80 FR 45697 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Review for the Upland Pipeline, LLC Project

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 147 (July 31, 2015)

The U.S. Department of State (the Department) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the public that it intends to prepare an environmental analysis consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to evaluate the potential impacts of the construction and operation of a proposed new pipeline that would carry crude oil across the United States-Canada border. This NOI informs the public about the proposed project and solicits participation and comments from interested federal, tribal, state, and local government entities and the public. The Department is soliciting comments to help inform the scope and content of the environmental review, as well as the level (either an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement).

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 147 (Friday, July 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 45697]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18866]



[[Page 45697]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9209]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Review for the 
Upland Pipeline, LLC Project

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (the Department) is issuing this 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the public that it intends to prepare 
an environmental analysis consistent with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to evaluate the potential impacts of the 
construction and operation of a proposed new pipeline that would carry 
crude oil across the United States-Canada border. This NOI informs the 
public about the proposed project and solicits participation and 
comments from interested federal, tribal, state, and local government 
entities and the public. The Department is soliciting comments to help 
inform the scope and content of the environmental review, as well as 
the level (either an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement).

DATES: The Department invites the public, governmental agencies, tribal 
governments, and all other interested parties to comment on the scope 
of the environmental review. All such comments should be provided in 
writing, within thirty (30) days of the publication of this notice, as 
directed below. The comment period for the NOI begins on July 31, 2015 
and ends on August 31, 2015. All comments in response to the NOI must 
be submitted by August 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted at www.regulations.gov by entering 
the title of this Notice into the search field and following the 
prompts. Comments may also be submitted by mail, addressed to: Upland 
Project Manager, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Room 
2726, Washington, DC 20520. All comments from agencies or organizations 
should indicate a contact person for the agency or organization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project details on the Upland 
Presidential Permit application, as well as information on the 
Presidential Permit process, are available on the following Web site: 
http://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/. Please refer to this 
Web site or contact the Department at the address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of State (the 
Department) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the public 
that it intends to prepare an environmental analysis consistent with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (as implemented by 
the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations found at 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508) to evaluate the potential impacts of the construction and 
operation of a proposed new pipeline that would carry crude oil across 
the United States-Canada border. This NOI informs the public about the 
proposed project and solicits participation and comments from 
interested federal, tribal, state, and local government entities and 
the public. The Department is soliciting comments to help inform the 
scope and content of the environmental review, as well as the level 
(either an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement).
    On April 22, 2015, Upland Pipeline, LLC (Upland), which is a 
subsidiary of TransCanada Pipeline Limited, submitted an application 
for a new Presidential Permit under Executive Order 13337 to authorize 
the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of pipeline 
facilities for the export of crude oil, which would be located at the 
border of the United States and Canada, in Burke County, North Dakota. 
The Upland project is designed to transport crude oil from the 
Williston Basin region in North Dakota to Canada.
    The Upland project would consist of approximately 126 miles of new 
20-inch diameter pipeline in the United States with 15 mainline valves, 
one at each of five oil receipt facilities and ten located along the 
pipeline route. The pipeline project would have the capacity to 
transport approximately 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. The 
requested Presidential Permit would cover an approximately 18-mile 
segment of pipeline between the northernmost mainline shutoff valve in 
the United States (located near milepost 108 of the proposed project 
route in Burke County, North Dakota) and the United States-Canada 
border.
    The Canadian portion of the Upland Pipeline system would include a 
20-inch diameter pipeline that would extend from the United States-
Canada border near Northgate, Saskatchewan to Moosomin, Saskatchewan or 
Cromer, Manitoba. Review and approval of the proposed Canadian 
facilities will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Canadian National 
Energy Board as well as various local, municipal, and provincial 
authorities.
    Project Location: The U.S. portion of the proposed project is 
located in Burke County, North Dakota.
    Environmental Effects: The environmental review will describe the 
environmental effects of the proposed action; any adverse environmental 
effects that cannot be avoided should the project be implemented; the 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action; comparison between 
short-term and long-term impacts on the environment; any irreversible 
and irretrievable commitments of natural, physical or other resources 
that would occur if the proposed action is implemented; and any 
proposed mitigation measures, if needed. The analysis will focus on air 
quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, 
greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, potential 
accidents and spills, hydrology and water quality, noise, 
socioeconomics, environmental justice, transportation and other topics 
identified during scoping.
    While the President has delegated authority to the Department to 
issue permits for pipeline facilities at the borders of the United 
States, the environmental review will analyze impacts of the proposed 
project in the United States that are dependent upon Permit issuance.
    All comments received during the scoping period may be made public, 
no matter how initially submitted. Comments are not private and will 
not be edited to remove identifying or contact information. Commenters 
are cautioned against including any information that they would not 
want publicly disclosed. Any party soliciting or aggregating comments 
from other persons is further requested to direct those persons not to 
include any identifying or contact information, or information they 
would not want publicly disclosed, in their comments.

Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-18866 Filed 7-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P