What is the North Seattle Lateral Upgrade project?

The North Seattle Lateral Upgrade (NSLU) is a $47 million fracked gas pipeline expansion in south Snohomish County, backed by Puget Sound Energy and the pipeline company Williams. The expansion would enlarge 5.89 miles of 8" diameter pipe to 20" diameter.

What is the projected timeline for the project?

The project has been approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), though one Commissioner issued a dissent based on the project's climate impacts. Our coalition's letter campaign to the Washington State Department of Ecology generated over 1,000 letters for the project's 401 Water Certification; that decision is forthcoming. Construction is planned to begin summer 2019.

What are the impacts of this project?

-This project is estimated to raise our statewide greenhouse gas emissions 3-5%, due to increased methane emissions from greater regional natural gas use. This estimate does not include upstream emissions (at the point of gas extraction.)

-Construction would require dam and flume type crossings of 15 fish bearing streams along the route. As construction would last into the fall, spawning for threatened fish species such as Chinook, Sockeye, and Coho salmon would be negatively impacted. At a time when our region's orcas are starving, this is would further decrease our salmon runs.

-Due to our area's shallow water table, trench dewatering, or pumping water from the trench as excavation occured, would be required, leading to impacts on local wells along the route.

-Once completed, the pipeline would be tested by filling it with over 400,000 gallons of municipal water, which would then be dumped into a local field.

-Traffic along the pipeline route would be snarled as trenching was done through all streets it crosses besides Highway 9 and SR-527 (Bothell-Everett Highway.)

-The proposed pipeline crosses the South Whidbey Island Fault Zone, as well as a FEMA designated Flood Zone A (area that would be inundated in a 100 year flood.) Flooding can cause buoyancy in pipelines, leading to explosive rupture.

-The NSLU would cross over 5 acres of wetlands (over 2,700 linear feet); these sensitive areas would be harmed during construction, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions.

-The increased use of natural gas, in addition to climate impacts, has high safety risks associated with it, as evidenced by a recent series of explosions north of Boston due to an overpressurized gas line, and enormous explosion in British Columbia last month.  

Expanding this pipeline would lead to an increased blast zone were an explosion to occur, reaching over 300 each direction of the pipeline. Some homes along the route are a mere 11 feet from the line.

-The area's bird life would also be harmed, due to project construction and disturbances during the nesting season.

-This project encourages the environmentally devastating production of fracked gas in the Llard Basin of Canada, which is then piped over 1,100 miles at great safety risk and expense.

Want to learn more? The FERC Environmental Assessment provides much more information.