• About
    • About Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
      • Meet the Board
      • Board Documents
    • Annual Report
    • Board of Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Our Work
    • Wins for the Bay
    • Bay Issues
    • Pro Bono Projects
    • Services Provided
    • Get Legal Help
    • CLA Testimonials
    • CLA’s Legal Documents
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Job Opportunities
    • Get Legal Help
  • Home
  • Guides + Reports
    • Guides + Reports
    • Maryland Violations Tracker
  • News
    • Top News
    • CLA In The News
    • CLA Publications
    • CLA News
    • BAY BRIEF Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Foundation Partners
    • Planning for the Future
    • Become A Law Firm Partner
    • Gifts Of Stocks + Securities

Contact Us | Donate

Chesapeake Legal AllianceChesapeake Legal Alliance
  • About
    • About Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
      • Meet the Board
      • Board Documents
    • Annual Report
    • Board of Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Our Work
    • Wins for the Bay
    • Bay Issues
    • Pro Bono Projects
    • Services Provided
    • Get Legal Help
    • CLA Testimonials
    • CLA’s Legal Documents
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Job Opportunities
    • Get Legal Help
  • Home
  • Guides + Reports
    • Guides + Reports
    • Maryland Violations Tracker
  • News
    • Top News
    • CLA In The News
    • CLA Publications
    • CLA News
    • BAY BRIEF Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Foundation Partners
    • Planning for the Future
    • Become A Law Firm Partner
    • Gifts Of Stocks + Securities
Home Wins for the BayNatural Gas Pipeline Construction Required to Identify and Mitigate Impacts to Water Quality

Natural Gas Pipeline Construction Required to Identify and Mitigate Impacts to Water Quality

Jan 1, 2016 | Wins for the Bay |

Over the course of three years, from 2013 to 2016, CLA volunteer attorneys assisted the Gunpowder Riverkeeper in challenging Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC’s proposal to extend an existing natural gas pipeline an additional 21 miles across Maryland from Baltimore County to Harford County. The pipeline would cross and potentially impact about 80 waterways, including trout habitat and drinking water sources for 1.8 million area residents in the City of Baltimore and Baltimore County. The construction project would also effect 305.4 acres of largely forested land and 5.35 acres of wetlands. State and federal permits are required because construction of the project will result in the discharge of sediments and other debris into streams and wetlands.

At the beginning of the Columbia Gas pipeline project, CLA assisted the Riverkeeper with comments before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as well as meetings with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Army Corps of Engineers regarding public notice and stream impact issues. 

Gunpowder Riverkeeper, with the help of CLA volunteer attorneys, pursued a state court challenge to MDE’s decision to issue a permit authorizing work that would impact wetlands. The Riverkeeper also challenged MDE’s decision to issue a certification under the Clean Water Act stating that the project would not adversely impact water quality. In April 2015, the Circuit Court for Baltimore County agreed with the Riverkeeper that MDE’s decision to grant a wetlands permit for the project violated state and federal law. The court ruled that “the permit sets forth general rather than specific requirements, rendering it impossible for this Court to determine whether the Permit complies with [s]tate and federal water quality regulations.” As a result, the court directed MDE to revise and reissue the permit before the construction project could continue.

In September 2015, the Riverkeeper challenged MDE’s reissued non-tidal wetlands permit for the Columbia pipeline, and the parties ultimately reached a settlement in December 2015. The reissued permit required the natural gas pipeline company to identify impacts on waterways and to mitigate these impacts during construction of the pipeline. As part of the mitigation, Columbia had to do stream sampling during construction. The largest impact to water quality, other than a spill, would occur during construction of the pipeline. A baseline water quality sample collected before construction with continued sampling during and after construction will ensure Columbia has taken appropriate mitigation steps. CLA volunteer attorneys assisted Gunpowder Riverkeeper enforce the terms of the settlement, and Columbia agreed to conduct sampling of certain streams prior to commencing construction. 

Many CLA volunteer attorneys donated their time to support Gunpowder Riverkeeper with this fight to protect water quality and habitat from natural gas pipeline construction, including: Julia Crowley, Greta Swanson, William A. Anderson II, Paul Smail, Ross Phillips, Jon DeCarlo, Richard Goldring, William Davies, Sarah Purpura, Daniel Sotelino, and CLA Interns. Many thanks to these attorneys for volunteering their time to protect the Gunpowder River.

« Previous Post
Next Post »

You also might be interested in

BIG NEWS from CLA and EAC

BIG NEWS from CLA and EAC

Dec 5, 2019

After years of partnering, Chesapeake Legal Alliance and the Environmental[...]

The Clean Water Act at 50

The Clean Water Act at 50

Oct 21, 2021

By Evan Isaacson With eyes currently focused on Washington’s debate[...]

Conservation Area, Oyster Bars, and Migratory Bird Habitat Saved

Dec 1, 2012

Instead of a major residential and commercial projects being constructed[...]

News + Updates

  • CLA News
  • CLA Publications
  • Wins for the Bay
  • BAY BRIEF Newsletter
  • Annual Report
  • All News

Recent Posts

  • BAY BRIEF March 2023 March 22, 2023
  • BAY BRIEF February 2023 March 22, 2023
  • BAY BRIEF January 2023 March 21, 2023

Contact Us

We're currently offline. Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message
Need legal assistance? We Can Help

About Us

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance provides free legal services for those seeking to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its communities.  

More About Us
Volunteer With Us

Find Us on Social Media

  • Newsletter

Contact Us

Chesapeake Legal Alliance
106 Ridgely Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

P: (410) 216-9441
F: (410) 216-7077

Charity Navigator
Strategic Plan
Annual Report

© 2023 Chesapeake Legal Alliance. All Rights Reserved. Website by The Downstream Project

  • Bay Issues
  • Pro Bono Projects
  • Services Provided
  • Get Legal Help
  • CLA Testimonials
  • CLA Legal Documents
Prev Next