OREANDA-NEWS. The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on 3 February approved the 500mn cf/d (14mn m?/d) Northern Access natural gas pipeline expansion project, one of the agency's last actions before losing its quorum status.

Executives for the midstream company earlier that day said they were hoping for a last-minute approval from FERC after the commission approved the 3.25 Bcf/d Energy Transfer Rover project the day prior, which was the final day on the job for former chairman Norman Bay. Bay announced his resignation late last month. FERC late last week also approved the 1.7 Bcf/d Atlantic Sunrise pipeline.

The 96.5 mile (155km) Northern Access project will provide takeaway capacity from production in the Marcellus and Utica shales to markets in western New York, the midcontinent and Canada. National Fuel Gas had already delayed the project twice because of regulatory hurdles.

The project is up against a tight environmental deadline to begin felling trees prior to 1 April in order to lessen harm to migratory birds. Northern Access is expected to come on line in early 2018.

The commission approved the project with environmental conditions, including that National Fuel Gas file an implementation plan with FERC before construction begins and provide weekly status reports until construction is complete.

Northern Access has already received a water quality certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEC). Executives said they expect remaining state permits will be issued this month, despite the New York Department of Environmental Protection's refusal last year to issue a water certificate to another natural gas pipeline project, the Constitution Pipeline.