland W-07. The area was seeded and mulched. Northern indicated that the crimping machine made some minor ruts in the area due to the saturated condition of soils. Northern has committed to repair the rutting, and mulch and reseed the area. No concerns were noted. 11

12 Document Content(s) CP Cedar Station Inspection (1).PDF