Induced Effects : Induced effects from new employees moving into 

 the area, approximately 15 individuals, would be slight and probably not 

 noticeable in the local economy. 



The facility will be located in a rural area for safety reasons. 

 The adjacent community may need to provide services which include extending 

 sewage lines, constructing new access roads, and other costly changes. 

 Water demand for the facility may disrupt supply to other users from 

 surface sources or alter the water table in small areas. The rural 

 areas used by processing plants are usually unprepared for industrial 

 growth. As part of a zoning change or building permit issuance, the 

 local government may require the company constructing the plant to fund 

 these improvements either jointly with the community or alone. 



Effects on Living Resources 



A natural gas processing plant has the following characteristics of 

 particular concern to fish and wildlife: (1) offshore/onshore pipeline; 

 (2) pipeline landfall; (3) gas processing equipment; (4) coastal site; 

 (5) relatively level topography; and (6) access roads. 



Location : The ecological problems related to a natural gas 

 processing plant are primarily a result of the sponsor's desire to 

 locate the facility at a coastal site on the pipeline which trans- 

 ports gas from offshore fields to onshore. The location is sought 

 because costs can be reduced. Although a relatively small amount of 

 land is needed for the facility, appropriate coastal land along the 

 pipeline route is difficult to find. Efforts should be directed toward 

 siting the plant on existing land rather than toward filling of wetlands 

 to provide a location for the facility. The latter course of action 

 will destroy important spawning/breeding and rearing areas of a variety 

 of wildlife. Additionally, water currents will be altered, leading to 

 changes in salinity, temperature, oxygen, etc. 



Planning the coastal location becomes more complicated when the 

 pipeline landfall is considered. Pipeline landfalls should be avoided 

 in vital habitats, such as barrier beaches, dunes and sea cliffs, and 

 endangered species habitats. 



Locations of gently sloping topography where the terrain changes 

 quickly from ocean/estuarine to upland are desirable. Many of the above 

 complications in siting a gas plant can be avoided or reduced by placing 

 the plant on upland areas rather than coastal. Pipeline corridor siting 

 is of vital concern because construction through fish and wildlife 

 habitat, especially in wetlands, may bisect the area. This may cause 

 changes in water circulation and water salinity. Also, with the new 

 water flow the area becomes susceptible to erosion and loss of vegetation 

 from fast moving currents. 



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