80 FR 54781 - Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment For the Proposed System Reliability Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (September 11, 2015)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 176 (September 11, 2015)
| Page Range | 54781-54783 | |
| FR Document | 2015-22915 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 54781-54783] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-22915] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15-498-000] Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment For the Proposed System Reliability 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 System Reliability Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore) in Kent, New Castle, and Sussex Counties, Delaware. The Commission will use this EA in its decision- making process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity. This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project. You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before October 5, 2015. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on May 22, 2015, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP15-498-000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list for this project. State and local government representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with state law. Eastern Shore provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need to Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected]. Please carefully 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 (CP15-498-000) 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 Eastern Shore proposes to construct and operate 10.1 miles of new natural gas pipeline loops \1\ in New Castle and Kent County, Delaware, and modify its existing Bridgeville Compressor Station in Sussex County, Delaware. According to Eastern Shore, its project would increase the reliability of natural gas to Eastern Shore's existing customers during high demand winter months; this need was not fully met in 2014 and 2015 and resulted in gas service ``brown outs.'' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Eastern Shore System Reliability Project would consist of the following facilities:2.5 miles of 16-inch-diameter looping pipeline in New Castle County; pigging facilities \2\ at the existing Glasgow Control Station in New Castle County; --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ 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. A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- about 7.6 miles of 16-inch diameter looping pipeline, one mainline valve assembly, pigging facilities, and one permanent access road in Kent County; and an additional 1,775 horsepower of compression, a new operations control station, and one permanent access road at the existing Bridgeville Compressor Station in Sussex County. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\3\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 156.7 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, Eastern Shore would maintain about [[Page 54782]] 11.8 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. All of the proposed pipeline route would parallel existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way; about 3 percent of the proposed project would be contained within Eastern Shore's existing right-of-way and the rest of the project (97%) would be constructed on adjacent property. 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 \4\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Depending on the comments received during the 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, 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.\5\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.\6\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \6\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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- 498). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. [[Page 54783]] 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. 2015-22915 Filed 9-10-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 176 / Friday, September 11, 2015 / Notices 54781
allows you to keep track of all formal If you sent comments on this project a comment on a particular project,
issuances and submittals in specific to the Commission before the opening of please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
dockets. This can reduce the amount of this docket on May 22, 2015, you will the filing type; or
time you spend researching proceedings need to file those comments in Docket (3) You can file a paper copy of your
by automatically providing you with No. CP15–498–000 to ensure they are comments by mailing them to the
notification of these filings, document considered as part of this proceeding. following address. Be sure to reference
summaries, and direct links to the This notice is being sent to the the project docket number (CP15–498–
documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/ Commission’s current environmental 000) with your submission:
esubscribenow.htm. mailing list for this project. State and Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Finally, public meetings or site visits local government representatives should Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
will be posted on the Commission’s notify their constituents of this First Street NE., Room 1A,
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/ proposed project and encourage them to Washington, DC 20426.
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this Summary of the Proposed Project
with other related information.
notice, a pipeline company Eastern Shore proposes to construct
Dated: September 4, 2015. representative may contact you about and operate 10.1 miles of new natural
Kimberly D. Bose, the acquisition of an easement to gas pipeline loops 1 in New Castle and
Secretary. construct, operate, and maintain the Kent County, Delaware, and modify its
[FR Doc. 2015–22916 Filed 9–10–15; 8:45 pm] proposed facilities. The company would existing Bridgeville Compressor Station
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable in Sussex County, Delaware. According
agreement. However, if the Commission to Eastern Shore, its project would
approves the project, that approval increase the reliability of natural gas to
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY conveys with it the right of eminent Eastern Shore’s existing customers
domain. Therefore, if easement during high demand winter months; this
Federal Energy Regulatory negotiations fail to produce an need was not fully met in 2014 and
Commission agreement, the pipeline company could 2015 and resulted in gas service ‘‘brown
initiate condemnation proceedings outs.’’
[Docket No. CP15–498–000] where compensation would be The Eastern Shore System Reliability
determined in accordance with state Project would consist of the following
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; law. facilities:
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Eastern Shore provided landowners • 2.5 miles of 16-inch-diameter
Environmental Assessment For the with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC looping pipeline in New Castle County;
Proposed System Reliability Project entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas • pigging facilities 2 at the existing
and Request for Comments on Facility on My Land? What Do I Need Glasgow Control Station in New Castle
Environmental Issues to Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a County;
number of typically asked questions, • about 7.6 miles of 16-inch diameter
The staff of the Federal Energy including the use of eminent domain looping pipeline, one mainline valve
Regulatory Commission (FERC or and how to participate in the assembly, pigging facilities, and one
Commission) will prepare an Commission’s proceedings. It is also permanent access road in Kent County;
environmental assessment (EA) that will available for viewing on the FERC Web and
discuss the environmental impacts of site (www.ferc.gov). • an additional 1,775 horsepower of
the System Reliability Project involving compression, a new operations control
construction and operation of facilities Public Participation
station, and one permanent access road
by Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company For your convenience, there are three at the existing Bridgeville Compressor
(Eastern Shore) in Kent, New Castle, and methods you can use to submit your Station in Sussex County.
Sussex Counties, Delaware. The comments to the Commission. The The general location of the project
Commission will use this EA in its Commission encourages electronic filing facilities is shown in appendix 1.3
decision-making process to determine of comments and has expert staff
whether the project is in the public available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 Land Requirements for Construction
convenience and necessity. or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully Construction of the proposed facilities
This notice announces the opening of follow these instructions so that your would disturb about 156.7 acres of land
the scoping process the Commission comments are properly recorded. for the aboveground facilities and the
will use to gather input from the public (1) You can file your comments pipeline. Following construction,
and interested agencies on the project. electronically using the eComment Eastern Shore would maintain about
You can make a difference by providing feature on the Commission’s Web site
us with your specific comments or (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 1 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed
concerns about the project. Your Documents and Filings. This is an easy parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
2 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company
comments should focus on the potential method for submitting brief, text-only inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for
environmental effects, reasonable comments on a project; cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal
alternatives, and measures to avoid or (2) You can file your comments inspections, or other purposes. A pipeline loop is
lessen environmental impacts. Your electronically by using the eFiling a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing
input will help the Commission staff feature on the Commission’s Web site pipeline to increase capacity.
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
3 The appendices referenced in this notice will
determine what issues they need to (www.ferc.gov) under the link to not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your Documents and Filings. With eFiling, appendices were sent to all those receiving this
comments are timely and properly you can provide comments in a variety notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
recorded, please send your comments so of formats by attaching them as a file using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
that the Commission receives them in with your submission. New eFiling Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
Washington, DC on or before October 5, users must first create an account by 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
2015. clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:14 Sep 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM 11SEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_54957/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 176 / Friday, September 11, 2015 / Notices 54783
Finally, public meetings or site visits recorded, please send your comments so of formats by attaching them as a file
will be posted on the Commission’s that the Commission receives them in with your submission. New eFiling
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/ Washington, DC on or before October 5, users must first create an account by
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 2015. clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
with other related information. If you sent comments on this project a comment on a particular project,
Dated: September 4, 2015. to the Commission before the opening of please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
this docket on July 29, 2015, you will the filing type; or
Kimberly D. Bose,
need to file those comments in Docket (3) You can file a paper copy of your
Secretary.
No. CP15–539–000 to ensure they are comments by mailing them to the
[FR Doc. 2015–22915 Filed 9–10–15; 8:45 am] considered as part of this proceeding. following address. Be sure to reference
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P This notice is being sent to the the project docket number (CP15–539–
Commission’s current environmental 000) with your submission:
mailing list for this project. State and
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY local government representatives should Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
notify their constituents of this Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
Federal Energy Regulatory First Street NE., Room 1A,
Commission proposed project and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern. Washington, DC 20426.
[Docket Nos. CP15–539–000; CP15–514– If you are a landowner receiving this Summary of the Proposed Project
000] notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about Columbia Gulf plans to construct and
Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; the acquisition of an easement to operate 51,800 horsepower (hp) of new
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; construct, operate, and maintain the compression in Carter, Menifee and
Notice of Intent To Prepare an proposed facilities. The company would Montgomery Counties, Kentucky, and
Environmental Impact Statement for seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable modification of the existing Means
the Rayne Xpress Expansion Project, agreement. However, if the Commission Measurement and Regulation Station in
and Request for Comments on approves the project, that approval Montgomery County, Kentucky. The
Environmental Issues conveys with it the right of eminent project would provide about 621,000
The staff of the Federal Energy domain. Therefore, if easement Dekatherms per day of firm
Regulatory Commission (FERC or negotiations fail to produce an transportation on its system.
Commission) will evaluate the agreement, the pipeline company could The project would consist of the
environmental impacts of the Rayne initiate condemnation proceedings following facilities:
XPress Expansion Project (project) in an where compensation would be • A new 36,400 hp Grayson
environmental impact statement (EIS) determined in accordance with state Compressor Station consisting of two
being prepared for the related Leach law. gas-driven compressor units at Milepost
XPress Project filed by Columbia Gas Columbia Gulf provided landowners (MP) 68 on Columbia Gulf’s existing
Transmission (Columbia Gas) in Docket with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC Mainline 100, 200 and 300 pipelines in
No. CP15–514.1 The Rayne XPress entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas in Carter County, Kentucky;
Expansion Project involves construction Facility On My Land? What Do I Need • a new 15,400 hp Means Compressor
and operation of facilities by Columbia To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a Station consisting of two gas-driven
Gulf Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gulf) number of typically asked questions, compressor units at MP 6.5 on Columbia
in Carter, Menifee and Montgomery including the use of eminent domain Gulf’s existing Mainline 100, 200 and
Counties, Kentucky. The Commission and how to participate in the 300 pipelines in in Menifee and
will use this EIS in its decision-making Commission’s proceedings. It is also Montgomery Counties, Kentucky; and
process to determine whether the available for viewing on the FERC Web • modifications to station piping and
project is in the public convenience and site (www.ferc.gov). Supervisory Control and Data
necessity. Public Participation Acquisition systems at the existing
This notice announces the opening of Means Measurement and Regulation
the scoping process the Commission For your convenience, there are three
Station in Montgomery County,
will use to gather input from the public methods you can use to submit your
Kentucky.
and interested agencies on the project. comments to the Commission. The
Commission encourages electronic filing The general location of the project
You can make a difference by providing facilities is shown in appendix 2.
us with your specific comments or of comments and has expert staff
concerns about the project. Your available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 Land Requirements for Construction
comments should focus on the potential or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully
follow these instructions so that your Construction of the proposed facilities
environmental effects, reasonable would disturb about 34 acres of land,
alternatives, and measures to avoid or comments are properly recorded.
(1) You can file your comments converting about 17 acres of land to
lessen environmental impacts. Your industrial land use under permanent
input will help the Commission staff electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission’s Web site operation of the project’s facilities.
determine what issues they need to Columbia Gulf would restore the
evaluate in the EIS. To ensure that your (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy remaining acreage to former uses.
comments are timely and properly
method for submitting brief, text-only The EIS Process
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1A Notice of Application was issued on June 22, comments on a project;
2015 for the Leach XPress Project. The NOI stated (2) You can file your comments The National Environmental Policy
that Columbia Gulf, one of Columbia Gas’s electronically by using the eFiling Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
affiliates, may be proposing a project which may feature on the Commission’s Web site take into account the environmental
have some connection to the Leach XPress Project. impacts that could result from an action
The Leach XPress Project was in the pre-filing
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to
phase until filed on June 8, 2015 under Docket No. Documents and Filings. With eFiling, whenever it considers the issuance of a
PF14–023. you can provide comments in a variety Certificate of Public Convenience and
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:14 Sep 10, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM 11SEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_54957/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:00:26
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:00:26
| 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 54781 |
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