For Landowners

Latest News
Fast Facts
How landowners will be contacted
Survey Process
Compensation for right-of-way

Latest News

Recent project developments include: completion of the first phase of pipeline construction by building 18 miles of the Empire Connector in Yates and Schuyler counties; completion of the kick-off construction meetings held in Watkins Glen, Canandaigua and Victor; and finalizing the project’s construction schedule of pipeline construction slated to begin this spring. Click here for more information.

Fast Facts

• Property owners identified as having property that will be impacted by the pipeline will be offered fair compensation for a permanent right-of-way agreement and any temporary economic loss caused by construction.
• Historically, the presence of a natural gas pipeline has not negatively impacted property values.
• Recreational lands may be disturbed during the construction period, but will be returned to original, or better, condition.
• Agricultural lands affected by the final route will be properly restored using modern, approved mitigation techniques designed to ensure full productive reuse of the property.
• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s website contains helpful information for landowners about citizen involvement and citizen rights. The website also has information regarding the approval process for the project.

How landowners will be contacted

Landowners along the proposed route will be kept informed about all aspects of the project that may impact their property, including the dates for public meetings, surveying in their area, right-of-way negotiation and project developments. To view the letters sent to landowners, beginning with the project announcement in 2004, click here.

Empire Pipeline will also keep property owners up to date on project activities through Empire Connections, the official newsletter of the Empire Connector Project, developed exclusively for property owners affected by the project. Property owners received the first edition in March 2005, a second edition of the newsletter was issued in November 2005 and a third edition was issued in April 2008.

If you would like to receive email alerts about developments in the project, click here to have your email added to the recipient list.

Surveying substantially complete

Most of the surveying along the route was completed in the fall of 2004, the summer of 2005 and during spring of 2006. Empire Pipeline was able to make great progress on this phase of the project thanks to the extraordinary cooperation it received from landowners.

The input gathered from property owners and the identification of areas of special concern and sensitivity led to a number of adjustments being made to the route plan.

A map of the route is available. Click here to download the approved route map in pdf format.

Survey process

Surveyors collected important data and assessed environmental, geological, and archeological conditions. This process also included considerable interaction with property owners along the proposed route so that their concerns could be assessed and, in many cases, become part of route plan modifications.

Compensation for right-of-way

Identified landowners will be offered fair compensation for a permanent right-of-way agreement and any temporary economic losses caused by the project’s construction. Land disturbed during construction will be restored to original, or improved, condition.

Right-of-way negotiations began in spring 2007, with representatives visiting landowners to negotiate right-of-way agreements and discuss right-of-way compensation. Landowners should let those representatives know of any special land considerations or concerns.

Right-of-way compensation is determined by the current land use and is based on current land values established by recent sales of comparable properties in the area.

Construction to start in September 2007

After completing development work and receiving, on December 21, 2006, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval to construct and operate the Empire Connector, construction of the pipeline will begin on September 17, 2007, on a 20 – 25 mile stretch of the pipeline route click here for a route map, including a map of the 2007 construction area. For most of the project area, pipeline construction will not begin until spring of 2008. However, in certain areas, selected road and waterway crossings and other preparatory work will be completed in 2007 and early 2008.

The area identified for pipeline construction is in Yates and Schuyler counties, beginning just north of the Keuka Outlet, and concluding at County Road 16, just east of its intersection with Townsend Road. Starting on September 17, 2007, crews will be working in the pipeline construction area to clear the workspace. All of the construction planned for this portion of the project was completed in December 2007. Work on the second phase of the construction project began in May 2008.

Local contractor selected

A local firm, Otis Eastern Service Inc. was selected as pipeline construction contractor. Based in Wellsville, N.Y., Otis Eastern is one of the leading pipeline contractors in the United States and has deep experience in constructing pipelines in New York State and, particularly, through agricultural lands. Otis Eastern has completed other pipeline work for National Fuel in the past and the Company has great confidence in Otis Eastern’s ability and experience. It was imperative that this important work is entrusted to a reputable and experienced contractor who shares the company’s philosophy of reducing the impact to landowners along the route by keeping safety, timeliness and environmentally sound construction practices as top priorities.

Oversight of construction

Along with Otis Eastern, which has the highest standards for construction and safety, this project will be carefully and thoroughly scrutinized. In this case, approximately 20 trained and experienced inspectors will be in the field, monitoring the construction activities. Click here for an organizational chart of the inspection and monitoring functions.

Of those field inspectors, there will be two third-party monitors who will report directly to regulatory agencies (including FERC, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers) and will ensure that the construction is being completed in a manner consistent with all environmental and agricultural requirements. You may talk with any of the field personnel at any time if you have a question or concern. Moreover, a project representative will be available to landowners at any time, to address questions or concerns related to the construction activities.

An overview of construction:

Construction Process Step 1: Clearing and Grading

Prior to the start of construction, a crew will survey and mark the construction right-of-way to make sure that the pre-approved construction workspace is cleared.

Our project will be broken into manageable lengths called “spreads,” which utilize specialized and qualified work groups. To view a map of the 2008 construction zone, click here.

This crew removes trees, boulders and debris from the construction right-of-way and prepare a level work surface for the needed heavy construction equipment. This can make for a somewhat disruptive, loud and dusty work zone.

If necessary, the crew also installs silt fencing along streams and outside wetlands to prevent erosion of soil disturbed by construction. Trees inside the right-of-way are removed and the contractor takes away or stacks the timber along the side of the right-of-way, depending on the landowner’s preference.

Customized agricultural mitigation procedures have been developed and Empire is required to follow those procedures during construction as a condition of its FERC certificate. To learn more about the special provisions for agricultural lands, click here.

Construction Process Step 2: Trenching

The next step in the construction process is called “trenching,” which is simply digging the trench that will contain the pipeline. The trenching crew typically uses a wheel trencher or backhoe to dig the pipe trench. The Department of Transportation requires the top of a pipeline to be buried at least 3 feet below restored surface of the ground, and a minimum of 4 feet below in agricultural lands. The pipeline will be buried even deeper at river and road crossings and to accommodate certain other conditions.

In agricultural areas, the topsoil removed is kept separate from the excavated subsoil, a process called “topsoiling.” When backfilling operations begin, after the pipe is installed, welded, tested and inspected, the soil is returned to the trench in reverse order. The subsoil will be put back first, followed by the topsoil, ensuring the topsoil is returned to its original position.

Construction Process Step 3: Pipe Bending

Bending the Pipe Next, the pipe bending crew uses a hydraulic machine to make slight bends in the pipe to account for changes in the pipeline route and to conform to the topography.
The bending machine uses a series of clamps and hydraulic pressure to make smooth, controlled bends in the pipe. All bending is performed in strict accordance with federally proscribed standards to preserve the integrity of the pipe.

Stringing, Welding and Coating the Pipe

The sections of pipe to be used to construct the Empire Connector will be separated into segments typically 40 to 80 feet long. A “stringing crew” uses specialized trailers to move the pipe from a storage yard to the pipeline right-of-way.

The crew monitors the pipeline design plan to be certain various pipeline segments are distributed according to specifications along the pipeline right-of-way. This is because the type of coating and the pipe’s wall thickness can vary based on soil conditions and location. Concrete coating may be used in streams and wetlands, for instance, and heavy wall pipe is required at road crossings and in special construction areas.

Construction Process Step 4: Welding

Welding joins sections of pipe into one continuous length. Special pipeline equipment called a side boom is used to pick up each pipeline segment and align it with the previous and ensuing segment. The crew then makes the first weld. The welding crew follows the pipeline along the route until each segment is welded. Depending on the thickness of the pipe, several passes may be required to complete each segment weld.

As a safety measure, welds completed during the construction of the Empire Connector Project are visually inspected and 100% x-rayed.

Construction Process Step 5: Coating Pipe

Natural gas pipelines are externally coated at the factory to prevent moisture from directly contacting the steel and causing corrosion.

However, all coated pipelines are delivered with uncoated areas three to six inches from each end to prevent the coating from interfering with the welding process.

After the welds are completed, a coating crew will coat the remaining portion of the pipe before lowering it into the trench. Prior to lowering the pipe, the coating on each section of pipe and the welded areas will be inspected to ensure it is free of defects.

Construction Process Step 6: Lowering the Pipeline

With the pipe approved for burial, lowering the welded pipe into the trench demands close coordination and skilled operators.

By using a series of side-booms, the welded pipe sections will be simultaneously lifted and carefully lowered into the trench. Non-metallic slings protect the pipe and coating as it is lifted and moved into position.

In rocky areas, a protective wrap known as “rockshield” is used to protect the pipe and coating.

Construction Process Step 7: Backfilling

After the pipeline is successfully laid in the trench, crews will backfill the trench. This can be accomplished with either a backhoe or padding machine, depending on the soil’s composition. The backfilling crew will take care to protect the pipeline and coating as the soil is returned to the trench.

Soil will be returned in reverse order, with the subsoil put back first, followed by the topsoil. In areas where the ground is rocky, crews will screen the backfill to remove rocks. If necessary, they will also bring in clean soil to cover the pipeline, or cover the pipe with a protective material to protect it from sharp rocks.

Construction Process Step 8: Testing

Before the Empire Connector Project becomes operational, the entire length of it will be pressure tested using water.

Requirements for this test are prescribed in DOT’s regulations. The pipeline will be filled with water and pressured to a level higher than the maximum pressure the pipeline will operate at when transporting natural gas.

The test pressure will be held for a specific time to determine if the pipeline meets the design strength requirements and if any leaks are present. Once the pipe successfully passes the hydrostatic test, water will be emptied and the pipeline will be dried to ensure that no water is present when natural gas begins to flow.

This hydrostatic testing is the final quality assurance test before the pipeline is cleared by inspectors for operation.

Construction Process Step 9: Right-of-Way Restoration

The final step in the construction process is to restore the right-of-way to its original or better condition.

This process involves replacing topsoil, removing large rocks that may have been brought to the surface during trenching, completing any final repairs to existing irrigation systems or drain tiles, spreading lime or fertilizer, and restoring fences.

The Empire Connector Project has developed special procedures for construction and restoration in agricultural lands. Click here for more information.