Williams Pipeline Permit Overturned by US Court

The Williams Companies faces a renewed regulatory hurdle after the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a key New Jersey water quality permit for its Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline project. The court granted petitions from environmental groups and sent the Water Quality Certification back to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Williams stated that it is working promptly with state regulators to address the decision. The company does not currently expect the ruling to disrupt construction or alter its planned in-service schedule, targeting completion in the fourth quarter of 2027.

The project is a roughly $1 billion expansion developed by Williams' Transco unit. It is designed to transport around 0.4 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from Pennsylvania through New Jersey into New York, including an offshore segment in Raritan Bay. The planned addition of 400,000 dekatherms per day would supply enough energy for approximately 2.3 million homes.

Environmental groups argued that New Jersey had unjustifiably approved the certification after rejecting the project in 2019 for failing to meet water quality standards. Opponents also raised concerns that dredging Raritan Bay could disturb seabed contaminants like mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls.