80 FR 54779 - Texas Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Supply Access Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (September 11, 2015)

Page Range		54779-54781
FR Document		2015-22916

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54779-54781]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22916]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-513-000]

Texas Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Supply Access
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Northern Supply Access Project
(Project), which would involve construction and operation of facilities
by Texas Gas Transmission, LLC (Texas Gas) in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The Commission will use this EA
in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in
the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the Project. You can make a difference by providing use
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 need to be evaluated 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 October 5,
2015.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on June 5, 2015, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. CP15-513-000 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 planned
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement and the Project is approved, the pipeline company
could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be
determined in accordance with state law.
Texas Gas 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. In all instances, please reference the
Project docket number (CP15-513-000) with your submission. 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 instruction 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 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: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.

Summary of the Planned Project

Texas Gas proposes to construct, install, own, operate, and
maintain the proposed Northern Supply Access Project, which (as
described more fully below) would involve modifications at eight
existing compressor stations along its existing pipeline and one new
compressor station located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Mississippi, and Louisiana. The project is designed to provide an
additional 384,000 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day
of north to south transportation capacity on Texas Gas's system while
maintaining bi-directional flow capability on its system.
Texas Gas proposes to modify seven existing compressor stations
located in Lawrence and Dearborn Counties, Indiana; Webster,
Breckinridge, and Jefferson Counties, Kentucky; Tipton County,
Tennessee; and Coahoma County, Mississippi, by installing yard and
station pipeline and various auxiliary facilities. Texas Gas also
proposes to modify the existing Bastrop Compressor Station in Morehouse
Parish, Louisiana by classifying four existing compressor units as
back-up units (a total of 7,040 horsepower) and adding one new 9,688
horsepower turbine compressor unit. The Project also includes the
construction and operation of the new 23,877 horsepower Harrison
Compressor Station in Hamilton County, Ohio.

[[Page 54780]]

The general location of the Project facilities is shown in Appendix
1.\1\
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\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to
the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 146
acres of land. Following construction, Texas Gas would retain about 13
acres to operate the new facilities, the remaining acreage would be
restored and revert to former uses.

The EA Process

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\2\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This discovery process is referred to as ``scoping''. The
main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on
the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the
EA. We will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the
EA.
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\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 and maintenance of the planned Project
under these general headings:
Geology and soils;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife, including migratory birds;
endangered and threatened species;
land use, including residential, commercial, and prime
farmland uses;
cultural resources;
socioeconomics;
air quality and noise;
public safety; and
cumulative impacts.
We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed
Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on
the comments received durin ghte scoping process, we may also publish
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We
will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section of this notice, 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
related to 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 applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the Project's potential effects on
historic properties.\4\ We will define the Project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the Project
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include
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 regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List

The environmental mailing list includes: federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for Project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the Project. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
proposed Project.
If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (Appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in
the ``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on
the Commission's Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully
described 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 (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-
513). 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 offers a free service called
eSubscription that

[[Page 54781]]

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: September 4, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-22916 Filed 9-10-15; 8:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 176 / Friday, September 11, 2015 / Notices 54779

Minnesota, and prepared an will use to gather input from the public efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow
environmental assessment (EA). and interested agencies on the Project. these instruction so that your comments
In the EA, Commission staff analyze You can make a difference by providing are properly recorded.
the potential environmental effects of use with your specific comments or (1) You can file your comments
licensing the project and conclude that concerns about the Project. Your electronically using the eComment
licensing the project, with appropriate comments should focus on the potential feature on the Commission’s Web site
measures, would not constitute a major environmental effects, reasonable (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
federal action significantly affecting the alternatives, and measures to avoid or Documents and Filings. This is an easy
quality of the human environment. lessen environmental impacts. Your method for submitting brief, text-only
A copy of the EA is available for input will help the Commission staff comments on a project;
review at the Commission in the Public determine what issues need to be
(2) You can file your comments
Reference Room or may be viewed on evaluated in the EA. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly electronically using the eFiling feature
the Commission’s Web site at on the Commission’s Web site
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. recorded, please send your comments so
that the Commission receives them in (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Enter the docket number, excluding the Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
last three digits, in the docket number Washington, DC on or before October 5,
2015. you can provide comments in a variety
field to access the document. For of formats by attaching them as a file
assistance, contact FERC Online If you sent comments on this project
to the Commission before the opening of with your submission. New eFiling
Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ users must first create an account by
ferc.gov or toll-free number at 1–866– this docket on June 5, 2015, you will
need to file those comments in Docket clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
208–3676, or for TTY, 202–502–8659. a comment on a particular project,
You may also register online at No. CP15–513–000 to ensure they are
considered as part of this proceeding. please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ the filing type; or
esubscription.asp to be notified via This notice is being sent to the
email of new filings and issuances Commission’s current environmental (3) You can file a paper copy of your
related to this or other pending projects. mailing list for this Project. State and comments by mailing them to the
For assistance, contact FERC Online local government representatives should following address: Kimberly D. Bose,
Support. notify their constituents of this planned Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
For further information, please Project and encourage them to comment Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room
contact Shana Murray by telephone at on their areas of concern. 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
If you are a landowner receiving this
(202) 502–8333 or by email at Summary of the Planned Project
notice, a pipeline company
Shana.Murray@ferc.gov.
representative may contact you about Texas Gas proposes to construct,
Dated: September 4, 2015. the acquisition of an easement to install, own, operate, and maintain the
Kimberly D. Bose, construct, operate, and maintain the proposed Northern Supply Access
Secretary. proposed facilities. The company would Project, which (as described more fully
[FR Doc. 2015–22918 Filed 9–10–15; 8:45 am] seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable below) would involve modifications at
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P agreement. However, if the Commission eight existing compressor stations along
approves the Project, that approval its existing pipeline and one new
conveys with it the right of eminent compressor station located in Ohio,
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY domain. Therefore, if easement Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
negotiations fail to produce an Mississippi, and Louisiana. The project
Federal Energy Regulatory agreement and the Project is approved, is designed to provide an additional
Commission the pipeline company could initiate 384,000 million standard cubic feet of
[Docket No. CP15–513–000] condemnation proceedings where natural gas per day of north to south
compensation would be determined in transportation capacity on Texas Gas’s
Texas Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice accordance with state law. system while maintaining bi-directional
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Texas Gas provided landowners with flow capability on its system.
Assessment for the Proposed Northern a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Texas Gas proposes to modify seven
Supply Access Project and Request for existing compressor stations located in
Comments on Environmental Issues Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a Lawrence and Dearborn Counties,
The staff of the Federal Energy number of typically asked questions, Indiana; Webster, Breckinridge, and
Regulatory Commission (FERC or including the use of eminent domain Jefferson Counties, Kentucky; Tipton
Commission) will prepare an and how to participate in the County, Tennessee; and Coahoma
environmental assessment (EA) that will Commission’s proceedings. It is also County, Mississippi, by installing yard
discuss the environmental impacts of available for viewing on the FERC Web and station pipeline and various
the Northern Supply Access Project site (www.ferc.gov). auxiliary facilities. Texas Gas also
(Project), which would involve proposes to modify the existing Bastrop
construction and operation of facilities Public Participation Compressor Station in Morehouse
by Texas Gas Transmission, LLC (Texas For your convenience, there are three Parish, Louisiana by classifying four
Gas) in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, methods you can use to submit your existing compressor units as back-up
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. comments to the Commission. In all units (a total of 7,040 horsepower) and
The Commission will use this EA in its instances, please reference the Project adding one new 9,688 horsepower
decision-making process to determine docket number (CP15–513–000) with turbine compressor unit. The Project
whether the Project is in the public your submission. The Commission also includes the construction and
convenience and necessity. encourages electronic filing of operation of the new 23,877 horsepower
This notice announces the opening of comments and has expert staff available Harrison Compressor Station in
the scoping process the Commission to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or Hamilton County, Ohio.

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:00:13
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:00:13

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 54779

80 FR 54779 - Texas Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Supply Access Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (September 11, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission