Columbia Pipeline Group and Columbia Pipeline Partners' Mountaineer XPress Pipeline Advances, Enters Pre-Filing with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. and Columbia Pipeline Partners LP (together, "Columbia")  today announced that their subsidiary, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC received notification that its Mountaineer XPress Project ("MXP") was recently accepted into pre-filing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). (Docket number PF15-31) 

Columbia plans to formally file its application with the FERC for MXP and Gulf XPress ("GXP") in April 2016.

The approximate $2 billion MXP project will include the construction of roughly 165 miles of natural gas pipeline from Marshall County to Wayne County, West Virginia. It will create approximately 2.7 billion cubic feet per day of firm transportation capacity from existing and new points of receipt along or near Columbia Transmission's system, providing producers in the Marcellus and Utica shale areas new transportation options to move gas out of the capacity-constrained supply basin and into the interstate market. 

Columbia has already begun outreach to landowners and communities in areas where MXP will be constructed. Prior to construction, the project will undergo a comprehensive and transparent environmental review overseen by the FERC. Throughout the review period, the MXP team will continue to work closely with landowners, local officials and communities to provide up-to-date information and ensure community involvement in the process.

Pending FERC authorization, Columbia expects to commence MXP construction in the fall of 2017 and place the project in service in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The project includes upgrades to three existing Columbia compressor stations in Kanawha, Wayne and Marshall Counties, West Virginia, as well as the construction of three new stations in Doddridge, Jackson and Calhoun (or Ritchie) Counties, West Virginia. Pipeline construction is expected in the following West Virginia counties: Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge, Jackson, Marshall, Mason, Putnam, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel and Wirt.

For more information on MXP and GXP, please visit cpg.com or columbiapiplinepartners.com. The FERC pre-filing document can also be viewed in its entirety by visiting elibrary.ferc.gov and searching docket number PF15-31.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Columbia and its management. Although Columbia believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including required approvals by regulatory agencies, the possibility that the anticipated benefits from such activities, events, developments or transactions cannot be fully realized, the possibility that costs or difficulties related thereto will be greater than expected, the impact of competition, and other risk factors included in Columbia's (or its affiliates') reports filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Columbia expressly disclaims any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

About Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc.

Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. operates approximately 15,000 miles of strategically located interstate pipeline, gathering and processing assets extending from New York to the Gulf of Mexico, including an extensive footprint in the Marcellus and Utica Shale production areas.  Columbia Pipeline Group also operates one of the nation's largest underground natural gas storage systems. Columbia Pipeline Group is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CPGX. Additional information can be found at www.cpg.com.

About Columbia Pipeline Partners LP

Columbia Pipeline Partners LP, based in Houston, Texas, is a fee-based, growth-oriented master limited partnership formed to own, operate and develop a growing portfolio of natural gas pipelines, storage and related midstream assets.

Columbia Pipeline Partners' business and operations are conducted through CPG OpCo LP and its subsidiaries, which own and operate substantially all of the natural gas transmission, storage and midstream assets of Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. Columbia Pipeline Group operates approximately 15,000 miles of strategically located interstate pipelines extending from New York to the Gulf of Mexico, one of the nation's largest underground natural gas storage systems, and a growing portfolio of related gathering and processing assets. The majority of its assets overlay the Marcellus and Utica Shale production areas. Additional information can be found at www.columbiapipelinepartners.com or www.cpg.com.

SOURCE Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cpg.com