The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended the comment period on water obstruction and encroachment permits related to the proposed Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline. The comment period will be extended for 60 days and will close on August 1, 2016.

“A project of this size requires thoughtful public input,” said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Based upon public interest in this project, DEP decided that a 30-day comment period on the water obstruction and encroachment permits for the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline was insufficient, and in the interest of transparency and public participation, we have extended the comment period.”

About the pipeline

The proposed project will involve approximately 195 miles of pipeline and would cross ten counties in eastern and central PA – Clinton, Columbia, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Wyoming – before crossing into Maryland. Permits required from DEP are for water obstruction and encroachments, erosion and sedimentation control and air quality. Interstate pipelines, such as the Atlantic Sunrise, are overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and need to meet applicable state law and permitting requirements.

The water obstruction and encroachment permits can be viewed in the April 30, 2016 PA Bulletin beginning on page 6: http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol46/46-18/46-18.pdf. A full draft Environmental Impact Statement of the Atlantic Sunrise project can be found on the FERC website.

How to submit comments

To submit comments on the DEP permits during this extended comment period, please submit to the DEP regional office associated with the permit.

For comments on the permits for Luzerne, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties, please submit comments to: EP, WW-NERO@pa.gov or

PA Department of Environmental Protection
Northeast Regional Office
Waterways and Wetlands Program
2 Public Square
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

For comments on the permits for Columbia and Northumberland Counties, please submit comments to: EP, WW-NCRO@pa.gov or

PA Department of Environmental Protection
Northcentral Regional Office
Waterways and Wetlands Program
208 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

For comments on the permits for Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, please submit comments to EP, WW-SCRO@pa.gov or

PA Department of Environmental Protection
South-central Regional Office
Waterways and Wetlands Program
909 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110

Comments will be accepted for the public record until August 1, 2016.