Rockies Connector

An important component of Williams' Northeast Supply Project is the development of a new, 250-mile extension of its existing Transco natural gas pipeline. The company is calling this pipeline extension Rockies Connector. Williams is currently in the preliminary stages of designing this extension, gathering data for studies that will help the company determine the location of the facilities that would be needed.

Project Update

May 5, 2008 -- Williams’ survey crews continue to conduct field studies and gather information to develop an extension of its Transco pipeline called Rockies Connector. The company is investigating the expansion as part of its Northeast Supply project.

Rockies Connector is being designed to connect natural gas supplies originating from the Rocky Mountains, Appalachia and the emerging Marcellus shale supply regions to growing, major markets in the Northeast. The proposed pipeline extension would connect Williams’ Transco Station 195 in York County, Penn., to the eastern terminus of the Rockies Express pipeline in Monroe County, Ohio. Once complete, the extension will provide Northeast markets with unprecedented access to abundant, domestic natural gas supplies.

As proposed, service on the Northeast Supply Project would be available by November 2011.

Interstate natural gas pipelines are regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

As such, FERC requires operators like Williams to obtain a federal Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, in addition to various state and local permits, before any pipeline facilities can be built. In early 2009 Williams intends to request that the FERC initiate a pre-filing environmental review of the Northeast Supply proposal. The FERC pre-filing process is intended to solicit early input from citizens, governmental entities and other interested parties to identify and address issues with potential facility locations. Williams will host a series of formal public workshops in the affected areas to formally introduce the proposal to the public and solicit feedback. Your input is important to us and can help shape the final project scope.

Williams currently anticipates filing a certificate application with FERC for the Northeast Supply project in late 2009.