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 proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project.
The first hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. on September 2 at Rockingham Community College’s Advanced Technologies Building Auditorium in Wentworth, with speaker registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. The second hearing will take place at 6 p.m. on September 4 at the Kernersville Municipal Council Chambers, also with registration starting at 5:30 p.m.
Transco has applied to DWR for a Clean Water Act Section 401 Individual Water Quality Certification, as well as Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake Riparian Buffer Authorizations, for its proposed pipeline expansion project. The project includes constructing about 4.4 miles of new pipeline in Rockingham County (the Eden loop) and approximately 24.1 miles in Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson counties (the Salem loop). Modifications are also planned for existing compressor and other facilities in Davidson, Cleveland, Iredell, Lincoln, and Gaston counties; according to the application, these modifications do not affect jurisdictional waters or state-regulated riparian buffers.
Construction would temporarily impact around 8,100 linear feet of streams and about 11.2 acres of wetlands along the route in North Carolina. Two large stream crossings and one open water crossing are planned to be installed beneath surface waters using horizontal directional drill or conventional bore methods. Two smaller streams will be avoided because they are adjacent to similar crossings of roadways.
Transco proposes that after construction is finished, all affected ground surfaces, streams, and wetlands will be restored as close as possible to their original condition.
Projects needing a federal Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must also secure a state-issued Section 401 Water Quality Certification before proceeding. The certification process assesses whether the proposal meets state water quality standards and whether it avoids or minimizes impacts to surface waters or wetlands.
For approval, projects must minimize adverse effects on surface waters and wetlands by considering local topography, vegetation, wildlife resources, and hydrological conditions; avoid degrading groundwater or surface water; prevent secondary impacts that could violate downstream water quality standards; and provide mitigation for any permanent impacts.
Riparian buffer authorizations are necessary because the project affects streams within the Jordan Lake and Randleman Lake watersheds—areas protected under North Carolina rules requiring vegetated buffers near waterways that flow into drinking water sources.
In addition to attending hearings, members of the public can submit written comments by mail or email until October 6 at 5 p.m., using the provided public comment link or mailing them to Samantha Wooten at DWR’s Raleigh office. Comments may also be left via voicemail at 919-707-8495. All feedback received will be considered during the permit decision process according to timelines set by Session Law 2023-137.
Further information about the application and related materials can be found online in the permit file.
