80 FR 26239 - Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Broad Run Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 88 (May 7, 2015)

Page Range		26239-26240
FR Document		2015-10968
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26239-26240]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10968]



[[Page 26239]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-77-000]


Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Broad Run 
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 Broad Run Expansion Project 
(Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Tennessee) in Kanawha County, 
West Virginia; Madison, Powell, and Boyd Counties, Kentucky; and 
Davidson County, 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. 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. 
Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they 
need to evaluate in the EA. 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 June 1, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on January 30, 2015, you will need to file these 
comments in Docket No. CP15-77-000 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.
    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).

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at 
(202) 502-8258 or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these 
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (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 submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by 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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(CP15-77-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Tennessee proposes to build four new compressor stations, and add 
compression and modify two existing compressor stations to transport up 
to 200,000 dekatherms per day. Tennessee also proposes to improve 
efficiency and reduce certain emissions by replacing older existing 
compression facilities on its system with newer compressor units.
    The Project would include construction and operation of the 
following facilities:
     Two new compressor stations in Kanawha County, West 
Virginia, to be known as the Tyler Mountain Compressor Station (CS 
118A) and the Rocky Fork Compressor Station (CS 119A);
     a new compressor station in Madison County, Kentucky, to 
be known as the Richmond Compressor Station (CS 875);
     a new compressor station in Davidson County, Tennessee, to 
be known as the Pinnacle Compressor Station (CS 563); and
     modifications (including abandonment and replacement of 
certain compression units, system components, and associated 
facilities) at the existing Clay City Compressor Station in Powell 
County, Kentucky (CS 106), and the existing Catlettsburg Compressor 
Station in Boyd County, Kentucky (CS 114).
    The general location of the proposed facilities is shown in 
appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the 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 the last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the facilities would disturb about 270 acres of 
land. Following construction, Tennessee would maintain about 213 acres 
for permanent operation of the Project; the remaining acreage would be 
restored and revert to former uses.

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 
\2\ 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 note that 
some comments were filed prior to this

[[Page 26240]]

notice. We want to assure those commentors that their concerns filed 
after January 30, 2015 will be considered in the scope of our 
environmental review; you do not need to resubmit comments. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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:
     Air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     geology and soils;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
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 2.
    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.\3\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (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.\4\ We will define the Project-specific Area of 
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the Project 
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum 
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include 
compressor stations, the construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe 
storage yards, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on comments that we have received. These include the 
potential for noise disturbance, impacts on air quality, and impacts on 
nearby organic farming. As mentioned above, we will consider all 
comments on the EA before making our recommendations to the Commission. 
This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments 
and our analysis.

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-
77). 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 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: May 1, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-10968 Filed 5-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 88 / Thursday, May 7, 2015 / Notices 26239

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY agreement. However, if the Commission older existing compression facilities on
approves the Project, that approval its system with newer compressor units.
Federal Energy Regulatory conveys with it the right of eminent The Project would include
Commission domain. Therefore, if easement construction and operation of the
[Docket No. CP15–77–000] negotiations fail to produce an following facilities:
agreement, the pipeline company could • Two new compressor stations in
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, initiate condemnation proceedings Kanawha County, West Virginia, to be
L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an where compensation would be known as the Tyler Mountain
Environmental Assessment for the determined in accordance with state Compressor Station (CS 118A) and the
Proposed Broad Run Expansion law. Rocky Fork Compressor Station (CS
Project and Request for Comments on Tennessee provided landowners with 119A);
Environmental Issues a fact sheet prepared by the FERC • a new compressor station in
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Madison County, Kentucky, to be
The staff of the Federal Energy Facility On My Land? What Do I Need known as the Richmond Compressor
Regulatory Commission (FERC or To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a Station (CS 875);
Commission) will prepare an number of typically-asked questions, • a new compressor station in
environmental assessment (EA) that will including the use of eminent domain Davidson County, Tennessee, to be
discuss the environmental impacts of and how to participate in the known as the Pinnacle Compressor
the Broad Run Expansion Project Commission’s proceedings. It is also Station (CS 563); and
(Project) involving construction and available for viewing on the FERC Web • modifications (including
operation of facilities by Tennessee Gas site (www.ferc.gov). abandonment and replacement of
Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Tennessee) certain compression units, system
in Kanawha County, West Virginia; Public Participation components, and associated facilities) at
Madison, Powell, and Boyd Counties, For your convenience, there are three the existing Clay City Compressor
Kentucky; and Davidson County, methods you can use to submit your Station in Powell County, Kentucky (CS
Tennessee. The Commission will use comments to the Commission. The 106), and the existing Catlettsburg
this EA in its decision-making process Commission encourages electronic filing Compressor Station in Boyd County,
to determine whether the project is in of comments and has expert staff Kentucky (CS 114).
the public convenience and necessity. available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 The general location of the proposed
This notice announces the opening of or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
the scoping process the Commission follow these instructions so that your
will use to gather input from the public Land Requirements for Construction
comments are properly recorded.
and interested agencies on the Project. (1) You can file your comments Construction of the facilities would
You can make a difference by providing electronically using the eComment disturb about 270 acres of land.
us with your specific comments or feature on the Commission’s Web site Following construction, Tennessee
concerns about the Project. Your (www.ferc.gov) under the link to would maintain about 213 acres for
comments should focus on the potential Documents and Filings. This is an easy permanent operation of the Project; the
environmental effects, reasonable method for submitting brief, text-only remaining acreage would be restored
alternatives, and measures to avoid or comments on a project; and revert to former uses.
lessen environmental impacts. Your (2) You can file your comments
input will help the Commission staff The EA Process
electronically by using the eFiling
determine what issues they need to feature on the Commission’s Web site The National Environmental Policy
evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
comments are timely and properly Documents and Filings. With eFiling, take into account the environmental
recorded, please send your comments so you can provide comments in a variety impacts that could result from an action
that the Commission receives them in of formats by attaching them as a file whenever it considers the issuance of a
Washington, DC on or before June 1, with your submission. New eFiling Certificate of Public Convenience and
2015. users must first create an account by Necessity. NEPA also requires us 2 to
If you sent comments on this Project clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing discover and address concerns the
to the Commission before the opening of a comment on a particular project, public may have about proposals. This
this docket on January 30, 2015, you please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The
will need to file these comments in the filing type; or main goal of the scoping process is to
Docket No. CP15–77–000 to ensure they (3) You can file a paper copy of your focus the analysis in the EA on the
are considered as part of this comments by mailing them to the important environmental issues. By this
proceeding. following address. Be sure to reference notice, the Commission requests public
This notice is being sent to the the project docket number (CP15–77– comments on the scope of the issues to
Commission’s current environmental 000) with your submission: Kimberly D. address in the EA. We note that some
mailing list for this project. State and Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy comments were filed prior to this
local government representatives should Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
notify their constituents of this NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will

proposed project and encourage them to not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
Summary of the Proposed Project appendices were sent to all those receiving this
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

comment on their areas of concern. notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
If you are a landowner receiving this Tennessee proposes to build four new using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
notice, a pipeline company compressor stations, and add Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
representative may contact you about compression and modify two existing Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
the acquisition of an easement to compressor stations to transport up to 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
construct, operate, and maintain the 200,000 dekatherms per day. Tennessee 2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
proposed facilities. The company would also proposes to improve efficiency and environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable reduce certain emissions by replacing Energy Projects.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 May 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07MYN1.SGM 07MYN1
Document Created: 2015-12-16 07:50:23
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 07:50:23
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 26239
80 FR 26239 - Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Broad Run Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 88 (May 7, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
