Compressor Station Noise Regulations and Guidelines

I have been approached about a pipeline ROW on my property in Armstrong County, PA.  I have studied, studied more, and read many discussions here and in Northeast PA Landowners Group about the intricacies of the pipeline ROW.  My bigger concern is the plan by the Gathering Co. to construct a Compressor Station on the property directly west of me (I live on a hill, with a forested valley between me and the next property).  The compressor station would be built in a field on the hill directly west of me.  When the farmer runs his tractor in that field, it may as well be in my yard. The compressor station would be about 1,750 feet from my house, where I live.  It's a rural area - nice and quiet except for farm equipment and quads.

So, IF I negotiate the ROW, I would put restrictions on the construction of any compressor stations within ___ feet/miles of my property.  Does PADEP have regulations regarding noise? I think FERC does, as well, but would they apply to a Gathering line from a well or few wells?  They have finished drilling a well that I will likely be included in the Unit for.  The lines crossing my property would be a 12-inch line and 8-inch line going into the compressor station, and a 20-inch line exiting. The Draft Notice of Intent and Plan Drawings show a "Proposed Compressor Building 205' x 55' " and 4 compressors. 

IF you agreed to the ROW, what types of restrictions would you put on that Compressor Station, noise or otherwise?  What regulations, guidance documents, other resources should I be looking at? How would you adjust the price on the ROW to consider the compressor station? By the way, my Township is not putting any restrictions on the compressor station.  Thanks in advance for experiences and guidance shared.

Brad.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Byler on December 19, 2013 at 8:14am
Brad, I can't answer all your Q. but I can say we had a 3 unit compressor station built on a neighbors land 300' from our front porch. We were very concerned about noise & stopped signing anything they requested, i.e. pipelines, until we were promised that there wouldn't be a noise problem. Bottom line is the units are huge but are housed in thick soundproof buildings with mufflers on the compressors the size of small submarines. The only thing we can hear is the faint sound of very lg. fans running. Since those fans are cooling the compressors that are pumping "our" gas, it sounds like music. :) They said they must follow state regs. on noise emissions.
Permalink Reply by Brad Cellier on December 19, 2013 at 8:24am

Thanks, Bob.  What type of language did you have in your pipeline agreement concerning compressor station noise or other limits on the compressor station?

Permalink Reply by Bob Byler on December 19, 2013 at 9:13am
We couldn't get ANY satisfaction from our landman. He looked at us like we had 2 heads when we wanted some assurances! Finally when Shell called to see why we weren't signing docs. we told them. They said noise won't be an issue. Told us of the state specs. they must adhere to. 10" thick contained, insulated buildings, sound proofing mufflers, plantings to help muffle sound. It is surprising how quiet they can make 1,300 hp. diesel comp. the size of train box cars! We couldn't get any language added to ROW agreements though. Just trusted them & visited a completed station. Seemed ok. As I said, it was on neighbors land. Not much we could do. They could have easily gone around us with the pipelines so we didn't have too much leverage.
Permalink Reply by Brad Cellier on December 19, 2013 at 9:24am

Thanks, Bob.  Do you or anyone else know which State Regulations may apply and where to find them regarding noise and other limits?  I have seen the Draft Compressor Station E&S Plan, and I don't see any proposed plantings of evergreens, or anything like that, on the drawings or forms.

Permalink Reply by Bob Byler on December 19, 2013 at 11:09am
I presume you're in PA? Calling the EPA may get you in the right direction. The plantings haven't been done. (Yet?) There are pines & hardwoods between us so no big deal to us. The main thing.....after it's in....we can't see or hear it but there is traffic every day....many times a day....workers, trucks, more workers, more trucks. I don't know what they all do but it is constant! If you're proposed station is within sight....DONT DO IT! That would be 10X worse than compressor noise!
Permalink Reply by Brad Cellier on December 19, 2013 at 12:40pm

Thanks, Bob.  I hadn't thought about the truck traffic.  I am in PA, and the compressor station would be on a neighboring property.  I can only see the proposed compressor station location in winter when the leaves are off the trees.  The bad thing is that if I don't sign the pipeline ROW, they may get someone else to sign.  Then I would still get to listen and sometimes see traffic and compressor station without compensation.  That would be unfortunate!  

I'm curious if anyone has successfully negotiated a pipeline ROW and argued for compensation because of a compressor station NOT on their own property but on an adjacent property.

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