80_FR_75313 80 FR 75083 - Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Mountaineer XPress Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

80 FR 75083 - Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Mountaineer XPress Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 230 (December 1, 2015)

Page Range75083-75085
FR Document2015-30395

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75083-75085]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30395]



[[Page 75083]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF15-31-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Mountaineer XPress 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meeting

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Mountaineer XPress 
Project (MXP) involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in 14 counties in the western 
portion of West Virginia. The Commission will use this EIS 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 EIS. 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 December 17, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on September 16, 2015, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. PF15-31-000 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 planned 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.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). 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.

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. 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 
(PF15-31-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping meetings its 
staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows.

Schedule and Locations for the Mountaineer XPress Project Public Scoping
                                Meetings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date and time                           Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, December 7, 2015, 6:00 p.m.....  The Lewis Wetzel Family Center,
                                          442 E. Benjamin Drive, New
                                          Martinsville, WV 26149.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 6:00 p.m....  Doddridge County Park--Main
                                          Lodge, 1252 Snowbird Road,
                                          West Union, WV 26456.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 6:00 p.m..  Cedar Lake Conference Center--
                                          Assembly Hall, 82 FFA Drive,
                                          Ripley, WV 25271.
Thursday, December 10, 2015, 6:00 p.m..  LaBelle Theater, 311 D Street,
                                          South Charleston, WV 25303.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The doors will open at 5 p.m. at which time we will begin our sign 
up of speakers for the meetings. For the hour prior to the start of the 
meetings, Columbia representatives will be present with maps depicting 
the project and to answer questions.
    The scoping meetings will begin at 6 p.m. with a description of our 
environmental review process by Commission staff, after which speakers 
will be called. The meetings will end once all speakers have provided 
their comments or at 10 p.m., whichever comes first. Please note that 
depending on the number of people signed up to speak, there may be a 
time limit of 3 minutes to present comments, and speakers should 
structure their comments accordingly. If time limits are implemented, 
they will be strictly enforced to ensure that as many individuals as 
possible are given an opportunity to comment. The meetings will be 
recorded by a court reporter to ensure comments are accurately 
recorded. Transcripts will be entered

[[Page 75084]]

into the formal record of the Commission proceeding.
    Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; refer 
to the review process flow chart in appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 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 ``Additional Information'' 
section of this notice.
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Summary of the Planned Project

    Columbia plans to construct and operate approximately 167 miles of 
36-inch and 24-inch-diameter pipeline; construct three new compressor 
stations and three regulator stations; and modify three existing 
compressor stations and other existing appurtenant facilities in West 
Virginia. The MXP would provide about 2.7 billion standard cubic feet 
per day of natural gas transportation capacity from production areas to 
markets on the Columbia system. According to Columbia, its project 
would enable infrastructure-constrained natural gas supplies to reach 
waiting markets served by Columbia's system. Columbia has entered into 
firm contracts for over 88 percent of the MXP capacity.
    The MXP would consist of the following facilities:
     Construction of 161.1 miles of new 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline and associated equipment (main-line valves, pigging 
facilities,\2\ etc.), located in Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Doddridge, 
Ritchie, Calhoun, Wirt, Roane, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, and Cabell 
Counties, West Virginia;
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    \2\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning, conducting internal 
inspections, or other purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     construction of 6.3 miles of 24-inch-diamter pipeline in 
Doddridge County (the Sherwood Lateral);
     construction of three new compressor stations and related 
equipment in Doddridge County (Sherwood Compressor Station), Ritchie 
County (White Oak Compressor Station), and Jackson County (Mt. Olive 
Compressor Station);
     construction of three new regulator stations and 
associated equipment in Marshall County (the Leach Interconnect), 
Doddridge County (Sherwood Lateral Regulator), and Cabell County (the 
Saunders Creek Tie-in);
     replacement of two sections of existing 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline, 1,295 feet and 814 feet in length, in Cabell County;
     installation of additional compression at the anticipated 
Lone Oak Compressor Station (Marshall County), Elk River Compressor 
Station (Wayne County), and Ceredo Compressor Station (Kanawha 
County)--all of which are under review in other Commission dockets; and
     construction and/or installation of other related 
equipment.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Columbia has proposed to use a 125-foot-wide right-of-way for 
construction of the new pipeline in upland areas, consisting of a 50-
foot-wide permanent and a 75-foot-wide temporary right-of-way, except 
where site conditions require specific workspace configurations. 
Temporary right-of-way used during construction would be restored and 
revert to former uses once construction is completed. However, the 
permanent right-of-way would be maintained for permanent operation of 
the MXP.
    Additional temporary workspace would be required at road, utility 
lines, and waterbody crossings; steep slopes; side slopes; horizontal 
directional drill locations; and at the beginning and end of 
construction spreads for mobilizing construction equipment. Disturbance 
would also result from the use of staging areas and construction of new 
and/or upgrading of existing access roads associated with construction 
and operation of the planned facilities.
    The pipeline would be sited to follow existing pipeline, utility, 
and road rights-of-way to the maximum extent practicable.

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 
\3\ 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 scope of the issues to address in the EIS. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EIS, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     socioeconomics;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before 
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we 
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their 
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EIS.
    The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We 
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the 
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the 
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. 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 
related to this project to formally cooperate with us in the 
preparation of the EIS.\4\ 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. Currently, the West Virginia Department of Environmental 
Protection has expressed its intention to participate as a cooperating 
agency in the preparation of

[[Page 75085]]

the EIS to provide special expertise on environmental issues related to 
this project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 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(s), 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.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of 
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) 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 EIS for this project will document our 
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status 
of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Columbia. This preliminary 
list of issues may change based on your comments and our analysis.
     Removal of forested areas;
     impacts on endangered and threatened species that not 
covered under Columbia's Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan;
     changes to existing land uses; and
     safety of landowners during the operation of the proposed 
pipeline.

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 
planned project.
    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 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Columbia files its 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. Motions to intervene are more fully described at 
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions 
for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention 
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 a 
formal application for the project.

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., PF15-
31-000). 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.
    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: November 18, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-30395 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices                                                75083

                                              DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                       Washington, DC on or before December                    comments to the Commission. The
                                                                                                         17, 2015.                                               Commission will provide equal
                                              Federal Energy Regulatory                                    If you sent comments on this project                  consideration to all comments received,
                                              Commission                                                 to the Commission before the opening of                 whether filed in written form or
                                                                                                         this docket on September 16, 2015, you                  provided verbally. The Commission
                                              [Docket No. PF15–31–000]                                   will need to file those comments in                     encourages electronic filing of
                                                                                                         Docket No. PF15–31–000 to ensure they                   comments and has expert staff available
                                              Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC;                            are considered as part of this                          to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or
                                              Notice of Intent To Prepare an                             proceeding.                                             efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow
                                              Environmental Impact Statement for                           This notice is being sent to the                      these instructions so that your
                                              the Planned Mountaineer XPress                             Commission’s current environmental                      comments are properly recorded.
                                              Project, Request for Comments on                           mailing list for this project. State and
                                                                                                                                                                    (1) You can file your comments
                                              Environmental Issues and Notice of                         local government representatives should
                                                                                                         notify their constituents of this planned               electronically using the eComment
                                              Public Scoping Meeting                                                                                             feature on the Commission’s Web site
                                                                                                         project and encourage them to comment
                                                                                                         on their areas of concern.                              (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
                                                 The staff of the Federal Energy                                                                                 Documents and Filings. This is an easy
                                              Regulatory Commission (FERC or                               If you are a landowner receiving this
                                                                                                         notice, a pipeline company                              method for submitting brief, text-only
                                              Commission) will prepare an                                                                                        comments on a project;
                                              environmental impact statement (EIS)                       representative may contact you about
                                              that will discuss the environmental                        the acquisition of an easement to                          (2) You can file your comments
                                              impacts of the Mountaineer XPress                          construct, operate, and maintain the                    electronically by using the eFiling
                                              Project (MXP) involving construction                       planned facilities. The company would                   feature on the Commission’s Web site
                                              and operation of facilities by Columbia                    seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable                 (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
                                              Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in 14                     agreement. However, if the Commission                   Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
                                              counties in the western portion of West                    approves the project, that approval                     you can provide comments in a variety
                                              Virginia. The Commission will use this                     conveys with it the right of eminent                    of formats by attaching them as a file
                                              EIS in its decision-making process to                      domain. Therefore, if easement                          with your submission. New eFiling
                                              determine whether the project is in the                    negotiations fail to produce an                         users must first create an account by
                                              public convenience and necessity.                          agreement, the pipeline company could                   clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
                                                                                                         initiate condemnation proceedings                       a comment on a particular project,
                                                 This notice announces the opening of                    where compensation would be                             please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
                                              the scoping process the Commission                         determined in accordance with state                     the filing type; or
                                              will use to gather input from the public                   law.
                                              and interested agencies on the project.                                                                               (3) You can file a paper copy of your
                                                                                                           A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
                                              You can make a difference by providing                                                                             comments by mailing them to the
                                                                                                         entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
                                              us with your specific comments or                                                                                  following address. Be sure to reference
                                                                                                         Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
                                              concerns about the project. Your                                                                                   the project docket number (PF15–31–
                                                                                                         To Know?’’ is available for viewing on
                                              comments should focus on the potential                                                                             000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
                                                                                                         the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This
                                              environmental effects, reasonable                                                                                  Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
                                                                                                         fact sheet addresses a number of
                                              alternatives, and measures to avoid or                                                                             Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
                                                                                                         typically asked questions, including the
                                              lessen environmental impacts. Your                                                                                 NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
                                                                                                         use of eminent domain and how to
                                              input will help the Commission staff                       participate in the Commission’s                            (4) In lieu of sending written or
                                              determine what issues they need to                         proceedings.                                            electronic comments, the Commission
                                              evaluate in the EIS. To ensure that your                                                                           invites you to attend one of the public
                                              comments are timely and properly                           Public Participation                                    scoping meetings its staff will conduct
                                              recorded, please send your comments so                       For your convenience, there are four                  in the project area, scheduled as
                                              that the Commission receives them in                       methods you can use to submit your                      follows.

                                                               SCHEDULE AND LOCATIONS FOR THE MOUNTAINEER XPRESS PROJECT PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS
                                                                                Date and time                                                                             Location

                                              Monday, December 7, 2015, 6:00 p.m. ...................................................   The Lewis Wetzel Family Center, 442 E. Benjamin Drive, New
                                                                                                                                          Martinsville, WV 26149.
                                              Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 6:00 p.m. ..................................................   Doddridge County Park—Main Lodge, 1252 Snowbird Road, West
                                                                                                                                          Union, WV 26456.
                                              Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 6:00 p.m. .............................................      Cedar Lake Conference Center—Assembly Hall, 82 FFA Drive, Ripley,
                                                                                                                                          WV 25271.
                                              Thursday, December 10, 2015, 6:00 p.m. ...............................................    LaBelle Theater, 311 D Street, South Charleston, WV 25303.



                                                The doors will open at 5 p.m. at                         environmental review process by                         speakers should structure their
                                              which time we will begin our sign up                       Commission staff, after which speakers                  comments accordingly. If time limits are
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              of speakers for the meetings. For the                      will be called. The meetings will end                   implemented, they will be strictly
                                              hour prior to the start of the meetings,                   once all speakers have provided their                   enforced to ensure that as many
                                              Columbia representatives will be                           comments or at 10 p.m., whichever                       individuals as possible are given an
                                              present with maps depicting the project                    comes first. Please note that depending                 opportunity to comment. The meetings
                                              and to answer questions.                                   on the number of people signed up to                    will be recorded by a court reporter to
                                                The scoping meetings will begin at 6                     speak, there may be a time limit of 3                   ensure comments are accurately
                                              p.m. with a description of our                             minutes to present comments, and                        recorded. Transcripts will be entered


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                                              75084                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices

                                              into the formal record of the                           1,295 feet and 814 feet in length, in                 filed comments during the preparation
                                              Commission proceeding.                                  Cabell County;                                        of the EIS.
                                                Please note this is not your only                       • installation of additional                           In the EIS, we will discuss impacts
                                              public input opportunity; refer to the                  compression at the anticipated Lone                   that could occur as a result of the
                                              review process flow chart in appendix                   Oak Compressor Station (Marshall                      construction and operation of the
                                              1.1                                                     County), Elk River Compressor Station                 planned project under these general
                                                                                                      (Wayne County), and Ceredo                            headings:
                                              Summary of the Planned Project
                                                                                                      Compressor Station (Kanawha                              • Geology and soils;
                                                 Columbia plans to construct and                      County)—all of which are under review                    • land use;
                                              operate approximately 167 miles of 36-                  in other Commission dockets; and                         • water resources, fisheries, and
                                              inch and 24-inch-diameter pipeline;                       • construction and/or installation of               wetlands;
                                              construct three new compressor stations                 other related equipment.                                 • cultural resources;
                                              and three regulator stations; and modify                  The general location of the project                    • vegetation and wildlife;
                                              three existing compressor stations and                  facilities is shown in appendix 2.                       • socioeconomics;
                                              other existing appurtenant facilities in                                                                         • air quality and noise;
                                              West Virginia. The MXP would provide                    Land Requirements for Construction                       • endangered and threatened species;
                                              about 2.7 billion standard cubic feet per                  Columbia has proposed to use a 125-                   • public safety; and
                                              day of natural gas transportation                       foot-wide right-of-way for construction                  • cumulative impacts.
                                              capacity from production areas to                       of the new pipeline in upland areas,                     We will also evaluate possible
                                              markets on the Columbia system.                         consisting of a 50-foot-wide permanent                alternatives to the planned project or
                                              According to Columbia, its project                      and a 75-foot-wide temporary right-of-                portions of the project, and make
                                              would enable infrastructure-constrained                 way, except where site conditions                     recommendations on how to lessen or
                                              natural gas supplies to reach waiting                   require specific workspace                            avoid impacts on the various resource
                                              markets served by Columbia’s system.                    configurations. Temporary right-of-way                areas.
                                              Columbia has entered into firm                          used during construction would be                        Although no formal application has
                                              contracts for over 88 percent of the MXP                restored and revert to former uses once               been filed, we have already initiated our
                                              capacity.                                               construction is completed. However, the               NEPA review under the Commission’s
                                                 The MXP would consist of the                                                                               pre-filing process. The purpose of the
                                                                                                      permanent right-of-way would be
                                              following facilities:                                                                                         pre-filing process is to encourage early
                                                                                                      maintained for permanent operation of
                                                 • Construction of 161.1 miles of new                                                                       involvement of interested stakeholders
                                                                                                      the MXP.
                                              36-inch-diameter pipeline and                                                                                 and to identify and resolve issues before
                                              associated equipment (main-line valves,                    Additional temporary workspace
                                                                                                                                                            the FERC receives an application. As
                                              pigging facilities,2 etc.), located in                  would be required at road, utility lines,
                                                                                                                                                            part of our pre-filing review, we have
                                              Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Doddridge,                     and waterbody crossings; steep slopes;
                                                                                                                                                            begun to contact some federal and state
                                              Ritchie, Calhoun, Wirt, Roane, Jackson,                 side slopes; horizontal directional drill
                                                                                                                                                            agencies to discuss their involvement in
                                              Mason, Putnam, and Cabell Counties,                     locations; and at the beginning and end
                                                                                                                                                            the scoping process and the preparation
                                              West Virginia;                                          of construction spreads for mobilizing
                                                                                                                                                            of the EIS.
                                                 • construction of 6.3 miles of 24-inch-              construction equipment. Disturbance
                                                                                                                                                               The EIS will present our independent
                                              diamter pipeline in Doddridge County                    would also result from the use of staging
                                                                                                                                                            analysis of the issues. We will publish
                                              (the Sherwood Lateral);                                 areas and construction of new and/or
                                                                                                                                                            and distribute the draft EIS for public
                                                 • construction of three new                          upgrading of existing access roads
                                                                                                                                                            comment. After the comment period, we
                                              compressor stations and related                         associated with construction and
                                                                                                                                                            will consider all timely comments and
                                              equipment in Doddridge County                           operation of the planned facilities.
                                                                                                                                                            revise the document, as necessary,
                                              (Sherwood Compressor Station), Ritchie                     The pipeline would be sited to follow              before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we
                                              County (White Oak Compressor                            existing pipeline, utility, and road                  have the opportunity to consider and
                                              Station), and Jackson County (Mt. Olive                 rights-of-way to the maximum extent                   address your comments, please carefully
                                              Compressor Station);                                    practicable.                                          follow the instructions in the Public
                                                 • construction of three new regulator                The EIS Process                                       Participation section, beginning on page
                                              stations and associated equipment in                                                                          2.
                                              Marshall County (the Leach                                The National Environmental Policy                      With this notice, we are asking
                                              Interconnect), Doddridge County                         Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to                 agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
                                              (Sherwood Lateral Regulator), and                       take into account the environmental                   or special expertise with respect to the
                                              Cabell County (the Saunders Creek Tie-                  impacts that could result from an action              environmental issues related to this
                                              in);                                                    whenever it considers the issuance of a               project to formally cooperate with us in
                                                 • replacement of two sections of                     Certificate of Public Convenience and                 the preparation of the EIS.4 Agencies
                                              existing 30-inch-diameter pipeline,                     Necessity. NEPA also requires us 3 to                 that would like to request cooperating
                                                                                                      discover and address concerns the                     agency status should follow the
                                                1 The appendices referenced in this notice will       public may have about proposals. This                 instructions for filing comments
                                              not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the       process is referred to as scoping. The                provided under the Public Participation
                                              appendices were sent to all those receiving this        main goal of the scoping process is to
                                              notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov                                                          section of this notice. Currently, the
                                              using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
                                                                                                      focus the analysis in the EIS on the                  West Virginia Department of
                                              Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First           important environmental issues. By this               Environmental Protection has expressed
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)         notice, the Commission requests public                its intention to participate as a
                                              502–8371. For instructions on connecting to             comments on the scope of the issues to
                                              eLibrary, refer to the ‘‘Additional Information’’                                                             cooperating agency in the preparation of
                                              section of this notice.
                                                                                                      address in the EIS. We will consider all
                                                2 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company                                                               4 The Council on Environmental Quality

                                              inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for          3 ‘‘We,’’
                                                                                                                ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the            regulations addressing cooperating agency
                                              cleaning, conducting internal inspections, or other     environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of     responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
                                              purposes.                                               Energy Projects.                                      Regulations, Part 1501.6.



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices                                               75085

                                              the EIS to provide special expertise on                   potential right-of-way grantors, whose                  In addition, the Commission offers a
                                              environmental issues related to this                      property may be used temporarily for                 free service called eSubscription which
                                              project.                                                  project purposes, or who own homes                   allows you to keep track of all formal
                                                                                                        within certain distances of aboveground              issuances and submittals in specific
                                              Consultations Under Section 106 of the
                                                                                                        facilities, and anyone who submits                   dockets. This can reduce the amount of
                                              National Historic Preservation Act
                                                                                                        comments on the project. We will                     time you spend researching proceedings
                                                In accordance with the Advisory                         update the environmental mailing list as             by automatically providing you with
                                              Council on Historic Preservation’s                        the analysis proceeds to ensure that we              notification of these filings, document
                                              implementing regulations for section                      send the information related to this                 summaries, and direct links to the
                                              106 of the National Historic                              environmental review to all individuals,             documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
                                              Preservation Act, we are using this                       organizations, and government entities               filing/esubscription.asp.
                                              notice to initiate consultation with the                  interested in and/or potentially affected               Finally, public meetings or site visits
                                              applicable State Historic Preservation                    by the planned project.                              will be posted on the Commission’s
                                              Office(s), and to solicit their views and                    Copies of the completed draft EIS will            calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
                                              those of other government agencies,                       be sent to the environmental mailing list            EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
                                              interested Indian tribes, and the public                  for public review and comment. If you                with other related information.
                                              on the project’s potential effects on                     would prefer to receive a paper copy of                Dated: November 18, 2015.
                                              historic properties.5 We will define the                  the document instead of the CD version               Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                              project-specific Area of Potential Effects                or would like to remove your name from
                                              (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s)                                                                         Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                        the mailing list, please return the                  [FR Doc. 2015–30395 Filed 11–30–15; 8:45 am]
                                              as the project develops. On natural gas                   attached Information Request (appendix
                                              facility projects, the APE at a minimum                   3).
                                                                                                                                                             BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                              encompasses all areas subject to ground
                                              disturbance (examples include                             Becoming an Intervenor
                                              construction right-of-way, contractor/                                                                         DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                                                                           Once Columbia files its application
                                              pipe storage yards, compressor stations,                  with the Commission, you may want to                 Federal Energy Regulatory
                                              and access roads). Our EIS for this                       become an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an                 Commission
                                              project will document our findings on                     official party to the Commission’s
                                              the impacts on historic properties and                    proceeding. Intervenors play a more                  Combined Notice of Filings #1
                                              summarize the status of consultations                     formal role in the process and are able
                                              under section 106.                                                                                                Take notice that the Commission
                                                                                                        to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be
                                                                                                                                                             received the following electric corporate
                                              Currently Identified Environmental                        heard by the courts if they choose to
                                                                                                                                                             filings:
                                              Issues                                                    appeal the Commission’s final ruling.
                                                                                                                                                                Docket Numbers: EC16–38–000.
                                                                                                        An intervenor formally participates in                  Applicants: The Potomac Edison
                                                 We have already identified several                     the proceeding by filing a request to
                                              issues that we think deserve attention                                                                         Company.
                                                                                                        intervene. Motions to intervene are                     Description: Application of The
                                              based on a preliminary review of the                      more fully described at http://
                                              planned facilities and the                                                                                     Potomac Edison Company for
                                                                                                        www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/                Authorization pursuant to Section 203
                                              environmental information provided by                     intervene.asp. Instructions for becoming
                                              Columbia. This preliminary list of                                                                             of the Federal Power Act, and Requests
                                                                                                        an intervenor are in the ‘‘Document-less             for Waivers of Certain Filing
                                              issues may change based on your                           Intervention Guide’’ under the ‘‘e-filing’’
                                              comments and our analysis.                                                                                     Requirements, Shortened Notice Period,
                                                                                                        link on the Commission’s Web site.
                                                 • Removal of forested areas;                                                                                and Expedited Consideration.
                                                                                                        Please note that the Commission will
                                                 • impacts on endangered and                                                                                    Filed Date: 11/20/15.
                                                                                                        not accept requests for intervenor status               Accession Number: 20151120–5315.
                                              threatened species that not covered
                                                                                                        at this time. You must wait until the                   Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/11/15.
                                              under Columbia’s Multi-Species Habitat
                                                                                                        Commission receives a formal                            Take notice that the Commission
                                              Conservation Plan;
                                                 • changes to existing land uses; and                   application for the project.                         received the following exempt
                                                 • safety of landowners during the                      Additional Information                               wholesale generator filings:
                                              operation of the proposed pipeline.                                                                               Docket Numbers: EG16–23–000.
                                                                                                           Additional information about the                     Applicants: Golden Hills
                                              Environmental Mailing List                                project is available from the                        Interconnection, LLC.
                                                 The environmental mailing list                         Commission’s Office of External Affairs                 Description: Notice of Self-
                                              includes federal, state, and local                        at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC Web                 Certification of Exempt Wholesale
                                              government representatives and                            site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary               Generator Status of Golden Hills
                                              agencies; elected officials;                              link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on           Interconnection, LLC.
                                              environmental and public interest                         ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket                 Filed Date: 11/20/15.
                                              groups; Native American Tribes; other                     number, excluding the last three digits                 Accession Number: 20151120–5233.
                                              interested parties; and local libraries                   in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF15–                 Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 12/11/15.
                                              and newspapers. This list also includes                   31–000). Be sure you have selected an                   Take notice that the Commission
                                              all affected landowners (as defined in                    appropriate date range. For assistance,              received the following electric rate
                                              the Commission’s regulations) who are                     please contact FERC Online Support at                filings:
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                                                                                                        FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free                 Docket Numbers: ER16–367–000.
                                                5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation         at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact                  Applicants: PJM Interconnection,
                                              regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal              (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also               L.L.C.
                                              Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define           provides access to the texts of formal                  Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
                                              historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
                                              district, site, building, structure, or object included
                                                                                                        documents issued by the Commission,                  Service Agreement Nos. 4290, 4291;
                                              in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register     such as orders, notices, and                         Queue Nos. Y3–044/Y3–050/Y3–053,
                                              of Historic Places.                                       rulemakings.                                         Y3–048 to be effective 10/21/2015.


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Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:10:42
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:10:42
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 75083 

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