80 FR 27159 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Virginia Southside Expansion Project II and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 91 (May 12, 2015)

Page Range		27159-27161
FR Document		2015-11404
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27159-27161]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11404]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-118-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Virginia Southside 
Expansion Project II 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 Virginia Southside Expansion 
Project II involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) in Virginia, 
North Carolina, and South Carolina. 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 5, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on March 23, 2015, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP15-118-000 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.
    Transco 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

[[Page 27160]]

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 
(CP15-118-000) 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

    Transco proposes to construct and operate 4.3 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline, gas compression facilities, and associated 
aboveground and underground facilities to provide about 250,000 
dekatherms per day of incremental firm transportation service to 
Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO). The proposed pipeline 
would connect Transco's approved Brunswick Lateral in Brunswick County, 
Virginia (to be constructed in 2015) to a proposed VEPCO power station 
in Greensville County, Virginia (``Greenville County Power Station''). 
According to Transco, its project would provide 100 percent of the 
natural gas required by the proposed VEPCO combined-cycle gas-fired 
power station. The Greenville County Power Station is subject to 
regulatory approval by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
    The Virginia Southside Expansion Project II would include the 
following facilities:
     4.3 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Brunswick and 
Greensville Counties, Virginia;
     two 10,915-horsepower (hp) gas turbine compressor units at 
Transco's approved Compressor Station 166 in Pittsylvania County, 
Virginia (anticipated construction start date October 2015);
     one 25,000-hp electric-driven compressor unit at the 
existing Compressor Station 185 in Prince William County, Virginia;
     a new meter and regulator station and pig receiver 
facility in Greensville County, Virginia; \1\
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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 pig launcher facility in Brunswick County, Virginia; 
and
     modifications at 19 existing facilities in Cherokee and 
Spartanburg Counties, South Carolina and Polk County, North Carolina, 
including odorization/deodorization facility modifications, valves, and 
valve operators.
    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 
the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 180.4 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, Transco would maintain about 30.2 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses. About 84 percent of the 
proposed 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, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     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. 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.\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 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.\5\ 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 
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor 
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document

[[Page 27161]]

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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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-
118). 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 6, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-11404 Filed 5-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
27160 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 91 / Tuesday, May 12, 2015 / Notices

follow these instructions so that your Compressor Station 185 in Prince • geology and soils;
comments are properly recorded. William County, Virginia; • land use;
(1) You can file your comments • a new meter and regulator station • water resources, fisheries, and
electronically using the eComment and pig receiver facility in Greensville wetlands;
feature on the Commission’s Web site County, Virginia; 1 • cultural resources;
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to • a new pig launcher facility in • vegetation and wildlife;
Documents and Filings. This is an easy Brunswick County, Virginia; and • air quality and noise;
method for submitting brief, text-only • modifications at 19 existing • endangered and threatened species;
facilities in Cherokee and Spartanburg • public safety; and
comments on a project; • cumulative impacts
(2) You can file your comments Counties, South Carolina and Polk
County, North Carolina, including We will also evaluate reasonable
electronically by using the eFiling alternatives to the proposed project or
feature on the Commission’s Web site odorization/deodorization facility
modifications, valves, and valve portions of the project, and make
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to recommendations on how to lessen or
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, operators.
The general location of the project avoid impacts on the various resource
you can provide comments in a variety areas.
facilities is shown in appendix 1.2
of formats by attaching them as a file The EA will present our independent
with your submission. New eFiling Land Requirements for Construction analysis of the issues. To ensure we
users must first create an account by Construction of the proposed facilities have the opportunity to consider and
clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing would disturb about 180.4 acres of land address your comments, please carefully
a comment on a particular project, for the aboveground facilities and the follow the instructions in the Public
please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as pipeline. Following construction, Participation section, beginning on page
the filing type; or Transco would maintain about 30.2 2.
(3) You can file a paper copy of your acres for permanent operation of the With this notice, we are asking
comments by mailing them to the project’s facilities; the remaining agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
following address. Be sure to reference acreage would be restored and revert to or special expertise with respect to the
the project docket number (CP15–118– former uses. About 84 percent of the environmental issues of this project to
000) with your submission: Kimberly D. proposed pipeline route parallels formally cooperate with us in the
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy existing pipeline, utility, or road rights- preparation of the EA.4 Agencies that
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street of-way. would like to request cooperating
NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. agency status should follow the
The EA Process
Summary of the Proposed Project instructions for filing comments
The National Environmental Policy provided under the Public Participation
Transco proposes to construct and Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to section of this notice.
operate 4.3 miles of 24-inch-diameter take into account the environmental
pipeline, gas compression facilities, and impacts that could result from an action Consultations Under Section 106 of the
associated aboveground and whenever it considers the issuance of a National Historic Preservation Act
underground facilities to provide about Certificate of Public Convenience and In accordance with the Advisory
250,000 dekatherms per day of Necessity. NEPA also requires us 3 to Council on Historic Preservation’s
incremental firm transportation service discover and address concerns the implementing regulations for section
to Virginia Electric and Power Company public may have about proposals. This 106 of the National Historic
(VEPCO). The proposed pipeline would process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The Preservation Act, we are using this
connect Transco’s approved Brunswick main goal of the scoping process is to notice to initiate consultation with the
Lateral in Brunswick County, Virginia focus the analysis in the EA on the applicable State Historic Preservation
(to be constructed in 2015) to a important environmental issues. By this Offices (SHPO), and to solicit their
proposed VEPCO power station in notice, the Commission requests public views and those of other government
Greensville County, Virginia comments on the scope of the issues to agencies, interested Indian tribes, and
(‘‘Greenville County Power Station’’). address in the EA. We will consider all the public on the project’s potential
According to Transco, its project would filed comments during the preparation effects on historic properties.5 We will
provide 100 percent of the natural gas of the EA. define the project-specific Area of
required by the proposed VEPCO In the EA we will discuss impacts that Potential Effects (APE) in consultation
combined-cycle gas-fired power station. could occur as a result of the with the SHPOs as the project develops.
The Greenville County Power Station is construction and operation of the On natural gas facility projects, the APE
subject to regulatory approval by the proposed project under these general at a minimum encompasses all areas
Virginia State Corporation Commission. headings: subject to ground disturbance (examples
The Virginia Southside Expansion include construction right-of-way,
Project II would include the following 1 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company
contractor/pipe storage yards,
facilities: inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for
cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal
compressor stations, and access roads).
• 4.3 miles of 24-inch-diameter inspections, or other purposes. Our EA for this project will document
pipeline in Brunswick and Greensville 2 The appendices referenced in this notice will

Counties, Virginia; not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of 4 The Council on Environmental Quality

• two 10,915-horsepower (hp) gas appendices were sent to all those receiving this regulations addressing cooperating agency
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
turbine compressor units at Transco’s using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the Regulations, Part 1501.6.
approved Compressor Station 166 in Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First 5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s

Pittsylvania County, Virginia Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
(anticipated construction start date 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
October 2015); 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the district, site, building, structure, or object included
• one 25,000-hp electric-driven environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
compressor unit at the existing Energy Projects. of Historic Places.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:31 May 11, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM 12MYN1
Document Created: 2015-12-16 07:55:34
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 07:55:34
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 27159
80 FR 27159 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Virginia Southside Expansion Project II and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 91 (May 12, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
