81_FR_10652 81 FR 10612 - Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Cedar Station Upgrade Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

81 FR 10612 - Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Cedar Station Upgrade Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)

Page Range10612-10615
FR Document2016-04393

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10612-10615]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04393]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[ Docket No. PF15-32-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned Cedar Station Upgrade 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 assessment (EA) that will

[[Page 10613]]

discuss the environmental impacts of the Cedar Station Upgrade Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Northern Natural 
Gas Company (Northern) in Dakota County, Minnesota. 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 March 24, 2016.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on September 28, 2015, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. PF15-32-000 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 
(PF15-32-000) 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 the public scoping meeting its staff 
will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows.

    FERC Public Scoping Meeting for the Cedar Station Upgrade Project
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Location                           Date and Time
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilton Garden Inn, 1975 Rahncliff Court,    Tuesday, March 15, 2016,
 Eagan, MN 55122.                            11:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
                                             local time
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You may attend at any time during the meeting, as the primary goal 
of a scoping meeting is for us to have your verbal environmental 
concerns documented. There will not be a formal presentation by 
Commission staff, but FERC staff will be available to answer your 
questions about the FERC environmental review process. Representatives 
of Northern will also be present to answer questions about the project.
    Verbal comments will be recorded by a court reporter and 
transcripts will be placed into the docket for the project and made 
available for public viewing on FERC's eLibrary system (see page 7 
``Additional Information'' for instructions on using eLibrary). It is 
important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight as written 
or electronically submitted comments. If a significant number of people 
are interested in providing verbal comments, a time limit of 3 to 5 
minutes may be implemented for each commenter to ensure all those 
wishing to comment have the opportunity to do so within the designated 
meeting time. Time limits will be strictly enforced if they are 
implemented.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Northern plans to construct and operate approximately 7.8 miles of 
20-inch-diameter pipeline from its existing Rosemont Junction in 
Rosemont, Minnesota, to its existing Cedar Station Meter Station in 
Eagan, Minnesota. The Cedar Station Upgrade Project would allow 
Northern to increase the pressure from 400 pounds per square inch gauge 
(psig) to 650 psig at the Cedar Station. According to Northern, its 
project would accommodate a contractual obligation to meet a delivery 
pressure for Northern States Power Company's Black Dog Generating 
Station.
    The Cedar Station Upgrade Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     7.8 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline loop \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     a pig \2\ launcher and receiver;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     modified and new regulators; and
     cathodic protection test stations.
    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 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 page 7 of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 114 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, Northern would maintain about 43 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would

[[Page 10614]]

be restored and revert to former uses. About 90 percent of the planned 
pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-
way.

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 planned 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 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 EA.
    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 we make 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 
related to 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 Minnesota 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 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 Northern. This preliminary 
list of issues may change based on your comments and our analysis.

 Alternative routes
 Recreational impacts
 Forested impacts
 Residential construction

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.
    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

    Once Northern 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

[[Page 10615]]

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., PF15-32). 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: February 23, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
 Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-04393 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                                    10612                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    submit brief comments up to 6,000                       extending from the project substation to                 All filings must (1) bear in all capital
                                                    characters, without prior registration,                 the Peterson Flat substation (the point of            letters the title ‘‘PROTEST’’, ‘‘MOTION
                                                    using the eComment system at http://                    interconnection); and (11) appurtenant                TO INTERVENE’’, ‘‘NOTICE OF
                                                    www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/                               facilities. The estimated annual                      INTENT TO FILE COMPETING
                                                    ecomment.asp. You must include your                     generation of the Clark Canyon Dam                    APPLICATION,’’ ‘‘COMPETING
                                                    name and contact information at the end                 Project would be 15.4 gigawatt-hours.                 APPLICATION,’’ ‘‘COMMENTS,’’
                                                    of your comments. For assistance,                       All project facilities would be located               ‘‘REPLY COMMENTS,’’
                                                    please contact FERC Online Support at                   on federal lands owned by the U.S.                    ‘‘RECOMMENDATIONS,’’ ‘‘TERMS
                                                    FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)                       Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S.                    AND CONDITIONS,’’ or
                                                    208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659                 Bureau of Land Management. The                        ‘‘PRESCRIPTIONS;’’ (2) set forth in the
                                                    (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please             applicant proposes to operate the                     heading the name of the applicant and
                                                    send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal                project as run-of-release.                            the project number of the application to
                                                    Energy Regulatory Commission, 888                          m. A copy of the application is                    which the filing responds; (3) furnish
                                                    First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.                 available for review at the Commission                the name, address, and telephone
                                                    The first page of any filing should                     in the Public Reference Room or may be                number of the person protesting or
                                                    include docket number P–14677–001.                      viewed on the Commission’s Web site at                intervening; and (4) otherwise comply
                                                       The Commission’s Rules of Practice                   http://www.ferc.gov using the                         with the requirements of 18 CFR
                                                    require all intervenors filing documents                ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket                   385.2001 through 385.2005. All
                                                    with the Commission to serve a copy of                  number excluding the last three digits in             comments, recommendations, terms and
                                                    that document on each person on the                     the docket number field to access the                 conditions or prescriptions must set
                                                    official service list for the project.                  document. For assistance, contact FERC                forth their evidentiary basis and
                                                    Further, if an intervenor files comments                Online Support. A copy is also available              otherwise comply with the requirements
                                                    or documents with the Commission                        for inspection and reproduction at the                of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain
                                                    relating to the merits of an issue that                 address in item h above.                              copies of the application directly from
                                                    may affect the responsibilities of a                       Register online at http://                         the applicant. A copy of any protest or
                                                    particular resource agency, they must                   www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/                             motion to intervene must be served
                                                    also serve a copy of the document on                    esubscription.asp to be notified via                  upon each representative of the
                                                    that resource agency.                                   email of new filings and issuances                    applicant specified in the particular
                                                       k. This application has been accepted                                                                      application. A copy of all other filings
                                                                                                            related to this or other pending projects.
                                                    for filing and is now ready for                                                                               in reference to this application must be
                                                                                                            For assistance, contact FERC Online
                                                    environmental analysis.                                                                                       accompanied by proof of service on all
                                                       l. The Clark Canyon Dam                              Support.
                                                                                                               n. Any qualified applicant desiring to             persons listed in the service list
                                                    Hydroelectric Project would utilize the
                                                                                                            file a competing application must                     prepared by the Commission in this
                                                    U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Clark
                                                                                                            submit to the Commission, on or before                proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR
                                                    Canyon Dam and outlet works including
                                                    an intake structure and concrete conduit                the specified intervention deadline date,             4.34(b) and 385.2010.
                                                    in the reservoir. The project would                     a competing development application,                     o. A license applicant must file no
                                                    consist of the following new facilities:                or a notice of intent to file such an                 later than 60 days following the date of
                                                    (1) A 360-foot-long, 8-foot-diameter steel              application. Submission of a timely                   issuance of this notice: (1) A copy of the
                                                    penstock within the existing concrete                   notice of intent allows an interested                 water quality certification; (2) a copy of
                                                    conduit, ending in a trifurcation; (2) two              person to file the competing                          the request for certification, including
                                                    35-foot-long, 8-foot-diameter penstocks                 development application no later than                 proof of the date on which the certifying
                                                    extending from the trifurcation to the                  120 days after the specified intervention             agency received the request; or (3)
                                                    powerhouse, transitioning to 6-foot-                    deadline date. Applications for                       evidence of waiver of water quality
                                                    diameter before entering the                            preliminary permits will not be                       certification.
                                                    powerhouse; (3) a 10-foot-long, 8-foot-                 accepted in response to this notice.                    Dated: February 23, 2016.
                                                    diameter steel penstock leaving the                        A notice of intent must specify the                Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                                    trifurcation and ending in a 7-foot-                    exact name, business address, and                     Deputy Secretary.
                                                    diameter cone valve and reducer to                      telephone number of the prospective                   [FR Doc. 2016–04392 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    control discharge into the existing outlet              applicant, and must include an
                                                                                                                                                                  BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                    stilling basin; (4) a 65-foot-long, 46-foot-            unequivocal statement of intent to
                                                    wide reinforced concrete powerhouse                     submit a development application. A
                                                    containing two vertical Francis-type                    notice of intent must be served on the                DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                    turbine/generator units with a total                    applicant(s) named in this public notice.
                                                    capacity of 4.7 megawatts; (5) two 25-                     Anyone may submit comments, a                      Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                    foot-long steel draft tubes transitioning               protest, or a motion to intervene in                  Commission
                                                    to concrete draft tube/tailrace section;                accordance with the requirements of
                                                                                                            Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR               [ Docket No. PF15–32–000]
                                                    (6) a 17-foot-long, 15-foot-diameter
                                                    tailrace channel connecting with the                    385.210, .211, and .214. In determining               Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice
                                                    existing spillway stilling basin; (7) a 45-             the appropriate action to take, the                   of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
                                                    foot-long, 10-foot-wide aeration basin                  Commission will consider all protests or
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                  Assessment for the Planned Cedar
                                                    downstream of the powerhouse with                       other comments filed, but only those                  Station Upgrade Project, Request for
                                                    three frames containing 330 diffusers;                  who file a motion to intervene in                     Comments on Environmental Issues,
                                                    (8) a 1,100-foot-long, 4.16-kilovolt (kV)               accordance with the Commission’s                      and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting
                                                    buried transmission line from the                       Rules may become a party to the
                                                    powerhouse to a substation; (9) a                       proceeding. Any comments, protests, or                  The staff of the Federal Energy
                                                    substation containing step-up                           motions to intervene must be received                 Regulatory Commission (FERC or
                                                    transformers and switchgear; (10) a 7.9-                on or before the specified comment date               Commission) will prepare an
                                                    mile-long, 69-kV transmission line                      for the particular application.                       environmental assessment (EA) that will


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:18 Feb 29, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00048   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM   01MRN1


                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices                                                        10613

                                                    discuss the environmental impacts of                    Public Participation                                    present to answer questions about the
                                                    the Cedar Station Upgrade Project                                                                               project.
                                                    involving construction and operation of                    For your convenience, there are four                    Verbal comments will be recorded by
                                                    facilities by Northern Natural Gas                      methods you can use to submit your                      a court reporter and transcripts will be
                                                    Company (Northern) in Dakota County,                    comments to the Commission. The                         placed into the docket for the project
                                                    Minnesota. The Commission will use                      Commission will provide equal                           and made available for public viewing
                                                    this EA in its decision-making process                  consideration to all comments received,                 on FERC’s eLibrary system (see page 7
                                                    to determine whether the project is in                  whether filed in written form or                        ‘‘Additional Information’’ for
                                                    the public convenience and necessity.                   provided verbally. The Commission                       instructions on using eLibrary). It is
                                                       This notice announces the opening of                 encourages electronic filing of                         important to note that verbal comments
                                                    the scoping process the Commission                      comments and has expert staff available                 hold the same weight as written or
                                                    will use to gather input from the public                to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or                      electronically submitted comments. If a
                                                    and interested agencies on the project.                 efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow               significant number of people are
                                                    You can make a difference by providing                  these instructions so that your                         interested in providing verbal
                                                    us with your specific comments or                       comments are properly recorded.                         comments, a time limit of 3 to 5 minutes
                                                    concerns about the project. Your                           (1) You can file your comments                       may be implemented for each
                                                    comments should focus on the potential                  electronically using the eComment                       commenter to ensure all those wishing
                                                    environmental effects, reasonable                       feature on the Commission’s Web site                    to comment have the opportunity to do
                                                    alternatives, and measures to avoid or                  (www.ferc.gov) under the link to                        so within the designated meeting time.
                                                    lessen environmental impacts. Your                      Documents and Filings. This is an easy                  Time limits will be strictly enforced if
                                                    input will help the Commission staff                    method for submitting brief, text-only                  they are implemented.
                                                    determine what issues they need to                      comments on a project;
                                                                                                                                                                    Summary of the Planned Project
                                                    evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your                    (2) You can file your comments
                                                    comments are timely and properly                        electronically by using the eFiling                        Northern plans to construct and
                                                    recorded, please send your comments so                  feature on the Commission’s Web site                    operate approximately 7.8 miles of 20-
                                                    that the Commission receives them in                    (www.ferc.gov) under the link to                        inch-diameter pipeline from its existing
                                                    Washington, DC on or before March 24,                   Documents and Filings. With eFiling,                    Rosemont Junction in Rosemont,
                                                    2016.                                                   you can provide comments in a variety                   Minnesota, to its existing Cedar Station
                                                       If you sent comments on this project                 of formats by attaching them as a file                  Meter Station in Eagan, Minnesota. The
                                                    to the Commission before the opening of                 with your submission. New eFiling                       Cedar Station Upgrade Project would
                                                    this docket on September 28, 2015, you                  users must first create an account by                   allow Northern to increase the pressure
                                                    will need to file those comments in                     clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing            from 400 pounds per square inch gauge
                                                    Docket No. PF15–32–000 to ensure they                   a comment on a particular project,                      (psig) to 650 psig at the Cedar Station.
                                                    are considered as part of this                          please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as                According to Northern, its project
                                                    proceeding.                                             the filing type; or                                     would accommodate a contractual
                                                       This notice is being sent to the                                                                             obligation to meet a delivery pressure
                                                    Commission’s current environmental                         (3) You can file a paper copy of your
                                                                                                                                                                    for Northern States Power Company’s
                                                    mailing list for this project. State and                comments by mailing them to the
                                                                                                                                                                    Black Dog Generating Station.
                                                    local government representatives should                 following address. Be sure to reference
                                                                                                                                                                       The Cedar Station Upgrade Project
                                                    notify their constituents of this planned               the project docket number (PF15–32–
                                                                                                                                                                    would consist of the following facilities:
                                                    project and encourage them to comment                   000) with your submission: Kimberly D.                     • 7.8 miles of 20-inch-diameter
                                                    on their areas of concern.                              Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy                         pipeline loop 1
                                                       If you are a landowner receiving this                Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street                    • a pig 2 launcher and receiver;
                                                    notice, a pipeline company                              NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.                       • modified and new regulators; and
                                                    representative may contact you about                       (4) In lieu of sending written or                      • cathodic protection test stations.
                                                    the acquisition of an easement to                       electronic comments, the Commission                       The general location of the project
                                                    construct, operate, and maintain the                    invites you to attend the public scoping                facilities is shown in appendix 1.3
                                                    planned facilities. The company would                   meeting its staff will conduct in the
                                                                                                                                              Land Requirements for Construction
                                                    seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable                 project area, scheduled as follows.
                                                    agreement. However, if the Commission                                                       Construction of the planned facilities
                                                    approves the project, that approval                      FERC PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING FOR would disturb about 114 acres of land
                                                    conveys with it the right of eminent                      THE CEDAR STATION UPGRADE for the aboveground facilities and the
                                                    domain. Therefore, if easement                                                            pipeline. Following construction,
                                                                                                              PROJECT
                                                    negotiations fail to produce an                                                           Northern would maintain about 43 acres
                                                    agreement, the pipeline company could                        Location       Date and Time for permanent operation of the project’s
                                                    initiate condemnation proceedings                                                         facilities; the remaining acreage would
                                                                                                            Hilton Garden Inn, 1975      Tuesday, March 15,
                                                    where compensation would be                               Rahncliff Court, Eagan,      2016, 11:30 a.m. until     1 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed
                                                    determined in accordance with state                       MN 55122.                    7:30 p.m. local time
                                                                                                                                                                    parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
                                                    law.                                                                                                              2 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company
                                                       A fact sheet prepared by the FERC                      You may attend at any time during                     inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for
                                                    entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas                    the meeting, as the primary goal of a                   cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal
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                                                    Facility On My Land? What Do I Need                     scoping meeting is for us to have your                  inspections, or other purposes.
                                                                                                                                                                      3 The appendices referenced in this notice will
                                                    To Know?’’ is available for viewing on                  verbal environmental concerns                           not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
                                                    the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This                  documented. There will not be a formal                  appendices were sent to all those receiving this
                                                    fact sheet addresses a number of                        presentation by Commission staff, but                   notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
                                                    typically asked questions, including the                FERC staff will be available to answer                  using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
                                                                                                                                                                    Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
                                                    use of eminent domain and how to                        your questions about the FERC                           Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
                                                    participate in the Commission’s                         environmental review process.                           502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
                                                    proceedings.                                            Representatives of Northern will also be                eLibrary, refer to page 7 of this notice.



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                                                    10614                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices

                                                    be restored and revert to former uses.                  period. We will consider all comments                     • Recreational impacts
                                                    About 90 percent of the planned                         on the EA before we make our                              • Forested impacts
                                                    pipeline route parallels existing                       recommendations to the Commission.                        • Residential construction
                                                    pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way.               To ensure we have the opportunity to                      Environmental Mailing List
                                                                                                            consider and address your comments,
                                                    The EA Process                                          please carefully follow the instructions                     The environmental mailing list
                                                       The National Environmental Policy                    in the Public Participation section,                      includes federal, state, and local
                                                    Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to                   beginning on page 2.                                      government representatives and
                                                    take into account the environmental                       With this notice, we are asking                         agencies; elected officials;
                                                    impacts that could result from an action                agencies with jurisdiction by law and/                    environmental and public interest
                                                    whenever it considers the issuance of a                 or special expertise with respect to the                  groups; Native American tribes; other
                                                    Certificate of Public Convenience and                   environmental issues related to this                      interested parties; and local libraries
                                                    Necessity. NEPA also requires us 4 to                   project to formally cooperate with us in                  and newspapers. This list also includes
                                                    discover and address concerns the                       the preparation of the EA.5 Agencies                      all affected landowners (as defined in
                                                    public may have about proposals. This                   that would like to request cooperating                    the Commission’s regulations) who are
                                                    process is referred to as scoping. The                  agency status should follow the                           potential right-of-way grantors, whose
                                                    main goal of the scoping process is to                  instructions for filing comments                          property may be used temporarily for
                                                    focus the analysis in the EA on the                     provided under the Public Participation                   project purposes, or who own homes
                                                    important environmental issues. By this                 section of this notice.                                   within certain distances of aboveground
                                                    notice, the Commission requests public                                                                            facilities, and anyone who submits
                                                                                                            Consultations Under Section 106 of the                    comments on the project. We will
                                                    comments on the scope of the issues to                  National Historic Preservation Act
                                                    address in the EA. We will consider all                                                                           update the environmental mailing list as
                                                    filed comments during the preparation                     In accordance with the Advisory                         the analysis proceeds to ensure that we
                                                    of the EA.                                              Council on Historic Preservation’s                        send the information related to this
                                                       In the EA we will discuss impacts that               implementing regulations for section                      environmental review to all individuals,
                                                    could occur as a result of the                          106 of the National Historic                              organizations, and government entities
                                                    construction and operation of the                       Preservation Act, we are using this                       interested in and/or potentially affected
                                                    planned project under these general                     notice to initiate consultation with the                  by the planned project.
                                                    headings:                                               Minnesota State Historic Preservation                        If we publish and distribute the EA,
                                                       • Geology and soils;                                 Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views                 copies will be sent to the environmental
                                                       • land use;                                          and those of other government agencies,                   mailing list for public review and
                                                       • water resources, fisheries, and                    interested Indian tribes, and the public                  comment. If you would prefer to receive
                                                    wetlands;                                               on the project’s potential effects on                     a paper copy of the document instead of
                                                       • cultural resources;                                historic properties.6 We will define the                  the CD version or would like to remove
                                                       • vegetation and wildlife;                           project-specific Area of Potential Effects                your name from the mailing list, please
                                                       • air quality and noise;                             (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as                    return the attached Information Request
                                                       • endangered and threatened species;                 the project develops. On natural gas                      (appendix 2).
                                                       • public safety; and                                 facility projects, the APE at a minimum
                                                                                                            encompasses all areas subject to ground                   Becoming an Intervenor
                                                       • cumulative impacts.
                                                       We will also evaluate possible                       disturbance (examples include                                Once Northern files its application
                                                    alternatives to the planned project or                  construction right-of-way, contractor/                    with the Commission, you may want to
                                                    portions of the project, and make                       pipe storage yards, compressor stations,                  become an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an
                                                    recommendations on how to lessen or                     and access roads). Our EA for this                        official party to the Commission’s
                                                    avoid impacts on the various resource                   project will document our findings on                     proceeding. Intervenors play a more
                                                    areas.                                                  the impacts on historic properties and                    formal role in the process and are able
                                                       Although no formal application has                   summarize the status of consultations                     to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be
                                                    been filed, we have already initiated our               under section 106.                                        heard by the courts if they choose to
                                                    NEPA review under the Commission’s                      Currently Identified Environmental                        appeal the Commission’s final ruling.
                                                    pre-filing process. The purpose of the                  Issues                                                    An intervenor formally participates in
                                                    pre-filing process is to encourage early                                                                          the proceeding by filing a request to
                                                                                                               We have already identified several                     intervene. Motions to intervene are
                                                    involvement of interested stakeholders                  issues that we think deserve attention
                                                    and to identify and resolve issues before                                                                         more fully described at http://
                                                                                                            based on a preliminary review of the                      www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/
                                                    the FERC receives an application. As                    planned facilities and the
                                                    part of our pre-filing review, we have                                                                            intervene.asp. Instructions for becoming
                                                                                                            environmental information provided by                     an intervenor are in the ‘‘Document-less
                                                    begun to contact some federal and state                 Northern. This preliminary list of issues
                                                    agencies to discuss their involvement in                                                                          Intervention Guide’’ under the ‘‘e-filing’’
                                                                                                            may change based on your comments                         link on the Commission’s Web site.
                                                    the scoping process and the preparation                 and our analysis.
                                                    of the EA.                                                                                                        Please note that the Commission will
                                                                                                            • Alternative routes                                      not accept requests for intervenor status
                                                       The EA will present our independent
                                                    analysis of the issues. The EA will be                                                                            at this time. You must wait until the
                                                                                                              5 The Council on Environmental Quality
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                                                    available in the public record through                                                                            Commission receives a formal
                                                                                                            regulations addressing cooperating agency
                                                    eLibrary. Depending on the comments                     responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal         application for the project.
                                                    received during the scoping process, we                 Regulations, Part 1501.6.
                                                                                                              6 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
                                                                                                                                                                      Additional Information
                                                    may also publish and distribute the EA
                                                                                                            regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal                 Additional information about the
                                                    to the public for an allotted comment                   Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define           project is available from the
                                                                                                            historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
                                                      4 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the            district, site, building, structure, or object included
                                                                                                                                                                      Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
                                                    environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of       in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register     at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web
                                                    Energy Projects.                                        of Historic Places.                                       site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary


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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices                                                  10615

                                                    link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on                Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:                     Description: Annual Compliance
                                                    ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket                 PG&E UOG SGIA and LGIA Revisions to                   Monitoring and Enforcement Program
                                                    number, excluding the last three digits                 be effective                                          Filing of North American Electric
                                                    in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF15–                 4/25/2016.                                            Reliability Corporation.
                                                    32). Be sure you have selected an                         Filed Date: 2/22/16.                                   Filed Date: 2/18/16.
                                                    appropriate date range. For assistance,                   Accession Number: 20160222–5184.                       Accession Number: 20160218–5218.
                                                    please contact FERC Online Support at                     Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/14/16.                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/10/16.
                                                    FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free                   Docket Numbers: ER16–985–000.                          The filings are accessible in the
                                                    at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact                    Applicants: Arizona Public Service                  Commission’s eLibrary system by
                                                    (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also                  Company.                                              clicking on the links or querying the
                                                    provides access to the texts of formal                    Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:                  docket number.
                                                    documents issued by the Commission,                     Limited Section 205 Filing—IRS                           Any person desiring to intervene or
                                                    such as orders, notices, and                            Normalization ADIT to be effective 4/                 protest in any of the above proceedings
                                                    rulemakings.                                            23/2016.                                              must file in accordance with Rules 211
                                                       In addition, the Commission offers a                   Filed Date: 2/22/16.                                and 214 of the Commission’s
                                                    free service called eSubscription which                   Accession Number: 20160222–5210.                    Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
                                                    allows you to keep track of all formal                    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/14/16                     385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern
                                                    issuances and submittals in specific                      Docket Numbers: ER16–986–000.                       time on the specified comment date.
                                                    dockets. This can reduce the amount of                    Applicants: The Narragansett Electric               Protests may be considered, but
                                                    time you spend researching proceedings                  Company.                                              intervention is necessary to become a
                                                    by automatically providing you with                       Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Cost             party to the proceeding.
                                                    notification of these filings, document                 Reimbursement Agreement between                          eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
                                                    summaries, and direct links to the                      Narragansett & CV South Street Landing                information relating to filing
                                                    documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-                     LLC to be effective 2/19/2016.                        requirements, interventions, protests,
                                                    filing/esubscription.asp.                                 Filed Date: 2/22/16.                                service, and qualifying facilities filings
                                                       Finally, public meetings or site visits                Accession Number: 20160222–5224.                    can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/
                                                    will be posted on the Commission’s                        Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/14/16.                    docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
                                                    calendar located at www.ferc.gov/                         Docket Numbers: ER16–987–000.                       other information, call (866) 208–3676
                                                    EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along                       Applicants: Wisconsin Power and                     (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
                                                    with other related information.                         Light Company.                                          Dated: February 23, 2016.
                                                      Dated: February 23, 2016.                               Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:                  Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                                    Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                                Amended WPL–MGE LBAOCA
                                                                                                                                                                  Deputy Secretary.
                                                    Deputy Secretary.
                                                                                                            Agreement to be effective 2/22/2016.
                                                                                                                                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–04386 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                              Filed Date: 2/22/16.
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–04393 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am]                                                                   BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                              Accession Number: 20160222–5225.
                                                    BILLING CODE 6717–01–P                                    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/14/16.
                                                                                                              Docket Numbers: ER16–988–000.                       DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                      Applicants: Duke Energy Florida,
                                                                                                            LLC.                                                  Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                    Federal Energy Regulatory                                 Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: City             Commission
                                                    Commission                                              of Chattahoochee NITSA OATT SA No.
                                                                                                            154 to be effective 3/1/2016.                         Combined Notice of Filings
                                                    Combined Notice of Filings #1                             Filed Date: 2/23/16.
                                                                                                              Accession Number: 20160223–5033.                      Take notice that the Commission has
                                                       Take notice that the Commission                        Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/15/16.                    received the following Natural Gas
                                                    received the following exempt                                                                                 Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:
                                                                                                              Docket Numbers: ER16–989–000.
                                                    wholesale generator filings:
                                                                                                              Applicants: Southern California                     Filings Instituting Proceedings
                                                       Docket Numbers: EG16–56–000.
                                                       Applicants: Red Horse III, LLC.                      Edison Company.                                          Docket Numbers: RP16–620–000.
                                                       Description: Notice of Self-                           Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:                     Applicants: Transcontinental Gas
                                                    Certification of Exempt Wholesale                       Market-Based Rates Tariff 2015 Update                 Pipe Line Company,
                                                    Generator Status of Red Horse III, LLC.                 to be effective 4/24/2016.                               Description: Transcontinental Gas
                                                       Filed Date: 2/23/16.                                   Filed Date: 2/23/16.                                Pipe Line Company, LLC submits a
                                                       Accession Number: 20160223–5123.                       Accession Number: 20160223–5043.                    request for waiver of the Commission’s
                                                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/15/16.                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/15/16.                    capacity release regulations to allow a
                                                       Docket Numbers: EG16–57–000.                           Docket Numbers: ER16–990–000.                       transaction to occur under RP16–620.
                                                       Applicants: 62SK 8ME LLC.                              Applicants: Avista Corporation.                        Filed Date: 2/22/16.
                                                       Description: Notice of Self-                           Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:                     Accession Number: 20160222–5161.
                                                    Certification of Exempt Wholesale                       Avista Corp NITSA Low Voltage                            Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/7/16.
                                                    Generator Status of 62SK 8ME LLC.                       Facilities Chgs to be effective 4/1/2016.                Docket Numbers: RP16–621–000.
                                                       Filed Date: 2/23/16.                                   Filed Date: 2/23/16.                                   Applicants: PGPipeline LLC.
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                                                       Accession Number: 20160223–5126.                       Accession Number: 20160223–5074.                       Description: Section 4(d) Rate Filing:
                                                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/15/16.                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/15/16.                    Annual FRP Filing to be effective 4/1/
                                                       Take notice that the Commission                        Take notice that the Commission                     2016.
                                                    received the following electric rate                    received the following electric                          Filed Date: 2/22/16.
                                                    filings:                                                reliability filings:                                     Accession Number: 20160222–5182.
                                                       Docket Numbers: ER16–984–000.                          Docket Numbers: RR15–2–003.                            Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/7/16.
                                                       Applicants: Pacific Gas and Electric                   Applicants: North American Electric                    Any person desiring to intervene or
                                                    Company.                                                Reliability Corporation.                              protest in any of the above proceedings


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:59:51
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:59:51
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 Citation81 FR 10612 

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