The proposed SMP Project facilities, which would be located in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, include 1,103 km of natural gas transmission pipeline and associated facilities, six new natural gas-fired compressor stations, and modifications to existing compressor stations.
The FERC recommended a number of measures to reduce the environmental impacts of the SMP Project to “less-than-significant levels”. These included:
- The majority of the proposed facilities would be collocated within or adjacent to existing rights-of-way; and,
- HDD to be used for crossing most major and sensitive waterbodies; the majority of other waterbodies would be crossed using dry crossing methods, and the Applicants would be required to obtain applicable permits and provide mitigation for unavoidable impacts on waterbodies and wetlands.
The SMP Project comprises proposed pipelines from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company and Sabal Trail Transmission. Each company filed applications with the FERC to construct, own, operate and maintain the interstate natural gas transmission pipelines and related facilities.
Both Transco and Sabal Trail’s projects will be constructed in three phases between 2016 and 2021.
Transco’s Hillabee Expansion Project
The Hillabee Expansion Project involves the construction and operation of a 42-48 inch diameter, 69 km pipeline loop on the Transco Pipeline, and associated facilities including mainline valves, pig launchers and receivers, one new compressor station, and modifications to three existing compressor stations.
The Hillabee project will expand Transco’s existing pipeline capacity in Alabama, which will supply 1.1 Bcf/d of gas to the proposed Sabal Trail Pipeline.
Sabal Trail Project
The Sabal Trail Project involves the construction of 830 km of pipeline and associated facilities, including:
- 775 km of 36 inch diameter mainline in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida;
- 21 km of 36 inch diameter lateral pipeline (the Hunters Creek Line) in Florida;
- 34 km of 24 inch diameter lateral pipeline (the Citrus County Line) in Florida;
- Five new natural gas-fired compressor stations; and,
- The Central Florida Hub at the termination of the Mainline in Osceola County, Florida.
The Sabal Trail Project would provide up to 1 Bcf/d of firm transportation service upon completion.