80 FR 47487 - Comanche Trail Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed San Elizario Crossing Project; Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 152 (August 7, 2015)

Page Range		47487-47489
FR Document		2015-19420

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 152 (Friday, August 7, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 152 (Friday, August 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47487-47489]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19420]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-503-000]

Comanche Trail Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed San Elizario Crossing
Project; 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 San Elizario Crossing Project
involving construction and operation of specific border crossing
facilities for the export of natural gas by Comanche Trail Pipeline,
LLC (Comanche Trail) in El Paso County, Texas. The Commission will use
this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the project
is in the public interest.
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 September 2, 2015.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on May 29, 2015, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. CP15-503-000 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.
Comanche Trail 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 efiling@ferc.gov. 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
(CP15-503-000) 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

Comanche Trail proposes to construct and operate a new border
crossing at the international boundary between the United States and
Mexico in El Paso County, Texas. The San Elizario Crossing Project
would consist of the construction of approximately 1,086 feet of FERC-
jurisdictional 42-inch-diameter pipeline, installed using a horizontal
directional drill (HDD) beneath the Rio Grande River near the City of
San Elizario in El Paso, Texas. The new pipeline would have a maximum
design export capacity of approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet per day,
in order to transport natural gas to a new delivery interconnect in the
vicinity of the City of San Isidro, in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\

Non-Jurisdictional Facilities

The San Elizario Crossing Project has associated facilities that
would be constructed in support of the project, but do not fall under
the jurisdiction of the FERC. The proposed Comanche Trail intrastate
pipeline facilities, consist of 196 miles of new 42-inch-diameter
pipeline, multiple receipt and delivery metering stations, and other
auxiliary facilities extending from Pecos County, Texas and terminating
at the proposed FERC-jurisdictional project facilities in El Paso
County. The intrastate facilities would be subject to the jurisdiction
of the Texas Railroad Commission and would be non-jurisdictional to the
FERC. In the EA, we will provide available descriptions of the non-
jurisdictional facilities and include available environmental impact
information under our analysis of cumulative impacts.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the San Elizario Crossing Project pipeline would
affect a total of 4.2 acres of land in the United States, which
includes temporary workspace for HDD construction, hydrostatic testing
of the pipeline, and project access. Following construction, Comanche
Trail would retain 1.3 acres as a 50-foot-wide permanent easement for
operation of the FERC-jurisdictional pipeline, and the remaining
acreage would be restored and revert to former uses.

[[Page 47488]]

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 an
Authorization. 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 many comments were filed
prior to this notice. We want to assure those commentors that their
concerns 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.
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\2\ ``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. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. We will 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.
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\3\ 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 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.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO 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 our
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status
of consultations under section 106.
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\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.
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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.
When 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
available on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.

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-
503). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov 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.

[[Page 47489]]

Dated: August 3, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-19420 Filed 8-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 152 / Friday, August 7, 2015 / Notices 47487

protests must set forth their evidentiary alternatives, and measures to avoid or 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
basis and otherwise comply with the lessen environmental impacts. Your Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). All input will help the Commission staff Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
comments, motions to intervene, or determine what issues they need to NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
protests should relate to project works evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your
which are the subject of the amendment comments are timely and properly Summary of the Proposed Project
application. Agencies may obtain copies recorded, please send your comments so Comanche Trail proposes to construct
of the application directly from the that the Commission receives them in and operate a new border crossing at the
applicant. A copy of any protest or Washington, DC on or before September
international boundary between the
motion to intervene must be served 2, 2015.
If you sent comments on this project United States and Mexico in El Paso
upon each representative of the County, Texas. The San Elizario
applicant specified in the particular to the Commission before the opening of
this docket on May 29, 2015, you will Crossing Project would consist of the
application. If an intervener files
need to file those comments in Docket construction of approximately 1,086 feet
comments or documents with the
No. CP15–503–000 to ensure they are of FERC-jurisdictional 42-inch-diameter
Commission relating to the merits of an
considered as part of this proceeding. pipeline, installed using a horizontal
issue that may affect the responsibilities
This notice is being sent to the directional drill (HDD) beneath the Rio
of a particular resource agency, they
Commission’s current environmental Grande River near the City of San
must also serve a copy of the document
on that resource agency. A copy of all mailing list for this project. State and Elizario in El Paso, Texas. The new
other filings in reference to this local government representatives should pipeline would have a maximum design
application must be accompanied by notify their constituents of this export capacity of approximately 1.1
proof of service on all persons listed in proposed project and encourage them to billion cubic feet per day, in order to
the service list prepared by the comment on their areas of concern. transport natural gas to a new delivery
Commission in this proceeding, in Comanche Trail provided landowners interconnect in the vicinity of the City
accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC of San Isidro, in the State of Chihuahua,
385.2010. entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Mexico.
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need The general location of the project
Dated: August 3, 2015. To Know?’’. This fact sheet addresses a
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
number of typically-asked questions,
Deputy Secretary. including the use of eminent domain Non-Jurisdictional Facilities
[FR Doc. 2015–19423 Filed 8–6–15; 8:45 am] and how to participate in the
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Commission’s proceedings. It is also The San Elizario Crossing Project has
available for viewing on the FERC Web associated facilities that would be
site (www.ferc.gov). constructed in support of the project,
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY but do not fall under the jurisdiction of
Public Participation the FERC. The proposed Comanche
Federal Energy Regulatory For your convenience, there are three Trail intrastate pipeline facilities,
Commission methods you can use to submit your consist of 196 miles of new 42-inch-
[Docket No. CP15–503–000] comments to the Commission. The diameter pipeline, multiple receipt and
Commission encourages electronic filing delivery metering stations, and other
Comanche Trail Pipeline, LLC; Notice of comments and has expert staff auxiliary facilities extending from Pecos
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 County, Texas and terminating at the
Assessment for the Proposed San or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully proposed FERC-jurisdictional project
Elizario Crossing Project; Request for follow these instructions so that your facilities in El Paso County. The
Comments on Environmental Issues comments are properly recorded. intrastate facilities would be subject to
(1) You can file your comments the jurisdiction of the Texas Railroad
The staff of the Federal Energy electronically using the eComment Commission and would be non-
Regulatory Commission (FERC or feature on the Commission’s Web site jurisdictional to the FERC. In the EA, we
Commission) will prepare an (www.ferc.gov) under the link to will provide available descriptions of
environmental assessment (EA) that will Documents and Filings. This is an easy the non-jurisdictional facilities and
discuss the environmental impacts of method for submitting brief, text-only include available environmental impact
the San Elizario Crossing Project comments on a project; information under our analysis of
involving construction and operation of (2) You can file your comments
cumulative impacts.
specific border crossing facilities for the electronically by using the eFiling
export of natural gas by Comanche Trail feature on the Commission’s Web site Land Requirements for Construction
Pipeline, LLC (Comanche Trail) in El (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Paso County, Texas. The Commission Documents and Filings. With eFiling, Construction of the San Elizario
will use this EA in its decision-making you can provide comments in a variety Crossing Project pipeline would affect a
process to determine whether the of formats by attaching them as a file total of 4.2 acres of land in the United
project is in the public interest. with your submission. New eFiling States, which includes temporary
This notice announces the opening of users must first create an account by workspace for HDD construction,
the scoping process the Commission clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing hydrostatic testing of the pipeline, and
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

will use to gather input from the public a comment on a particular project, project access. Following construction,
and interested agencies on the project. please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as Comanche Trail would retain 1.3 acres
You can make a difference by providing the filing type; or as a 50-foot-wide permanent easement
us with your specific comments or (3) You can file a paper copy of your for operation of the FERC-jurisdictional
concerns about the project. Your comments by mailing them to the pipeline, and the remaining acreage
comments should focus on the potential following address. Be sure to reference would be restored and revert to former
environmental effects, reasonable the project docket number (CP15–503– uses.

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:56:25
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:56:25

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 47487

80 FR 47487 - Comanche Trail Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed San Elizario Crossing Project; Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 152 (August 7, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission