senior director, certificates and external affairs postings/2017_06_23... · 2017-06-27 · the...

Northern Natural Gas Company P.O. Box 3330 Omaha, NE 68103-0330 402 398-7200

June 27, 2017 Via eFiling Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20426 RE: Northern Natural Gas Company Docket No. CP16-472-000 Biweekly Report #8 Dear Ms. Bose;

Pursuant to Condition 8 of the Order Issuing Certificate issued by the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission January 30, 2017, in the above-referenced docket, Northern Natural Gas Company hereby submits for filing its biweekly status report for the period ending June 23, 2017.

Any questions regarding the filing should be directed to the undersigned at (402)

398-7138 or Mike Loeffler at (402) 398-7103. Respectfully Submitted, /s/ Michael T. Loeffler Michael T. Loeffler Senior Director, Certificates and External Affairs Attachment

Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project Biweekly Status Report No. 8

Northern Natural Gas Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project (CP16-472-000) Biweekly Status Report No. 8 June 10, 2017 - June 23, 2017 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project consists of a 2.0-mile Princeton branch line loop extension (Princeton Loop) in Sherburne County, a 2.8-mile St. Cloud branch line loop extension (St. Cloud Loop) in Isanti County, and the addition of a 15,900-hp compressor unit at the existing Faribault compressor station in Rice County, Minnesota. New valve settings will be installed at the end of each pipeline loop. FEDERAL AUTHORIZATION STATUS Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) began consultation with the applicable agencies and tribes in September 2015. The status of all federal authorizations are listed in the table below.

Federal Authorization Status Agency Name Permit/Authorization/Letter of Concurrence Status Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Certificate (Docket No. CP16-472-000) Received 1/30/2017

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers – Saint Paul District

Section 404 authorization under RGP-003-MN (MVP-2016-00742-MLV)

Received 10/31/2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Twin Cities Field Office

Obtained USFWS concurrence of no impact to threatened and endangered species

Completed 04/22/2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Twin Cities Field Office

Northern long-eared bat streamlined consultation form

Completed 04/22/2016

USDA FSA Isanti County

1. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2. Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) 3. Lands subject to Debt for Nature Contracts and Easements 4. Lands subject to Farm Service Agency mortgages 5. Land subject to restrictive easements to protect resources such as wetlands and threatened or endangered species.

Sent 01/27/16 Consultation complete.

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Agency Name Permit/Authorization/Letter of Concurrence Status USDA FSA Sherburne County

1. Known locations of noxious and/or invasive weed species

2. Identification of any lands/easements that may be enrolled in programs administered by the FSA


USDA FSA Rice County


USDA NRCS – Cambridge Service Center

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) easements


USDA NRCS – Elk River Service Center

Received 02/19/2016 Consultation complete.

USDA – NRCS - Faribault Service Center

Received 02/1/2016 Consultation complete.

MN Pollution Control Agency

401 Water Quality Certificate Authorized 02/12/2016


Clean Air Act, Major Amendment, State; Limits to avoid Part 70/ True minor for New Source Review

Received 03/28/2017


General Permit Authorization to Discharge Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities under the NPDES/State Disposal System (SDS) Permit

Received 02/27/2017

MN Department of Natural Resources

Water Appropriation General Permit Authorization for construction trench dewatering

Received 04/10/2017 and 06/05/2017

Minnesota Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office

Section 106 Consultation Completed 08/12/2016

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PIPELINE SEGMENTS One contractor will construct the two branch line loop extensions in sequence. The environmental training totals listed below reflect all training conducted on the pipeline segments. On-site Contractor: Michels Corporation, Inc. Overall Construction Start Date: 5/8/2017 Environmental Training Conducted: This reporting period: 3 Total to date: 28 St. Cloud Branch Line Loop Extension Construct a 2.8-mile extension of Northern’s existing 12-inch-diameter St. Cloud branch line loop (MNB77502) in Isanti County, Minnesota. Construction Status The Contractor began mobilization of heavy equipment and construction of the staging area along Verdin St. NW June, 22, 2017. This included incidental clearing of vegetation, top soiling to a minimum depth of 12 inches, and grading for the staging area. Silt fence was installed along Verdin St. NW and down slope of the staging area. Geotextile fabric was placed under the rock for the staging area. All construction personnel involved with construction activities have received environmental training. The environmental inspector monitored construction activities. Construction Modifications No construction modifications occurred this reporting period. Stream Crossings and Environmentally Sensitive Areas No streams and no environmentally sensitive areas have been identified within the pipeline extension site. Rain Events No rain events occurred this reporting period in excess of 0.50 inch. The weekly stormwater inspections found the project to be in full environmental compliance. To date, the project has received 0.00 inches of rain.

St. Cloud Branch Line Loop Extension Construction Progress Activity Start Date Completed Notes

Survey 6/21/2017 15% Clearing 6/22/2017 2% Clearing, top soiling, and grading began during the reporting

period for the main staging area only. Grading 6/22/2017 1% Stringing Welding Ditching Lower-in Backfill Tie-ins Clean-up Seeding *Completed totals include either percentage completed or date all completed. All totals are approximate.

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Two-Week Projection

1. A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for June 27, 2017. 2. Receive materials. 3. Prepare access roads and noise mitigation measures for the horizontal directional

drills. 4. Commence stringing and welding of pipe.

Princeton Branch Line Loop Extension Construct a 2.0-mile extension of Northern’s existing 8-inch-diameter Princeton branch line loop (MNB91902) in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Construction Status Survey, right of way (ROW) clearing, grading, pipe stringing, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) activities are complete. Welding, ditching, lower-in, and backfill are complete with the exception of the final tie-in areas at the kickoff and end of the project. Hydrostatic testing of the newly installed pipeline was completed. Final tie-ins and hot taps will occur after the July 4th holiday. Restoration activities, including decompaction, topsoil replacement, seeding, and mulching, have begun from MP 1.35 to MP 1.51, including the access road. Construction Modifications No construction modifications occurred this reporting period. Stream Crossings and Environmentally Sensitive Areas No stream crossings were conducted and no construction occurred within other environmentally sensitive areas during this reporting period. Rain Events One rain event occurred during this reporting period in excess of 0.50 inch June 12, 2017. The weekly storm water inspections found the project to be in full environmental compliance. To date, the project has received 5.50 inches of rain.

Princeton Branch Line Loop Extension Construction Progress Activity Start Date Completed Notes

Survey 5-8-17 100% Clearing 5-9-17 100% Grading 5-9-17 100% Stringing 5-18-17 100% Welding 5-16-17 90% Ditching 6-5-17 90% HDD 5-30-17 100% Lower-in 6-5-17 90% Backfill 6-5-17 90% Tie-ins 6-7-17 90% Clean-up 6-21-17 10% Seeding 6-21-17 10% *Completed totals include either percentage completed or date all completed. All totals are approximate.

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Two-Week Projection 1. Continue installing additional sediment control devices where necessary. 2. Remove temporary erosion control devices where they are no longer needed. 3. Continue to decompact soils, replace topsoil, seed, and mulch areas where it is

applicable. 4. 5. Begin hot taps to prepare for final tie-ins.

COMPRESSOR STATION One contractor will construct the Faribault compressor Unit No. 2 project. The environmental training totals listed below reflect all training conducted for the compressor station project. The training was conducted for Northern employees, survey crew members, third-party inspectors and contractor personnel in preparation for the start of construction. On-site Contractor: Michels Corporation Overall Construction Start Date: 3/13/17 Environmental Training Conducted: This reporting period: 5 Total to date: 141 Faribault Compressor Unit No. 2 Install an additional natural-gas-driven 15,900-hp Solar Mars turbine unit (Unit No. 2) at the Faribault compressor station located in Rice County, Minnesota. Construction Status

• Civil: The contractor continued to work on the compressor building structural steel, tightened connection bolts, squared up the building, locked the rod nuts, framed openings, and staged liner panel sheets. The contractor continued hanging exterior sheeting and insulation for the compressor building. Insulation and sheeting installation began for the compressor building roof. Double curtain roll up doors were installed for the compressor building. Backfill and compaction activities began for the emergency generator foundation, the suction and discharge piers east of the compressor building and exhaust and air filter piers. Gutters and downspouts were installed for the compressor building. North and south canopies were installed over the compressor building entrances. The contractor began spreading gravel under the exhaust and intake supports.

• Electrical: Trenches in the valve yard for electrical underground conduit were backfilled and compacted. The contractor installed electrical underground conduit between the control building and the fuel gas piping piers at the generator foundation, and between the control building and the south side of the generator foundation. Cable tray installation continued in the Unit #2 compressor building. Ground conductors were installed near the power and control room, and the auxiliary and control building.

• Welding & Piping: Welding the 36-inch-diameter pipe located in the laydown yard commenced. The contractor continued welding the gas cooler piping and the 24-inch-diameter piping to the gas coolers. Hydrostatic testing was completed for the 24-inch-diameter, 6-inch-diameter, and gas cooler piping with municipal water acquired from the City of Faribault. After hydrostatic testing, the piping was

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dewatered back into on-site frac tanks for proper disposal. The 24-inch-diameter piping and gas cooler piping was dried to -40 dew point. The 2-inch-diameter piping was sandblasted and coated. Above ground 12-inch-diameter piping was sandblasted and painted. The contractor continued to hydro-vac the 24-inch-diameter tie-in location and weld on pipe wear sleeves for various diameter piping.

Construction Modifications No construction modifications occurred this reporting period. Stream Crossings and Environmentally Sensitive Areas No stream crossings were conducted and no construction occurred within other environmentally sensitive areas during this reporting period. Rain Events Two rain events occurred during this reporting period in excess of 0.50 inch June 11, 2017, and June 13, 2017. The weekly and rain event stormwater inspections found the project to be in full environmental compliance. To date, the project has received 13.51 inches of rain.

Faribault Compressor Unit No. 2 Construction Progress Activity Start Date Completed Notes

Site Preparation 3/13/17 95% Civil 3/23/17 78% Structural 4/28/17 75% Mechanical 5/26/17 8% Compressor Building Piping

4/17/17 32%

Mainline Tie-Ins Hydrostatic Testing

6/12/17 25%

Electrical 4/17/17 28% Instrumentation Commissioning Clean-Up and Restoration

*Completed totals include either percentage completed or date all completed. All totals are approximate. Two-Week Projection

1. Continue to install siding and insulate walls and roof of the compressor building. 2. Continue working in the control building installing equipment, conduit, grounding,

and terminating ground cables. 3. Excavate discharge piping behind Unit #1 for piping modification. 4. Continue Unit #2 suction and discharge piping assembly. 5. Continue 36-inch-diameter piping between new scrubber and Unit #2. 6. Start Unit #2 ancillary equipment installation. 7. Receive and set the station scrubber. 8. Start 36-inch-diameter header trench excavation. 9. Tie-in 24-inch-diameter gas cooler piping. 10. Backfill gas cooler piping area and cleanup. 11. Set and level Solar skid for unit grouting. 12. Excavate trenches and install small diameter piping. 13. Start pulling electrical cables between MCC and Unit #2. 14. Install air compressor and air dryer in the auxiliary building.

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PROJECT-WIDE SPILL TOTALS All project derived waste will be properly managed and every effort will be made to eliminate spills. Michels has arrangements with OSI Environmental in Anoka, Minnesota, to dispose of all waste generated on-site. There were no spills during this reporting period.

This reporting period: 0 Quantity: 0.00 gallon Total to date: 4 Total quantity: 1.74 gallons

Spill No. Date Segment Volume Notes

1 4/28/2017

Compressor Station 0.78 gallon

Hydraulic fluid leak from power-take-off unit on truck delivering water

2 5/5/2017 Compressor Station 0.23 gallon Hydraulic hose leak on truck delivering a conex box

3 6/2/17 Princeton Loop 0.002 gallon Oil leak from a hydrovac motor

4 6/6/17 Princeton Loop 0.72 gallon Hydraulic fluid leak from belly pan of trackhoe

*The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) will be notified of all spills that result in a “hazardous condition” as defined by the MDNR.

PROJECT-WIDE AGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Communication: No agency communications this reporting period Permit Approvals On June 16, 2017, Marissa Vine with the Saint Paul District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided a reverification of Regional General Permit-003-MN number MVP-2016-00742-MLV allowing for temporary impacts to an additional 0.005 acre of palustrine scrub/shrub wetlands near the start of the Princeton Branch Line Loop. On June 21, 2017, Roger Stradal with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources authorized an increase in the number of wellpoints to 16, depth to 20 feet below ground surface, and total groundwater withdrawal to 543,224 gallons per day to the dewatering plans for the tie-in at Mile Post 0.0 under Minnesota Water Appropriation Permit 2017-1137. PROJECT-WIDE LANDOWNER CONCERNS No landowner issues occurred during this reporting period.

Landowner: Date: Segment: Tract: Location: Problem/Concern: Resolution:

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PROJECT-WIDE NON-COMPLIANCE CONCERNS There were no compliance concerns during this reporting period.

Princeton Loop Photos

Facing south, the contractor began replacing topsoil after subsoil was decompacted near

MP 1.5

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Facing south, the contractor broadcast seeded the ROW near MP 1.5 according to the

seed chart provided by the land agent at double the recommended rate

Facing northwest, the contractor completed backfilling and regrading of the subsoil to

preconstruction contours near MP 1.78

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Compressor Station Photos

Facing south, east of control building, poured concrete for the control building stoop and

cable tray support piers

Facing west, west of compressor building, poured concrete for cable tray support piers

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Facing east, west of compressor building, installed ventilation fan system

Facing southeast, east of control building, installing cable tray supports

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Facing west, north workspace area, poured concrete for emergency generator foundation

St. Cloud Loop Photos

Installed silt fencing at the staging area along Verdin St. NW

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Completed the silt fence installation and top soiling at the staging area along Verdin St.

NW

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Machinery arrived onsite at the staging area along Verdin St. NW clean and free of soil

and leaks

Equipment arrived onsite at the staging area along Verdin St. NW

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Looking at the progress at the staging area along Verdin St. NW

Looking at the progress at the staging area along Verdin St. NW

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senior director, certificates and external affairs postings/2017_06_23... · 2017-06-27 · the...

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