Constitution Pipeline Co. LLC received notice-to-proceed authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding limited tree felling activities along its Constitution Pipeline right-of-way in Pennsylvania, the company said Jan 29.

The 30-inch diameter Constitution Pipeline is about 125 miles long, originating at natural gas supply areas in northeast Pennsylvania and connecting with existing transmission pipelines in Schoharie County, N.Y.

The pipeline will transport enough natural gas to serve about 3 million U.S. homes, the company said. Once complete, the pipeline will be a vital piece of infrastructure in the Northeast, connecting consumers and reliable supplies of clean, affordable natural gas.

It will alleviate pipeline infrastructure issues that have raised prices of New England and New York consumers’ electricity and natural gas. The project will use cleaner-burning gas in lieu of other fuels.

Mainline construction will begin in the spring, pending timely receipt of all remaining permits. Construction will directly and indirectly support 2,400 jobs and generate $130 million in labor income for the region, the company said.

About one-quarter of the trees are in Pennsylvania with the remainder in New York. Tree felling in Pennsylvania will begin after contractors and crew are trained and deployed, which will be before March 31 to avoid impacting migratory birds and the Northern long-eared bat, the company said.

These activities will be subject to third-party environmental monitoring. In coordination with state and federal agencies, Constitution Pipeline Co. will provide $8.6 million in conservation funding for the restoration and preservation of migratory bird habitats.

Sponsors said that the project needs to comply with the environmental conditions of the FERC order and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s biological opinion.

Constitution Pipeline and Leatherstocking Gas Co. LLC will also install four delivery taps along the pipeline’s proposed route to ease local gas service to southern New York and northern Pennsylvania homes and businesses.

Constitution Pipeline Co. LLC is owned by subsidiaries of Williams Partners LP, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG), Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc. and WGL Holdings Inc.