81_FR_43724 81 FR 43596 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Mountain Valley Pipeine Project and the Equitrans Expansion Project

81 FR 43596 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Mountain Valley Pipeine Project and the Equitrans Expansion Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 128 (July 5, 2016)

Page Range43596-43597
FR Document2016-15796

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43596-43597]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15796]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Mountain 
Valley Pipeine Project and the Equitrans Expansion Project

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Docket No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC...........  CP16-10-000
Equitrans LP...........................  CP16-13-000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On October 23, 2015, Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC (Mountain Valley) 
filed its application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(FERC or Commission) in Docket No. CP16-10-000, requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, and maintain certain 
natural gas pipeline facilities. Equitrans LP (Equitrans) filed a 
companion application on October 27, 2015 in Docket No. CP16-13-000. 
The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline Project, in West Virginia and 
Virginia, would transport about 2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of 
natural gas from production areas in the Appalachian Basin to markets 
on the East Coast. The proposed Equitrans Expansion Project, in 
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, would transport about 0.4 Bcf/d of 
natural gas and interconnect with the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Because 
these are interrelated projects, the FERC staff deemed it was 
appropriate to analyze them in a single environmental impact statement 
(EIS).
    On November 5, 2015, the FERC issued its Notice of Application for 
the projects. 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 EIS for the projects. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of the 
final EIS for the projects, which is based on an issuance of the draft 
EIS in September 2016.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS, March 10, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline, June 8, 2017

    If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an 
additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are 
kept informed of the projects' progress.

Project Description

    The Mountain Valley Pipeline Project would consist of about 301 
miles of new 42-inch-diameter pipeline, beginning at the Mobley 
Interconnect and receipt meter station in Wetzel County, West Virginia, 
and terminating at the Transco Interconnect and delivery meter station 
at the existing Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company Compressor 
Station 165 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In addition, Mountain 
Valley intends to construct and operate three new compressor stations 
and other aboveground facilities.
    The Equitrans Expansion Project would consist of a total of about 8 
miles of various diameter pipelines in six segments. These segments 
include the parallel 12-inch-diameter H-158 pipeline and 6-inch-
diameter M-80 pipeline extending about 0.2-mile each in Greene County, 
Pennsylvania; the 24-inch-diameter H-305 pipeline that would extend 
about 540 feet in Greene County; the 3-mile-long new 30-inch-diameter 
H-316 pipeline in Greene County; the 4.2-mile-long new 20-inch-diameter 
H-318 pipeline in Allegheny and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania; and 
the new H-319 pipeline that would extend about 200 feet in Wetzel 
County, West Virginia. Equitrans also proposes to abandon its existing 
Pratt Compressor Station and replace it with the new Redhook Compressor 
Station in Greene County, Pennsylvania; and to construct and operate 
taps in Greene County and Washington County, Pennsylvania, and an 
interconnect and two taps in Wetzel County, West Virginia,

Background

    On October 31, 2014 and April 9, 2015, the Commission staff granted 
Mountain Valley's and Equitrans' requests to use the FERC's pre-filing 
environmental review process and assigned the Mountain Valley Pipeline 
Project temporary Docket No. PF15-3-000 and the Equitrans Expansion 
Project temporary Docket No. PF15-22-000. The FERC issued a Notice of 
Intent to Prepare and Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned 
Mountain Valley Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings (NOI) on April 17, 2015. 
An NOI for the Equitrans Expansion Project was issued on August 11, 
2015, with a scoping period for that project that ended on September 
14, 2015.
    The NOIs were issued during the pre-filing review of the projects, 
and were

[[Page 43597]]

sent to our environmental mailing list that included federal, state, 
and local government agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; 
regional environmental groups and non-governmental organizations; 
Native Americans and Indian tribes; local libraries and newspapers; and 
other interested parties. The Mountain Valley Pipeline Project NOI 
announced the date, time, and location of six public meetings sponsored 
by the FERC in the project area, and a scoping period that ran to June 
16, 2015 to take comments on the project. Some of the major issues 
raised during scoping included potential impacts on karst terrain and 
caves; impacts on groundwater and springs, drinking water supplies, and 
surface waterbodies; impacts on forest; impacts on property values and 
the use of eminent domain; impacts on tourism; impacts on public 
recreational areas such as the Jefferson National Forest, Appalachian 
National Scenic Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway; impacts on historic 
districts; and pipeline safety.
    The United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 
Jefferson National Forest; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington and 
Norfolk Districts; U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3; Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration within the U.S. 
Department of Transportation; West Virginia Department of Environmental 
Protection; and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources 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 (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp). Additional data about the 
projects can be obtained electronically through the Commission's 
Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov). Under ``Dockets & Filings,'' use the 
``eLibrary'' link, select ``General Search'' from the menu, enter the 
docket numbers excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP16-10 or CP16-
13), and the search dates. Questions about the projects can be directed 
to the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC.

    Dated: June 28, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-15796 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

43596 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 5, 2016 / Notices Docket Numbers: ER16–2020–000. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY relevant agencies are kept informed of Applicants: NRG Potomac River LLC. the projects’ progress. Federal Energy Regulatory Description: Tariff Cancellation: Project Description Commission Notice of Cancellation to be effective 6/ The Mountain Valley Pipeline Project 25/2016. Notice of Schedule for Environmental would consist of about 301 miles of new Filed Date: 6/24/16. Review of the Mountain Valley Pipeine 42-inch-diameter pipeline, beginning at Accession Number: 20160624–5189. Project and the Equitrans Expansion the Mobley Interconnect and receipt Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/15/16. Project meter station in Wetzel County, West Virginia, and terminating at the Transco Docket Numbers: ER16–2021–000. Docket No. Interconnect and delivery meter station Applicants: FirstLight Hydro at the existing Transcontinental Gas Generating Company. Mountain Valley Pipeline CP16–10–000 Pipe Line Company Compressor Station LLC. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 165 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In Equitrans LP ...................... CP16–13–000 FirstLight Change in Status to be addition, Mountain Valley intends to effective 6/25/2016 . On October 23, 2015, Mountain construct and operate three new Filed Date: 6/24/16. Valley Pipeline LLC (Mountain Valley) compressor stations and other Accession Number: 20160624–5190. filed its application with the Federal aboveground facilities. The Equitrans Expansion Project Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/15/16. Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC would consist of a total of about 8 miles or Commission) in Docket No. CP16– Docket Numbers: ER16–2022–000. of various diameter pipelines in six 10–000, requesting a Certificate of Applicants: FirstLight Power segments. These segments include the Public Convenience and Necessity Resources Management, LLC. parallel 12-inch-diameter H–158 pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: pipeline and 6-inch-diameter M–80 Gas Act to construct, operate, and pipeline extending about 0.2-mile each FirstLight Change in Status to be maintain certain natural gas pipeline effective 6/25/2016. in Greene County, Pennsylvania; the 24- facilities. Equitrans LP (Equitrans) filed inch-diameter H–305 pipeline that Filed Date: 6/24/16. a companion application on October 27, would extend about 540 feet in Greene Accession Number: 20160624–5191. 2015 in Docket No. CP16–13–000. The County; the 3-mile-long new 30-inch- Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/15/16. proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline diameter H–316 pipeline in Greene Project, in West Virginia and Virginia, County; the 4.2-mile-long new 20-inch- Docket Numbers: ER16–2023–000. would transport about 2 billion cubic diameter H–318 pipeline in Allegheny Applicants: California Independent feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas from and Washington Counties, System Operator Corporation. production areas in the Appalachian Pennsylvania; and the new H–319 Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Basin to markets on the East Coast. The pipeline that would extend about 200 20160624 Flexible Ramping Product to proposed Equitrans Expansion Project, feet in Wetzel County, West Virginia. be effective 10/1/2016. in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Equitrans also proposes to abandon its Filed Date: 6/24/16. would transport about 0.4 Bcf/d of existing Pratt Compressor Station and natural gas and interconnect with the replace it with the new Redhook Accession Number: 20160624–5194. Mountain Valley Pipeline. Because Compressor Station in Greene County, Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/15/16. these are interrelated projects, the FERC Pennsylvania; and to construct and The filings are accessible in the staff deemed it was appropriate to operate taps in Greene County and Commission’s eLibrary system by analyze them in a single environmental Washington County, Pennsylvania, and clicking on the links or querying the impact statement (EIS). an interconnect and two taps in Wetzel docket number. On November 5, 2015, the FERC County, West Virginia, Any person desiring to intervene or issued its Notice of Application for the protest in any of the above proceedings projects. Among other things, that Background must file in accordance with Rules 211 notice alerted other agencies issuing On October 31, 2014 and April 9, and 214 of the Commission’s federal authorizations of the 2015, the Commission staff granted Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and requirement to complete all necessary Mountain Valley’s and Equitrans’ 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern reviews and to reach a final decision on requests to use the FERC’s pre-filing time on the specified comment date. the request for a federal authorization environmental review process and Protests may be considered, but within 90 days of the date of issuance assigned the Mountain Valley Pipeline intervention is necessary to become a of the Commission staff’s final EIS for Project temporary Docket No. PF15–3– party to the proceeding. the projects. This instant notice 000 and the Equitrans Expansion Project eFiling is encouraged. More detailed identifies the FERC staff’s planned temporary Docket No. PF15–22–000. information relating to filing schedule for completion of the final EIS The FERC issued a Notice of Intent to requirements, interventions, protests, for the projects, which is based on an Prepare and Environmental Impact service, and qualifying facilities filings issuance of the draft EIS in September Statement for the Planned Mountain can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/ 2016. Valley Pipeline Project, Request for docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For Schedule for Environmental Review Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES other information, call (866) 208–3676 Issuance of Notice of Availability of the (NOI) on April 17, 2015. An NOI for the (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. final EIS, March 10, 2017 Equitrans Expansion Project was issued Dated: June 27, 2016. 90-day Federal Authorization Decision on August 11, 2015, with a scoping Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deadline, June 8, 2017 period for that project that ended on Deputy Secretary. If a schedule change becomes September 14, 2015. [FR Doc. 2016–15777 Filed 7–1–16; 8:45 am] necessary for the final EIS, an additional The NOIs were issued during the pre- BILLING CODE 6717–01–P notice will be provided so that the filing review of the projects, and were VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Jul 01, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM 05JYN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 5, 2016 / Notices 43597 sent to our environmental mailing list DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Online service, please email that included federal, state, and local FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call government agencies; elected officials; Federal Energy Regulatory (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call affected landowners; regional Commission (202) 502–8659. environmental groups and non- [Docket No. ER16–1947–000] Dated: June 27, 2016. governmental organizations; Native Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Americans and Indian tribes; local Atlantic Energy MD, LLC; Deputy Secretary. libraries and newspapers; and other Supplemental Notice That Initial [FR Doc. 2016–15781 Filed 7–1–16; 8:45 am] interested parties. The Mountain Valley Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Pipeline Project NOI announced the BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Request for Blanket Section 204 date, time, and location of six public Authorization meetings sponsored by the FERC in the This is a supplemental notice in the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY project area, and a scoping period that ran to June 16, 2015 to take comments above-referenced proceeding of Atlantic Energy MD, LLC‘s application for Federal Energy Regulatory on the project. Some of the major issues Commission raised during scoping included market-based rate authority, with an potential impacts on karst terrain and accompanying rate tariff, noting that [Docket No. ER16–1946–000] caves; impacts on groundwater and such application includes a request for springs, drinking water supplies, and blanket authorization, under 18 CFR Atlantic Energy LLC; Supplemental surface waterbodies; impacts on forest; part 34, of future issuances of securities Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate impacts on property values and the use and assumptions of liability. Filing Includes Request for Blanket of eminent domain; impacts on tourism; Any person desiring to intervene or to Section 204 Authorization impacts on public recreational areas protest should file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 This is a supplemental notice in the such as the Jefferson National Forest, above-referenced proceeding of Atlantic Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 Energy LLC‘s application for market- the Blue Ridge Parkway; impacts on based rate authority, with an historic districts; and pipeline safety. of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and accompanying rate tariff, noting that The United States (U.S.) Department 385.214). Anyone filing a motion to such application includes a request for of Agriculture Forest Service, Jefferson intervene or protest must serve a copy blanket authorization, under 18 CFR National Forest; U.S. Army Corps of of that document on the Applicant. part 34, of future issuances of securities Engineers, Huntington and Norfolk Notice is hereby given that the and assumptions of liability. Districts; U.S. Department of the deadline for filing protests with regard Any person desiring to intervene or to Interior, Bureau of Land Management; to the applicant’s request for blanket protest should file with the Federal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 Region 3; Pipeline and Hazardous future issuances of securities and First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, Materials Safety Administration within assumptions of liability, is July 18, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 the U.S. Department of Transportation; 2016. of the Commission’s Rules of Practice West Virginia Department of The Commission encourages and Procedure Environmental Protection; and West electronic submission of protests and (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Virginia Division of Natural Resources interventions in lieu of paper, using the Anyone filing a motion to intervene or are cooperating agencies in the FERC Online links at http:// protest must serve a copy of that preparation of the EIS. www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic document on the Applicant. service, persons with Internet access Notice is hereby given that the Additional Information who will eFile a document and/or be deadline for filing protests with regard In order to receive notification of the listed as a contact for an intervenor to the applicant’s request for blanket issuance of the EIS and to keep track of must create and validate an authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of all formal issuances and submittals in eRegistration account using the future issuances of securities and specific dockets, the Commission offers eRegistration link. Select the eFiling assumptions of liability, is July 18, a free service called eSubscription link to log on and submit the 2016. (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ intervention or protests. The Commission encourages esubscription.asp). Additional data Persons unable to file electronically electronic submission of protests and about the projects can be obtained should submit an original and 5 copies interventions in lieu of paper, using the electronically through the Commission’s of the intervention or protest to the FERC Online links at http:// Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov). Under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic ‘‘Dockets & Filings,’’ use the ‘‘eLibrary’’ 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC service, persons with Internet access link, select ‘‘General Search’’ from the 20426. who will eFile a document and/or be menu, enter the docket numbers The filings in the above-referenced listed as a contact for an intervenor excluding the last three digits (i.e., proceeding are accessible in the must create and validate an CP16–10 or CP16–13), and the search Commission’s eLibrary system by eRegistration account using the dates. Questions about the projects can clicking on the appropriate link in the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling above list. They are also available for link to log on and submit the sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES be directed to the Commission’s Office of External Affairs at (866) 208–FERC. electronic review in the Commission’s intervention or protests. Public Reference Room in Washington, Persons unable to file electronically Dated: June 28, 2016. DC. There is an eSubscription link on should submit an original and 5 copies Kimberly D. Bose, the Web site that enables subscribers to of the intervention or protest to the Secretary. receive email notification when a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, [FR Doc. 2016–15796 Filed 7–1–16; 8:45 am] document is added to a subscribed 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC BILLING CODE 6717–01–P docket(s). For assistance with any FERC 20426. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Jul 01, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM 05JYN1


Document Created: 2016-07-01 23:50:12
Document Modified: 2016-07-01 23:50:12
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 43596 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR