81 FR 27426 - National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY Abandonment Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 88 (May 6, 2016)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 88 (May 6, 2016)
| Page Range | 27426-27428 | |
| FR Document | 2016-10675 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 27426-27428] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-10675] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP16-125-000] National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY Abandonment Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY Abandonment Project involving construction and operation of facilities by National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (National Fuel) in Erie County, New York. 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 June 2, 2016. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on April 4, 2016, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP16-125-000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list for this project. State and local government representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with state law. National Fuel provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [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 (CP16-125-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Summary of the Proposed Project National Fuel proposes to install approximately 1.2 miles of new 20-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline (Line T2KNY), replace approximately 6.7 miles of 20-inch-diameter bare steel pipeline with 7.0 miles of 24-inch-diameter coated natural gas pipeline (Line TNY), abandon approximately 14.9 miles of 20-inch-diameter bare steel natural gas pipeline (Line KNY), make modifications at two existing National Fuel meter and regulator stations (North Boston and East Eden), and make modifications at National Fuel's existing Zoar Compressor Station in Erie County, New York. The Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY Abandonment Project would allow National Fuel to cure operating deficiencies on Line TNY and would provide an additional 2,600 dekatherms per day of new firm capacity which would be offered in an open season. This project would eliminate vintage bare steel pipeline, replacing it with modern, high strength, coated steel pipeline, therefore increasing the overall integrity and reliability of National Fuel's pipeline system. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 112 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, National Fuel would maintain about 52 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining [[Page 27427]] acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 54 percent of the proposed 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 \2\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings:Geology and soils; land use; water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; cultural resources; vegetation and wildlife; air quality and noise; endangered and threatened species; public safety; and cumulative impacts. We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2. With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on historic properties.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental Mailing List The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached Information Request (appendix 2). Becoming an Intervenor In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Additional Information Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC Web site at www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP16- 125). 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. [[Page 27428]] Dated: May 2, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016-10675 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![27426 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 88 / Friday, May 6, 2016 / Notices
Schedule for Environmental Review input will help the Commission staff feature on the Commission’s Web site
determine what issues they need to (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Issuance of the EA ..... May 13, 2016 evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
90-day Federal Author- comments are timely and properly you can provide comments in a variety
ization Decision recorded, please send your comments so of formats by attaching them as a file
Deadline .................. August 11, 2016 that the Commission receives them in with your submission. New eFiling
Washington, DC on or before June 2, users must first create an account by
If a schedule change becomes 2016. clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
necessary, an additional notice will be If you sent comments on this project a comment on a particular project,
provided so that the relevant agencies to the Commission before the opening of please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
are kept informed of the project’s this docket on April 4, 2016, you will the filing type; or
progress. need to file those comments in Docket (3) You can file a paper copy of your
Additional Information No. CP16–125–000 to ensure they are comments by mailing them to the
considered as part of this proceeding. following address. Be sure to reference
In order to receive notification of the This notice is being sent to the the project docket number (CP16–125–
issuance of the EA and to keep track of Commission’s current environmental 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
all formal issuances and submittals in mailing list for this project. State and Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
specific dockets, the Commission offers local government representatives should Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
a free service called eSubscription notify their constituents of this NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
(http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ proposed project and encourage them to
esubscription.asp). Summary of the Proposed Project
comment on their areas of concern.
Dated: April 29, 2016. If you are a landowner receiving this National Fuel proposes to install
Kimberly D. Bose, notice, a pipeline company approximately 1.2 miles of new 20-inch-
Secretary. representative may contact you about diameter natural gas pipeline (Line
[FR Doc. 2016–10670 Filed 5–5–16; 8:45 am] the acquisition of an easement to T2KNY), replace approximately 6.7
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P construct, operate, and maintain the miles of 20-inch-diameter bare steel
proposed facilities. The company would pipeline with 7.0 miles of 24-inch-
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable diameter coated natural gas pipeline
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY agreement. However, if the Commission (Line TNY), abandon approximately
approves the project, that approval 14.9 miles of 20-inch-diameter bare steel
Federal Energy Regulatory conveys with it the right of eminent natural gas pipeline (Line KNY), make
Commission domain. Therefore, if easement modifications at two existing National
negotiations fail to produce an Fuel meter and regulator stations (North
[Docket No. CP16–125–000]
agreement, the pipeline company could Boston and East Eden), and make
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; initiate condemnation proceedings modifications at National Fuel’s existing
Notice of Intent To Prepare an where compensation would be Zoar Compressor Station in Erie County,
Environmental Assessment for the determined in accordance with state New York. The Line T2KNY Install,
Proposed Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY law. Line TNY Replacement, and Line KNY
Replacement, and Line KNY National Fuel provided landowners Abandonment Project would allow
Abandonment Project, and Request for with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC National Fuel to cure operating
Comments on Environmental Issues entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas deficiencies on Line TNY and would
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need provide an additional 2,600 dekatherms
The staff of the Federal Energy To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a per day of new firm capacity which
Regulatory Commission (FERC or number of typically asked questions, would be offered in an open season.
Commission) will prepare an including the use of eminent domain This project would eliminate vintage
environmental assessment (EA) that will and how to participate in the bare steel pipeline, replacing it with
discuss the environmental impacts of Commission’s proceedings. It is also modern, high strength, coated steel
the Line T2KNY Install, Line TNY available for viewing on the FERC Web pipeline, therefore increasing the overall
Replacement, and Line KNY site (www.ferc.gov). integrity and reliability of National
Abandonment Project involving Fuel’s pipeline system.
construction and operation of facilities Public Participation The general location of the project
by National Fuel Gas Supply For your convenience, there are three facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
Corporation (National Fuel) in Erie methods you can use to submit your Land Requirements for Construction
County, New York. The Commission comments to the Commission. The
will use this EA in its decision-making Commission encourages electronic filing Construction of the proposed facilities
process to determine whether the of comments and has expert staff would disturb about 112 acres of land
project is in the public convenience and available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 for the aboveground facilities and the
necessity. or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully pipeline. Following construction,
This notice announces the opening of follow these instructions so that your National Fuel would maintain about 52
the scoping process the Commission comments are properly recorded. acres for permanent operation of the
will use to gather input from the public (1) You can file your comments project’s facilities; the remaining
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
and interested agencies on the project. electronically using the eComment 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
You can make a difference by providing feature on the Commission’s Web site
not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
us with your specific comments or (www.ferc.gov) under the link to appendices were sent to all those receiving this
concerns about the project. Your Documents and Filings. This is an easy notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
comments should focus on the potential method for submitting brief, text-only using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
environmental effects, reasonable Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
comments on a project; Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
alternatives, and measures to avoid or (2) You can file your comments 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
lessen environmental impacts. Your electronically by using the eFiling eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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![27428 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 88 / Friday, May 6, 2016 / Notices
Dated: May 2, 2016. • a new meter and regulating station Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
Kimberly D. Bose, in New London County, Connecticut; you can provide comments in a variety
Secretary. • modifications to three existing of formats by attaching them as a file
[FR Doc. 2016–10675 Filed 5–5–16; 8:45 am] compressor stations in Rockland with your submission. New eFiling
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
County, New York and Windham and users must first create an account by
New Haven Counties, Connecticut; clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ You must select
• modifications to five existing meter the type of filing you are making. If you
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY and regulating stations and one are filing a comment on a particular
regulator station in New York, project, please select ‘‘Comment on a
Federal Energy Regulatory Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine; Filing’’; or
Commission and (3) You can file a paper copy of your
• ancillary facilities associated with comments by mailing them to the
[Docket No. CP16–9–000] the new pipeline including mainline following address: Nathaniel J. Davis,
valves and pig launcher/receiver Sr., Deputy Secretary, Federal Energy
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, facilities.
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, LLC; Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
The FERC staff mailed copies of the
Notice of Availability of the NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
EA to federal, state, and local
Environmental Assessment for the government representatives and Any person seeking to become a party
Proposed Atlantic Bridge Project agencies; elected officials; to the proceeding must file a motion to
Replacement Project environmental and public interest intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the
groups; Native American tribes; Commission’s Rules of Practice and
The staff of the Federal Energy potentially affected landowners and Procedures (Title 18 Code of Federal
Regulatory Commission (FERC or other interested individuals and groups; Regulations Part 385.214).1 Only
Commission) has prepared an and newspapers and libraries in the intervenors have the right to seek
environmental assessment (EA) for the project area. In addition, the EA is rehearing of the Commission’s decision.
Atlantic Bridge Project proposed by available for public viewing on the The Commission grants affected
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC FERC’s Web site (www.ferc.gov) using landowners and others with
(Algonquin) and Maritimes & Northeast the eLibrary link. A limited number of environmental concerns intervenor
Pipeline, LLC (Maritimes), collectively copies of the EA are available for status upon showing good cause by
referred to as the Applicants, in the distribution and public inspection at: stating that they have a clear and direct
above-referenced docket. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, interest in this proceeding that no other
Applicants request authorization to Public Reference Room, 888 First Street party can adequately represent. Simply
expand existing pipeline systems to NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, filing environmental comments will not
deliver up to 132,705 dekatherms per (202) 502–8371. give you intervenor status, but you do
day of natural gas transportation service Any person wishing to comment on not need intervenor status to have your
to the New England and Maritimes the EA may do so. Your comments comments considered.
provinces of Canada markets. should focus on the potential Additional information about the
The EA assesses the potential environmental effects, reasonable project is available from the
environmental effects of the alternatives, and measures to avoid or Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
construction and operation of the lessen environmental impacts. The more at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web
Atlantic Bridge Project in accordance specific your comments, the more useful site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary
with the requirements of the National they will be. To ensure that the link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on
Environmental Policy Act. The FERC Commission has the opportunity to ‘‘General Search,’’ and enter the docket
staff concludes that approval of the consider your comments prior to number excluding the last three digits in
proposed project, with appropriate making its decision on this project, it is the Docket Number field (i.e., CP16–9).
mitigating measures, would not important that we receive your Be sure you have selected an
constitute a major federal action comments in Washington, DC on or appropriate date range. For assistance,
significantly affecting the quality of the before June 1, 2016. please contact FERC Online Support at
human environment. For your convenience, there are three FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
The U.S. Environmental Protection methods you can use to file your at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
Agency is a cooperating agency assisting comments with the Commission. In all (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also
us in the preparation of this EA because instances please reference the project provides access to the texts of formal
they have special expertise with respect docket number (CP16–9–000) with your documents issued by the Commission,
to environmental impacts associated submission. The Commission such as orders, notices, and
with the Applicants’ proposals. encourages electronic filing of rulemakings.
The proposed Atlantic Bridge Project comments and has expert staff available In addition, the Commission offers a
includes the following facilities: to assist you at 202–502–8258 or free service called eSubscription, which
• 4.0 miles of 42-inch-diameter efiling@ferc.gov. allows you to keep track of all formal
pipeline to replace existing 26-inch (1) You can file your comments issuances and submittals in specific
diameter pipeline in Westchester electronically using the eComment dockets. This can reduce the amount of
County, New York; feature located on the Commission’s
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
time you spend researching proceedings
• 2.3 miles of 42-inch-diameter Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link by automatically providing you with
pipeline to replace existing 26-inch to Documents and Filings. This is an notification of these filings, document
diameter pipeline in Fairfield County, easy method for submitting brief, text- summaries, and direct links to the
Connecticut; only comments on a project; documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
• a new 7,700 horsepower (2) You can also file your comments filing/esubscription.asp.
compressor station (Weymouth electronically using the eFiling feature
Compressor Station) in Norfolk County, on the Commission’s Web site 1 See the previous discussion on the methods for
Massachusetts; (www.ferc.gov) under the link to filing comments.
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Document Created: 2016-05-06 00:29:49
Document Modified: 2016-05-06 00:29:49
| 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 27426 |
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