81 FR 19167 - PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Penneast Pipeline Project
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 64 (April 4, 2016)
| Page Range | 19167-19168 | |
| FR Document | 2016-07536 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 19167-19168] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-07536] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15-558-000] PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Penneast Pipeline Project On September 24, 2015, PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC (PennEast) filed an application in Docket No. CP15-558-000 under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct, operate, and maintain a new natural gas pipeline system in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The proposed project is known as the PennEast Pipeline Project and will provide approximately 1.0 billion cubic feet per day of year-round transportation natural gas service to markets in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. On October 8, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the project. Among other things, that notice alerted other agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the PennEast Pipeline Project. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS for the project. Schedule for Environmental Review Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--December 16, 2016. 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--March 16, 2017. If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be provided so the relevant agencies are kept informed of the project's progress. Project Description The project includes a total of 118.8 miles of pipeline and laterals composed of 115.0 miles of new, 36-inch-diameter pipeline extending from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Mercer County, New Jersey. The Project would also have three pipeline laterals: The 2.1- mile Hellertown Lateral consisting of 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Northampton County, Pennsylvania; the 0.1-mile Gilbert Lateral consisting of 12-inch-diameter pipeline in Hunterdon County, Pennsylvania; and the 1.5-mile Lambertville Lateral consisting of 36- inch-diameter pipeline in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The proposed aboveground facilities consist of a new, 47,700 horsepower compressor station in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The project would also include the construction of 8 meter and regulator stations, 11 mainline valves, and 11 pig launcher/ receiver sites. Background On October 10, 2014, the Commission staff granted PennEast's request to use the FERC's Pre-filing environmental review process and assigned the PennEast Pipeline Project Docket No. PF15-1-000. On January 13, 2015, the Commission issued, in that docket, a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned PennEast Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings (NOI). The NOI was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. The primary issues raised by the commenters during scoping included concerns about potential impacts on agricultural farms, ground water resources on Sourland Region, protected conservation lands, threatened and endangered species, archaeological sites, forest (i.e., fragmentation), and impacts on property value. In addition, the added responsibility for emergency response teams; potential for arsenic release into groundwater; safety of local residents in the event of a pipeline incident; long-term impacts of compressor stations on human health and the environment; construction in karst areas; and need for alternatives were also raised. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EIS 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 [[Page 19168]] 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., CP15-558), 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 29, 2016. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016-07536 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices 19167
FERC FORM 6–Q—QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT OF OIL COMPANIES
Annual Total annual
Total Average Cost per
number of burden hours
Number of respondents number of burden & cost respondent
responses per & total annual
responses per response 4 ($)
respondent cost
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
175 ....................................................................................... 3 525 150 78,750 32,400
$10,800 $5,670,000
markets in eastern and southeastern Background
Comments: Comments are invited on: Pennsylvania and New Jersey. On October 10, 2014, the Commission
(1) Whether the collection of On October 8, 2015, the Federal staff granted PennEast’s request to use
information is necessary for the proper Energy Regulatory Commission the FERC’s Pre-filing environmental
performance of the functions of the (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice review process and assigned the
Commission, including whether the of Application for the project. Among PennEast Pipeline Project Docket No.
information will have practical utility; other things, that notice alerted other PF15–1–000. On January 13, 2015, the
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate agencies issuing federal authorizations Commission issued, in that docket, a
of the burden and cost of the collection of the requirement to complete all Notice of Intent to Prepare an
of information, including the validity of necessary reviews and to reach a final Environmental Impact Statement for the
the methodology and assumptions used; decision on the request for a federal Planned PennEast Pipeline Project,
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility authorization within 90 days of the date Request for Comments on
and clarity of the information collection; of issuance of the Commission staff’s Environmental Issues, and Notice of
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of final Environmental Impact Statement Public Scoping Meetings (NOI). The NOI
the collection of information on those (EIS) for the PennEast Pipeline Project. was sent to affected landowners; federal,
who are to respond, including the use This instant notice identifies the FERC state, and local government agencies;
of automated collection techniques or staff’s planned schedule for completion elected officials; environmental and
other forms of information technology. of the final EIS for the project. public interest groups; Native American
Dated: March 29, 2016. tribes; other interested parties; and local
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Schedule for Environmental Review libraries and newspapers.
Deputy Secretary. Issuance of Notice of Availability of The primary issues raised by the
[FR Doc. 2016–07537 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am] the final EIS—December 16, 2016. commenters during scoping included
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
concerns about potential impacts on
90-day Federal Authorization agricultural farms, ground water
Decision Deadline—March 16, 2017. resources on Sourland Region, protected
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY If a schedule change becomes conservation lands, threatened and
necessary, additional notice will be endangered species, archaeological
Federal Energy Regulatory provided so the relevant agencies are sites, forest (i.e., fragmentation), and
Commission kept informed of the project’s progress. impacts on property value. In addition,
the added responsibility for emergency
Project Description response teams; potential for arsenic
[Docket No. CP15–558–000]
release into groundwater; safety of local
The project includes a total of 118.8
PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC; residents in the event of a pipeline
miles of pipeline and laterals composed
Notice of Schedule for Environmental incident; long-term impacts of
of 115.0 miles of new, 36-inch-diameter
Review of the Penneast Pipeline compressor stations on human health
pipeline extending from Luzerne
Project and the environment; construction in
County, Pennsylvania to Mercer County,
karst areas; and need for alternatives
On September 24, 2015, PennEast New Jersey. The Project would also have
were also raised.
Pipeline Company, LLC (PennEast) filed three pipeline laterals: The 2.1-mile The U.S. Environmental Protection
an application in Docket No. CP15–558– Hellertown Lateral consisting of 24- Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
000 under section 7(c) of the Natural inch-diameter pipeline in Northampton U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Gas Act seeking a Certificate of Public County, Pennsylvania; the 0.1-mile Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S.
Convenience and Necessity to construct, Gilbert Lateral consisting of 12-inch- Department of Transportation’s Pipeline
operate, and maintain a new natural gas diameter pipeline in Hunterdon County, and Hazardous Materials Safety
pipeline system in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania; and the 1.5-mile Administration are cooperating agencies
New Jersey. The proposed project is Lambertville Lateral consisting of 36- in the preparation of the EIS.
known as the PennEast Pipeline Project inch-diameter pipeline in Hunterdon
and will provide approximately 1.0 County, New Jersey. Additional Information
billion cubic feet per day of year-round
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The proposed aboveground facilities In order to receive notification of the
transportation natural gas service to consist of a new, 47,700 horsepower issuance of the EIS and to keep track of
compressor station in Kidder Township, all formal issuances and submittals in
4 The estimates for cost per response are derived Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The specific dockets, the Commission offers
using the 2015 FERC average salary plus benefits of project would also include the a free service called eSubscription. This
$149,489/year (or $72.00/hour). Commission staff
finds that the work done for this information
construction of 8 meter and regulator can reduce the amount of time you
collection is typically done by wage categories stations, 11 mainline valves, and 11 pig spend researching proceedings by
similar to those at FERC. launcher/receiver sites. automatically providing you with
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![19168 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 64 / Monday, April 4, 2016 / Notices
notification of these filings, document e. All local, state, and federal FERC Contact: Christiane Casey;
summaries, and direct links to the agencies, Indian tribes, and other phone: (202) 502–8577.
documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- interested parties are invited to Deadline for filing comments and
filing/esubscription.asp. participate by phone. Please call Andy motions to intervene: 60 days from the
Additional information about the Bernick at (202) 502–8660 by Thursday, issuance of this notice.
Project is available from the April 21, 2016, to RSVP and to receive The Commission strongly encourages
Commission’s Office of External Affairs specific instructions on how to electronic filing. Please file comments
at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC Web participate. and motions to intervene using the
site (www.ferc.gov). Using the Commission’s eFiling system at http://
Dated: March 29, 2016.
‘‘eLibrary’’ link, select ‘‘General Search’’ www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
from the eLibrary menu, enter the Commenters can submit brief comments
selected date range and ‘‘Docket Deputy Secretary.
up to 6,000 characters, without prior
Number’’ excluding the last three digits [FR Doc. 2016–07533 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
registration, using the eComment system
(i.e., CP15–558), and follow the BILLING CODE 6717–01–P at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
instructions. For assistance with access ecomment.asp. You must include your
to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached name and contact information at the end
at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
of your comments. For assistance,
or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The please contact FERC Online Support at
eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)
provides access to the texts of formal 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659
documents issued by the Commission, [Project No. 14744–000] (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please
such as orders, notices, and rule send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal
makings. Energy Resources USA, Inc.; Notice of Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
Dated: March 29, 2016. Preliminary Permit Application First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Accepted for Filing and Soliciting The first page of any filing should
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Comments and Motions To Intervene include docket number P–14744–000.
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–07536 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am] On December 22, 2015, Energy More information about this project,
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Resources USA, Inc. (Energy Resources) including a copy of the application, can
filed an application for a preliminary be viewed or printed on the ‘‘eLibrary’’
permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the link of the Commission’s Web site at
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Power Act (FPA), proposing to http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
study the feasibility of the Nolin Lake elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number
Federal Energy Regulatory Dam Hydroelectric Project (Nolin (P–14744) in the docket number field to
Commission Project or project) to be located at the access the document. For assistance,
[Project No. 12796–004] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Nolin contact FERC Online Support.
Lake Dam on the Nolin River in Dated: March 29, 2016.
City of Wadsworth, Ohio; Notice of Edmonson County, Kentucky. The sole Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Teleconference purpose of a preliminary permit, if Deputy Secretary.
a. Project Name and Number: R.C. issued, is to grant the permit holder [FR Doc. 2016–07534 Filed 4–1–16; 8:45 am]
Byrd Hydroelectric Project No. 12796. priority to file a license application
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
b. Date and Time of Meeting: during the permit term. A preliminary
Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. permit does not authorize the permit
(Eastern Daylight Time). holder to perform any land-disturbing DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
c. FERC Contact: Andy Bernick, activities or otherwise enter upon lands
andrew.bernick@ferc.gov or (202) 502– or waters owned by others without the Federal Energy Regulatory
8660. owners’ express permission. Commission
d. Purpose of Meeting: Commission The proposed project would consist of
the following: (1) A control structure [Project No. 14750–000]
staff will hold a teleconference to
discuss: (1) The Indiana Bat and with three 9.5-foot-wide, 25-foot-long Energy Resources USA, Inc.; Notice of
Northern Long Eared Bat Conservation spill gates; (2) one 10-foot-diameter, 65- Preliminary Permit Application
Plan and Mussel Monitoring and foot-long penstock with a butterfly Accepted for Filing and Soliciting
Conservation Plan for the R.C. Byrd valve; (3) a bifurcation structure; (4) two Comments and Motions To Intervene
Hydroelectric Project, filed in draft form 6.5-foot-diameter, 32-foot-long
on June 23, 2015, by American penstocks; (5) a powerhouse containing On December 22, 2015, Energy
Municipal Power, Inc. (or AMP, agent two generating units with a total Resources USA, Inc. (Energy Resources)
for the City of Wadsworth, Ohio); (2) the capacity of 7 megawatts; (6) a 1000-foot- filed an application for a preliminary
report entitled ‘‘Examining the Effect of long, 220-foot-wide tailrace; (7) a permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the
Potential Water Velocities on Mussel substation; and (8) a 3-mile-long, 69 kV Federal Power Act (FPA), proposing to
Populations at R.C. Byrd Lock and Dam transmission line. The proposed project study the feasibility of the Lake
on the Ohio River (ORM 279.2)’’ would have an estimated average annual Tuscaloosa Dam Hydroelectric Project
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
prepared for AMP and filed on February generation of 26,900 megawatt-hours, (Lake Tuscaloosa Project or project) to
10, 2016; and (3) the current status of and operate as directed by the Corps. be located at the U.S. Army Corps of
resolving the remaining information Applicant Contact: Mr. Ander Engineers’ Lake Tuscaloosa Dam on the
needs noted in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Gonzalez, Energy Resources USA Inc., North River in Tuscaloosa County,
Service’s Ohio Ecological Services Field 2655 Le Jeune Road, Suite 804, Coral Alabama. The sole purpose of a
Office and West Virginia Field Office Gables, Florida 33134; Phone: (954) preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant
comments on the draft plans filed 248–8425; Email: agonzalez@ the permit holder priority to file a
August 26, 2015. energyresources.es. license application during the permit
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Document Created: 2016-04-02 03:54:33
Document Modified: 2016-04-02 03:54:33
| 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 | 81 FR 19167 |
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