81 FR 12896 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Dalton Expansion Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 48 (March 11, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 12896]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05504]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP15-117-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of the Dalton Expansion Project

    On March 19, 2015, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC 
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP15-117-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural 
gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the Dalton 
Expansion Project (Project), and would provide 448,000 dekatherms per 
day of incremental firm transportation service to markets in northwest 
Georgia.
    On April 2, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA March 31, 2016
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline June 29, 2016

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    Transco plans to construct and operate about 113 miles of new 
natural gas pipeline, and associated facilities in Coweta, Carroll, 
Douglas, Paulding, Bartow, Gordon, and Murray Counties, Georgia and 
install a new 21,830 horsepower compressor station in Carroll County, 
Georgia. Additionally, Transco plans to modify existing facilities 
along its mainline transmission system in Maryland, Virginia, and North 
Carolina to accommodate bidirectional flow.

Background

    On October 21, 2014, FERC staff issued a Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Dalton Expansion 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meetings (NOI). FERC staff also issued two supplemental 
NOIs for the Project on November 14, 2014 and February 13, 2015. The 
original NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project in 
Docket No. PF14-10-000. All three NOIs were sent to affected 
landowners; applicable federal, state, and local government agencies; 
elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native 
American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and 
newspapers. In response to the NOIs, the Commission received comments 
from federal, state, and local agencies, the Tuscarora Nation, and 
several landowners. The primary issues raised by the commentors are 
alternative routes to minimize impacts on known rare species habitat, 
alternative routes to follow the existing utility corridor, mitigation 
measures to minimize right-of-way erosion and stormwater runoff into 
streams, air emissions, safety, and cultural resources.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP15-117), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to 
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at [email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued 
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: March 7, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-05504 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P