80_FR_48247 80 FR 48093 - Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues Related to New Alternatives Under Consideration

80 FR 48093 - Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Atlantic Coast Pipeline Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues Related to New Alternatives Under Consideration

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 154 (August 11, 2015)

Page Range48093-48095
FR Document2015-19695

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 154 (Tuesday, August 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48093-48095]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19695]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF15-6-000]


Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC; Supplemental Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Atlantic 
Coast Pipeline Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues Related to New Alternatives Under Consideration

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) is 
issuing this supplemental notice (Notice) to provide landowners 
potentially affected by additional pipeline route alternatives an 
opportunity to comment on impacts associated with these newly 
identified routes. The FERC is the lead federal agency responsible for 
conducting the environmental review of the ACP Project. The 
Commission's staff will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
that discusses the environmental impacts of the ACP Project. This EIS 
will be used in part by the Commission to determine whether the ACP 
Project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    You have been identified as a landowner that may be affected by new 
alternatives being considered. Information in this Notice is provided 
to familiarize you with these new alternatives, the ACP Project as a 
whole, and the Commission's environmental review process, and instruct 
you on how to submit comments about the ACP Project and the 
alternatives under consideration. This Notice is also being sent to 
federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers in the vicinity 
of these alternatives. We encourage elected officials and government 
representatives to notify their constituents about the ACP Project and 
inform them on how they can comment on their areas of concern. Please 
note that comments on this Notice should be filed with the Commission 
by September 4, 2015.
    If your property would be affected by one of the alternatives under 
consideration, you should have already been contacted by an Atlantic 
representative. An Atlantic representative may have also contacted you 
or may contact you in the near future about the acquisition of an 
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities or 
request permission to perform environmental surveys on your property. 
Some landowners may not be contacted if the alternative across their 
property is found to be either not feasible or not environmentally 
preferable to other alternatives being considered. If the Commission 
approves the ACP 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.
    To help potentially affected landowners better understand the 
Commission and its environmental review process, the ``For Citizens'' 
section of the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov) provides information about 
getting involved in FERC jurisdictional projects, and a citizens' guide 
entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I 
Need to Know?'' This guide addresses a number of frequently asked 
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate 
in the Commission's proceedings.

Project Summary and Background

    The ACP Project would involve the construction and operation of 556 
miles of variable diameter natural gas pipeline in West Virginia, 
Virginia, and North Carolina. The pipeline facilities associated with 
the ACP Project would be comprised of four main components as follows:
     Approximately 292.8 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Harrison, Lewis, Upshur, Randolph, and Pocahontas Counties, West 
Virginia; Highland, Augusta, Nelson, Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince 
Edward, Nottoway, Dinwiddie, Brunswick, and Greensville Counties, 
Virginia; and Northampton County, North Carolina;
     approximately 181.5 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland, and 
Robeson Counties, North Carolina;
     approximately 77.6 miles of 20-inch-diameter lateral 
pipeline in Northampton County, North Carolina; Greensville and 
Southampton, Counties, Virginia; and the Cities of Suffolk and 
Chesapeake, Virginia;
     approximately 3.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter natural gas 
lateral pipeline in Brunswick County, Virginia; and
     approximately 1.0 mile of 16-inch-diameter natural gas 
lateral pipeline in Greenville County, Virginia.
    In addition to the planned pipelines, Atlantic plans to construct 
and operate three new compressor stations totaling 117,405 horsepower 
of compression. These compressor stations would be located in Lewis 
County, West Virginia; Buckingham County, Virginia; and Northampton 
County, North Carolina. Atlantic would also install metering stations, 
valves, pig launcher/receiver sites,\1\ and associated appurtenances 
along the planned pipeline system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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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    Dominion Transmission, Inc. (Dominion) is planning to construct the

[[Page 48094]]

Supply Header Project (SHP), which we will review concurrently with the 
ACP Project. The SHP would involve the construction and operation of 
approximately 36.7 miles of pipeline loop \2\ and the modification of 
existing compression facilities in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The 
pipeline facilities associated with the SHP would be comprised of two 
main components: (1) Approximately 3.9 miles of 30-inch-diameter 
natural gas pipeline loop adjacent to Dominion's existing LN-25 
pipeline in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; and (2) approximately 
32.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop adjacent to Dominion's 
existing TL-360 pipeline in Harrison, Doddridge, Tyler, and Wetzel 
Counties, West Virginia.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe constructed 
parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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    In addition to the planned pipelines, Dominion plans to modify four 
existing compressor stations in Westmoreland and Green Counties, 
Pennsylvania and Marshall and Wetzel Counties, West Virginia. Dominion 
would install new gas-fired turbines that would provide for a combined 
increase of 77,230 horsepower of compression. Dominion would also 
install new valves, pig launcher/receiver sites, and associated 
appurtenances at these existing compressor station locations.
    The SHP and ACP Projects would be capable of delivering 1.5 billion 
cubic feet of natural gas per day to eight planned distribution points 
in West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. If approved, 
construction of the projects is proposed to begin in September 2016.
    On November 13, 2014 the Commission's environmental staff approved 
Atlantic's and Dominion's request to use the Commission Pre-filing 
Process for the SHP and ACP Project. The purpose of the Pre-filing 
Process is to encourage the early involvement of interested 
stakeholders to identify and resolve project-related issues before an 
application is filed with the Commission. On February 27, 2015 the 
Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Planned Supply Header Project and Atlantic Coast 
Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings.
    During the course of the Pre-filing Process, numerous concerns have 
been expressed about the potential environmental impacts of the project 
and the need to collocate the planned facilities with existing rights-
of-way. Based on the merits of these comments, and to ensure that 
potential environmental impacts are minimized to the extent practical 
and that public concerns are fully addressed during the Pre-filing 
Process, additional alternatives have been identified and are being 
considered.

Project Alternatives

    The following new alternatives are now being analyzed. 
Illustrations of these alternatives are provided in Appendix 1.\3\ 
Detailed alternative route location information can be found on 
Dominion's interactive web mapping application at https://www.dom.com/corporate/what-we-do/atlantic-coast-pipeline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brunswick Route Alternative (Brunswick and Greensville Counties, 
Virginia)

    The Brunswick Route Alternative would deviate from Atlantic's 
planned route near AP-1 milepost (MP) 259 and extend south and for 
approximately 20.9 miles before rejoining the planned route near AP-1 
MP 277. The majority of the Brunswick Route Alternative would follow a 
recently constructed electric transmission line. The Brunswick Route 
Alternative would reduce the length of the planned AP-3 lateral 
pipeline.

Boykins Route Alternative (Southampton County, Virginia)

    The Boykins Route Alternative would deviate from Atlantic's planned 
route near AP-3 MP 14.5 and extend for approximately 13 miles in a 
northeast direction before rejoining the planned AP-3 route at 
approximate AP-3 MP 28. The majority of the Boykins Route Alternative 
would follow an existing 115 kilovolt electric transmission line.

Franklin Route Alternative (Southampton and Isle of Wright Counties and 
the Cities of Franklin and Suffolk, Virginia)

    The Franklin Route Alternative would deviate from Atlantic's 
planned route near AP-3 MP 41 and extend for approximately 12.5 miles 
in a easterly direction before rejoining the planned AP-3 route at 
approximate AP-3 MP 53. The majority of the Franklin Route Alternative 
would follow an existing 115 kilovolt electric transmission line.

The EIS 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 
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 EIS on the important 
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public 
comments on the planned ACP Project and the three alternatives 
identified above. We will consider all filed comments that are 
suggested during the preparation of the EIS.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in a draft 
EIS that will be placed in the public record, published, and 
distributed to the public for comments. We will also hold public 
comment meetings in the project area and will address comments on the 
draft EIS in a final EIS. The final EIS will also be placed in the 
public record, published, and distributed to the public. To ensure your 
comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in 
the Public Participation section on the following page.

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, and to solicit 
their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian 
tribes, and the public on the projects' potential effects on historic 
properties.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of Potential 
Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the projects develop. 
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 EIS for these projects will document our findings on 
the impacts on historic properties and

[[Page 48095]]

summarize the status of consultations under Section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the alternatives presented above and about 
the projects in general. 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 considered 
in a timely manner and properly recorded, please send your comments so 
that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 
September 4, 2015.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
appropriate project docket number (PF15-6-000 for the ACP Project) 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 located 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 located 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, as well as anyone who 
submits comments on the projects. 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 planned projects.
    Copies of the completed draft EIS 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

    Once Atlantic files an application with the Commission, 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. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for 
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission 
receives formal applications for the projects.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the ACP Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC Web site (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 (i.e., PF15-6). 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/esubscribenow.htm.
    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: August 5, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-19695 Filed 8-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 154 / Tuesday, August 11, 2015 / Notices                                                    48093

                                                       284.123(g) Protests Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/                (Notice) to provide landowners                        Commission and its environmental
                                                    29/15.                                                  potentially affected by additional                    review process, the ‘‘For Citizens’’
                                                       Docket Numbers: RP15–1179–000.                       pipeline route alternatives an                        section of the FERC Web site
                                                       Applicants: Natural Gas Pipeline                     opportunity to comment on impacts                     (www.ferc.gov) provides information
                                                    Company of America.                                     associated with these newly identified                about getting involved in FERC
                                                       Description: Section 4(d) Rate Filing:               routes. The FERC is the lead federal                  jurisdictional projects, and a citizens’
                                                    Negotiated Rate—J Aron to be effective                  agency responsible for conducting the                 guide entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural
                                                    9/1/2015.                                               environmental review of the ACP                       Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I
                                                       Filed Date: 8/4/15.                                  Project. The Commission’s staff will                  Need to Know?’’ This guide addresses a
                                                       Accession Number: 20150804–5042.                     prepare an environmental impact                       number of frequently asked questions,
                                                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/17/15.                     statement (EIS) that discusses the                    including the use of eminent domain
                                                       Docket Numbers: RP15–1180–000.                       environmental impacts of the ACP                      and how to participate in the
                                                       Applicants: Rager Mountain Storage                   Project. This EIS will be used in part by             Commission’s proceedings.
                                                    Company LLC.                                            the Commission to determine whether
                                                                                                            the ACP Project is in the public                      Project Summary and Background
                                                       Description: Compliance filing
                                                    Lending and Parking Service—                            convenience and necessity.                               The ACP Project would involve the
                                                    Compliance Filing to be effective 9/3/                     You have been identified as a                      construction and operation of 556 miles
                                                    2015.                                                   landowner that may be affected by new                 of variable diameter natural gas pipeline
                                                       Filed Date: 8/3/15.                                  alternatives being considered.                        in West Virginia, Virginia, and North
                                                       Accession Number: 20150803–5288.                     Information in this Notice is provided to             Carolina. The pipeline facilities
                                                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/17/15.                     familiarize you with these new                        associated with the ACP Project would
                                                       The filings are accessible in the                    alternatives, the ACP Project as a whole,             be comprised of four main components
                                                    Commission’s eLibrary system by                         and the Commission’s environmental                    as follows:
                                                    clicking on the links or querying the
                                                                                                            review process, and instruct you on how                  • Approximately 292.8 miles of 42-
                                                                                                            to submit comments about the ACP                      inch-diameter pipeline in Harrison,
                                                    docket number.
                                                       Any person desiring to intervene or                  Project and the alternatives under                    Lewis, Upshur, Randolph, and
                                                    protest in any of the above proceedings                 consideration. This Notice is also being              Pocahontas Counties, West Virginia;
                                                                                                            sent to federal, state, and local                     Highland, Augusta, Nelson,
                                                    must file in accordance with Rules 211
                                                                                                            government agencies; elected officials;               Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince
                                                    and 214 of the Commission’s
                                                                                                            environmental and public interest                     Edward, Nottoway, Dinwiddie,
                                                    Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
                                                                                                            groups; Native American tribes; other                 Brunswick, and Greensville Counties,
                                                    385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern
                                                                                                            interested parties; and local libraries               Virginia; and Northampton County,
                                                    time on the specified comment date.
                                                                                                            and newspapers in the vicinity of these               North Carolina;
                                                    Protests may be considered, but
                                                                                                            alternatives. We encourage elected                       • approximately 181.5 miles of 36-
                                                    intervention is necessary to become a
                                                                                                            officials and government representatives              inch-diameter pipeline in Northampton,
                                                    party to the proceeding.
                                                                                                            to notify their constituents about the                Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston,
                                                       eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
                                                                                                            ACP Project and inform them on how                    Sampson, Cumberland, and Robeson
                                                    information relating to filing
                                                                                                            they can comment on their areas of                    Counties, North Carolina;
                                                    requirements, interventions, protests,
                                                                                                            concern. Please note that comments on                    • approximately 77.6 miles of 20-
                                                    service, and qualifying facilities filings
                                                                                                            this Notice should be filed with the                  inch-diameter lateral pipeline in
                                                    can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/
                                                                                                            Commission by September 4, 2015.                      Northampton County, North Carolina;
                                                    docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For                    If your property would be affected by
                                                    other information, call (866) 208–3676                                                                        Greensville and Southampton, Counties,
                                                                                                            one of the alternatives under
                                                    (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.                                                                    Virginia; and the Cities of Suffolk and
                                                                                                            consideration, you should have already
                                                                                                                                                                  Chesapeake, Virginia;
                                                      Dated: August 5, 2015.                                been contacted by an Atlantic
                                                                                                                                                                     • approximately 3.1 miles of 16-inch-
                                                    Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                                representative. An Atlantic
                                                                                                                                                                  diameter natural gas lateral pipeline in
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                       representative may have also contacted
                                                                                                                                                                  Brunswick County, Virginia; and
                                                                                                            you or may contact you in the near
                                                    [FR Doc. 2015–19688 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am]                                                                      • approximately 1.0 mile of 16-inch-
                                                                                                            future about the acquisition of an
                                                    BILLING CODE 6717–01–P                                                                                        diameter natural gas lateral pipeline in
                                                                                                            easement to construct, operate, and
                                                                                                                                                                  Greenville County, Virginia.
                                                                                                            maintain the planned facilities or
                                                                                                                                                                     In addition to the planned pipelines,
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                    request permission to perform
                                                                                                            environmental surveys on your                         Atlantic plans to construct and operate
                                                                                                            property. Some landowners may not be                  three new compressor stations totaling
                                                    Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                                                                            contacted if the alternative across their             117,405 horsepower of compression.
                                                    Commission
                                                                                                            property is found to be either not                    These compressor stations would be
                                                    [Docket No. PF15–6–000]
                                                                                                            feasible or not environmentally                       located in Lewis County, West Virginia;
                                                                                                            preferable to other alternatives being                Buckingham County, Virginia; and
                                                    Atlantic Coast Pipeline, LLC;                                                                                 Northampton County, North Carolina.
                                                    Supplemental Notice of Intent To                        considered. If the Commission approves
                                                                                                            the ACP Project, that approval conveys                Atlantic would also install metering
                                                    Prepare an Environmental Impact                                                                               stations, valves, pig launcher/receiver
                                                                                                            with it the right of eminent domain.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Statement for the Planned Atlantic                                                                            sites,1 and associated appurtenances
                                                    Coast Pipeline Project, and Request                     Therefore, if easement negotiations fail
                                                                                                            to produce an agreement, the pipeline                 along the planned pipeline system.
                                                    for Comments on Environmental                                                                                    Dominion Transmission, Inc.
                                                    Issues Related to New Alternatives                      company could initiate condemnation
                                                                                                            proceedings where compensation would                  (Dominion) is planning to construct the
                                                    Under Consideration
                                                                                                            be determined in accordance with state                  1 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company
                                                       The Federal Energy Regulatory                        law.                                                  inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for
                                                    Commission (FERC or Commission) is                         To help potentially affected                       cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal
                                                    issuing this supplemental notice                        landowners better understand the                      inspections, or other purposes.



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:44 Aug 10, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00024   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM   11AUN1


                                                    48094                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 154 / Tuesday, August 11, 2015 / Notices

                                                    Supply Header Project (SHP), which we                   and to ensure that potential                           The EIS Process
                                                    will review concurrently with the ACP                   environmental impacts are minimized
                                                    Project. The SHP would involve the                      to the extent practical and that public                   The National Environmental Policy
                                                    construction and operation of                           concerns are fully addressed during the                Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
                                                    approximately 36.7 miles of pipeline                    Pre-filing Process, additional                         take into account the environmental
                                                    loop 2 and the modification of existing                 alternatives have been identified and are              impacts that could result from an action
                                                    compression facilities in Pennsylvania                  being considered.                                      whenever it considers the issuance of a
                                                    and West Virginia. The pipeline                                                                                Certificate of Public Convenience and
                                                    facilities associated with the SHP would                Project Alternatives                                   Necessity. NEPA also requires us to
                                                    be comprised of two main components:                                                                           discover and address concerns the
                                                                                                              The following new alternatives are                   public may have about proposals. This
                                                    (1) Approximately 3.9 miles of 30-inch-                 now being analyzed. Illustrations of
                                                    diameter natural gas pipeline loop                                                                             process is referred to as scoping. The
                                                                                                            these alternatives are provided in                     main goal of the scoping process is to
                                                    adjacent to Dominion’s existing LN–25
                                                                                                            Appendix 1.3 Detailed alternative route                focus the analysis in the EIS on the
                                                    pipeline in Westmoreland County,
                                                                                                            location information can be found on                   important environmental issues. By this
                                                    Pennsylvania; and (2) approximately
                                                                                                            Dominion’s interactive web mapping                     notice, the Commission requests public
                                                    32.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline
                                                                                                            application at https://www.dom.com/                    comments on the planned ACP Project
                                                    loop adjacent to Dominion’s existing
                                                                                                            corporate/what-we-do/atlantic-coast-                   and the three alternatives identified
                                                    TL–360 pipeline in Harrison,
                                                                                                            pipeline.                                              above. We will consider all filed
                                                    Doddridge, Tyler, and Wetzel Counties,
                                                    West Virginia.                                          Brunswick Route Alternative (Brunswick                 comments that are suggested during the
                                                      In addition to the planned pipelines,                 and Greensville Counties, Virginia)                    preparation of the EIS.
                                                    Dominion plans to modify four existing                                                                            Our independent analysis of the
                                                    compressor stations in Westmoreland                        The Brunswick Route Alternative                     issues will be presented in a draft EIS
                                                    and Green Counties, Pennsylvania and                    would deviate from Atlantic’s planned                  that will be placed in the public record,
                                                    Marshall and Wetzel Counties, West                      route near AP–1 milepost (MP) 259 and                  published, and distributed to the public
                                                    Virginia. Dominion would install new                    extend south and for approximately 20.9                for comments. We will also hold public
                                                    gas-fired turbines that would provide for               miles before rejoining the planned route               comment meetings in the project area
                                                    a combined increase of 77,230                           near AP–1 MP 277. The majority of the                  and will address comments on the draft
                                                    horsepower of compression. Dominion                     Brunswick Route Alternative would                      EIS in a final EIS. The final EIS will also
                                                    would also install new valves, pig                      follow a recently constructed electric                 be placed in the public record,
                                                    launcher/receiver sites, and associated                 transmission line. The Brunswick Route                 published, and distributed to the public.
                                                    appurtenances at these existing                         Alternative would reduce the length of                 To ensure your comments are
                                                    compressor station locations.                           the planned AP–3 lateral pipeline.                     considered, please carefully follow the
                                                      The SHP and ACP Projects would be                                                                            instructions in the Public Participation
                                                    capable of delivering 1.5 billion cubic                 Boykins Route Alternative
                                                                                                                                                                   section on the following page.
                                                    feet of natural gas per day to eight                    (Southampton County, Virginia)
                                                    planned distribution points in West                                                                            Consultations Under Section 106 of the
                                                                                                              The Boykins Route Alternative would                  National Historic Preservation Act
                                                    Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. If              deviate from Atlantic’s planned route
                                                    approved, construction of the projects is               near AP–3 MP 14.5 and extend for                         In accordance with the Advisory
                                                    proposed to begin in September 2016.                    approximately 13 miles in a northeast
                                                      On November 13, 2014 the                                                                                     Council on Historic Preservation’s
                                                                                                            direction before rejoining the planned                 implementing regulations for Section
                                                    Commission’s environmental staff
                                                                                                            AP–3 route at approximate AP–3 MP 28.                  106 of the National Historic
                                                    approved Atlantic’s and Dominion’s
                                                                                                            The majority of the Boykins Route                      Preservation Act, we are using this
                                                    request to use the Commission Pre-filing
                                                                                                            Alternative would follow an existing                   notice to initiate consultation with the
                                                    Process for the SHP and ACP Project.
                                                    The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is                115 kilovolt electric transmission line.               applicable State Historic Preservation
                                                    to encourage the early involvement of                                                                          Offices, and to solicit their views and
                                                                                                            Franklin Route Alternative                             those of other government agencies,
                                                    interested stakeholders to identify and                 (Southampton and Isle of Wright
                                                    resolve project-related issues before an                                                                       interested Indian tribes, and the public
                                                                                                            Counties and the Cities of Franklin and                on the projects’ potential effects on
                                                    application is filed with the                           Suffolk, Virginia)
                                                    Commission. On February 27, 2015 the                                                                           historic properties.4 We will define the
                                                    Commission issued a Notice of Intent to                   The Franklin Route Alternative would                 project-specific Area of Potential Effects
                                                    Prepare an Environmental Impact                         deviate from Atlantic’s planned route                  (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs
                                                    Statement for the Planned Supply                        near AP–3 MP 41 and extend for                         as the projects develop. On natural gas
                                                    Header Project and Atlantic Coast                       approximately 12.5 miles in a easterly                 facility projects, the APE at a minimum
                                                    Pipeline Project, Request for Comments                  direction before rejoining the planned                 encompasses all areas subject to ground
                                                    on Environmental Issues, and Notice of                  AP–3 route at approximate AP–3 MP 53.                  disturbance (examples include
                                                    Public Scoping Meetings.                                The majority of the Franklin Route                     construction right-of-way, contractor/
                                                      During the course of the Pre-filing                   Alternative would follow an existing                   pipe storage yards, compressor stations,
                                                    Process, numerous concerns have been                    115 kilovolt electric transmission line.               and access roads). Our EIS for these
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                                                    expressed about the potential                                                                                  projects will document our findings on
                                                    environmental impacts of the project                      3 The appendices referenced in this notice will
                                                                                                                                                                   the impacts on historic properties and
                                                    and the need to collocate the planned                   not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
                                                    facilities with existing rights-of-way.                 appendices were sent to all those receiving this         4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

                                                                                                            notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov   regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
                                                    Based on the merits of these comments,                  using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the         Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
                                                                                                            Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First          historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
                                                      2 A pipeline ‘‘loop’’ is a segment of pipe            Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)        district, site, building, structure, or object included
                                                    constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to         502–8371. For instructions on connecting to            in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
                                                    increase capacity.                                      eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.       of Historic Places.



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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 154 / Tuesday, August 11, 2015 / Notices                                                 48095

                                                    summarize the status of consultations                   and newspapers. This list also includes               allows you to keep track of all formal
                                                    under Section 106.                                      all affected landowners (as defined in                issuances and submittals in specific
                                                                                                            the Commission’s regulations) who are                 dockets. This can reduce the amount of
                                                    Public Participation
                                                                                                            potential right-of-way grantors, whose                time you spend researching proceedings
                                                       You can make a difference by                         property may be used temporarily for                  by automatically providing you with
                                                    providing us with your specific                         project purposes, or who own homes                    notification of these filings, document
                                                    comments or concerns about the                          within certain distances of aboveground               summaries, and direct links to the
                                                    alternatives presented above and about                  facilities, as well as anyone who                     documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/
                                                    the projects in general. Your comments                  submits comments on the projects. We                  esubscribenow.htm.
                                                    should focus on the potential                           will update the environmental mailing                    Finally, public meetings or site visits
                                                    environmental effects, reasonable                       list as the analysis proceeds to ensure               will be posted on the Commission’s
                                                    alternatives, and measures to avoid or                  that we send the information related to               calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
                                                    lessen environmental impacts. The more                  this environmental review to all                      EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
                                                    specific your comments, the more useful                 individuals, organizations, and                       with other related information.
                                                    they will be. To ensure that your                       government entities interested in and/or                Dated: August 5, 2015.
                                                    comments are considered in a timely                     potentially affected by the planned
                                                    manner and properly recorded, please                                                                          Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                                                                                            projects.
                                                    send your comments so that the                             Copies of the completed draft EIS will             Deputy Secretary.
                                                    Commission receives them in                             be sent to the environmental mailing list             [FR Doc. 2015–19695 Filed 8–10–15; 8:45 am]
                                                    Washington, DC on or before September                   for public review and comment. If you                 BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                    4, 2015.                                                would prefer to receive a paper copy of
                                                       For your convenience, there are three                the document instead of the CD version
                                                    methods you can use to submit your                      or would like to remove your name from                DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                    comments to the Commission. In all                      the mailing list, please return the
                                                    instances, please reference the                         attached Information Request                          Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                    appropriate project docket number                       (appendix 2).                                         Commission
                                                    (PF15–6–000 for the ACP Project) with                                                                         [Project No., P–12642–007]
                                                                                                            Becoming an Intervenor
                                                    your submission. The Commission
                                                    encourages electronic filing of                           Once Atlantic files an application                  Wilkesboro Hydroelectric Company;
                                                    comments and has expert staff available                 with the Commission, you may want to                  Notice of Application Accepted for
                                                    to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or                      become an ‘‘intervenor,’’ which is an                 Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions
                                                    efiling@ferc.gov.                                       official party to the Commission’s                    To Intervene, and Protests
                                                       (1) You can file your comments                       proceeding. Intervenors play a more
                                                    electronically using the eComment                       formal role in the process and are able                  Take notice that the following
                                                    feature located on the Commission’s                     to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be            hydroelectric application has been filed
                                                    Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link                  heard by the courts if they choose to                 with the Commission and is available
                                                    to Documents and Filings. This is an                    appeal the Commission’s final ruling.                 for public inspection:
                                                    easy method for interested persons to                   An intervenor formally participates in                   a. Type of Proceeding: Amendment of
                                                    submit brief, text-only comments on a                   the proceeding by filing a request to                 License.
                                                    project;                                                intervene. Instructions for becoming an                  b. Project No.: 12642–007.
                                                       (2) You can file your comments                       intervenor are in the User’s Guide under                 c. Date Filed: June 19, 2015.
                                                    electronically using the eFiling feature                the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the Commission’s                d. Licensee: Wilkesboro Hydroelectric
                                                    located on the Commission’s Web site                    Web site. Please note that the                        Company.
                                                    (www.ferc.gov) under the link to                        Commission will not accept requests for                  e. Name of Project: W. Kerr Scott
                                                    Documents and Filings. With eFiling,                    intervenor status at this time. You must              Hydropower Project.
                                                    you can provide comments in a variety                   wait until the Commission receives                       f. Location: The proposed project
                                                    of formats by attaching them as a file                  formal applications for the projects.                 would be located at the existing U.S.
                                                    with your submission. New eFiling                                                                             Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) W.
                                                                                                            Additional Information                                Kerr Scott dam on the Yadkin River,
                                                    users must first create an account by
                                                    clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ You must select                 Additional information about the ACP               near Wilkesboro in Wilkes County,
                                                    the type of filing you are making. If you               Project is available from the                         North Carolina. A total of 3.5 acres of
                                                    are filing a comment on a particular                    Commission’s Office of External Affairs,              federal lands, administered by the
                                                    project, please select ‘‘Comment on a                   at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web                 Corps, would be occupied by the
                                                    Filing;’’ or                                            site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary                proposed project.
                                                       (3) You can file a paper copy of your                link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on               g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
                                                    comments by mailing them to the                         ‘‘General Search,’’ and enter the docket              Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r.
                                                    following address: Kimberly D. Bose,                    number, excluding the last three digits                  h. Licensee Contact: Mr. Kevin
                                                    Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory                    (i.e., PF15–6). Be sure you have selected             Edwards, P.O. Box 143, Mayodan, NC
                                                    Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room                  an appropriate date range. For                        27027, Telephone: (336) 589–6138,
                                                    1A, Washington, DC 20426.                               assistance, please contact FERC Online                Email: kevin@piedmonthydrotech.com.
                                                                                                            Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov                    i. FERC Contact: Mr. M Joseph
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                                                    Environmental Mailing List                              or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for                Fayyad, (202) 502–8759, mo.fayyad@
                                                      The environmental mailing list                        TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The                      ferc.gov.
                                                    includes federal, state, and local                      eLibrary link also provides access to the                j. Deadline for filing comments,
                                                    government representatives and                          texts of formal documents issued by the               interventions and protests is 30 days
                                                    agencies; elected officials;                            Commission, such as orders, notices,                  from the issuance date of this notice by
                                                    environmental and public interest                       and rulemakings.                                      the Commission. The Commission
                                                    groups; Native American Tribes; other                      In addition, the Commission offers a               strongly encourages electronic filing.
                                                    interested parties; and local libraries                 free service called eSubscription which               Please file motions to intervene, protests


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Document Created: 2016-09-27 22:25:28
Document Modified: 2016-09-27 22:25:28
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation80 FR 48093 

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