80 FR 16662 - East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Loudon Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 60 (March 30, 2015)

Page Range		16662-16664
FR Document		2015-07202

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 60 (Monday, March 30, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16662-16664]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07202]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-91-000]

East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Loudon Expansion Project and
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Loudon Expansion Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by East Tennessee
Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) in Monroe and Loudon Counties,
Tennessee. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making
process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience
and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Please note that
the scoping period will close on April 23, 2015.
Further details on how to submit written comments are in the Public
Participation section of this notice. If you sent comments on this
project to the Commission before the opening of this

[[Page 16663]]

docket on February 20, 2015, you will need to file those comments in
Docket No. CP15-91-000 to ensure they are considered as part of this
proceeding.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law.
East Tennessee provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by
the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What
Do I Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically
asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Summary of the Proposed Project

East Tennessee would construct, own, and operate a new pipeline and
related appurtenant facilities extending from its existing 12-inch-
diameter Line 3200-1 pipeline in Monroe County, Tennessee to Tate &
Lyle Americas Ingredients, LLC (Tate & Lyle) a manufacturer of
artificial sweeteners and ethanol products in Loudon County, Tennessee.
The Loudon Expansion Project would provide up to 40,000 decatherms per
day of natural gas to Tate & Lyle, which is planning to convert its
existing coal fired boilers to natural gas, and install a new natural
gas fueled combined cycle electric power plant.
The Loudon Expansion Project would consist of the following
facilities:
About 10 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Loudon
Mainline Extension) in Monroe and Loudon Counties;
A new 12-inch mainline valve, two 12-inch tee taps and
related appurtenant facilities at the interconnection of the Loudon
Mainline Extension with the existing Line 3200-1 mainline in Monroe
County;
A new meter facility and related appurtenances located at
the end of the Loudon Mainline Extension at the Tate & Lyle Plant in
Loudon County, Tennessee;
Above- and below-ground piping, flow measurement
equipment, flow control equipment, filter/separator, pig launcher and
receiver,\1\ aboveground valve operators for belowground valves,
blowdowns, and a condensate tank; and
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\1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline,
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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A new pressure regulator at existing meter station 59039
on East Tennessee's existing Loudon-Lenoir City Lateral Line 3218D-100,
in Loudon County.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to
pages 6 and 7 of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 88.5
acres of land. Following construction, East Tennessee would maintain
about 62.3 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities;
the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses.
About 87 percent of the pipeline route parallels existing pipeline,
utility, or road rights-of-way.

The EA Process

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\3\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of
the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
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\3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
Land use;
Water resources and fisheries, and wetlands;
Cultural resources;
Vegetation and wildlife, including migratory birds;
Air quality and noise;
Endangered and threatened species; and
Public safety.
We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the project or
portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We
will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section beginning on page 5.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of
this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the
EA.\4\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the
Public Participation section of this notice.
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\4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act

In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on
historic properties.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project
develops. On natural gas

[[Page 16664]]

facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject
to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way,
contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads).
Our EA for this project will document our findings on the impacts on
historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under
Section 106.
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\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by East Tennessee. This
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and
our analysis. These include impacts on:
Waterbodies;
Karst geology, including caves;
Soils;
Migratory birds;
Vegetation;
Candidate and listed threatened or endangered species;
Land use;
Air quality and noise;
Safety; and
Alternative routes.

Public Participation

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so
that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before April
23, 2015.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number (CP15-91-000) with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected].
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for interested persons to
submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a
variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission.
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on
``eRegister.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select
``Comment on a Filing''; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.

Environmental Mailing List

The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
proposed project.
If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in
the User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web
site.

Additional Information

Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site at www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP15-
91). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Dated: March 24, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-07202 Filed 3-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 60 / Monday, March 30, 2015 / Notices 16663

docket on February 20, 2015, you will • A new meter facility and related • Land use;
need to file those comments in Docket appurtenances located at the end of the • Water resources and fisheries, and
No. CP15–91–000 to ensure they are Loudon Mainline Extension at the Tate wetlands;
considered as part of this proceeding. & Lyle Plant in Loudon County, • Cultural resources;
This notice is being sent to the Tennessee; • Vegetation and wildlife, including
Commission’s current environmental • Above- and below-ground piping, migratory birds;
mailing list for this project. State and flow measurement equipment, flow • Air quality and noise;
control equipment, filter/separator, pig • Endangered and threatened species;
local government representatives should
launcher and receiver,1 aboveground and
notify their constituents of this
valve operators for belowground valves, • Public safety.
proposed project and encourage them to We will also evaluate reasonable
comment on their areas of concern. blowdowns, and a condensate tank; and
• A new pressure regulator at existing alternatives to the project or portions of
If you are a landowner receiving this the project, and make recommendations
notice, a pipeline company meter station 59039 on East Tennessee’s
existing Loudon-Lenoir City Lateral on how to lessen or avoid impacts on
representative may contact you about the various resource areas.
the acquisition of an easement to Line 3218D–100, in Loudon County.
The general location of the project The EA will present our independent
construct, operate, and maintain the analysis of the issues. The EA will be
facilities is shown in appendix 1.2
proposed facilities. The company would available in the public record through
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable Land Requirements for Construction eLibrary. Depending on the comments
agreement. However, if the Commission Construction of the proposed facilities received during the scoping process, we
approves the project, that approval would disturb about 88.5 acres of land. may also publish and distribute the EA
conveys with it the right of eminent Following construction, East Tennessee to the public for an allotted comment
domain. Therefore, if easement would maintain about 62.3 acres for period. We will consider all comments
negotiations fail to produce an permanent operation of the project’s on the EA before making our
agreement, the pipeline company could facilities; the remaining acreage would recommendations to the Commission.
initiate condemnation proceedings be restored and revert to former uses. To ensure we have the opportunity to
where compensation would be About 87 percent of the pipeline route consider and address your comments,
determined in accordance with state parallels existing pipeline, utility, or please carefully follow the instructions
law. road rights-of-way. in the Public Participation section
East Tennessee provided landowners beginning on page 5.
with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC The EA Process With this notice, we are asking
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas The National Environmental Policy agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to or special expertise with respect to the
To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a take into account the environmental environmental issues of this project to
number of typically asked questions, impacts that could result from an action formally cooperate with us in the
including the use of eminent domain whenever it considers the issuance of a preparation of the EA.4 Agencies that
and how to participate in the Certificate of Public Convenience and would like to request cooperating
Commission’s proceedings. It is also Necessity. NEPA also requires us 3 to agency status should follow the
available for viewing on the FERC Web discover and address concerns the instructions for filing comments
site (www.ferc.gov). public may have about proposals. This provided under the Public Participation
Summary of the Proposed Project process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The section of this notice.
main goal of the scoping process is to
East Tennessee would construct, own, focus the analysis in the EA on the Consultations Under Section 106 of the
and operate a new pipeline and related important environmental issues. By this National Historic Preservation Act
appurtenant facilities extending from its notice, the Commission requests public In accordance with the Advisory
existing 12-inch-diameter Line 3200–1 comments on the scope of the issues to Council on Historic Preservation’s
pipeline in Monroe County, Tennessee address in the EA. We will consider all implementing regulations for Section
to Tate & Lyle Americas Ingredients, filed comments during the preparation 106 of the National Historic
LLC (Tate & Lyle) a manufacturer of of the EA. Preservation Act, we are using this
artificial sweeteners and ethanol In the EA we will discuss impacts that notice to initiate consultation with the
products in Loudon County, Tennessee. could occur as a result of the Tennessee State Historic Preservation
The Loudon Expansion Project would construction and operation of the Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views
provide up to 40,000 decatherms per proposed project under these general and those of other government agencies,
day of natural gas to Tate & Lyle, which headings: interested Indian tribes, and the public
is planning to convert its existing coal • Geology and soils; on the project’s potential effects on
fired boilers to natural gas, and install historic properties.5 We will define the
a new natural gas fueled combined cycle 1 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company
project-specific Area of Potential Effects
electric power plant. inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for
cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal
(APE) in consultation with the SHPO as
The Loudon Expansion Project would inspections, or other purposes. the project develops. On natural gas
consist of the following facilities: 2 The appendices referenced in this notice will

• About 10 miles of 12-inch-diameter not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of 4 The Council on Environmental Quality

appendices were sent to all those receiving this regulations addressing cooperating agency
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

pipeline (Loudon Mainline Extension)
notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
in Monroe and Loudon Counties; using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the Regulations, Part 1501.6.
• A new 12-inch mainline valve, two Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First 5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s

12-inch tee taps and related appurtenant Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
facilities at the interconnection of the 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
eLibrary, refer to pages 6 and 7 of this notice. historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
Loudon Mainline Extension with the 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the district, site, building, structure, or object included
existing Line 3200–1 mainline in environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
Monroe County; Energy Projects. of Historic Places.

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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:32:07
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:32:07

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		80 FR 16662

80 FR 16662 - East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Loudon Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 60 (March 30, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission