The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has approved the necessary permits, including a Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification, for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline project. The decision was communicated in a letter to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC.
According to DEC, all environmental permit applications undergo a thorough and transparent review process to ensure public health and environmental protection. For interstate natural gas pipelines like NESE, the process is tailored to each project and follows both state and federal regulations.
The review considered recent changes in federal requirements since 2020, such as updates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding Clean Water Act rules. It also included an extended public comment period during which more than 17,000 new comments were received about the project.
DEC stated: “DEC’s comprehensive review of the May 2025 NESE application materials also included supporting materials provided by the applicant, an extended public comment period, and more than 17,000 new public comments received on the project.”
The agency is imposing several conditions on the project’s water quality certification. These include oversight by independent third-party monitors at the construction site, measures to minimize impacts on species such as Atlantic sturgeon and hard clams, restrictions on construction timing to protect aquatic life cycles, and mitigation efforts estimated at $23.5 million. A Dredge Management Plan will be required to limit contamination in Raritan and Lower New York bays.
DEC emphasized its commitment to monitoring compliance with these conditions throughout construction: “DEC is committed to closely monitoring the project’s construction and adherence to all permit conditions to ensure the full protection of New York’s waterways.”
In a separate development, Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC withdrew its application for permits related to its proposed pipeline after failing to provide sufficient information requested by DEC and not acting at the federal level with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The withdrawal followed three notices from DEC outlining incomplete aspects of their application.
Further details about these decisions are available on DEC’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE) webpage.
