The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) will hold two public hearings in early September to gather input on the water quality impacts of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC’s (Transco) proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project.
The first hearing is scheduled for September 2 at Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, and the second will take place on September 4 at Kernersville Municipal Council Chambers. Both hearings begin at 6 p.m., with speaker registration opening onsite at 5:30 p.m.
Transco has submitted an application to DWR seeking a Clean Water Act Section 401 Individual Water Quality Certification, as well as authorizations related to riparian buffers for Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake. The Southeast Supply Enhancement Project involves expanding an existing gas transmission pipeline, including construction of approximately 4.4 miles of new pipeline in Rockingham County and about 24.1 miles across Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson counties. Modifications are also planned for existing compressor stations and other facilities in several counties, though these changes are not expected to impact jurisdictional waters or state-regulated riparian buffers.
According to project details, construction activities would temporarily affect about 8,100 linear feet of streams and roughly 11.2 acres of wetlands along the pipeline route in North Carolina. Installation methods such as horizontal directional drilling or conventional boring are planned for major stream crossings to minimize surface water disturbance; some smaller streams will be avoided entirely due to their proximity to roadway crossings using similar techniques.
“Projects that require a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must also receive a 401 Water Quality Certification from the state in order for the federal permit to be valid.”
“The 401 certification is required to assess whether the proposal would meet state water quality standards, and whether the project has avoided or minimized impacts to surface waters or wetlands, among other considerations.”
“For a project to be issued a certification, it must meet the following criteria:
The project minimizes adverse impacts to surface waters and wetlands based on consideration of existing topography, vegetation, fish and wildlife resources, and hydrological conditions.
The project does not result in the degradation of groundwaters or surface waters.
The project does not result in secondary or indirect impacts that cause or will cause a violation of downstream water quality standards.
The project provides for replacement of permanent impacts through mitigation.”
Riparian buffer authorizations are necessary because portions of the proposed pipeline cross streams within both Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds—areas governed by rules requiring vegetative buffers along waterways feeding into these lakes as protection for drinking water sources.
Once construction is finished, Transco plans restoration efforts aimed at returning affected ground surfaces, streams, and wetlands as close as possible to their original condition prior to work beginning.
In addition to providing comments during public hearings, individuals may submit written feedback by mail or email until October 6 at 5 p.m. Comments can also be left via voicemail at 919-707-8495. All comments received will be considered before any decision is made regarding permits under timelines established by Session Law 2023-137.
Further information about the application process—including related documents—can be accessed online through this Permit file link: Permit file. Public comments may also be submitted online here: Public comment link.
