By JIM RUNKLE
LOCK HAVEN - The Clinton County Planning Commission reviewed a plan Tuesday to run a 7-mile gas well "collector pipeline" in Gallagher and Grugan townships.
Anadarko Marcellus Midstream asked for a land development plan approval for a collector line for five well pad sights in Clinton and Lycoming counties.
The board offered comments favorable to the company's decision to minimize the environmental impact, and added several suggestions asking similar efforts be taken in connection with future plans for a compressor station in connection with the pipe project.
The board was also apparently pleased the request for a review was made by the company, although it is already approved by state permit and has been issued a Erosion and Sedimentation Plan permit.
Board members also noted the company took pains to avoid sections of wetlands and a high-quality stream in designing the route for the pipe.
The course of the pipeline follows existing lines and road right-of-ways to minimize the environmental impact, according to Clinton County Planning Director Tim Holladay, who said the majority of the pipeline is in Sproul State Forest with a small portion on private property at the southern end.
Because of that, he said, Anadarko has managed to avoid the jigsaw approach to establishing a route that might have been required with a mix of private and public land.
Holladay said another future submission will be forwarded to the planners in the near future, asking for approval of a meter station and compressor station associated with this collector pipeline.
Anadarko Marcellus Midstream, a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corp., is proposing to construct 37,006 linear feet of natural gas pipeline, two compressor stations and a meter station to be located in Grugan and Gallagher townships and western McHenry Township in Lycoming County.
Much of the section in question is forested plateau and upland hardwood forest. The pipeline alignment crosses Hyner View Road and continues south to the proposed meter station, which is to be constructed adjacent to the Transco transmission line. The southern terminus of the proposed pipeline is located west of Ritchie Road at the intersection with the Transco line.
According to Holladay, the approximate "disturbance acreage" for the proposed pipeline is 42.78 acres, which is based on a 50-foot-wide construction corridor. The corridor accounts for a 30-foot permanent right-of-way easement and a 20-foot temporary construction easement.
The gas gathering system will transfer natural gas from five natural gas well sites to the main line in Gallagher Township.
No structures will be impacted as a result of the proposed project, Holladay said, and no property outside of the acquired right-of-way should be impacted by the project.
