Staff from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have issued the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project. FERC staff found that although the pipeline’s construction would have adverse impacts on the environment, most of these would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of Ruby Pipeline LLC’s proposed mitigation measures; additional measures and agreements being discussed by Ruby and other agencies related to permitting conservation agreements; and, the additional measures that the FERC recommend in the EIS.

According to Ruby, the need for the project arises from a growing demand for natural gas in Nevada and on the West Coast, coupled with a decrease in supply from foreign sources and an increase in supply from the Rocky Mountains.

The project is designed to transport up to 1.5 Bcf/d of gas through a 42 inch diameter pipeline beginning at the Opal Hub in Wyoming and terminating at an interconnect, located at Malin, Oregon, near California’s northern border.

Finding the best way through

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The proposed Ruby Pipeline route traverses southwest through Wyoming before entering Utah, passing near the town of Woodruff, and crossing through the Cache National Forest and Wasatch Front at Brigham City. From there, the pipeline will continue north of the Great Salt Lake before entering Nevada, where it will cross the state south of the Humboldt National Forest and north of the Black Rock Wilderness before heading northwest into Oregon near the California/Nevada border. The pipeline will then cross the Fremont National Forest and Bryant Mountain before ending east of Malin.

Delivery interconnects are anticipated with the Paiute Pipeline, Tuscarora Gas Pipeline, Gas Transmission Northwest Pipeline and Pacific Gas & Electric’s assets, each of which transport gas to local utlilties in Nevada, California and Oregon.

Ruby has said that the route was selected based on terrain and constructibility requirements, and follows existing rights-of-way to minimise impacts on environmentally sensitive areas where possible. During the mapping phase, wetlands and culturally important sites were identified. The company has engaged Ecology & Environment Inc to monitor environmentally sensitive areas, and Environmental Planning Group and Pacific Legacy to monitor culturally sensitive areas during the construction process.

Ruby expects FERC approval in April 2010 and construction of the pipeline is scheduled to begin in May or June 2010.

Constructing from east to west

US Pipeline, based in Houston, is to construct the Wyoming portion of the pipeline and a portion of the eastern Utah spread, to Milepost 60; Associated Pipeline Contractors will construct the Cache segment and a portion of the Box Elder spread in Utah from mileposts 60–112.

US Pipeline will then construct the remaining spread mileage in Utah and extend into Nevada to Milepost 294, north of Elko.

Precision has been contracted for the portion of the pipeline that begins at Milepost 294, and extends to a point in Washoe County, Nevada, to Milepost 549. From there, Rockford Corporation will construct the final spread to the terminus at Malin, Oregon.

All work on the spreads will be conducted simultaneously. During the project’s peak, Ruby will be employing more than 4,000 workers.

The pipeline is scheduled to be in commercial operation by 1 March 2011.