80 FR 77621 - Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southwest Louisiana Supply Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 240 (December 15, 2015)

Page Range		77621-77623
FR Document		2015-31473

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77621-77623]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31473]

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-12-000]

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southwest
Louisiana Supply 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 Southwest Louisiana Supply
Project (Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Tennessee) in Madison,
Franklin, Richland, and Rapides Parishes, Louisiana. The Commission
will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether
the project is in the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. You can make a difference by providing 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 January 11, 2016.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on October 26, 2015, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. CP16-12-000 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.
Tennessee provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the
FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do
I Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on
the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Public Participation

For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at
(202) 502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully

[[Page 77622]]

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
(CP16-12-000) 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

The purpose of the Southwest Louisiana Supply Project is to provide
295,000 dekatherms per day of firm natural gas capacity to Tennessee's
800 Line. The Southwest Louisiana Supply Project would consist of
construction and modification of the following facilities:
Construction of a new 2.4-mile-long, 30-inch-diameter
lateral pipeline to be known as the Delhi North Lateral and two new
meter station interconnects to be known as the Midcontinent Express
Pipeline Meter Station (MEP Meter Station) and the Gulf Crossing
Pipeline Meter Station (Gulf Crossing Meter Station) in Madison Parish,
Louisiana;
construction of a new 1.4-mile-long-30-inch-diameter
lateral pipeline to be known as the Delhi South Latera, three new meter
station interconnects to be known as the Enable Midstream Partners
Meter Station (Enable Meter Station), the Gulf South Pipeline Meter
Station (Gulf South Meter Station), and the Tiger Pipeline Meter
Station (Tiger Meter Station) in Franklin and Richland Parishes,
Louisiana;
construction of a new compressor station to be known as
the Delhi Compressor Station 836A in Franklin, Parish, Louisiana; and
modifications at the Alexandria Compressor Station,
including turbine replacement in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb approximately
108.4 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, Tennessee would maintain about 76.5 acres for
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage
would be restored and revert to former uses.

The EA Process

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\2\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\2\ ``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.\3\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the
Public Participation section of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\3\ 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.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status
of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 77623]]

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 of the EA 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., CP16-
12-000). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription 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: December 9, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-31473 Filed 12-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

77622 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 / Notices

follow these instructions so that your The general location of the project received during the scoping process, we
comments are properly recorded. facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 may also publish and distribute the EA
(1) You can file your comments to the public for an allotted comment
electronically using the eComment Land Requirements for Construction
period. We will consider all comments
feature on the Commission’s Web site Construction of the proposed facilities on the EA before making our
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to would disturb approximately 108.4 recommendations to the Commission.
Documents and Filings. This is an easy acres of land for the aboveground To ensure we have the opportunity to
method for submitting brief, text-only facilities and the pipeline. Following consider and address your comments,
comments on a project; construction, Tennessee would please carefully follow the instructions
(2) You can file your comments maintain about 76.5 acres for permanent in the Public Participation section,
electronically by using the eFiling operation of the project’s facilities; the beginning on page 2.
feature on the Commission’s Web site remaining acreage would be restored With this notice, we are asking
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to and revert to former uses. agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, or special expertise with respect to the
you can provide comments in a variety The EA Process environmental issues of this project to
of formats by attaching them as a file The National Environmental Policy formally cooperate with us in the
with your submission. New eFiling Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to preparation of the EA.3 Agencies that
users must first create an account by take into account the environmental would like to request cooperating
clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing impacts that could result from an action agency status should follow the
a comment on a particular project, whenever it considers the issuance of a instructions for filing comments
please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as Certificate of Public Convenience and provided under the Public Participation
the filing type; or Necessity. NEPA also requires us 2 to section of this notice.
(3) You can file a paper copy of your discover and address concerns the
Consultations Under Section 106 of the
comments by mailing them to the public may have about proposals. This
National Historic Preservation Act
following address. Be sure to reference process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The
the project docket number (CP16–12– main goal of the scoping process is to In accordance with the Advisory
000) with your submission: Kimberly D. focus the analysis in the EA on the Council on Historic Preservation’s
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy important environmental issues. By this implementing regulations for section
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street notice, the Commission requests public 106 of the National Historic
NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. comments on the scope of the issues to Preservation Act, we are using this
address in the EA. We will consider all notice to initiate consultation with the
Summary of the Proposed Project applicable State Historic Preservation
filed comments during the preparation
The purpose of the Southwest of the EA. Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views
Louisiana Supply Project is to provide In the EA we will discuss impacts that and those of other government agencies,
295,000 dekatherms per day of firm could occur as a result of the interested Indian tribes, and the public
natural gas capacity to Tennessee’s 800 construction and operation of the on the project’s potential effects on
Line. The Southwest Louisiana Supply proposed project under these general historic properties.4 We will define the
Project would consist of construction headings: project-specific Area of Potential Effects
and modification of the following • Geology and soils; (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as
facilities: • land use; the project develops. On natural gas
• Construction of a new 2.4-mile- • water resources, fisheries, and facility projects, the APE at a minimum
long, 30-inch-diameter lateral pipeline wetlands; encompasses all areas subject to ground
to be known as the Delhi North Lateral • cultural resources; disturbance (examples include
and two new meter station • vegetation and wildlife; construction right-of-way, contractor/
interconnects to be known as the • air quality and noise; pipe storage yards, compressor stations,
Midcontinent Express Pipeline Meter • endangered and threatened species; and access roads). Our EA for this
Station (MEP Meter Station) and the • public safety; and project will document our findings on
Gulf Crossing Pipeline Meter Station • cumulative impacts the impacts on historic properties and
(Gulf Crossing Meter Station) in We will also evaluate reasonable summarize the status of consultations
Madison Parish, Louisiana; alternatives to the proposed project or under section 106.
• construction of a new 1.4-mile-long- portions of the project, and make Environmental Mailing List
30-inch-diameter lateral pipeline to be recommendations on how to lessen or
known as the Delhi South Latera, three avoid impacts on the various resource The environmental mailing list
new meter station interconnects to be areas. includes federal, state, and local
known as the Enable Midstream The EA will present our independent government representatives and
Partners Meter Station (Enable Meter analysis of the issues. The EA will be agencies; elected officials;
Station), the Gulf South Pipeline Meter available in the public record through environmental and public interest
Station (Gulf South Meter Station), and eLibrary. Depending on the comments groups; Native American Tribes; other
the Tiger Pipeline Meter Station (Tiger interested parties; and local libraries
Meter Station) in Franklin and Richland 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will

not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of 3 The Council on Environmental Quality
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Parishes, Louisiana;
• construction of a new compressor appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
station to be known as the Delhi using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the Regulations, Part 1501.6.
Compressor Station 836A in Franklin, Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First 4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s

Parish, Louisiana; and Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
• modifications at the Alexandria 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
Compressor Station, including turbine 2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the district, site, building, structure, or object included
replacement in Rapides Parish, environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
Louisiana. Energy Projects. of Historic Places.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Dec 14, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM 15DEN1

Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:16:40
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:16:40

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 77621

80 FR 77621 - Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southwest Louisiana Supply Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 240 (December 15, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission