The Southern Gas Association (SGA) presented the Chairman鶹ýӳs Award for Environmental Excellence to Columbia Pipeline Group (CPG) on 24 June 2014 at the organisation鶹ýӳs Environmental, Safety & Health and Training Conference in Tampa, Fla.
SGA grants the Chairman鶹ýӳs Award for Environmental Excellence based on the recommendation of the group鶹ýӳs environmental committee, something that hasn鶹ýӳt been done since 2008. CPG was selected due to the comprehensive work displayed with its Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The HCP is designed to streamline compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), while enhancing species conservation using a single comprehensive environmental plan across the company鶹ýӳs multi-state natural gas pipeline network.
鶹ýӳWe are honoured to be recognised by the Southern Gas Association with their highest distinction for environmental excellence,鶹ýӳ said Shawn Patterson, CPG President, Operations and Project Delivery. 鶹ýӳBeing good stewards of the environment is something we take seriously every day and our Habitat Conservation Plan is a testament to that.鶹ýӳ
The HCP covers a one mile wide corridor surrounding pipelines under CPG鶹ýӳs Columbia Gas Transmission, Columbia Gulf Transmission and Crossroads Pipeline systems, collectively covering more than 15 000 linear miles and 9 million acres in 14 states.
ESA compliance is very complex and typically requires federal clearance on a project-by-project basis, which can be a time and resource-intensive process for the US Fish & Wildlife Service and CPG. The HCP and its associated Incidental 50-year Take Permit (ITP) replace the project-by-project permitting approach with a self-implementing approach to ESA compliance, provided the conservation measures and best management practices to avoid or minimise impact to endangered and threatened species outlined in the HCP are followed.
Adapted from press release by