Design : If the gas processing plant is to be located in a 

 coastal site, the facility design should incorporate features to 

 minimize intrusion upon nearby fish and wildlife habitats. Access 

 to the plant should be via existing service roads with upgrading to 

 allow heavy equipment, but roads should not be open to the general 

 public. Buffer zones, especially of evergreens, can protect wild- 

 life from noise. 



Construction : The sponsor must perform the coastal construction 

 with the utmost care to protect adjacent aquatic and terrestrial areas. 

 The scheduling of construction must avoid sensitive periods of wildlife, 

 including breeding/spawning, rearing of young, etc. Operations of heavy 

 equipment must be performed to protect fragile environments, such as 

 barrier beaches, wetlands, and clam/mud flats. In many cases, particularly 

 landfalls, mats can reduce the impact of heavy equipment operations. 

 Construction near wetlands or on the upland must involve stringent 

 erosion control methods to prevent silt from entering streams and rivers 

 where there could be interference with fish reproduction. 



Dredging of pipeline trenches in coastal areas should be done in a 

 manner which will minimize turbidity and sedimentation, such as the 

 employment of sediment screens and other techniques. If pipeline trenches 

 are dug through wetlands, excavated material should be replaced in the 

 trench instead of along the sides where it can interrupt water flow and 

 change circulation patterns, salinity, temperature, and other factors. 

 In addition new fill materials should be added where necessary to keep 

 the elevation above the newly installed pipe the same as the surrounding 

 wetland. 



Operation : With the necessity to handle flammable gas and associated 

 petroleum hydrocarbons, operations at the plant must be performed to 

 prevent accidental releases and ignitions to protect human and wildlife 

 environments. In addition emergency procedures should be practiced 

 routinely so personnel can respond quickly and appropriately in time of 

 need. 



Regulatory Factors 



Where siting flexibility allows selection of a site with suitable 

 zoning, outside the immediate coastal zone, both state and local permits 

 and Federal permits required for a gas processing plant may be minimal. 

 Pipelines and related permits and construction standards are discussed 

 in Section 2.2.3. 



Pollution control regulations under the Federal Water Pollution 

 Control Act and the Clean Air Act will also affect plant design. Permits 

 are administered by both state agencies and the U.S. Environmental 

 Protection Agency. 



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