Approach to Biodiversity & Land Stewardship
Equitrans recognizes the importance of protecting the biodiversity of the areas in which we operate. Equitrans works closely with local communities and state and federal organizations to ensure we minimize our environmental impacts and protect the native flora and fauna. It is our goal to safeguard the biodiversity and overall health of ecosystems throughout our operational footprint and ensure these important resources are undisturbed and remain in the same condition as we found them, when possible. We acknowledge the responsibility to manage the environmental resources with which we come in contact.
As a member of various industry associations, including the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Marcellus Shale Coalition, we participate in working groups that focus on site planning, development, restoration, and other topics that foster land protection. Participating in these discussions bolsters our land stewardship efforts by providing guidance on site development, restoration, and other land protection topics. Equitrans’ transmission and gathering operations are located across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. At present, we operate on nearly 110,000 acres near or within environmentally sensitive or protected areas, excluding the Mountain Valley Pipeline and MVP Southgate projects. Protected areas that may be affected by our operations within the states include, federal and state-owned properties, such as state parks and game lands. The most common species of state or federal concern found within our operating areas are bats, mussels, and various plants.
Prior to the commencement of any construction project, we conduct studies to determine whether threatened or endangered species are present in the region. The review process includes desktop and field studies to identify potential habitat and/or presence of protected species. If any threatened or endangered species are found, we consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), as well as state and local wildlife agencies to ensure that our construction and operations minimize any impacts to these protected species.
As an example, in 2020, a slide repair project on Equitrans’ BUELS046 pipeline right-of-way required cutting trees within protected bat species habitat. Prior to commencing tree felling, Equitrans consulted with the USFWS to determine an appropriate path forward, in consideration of the presence of bat habitat and the time of year that the tree clearing would take place. Through consultation, the USFWS approved Equitrans’ proposal to conduct emergency surveys, which involved bat biologists observing potential roost trees for presence of protected bat species. The surveys were conducted at dusk when bats are most active. The results indicated no observation of bats, and the trees were felled the following morning. Our advance planning efforts and coordination with appropriate agencies promoted the protection of bat habitat in the areas.
Resource Managment
Prior to commencing any construction activities, we evaluate and identify environmentally sensitive areas along the proposed pipeline route and/or facility footprint. Equitrans’ Environmental team leads these efforts in coordination with our Routing and Project Development team. During the routing process, the team aims to maximize project efficiencies and minimize overall project disturbance by considering factors from all project disciplines, including biodiversity and environmental functions. The Environmental team utilizes field visits, publicly available online resources, and information collected from past projects to identify resources designated as high-quality and exceptional value; potential habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species; and cultural/historical resources. This information is considered in our project plans – taking steps to avoid where possible, as well as proactively plan activities to minimize, any potential biodiversity and environmental impacts.
For example, if a stream or wetland cannot be avoided, we strive to cross the resource perpendicularly and at the narrowest location, as well as efficiently reduce the area of disturbance in the riparian buffer to minimize potential impacts. Additionally, if bat habitat cannot be avoided, we strive to minimize tree clearing and schedule project activities so that necessary tree clearing happens during designated timeframes, during the winter, when bats are hibernating. Through our pipeline routing and facility footprint design efforts, we are often able to minimize temporary impacts and completely avoid permanent impacts. Once the pipeline route or facility site is confirmed to have met the objectives of the routing process, the permit preparation phase further refines the avoidance and minimization of potential impacts related to the project.
The Environmental team employs specialized consultants to conduct field delineations of streams and wetlands, habitat analyses, and geotechnical studies to identify historic landslides and landslide prone areas. The consultants also begin to design temporary and permanent measures to control erosion and stormwater runoff both during and after construction. The permit preparation phase includes coordinating with appropriate regulatory agencies for pre-application meetings to discuss project plans and identification of potential issues. Through ongoing dialogue, the agencies provide guidance to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. After plans are finalized and permit applications are submitted, the Environmental team continues to coordinate with regulatory agencies to answer questions and address concerns during the review process and also engages with other external stakeholders to understand and resolve concerns.
Construction Oversight
2020 Non-Significant Releases to Waterbodies*
Total
*Includes releases for 100% of the Eureka Midstream assets; excludes MVP and MVP Southgate projects.
We work diligently to avoid and/or minimize the potential for any negative biodiversity or environmental impacts. Once construction begins, our teams, including all on-site contractors, receive environmental awareness training to ensure they are familiar with both the environmentally sensitive areas along the pipeline route or facility site, as well as with the regulatory requirements and environmental permit conditions for the project. This training also includes the importance of adhering to Equitrans’ environmental policies and practices.
The project’s environmentally sensitive areas and approved limits of disturbance are clearly marked with flagging and signage to ensure necessary avoidance and awareness. In the majority of Equitrans’ construction activities, erosion impacts from earth disturbances are short-term, temporary impacts. Nevertheless, we aim to limit these impacts to the greatest extent possible. Prior to earth disturbance activities, we install the appropriate erosion and sediment control (E&SC) Best Management Practices (BMPs) that meet or exceed regulatory requirements. These BMPs are regularly monitored and maintained throughout construction until adequate vegetation stabilization is achieved to prevent erosion. For aquatic resources that cannot be avoided along a pipeline route, we utilize construction crews that specialize in aquatic crossings to further reduce the potential for impacts during pipe installation.
During the construction phase, Equitrans tracks all erosion and sediment control BMP failures. We consider BMP failures as any instance when erosion and sediment control structures fail to prevent soil erosion and sediment releases to water and results in an escape of sediment out of the project’s limit of disturbance (LOD). In 2020, we had a total of 19 sediment releases to waterbodies. These releases were not significant and posed minimal, temporary impacts to the waterbodies.
In addition to E&SC BMPs, we utilize another proactive and preventative measure to prevent slope failures that could have negative environmental consequences. Equitrans’ Engineering Slope Design Program helps us proactively identify areas where there is potential for a slope failure to occur. Once an at-risk area is identified, we install preventative measures to maintain the stability of the slope.
Operational Impacts on Land
Although we make every effort to limit any potential impacts, given the nature of our construction and pipeline operations, and the terrain of our operating territory, we realize that both direct and indirect impacts can occur. In most cases, these impacts to terrestrial and aquatic resources are minor and temporary. When impacts occur, we work quickly and carefully to remediate them as outlined in our Spill Reporting & Response Procedure.
Remediation Actions
The Spill Reporting & Response Procedure involves several steps. First, field staff (environmental inspectors, construction managers or inspectors, etc.) immediately report data and observations regarding the incident to the environmental coordinator. The environmental coordinator reviews the incident information, together with the project’s specific permit and regulatory requirements and makes a recommendation to legal staff regarding whether the incident (spill, BMP failure, or other non-compliance with permit conditions, etc.) should be reported to the appropriate regulatory agency. The environmental coordinator then conducts a follow-up incident investigation to determine whether the incident was controllable. If deemed controllable, feedback is provided to Construction and/or Operations staff and in-depth discussions help to determine what could have been done differently. If the incident is reportable to an agency, the environmental coordinator places the call and documents the report, attends follow-up site visits, obtains necessary permit approvals, and continues to update agency staff until the issue is resolved and compliance is achieved. The environmental coordinator then provides final documentation of compliance to the agency. In addition, Equitrans’ senior management reviews all items of non-compliance and participates in the overall incident evaluation and resolution process.
|
Operational Disturbances* |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Terrestrial acreage disturbed |
2,251 |
2,555 |
|
Terrestrial acreage disturbed that was restored |
100% |
100% |
*Includes disturbances for 100% of the Eureka Midstream assets; excludes MVP and MVP Southgate projects.
Habitat Restoration
Once a pipeline project is completed and placed into operation, we continue to deploy strategies to protect biodiversity resources along the pipeline’s right-of-way. We strive to meet or exceed regulatory requirements set forth by state and federal regulatory agencies, and we also work closely with property owners to restore their land as close as possible to original conditions. Additionally, we make every effort to accommodate any special requests or preferences of the landowner, such as fencing, seed mixes, tree species, and areas for heavy equipment crossing. We re-establish contours and revegetate with state-approved, native, riparian, and pollinator seed mixes, and vegetation requested by property owners. We also routinely accommodate property owner requests for topsoil segregation, which preserves removed topsoil for restoration once local work is complete.
Biodiversity & Ecosystems
Equitrans recognizes the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance. In 2021, we expect to develop our Biodiversity Policy, which details the procedures and best practices Equitrans uses to preserve biodiversity in the areas in which we operate. We place a strong emphasis on restoration efforts after completing a project because we know areas with strong biodiversity are able to adapt and withstand the negative effects of climate change. Equitrans cares about communities and the natural beauty of the land, and we partner with community leaders and regulatory agencies to ensure our operations do not negatively impact our communities.
At the completion of a project, our goal is to leave a site better than when we arrived. Equitrans works with local nature experts to understand the ecosystem and identify potential risks and mitigation strategies before we begin operations. We take considerable effort to plant native flora, protect keystone species, and create the smallest environmental footprint possible.
Evaluating Our Approach to Biodiversity & Land Stewardship
Our operational footprint in primarily rural areas means our pipelines traverse intrinsically and economically valuable natural environments, and we work diligently to ensure the approaches we use to protect these natural environments are as effective as possible. From project initiation to completion, and throughout a pipeline’s operational lifespan, we continually evaluate the ways in which we identify sensitive environmental areas and how we avoid and protect them. One of our main goals is to avoid permanent impacts to biodiversity. Equitrans evaluates the best locations for our pipelines, facilities, and transport vehicles before, during, and after a project to ensure we are operating in an as environmentally conscious a manner as possible. For more information regarding our approach to biodiversity and land stewardship, please visit the sustainability webpages of our website.
