81 FR 49971 - PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Penneast Pipeline Project
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)
| Page Range | 49971-49973 | |
| FR Document | 2016-18038 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 49971-49973] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-18038] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15-558-000] PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Penneast Pipeline Project The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the PennEast Pipeline Project, proposed by PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC (PennEast) in the above-referenced docket. PennEast requests authorization to construct and operate a 118.8-mile-long pipeline to provide 1.1 million dekatherms per day (MMDth/d) of year- round natural gas transportation service from northern Pennsylvania to markets in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and surrounding states. The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the PennEast Pipeline Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of PennEast's proposed and FERC staff recommended mitigation measures. This determination is based on a review of the information provided by PennEast and further developed from data requests; field investigations; scoping; literature research; alternatives analysis; and contacts with federal, state, and local agencies as well as Indian tribes and individual members of the public. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. Although these agencies provided input to the conclusions and recommendations presented in the draft EIS, the agencies will present their own conclusions and [[Page 49972]] recommendations in any respective record of decision or determination for the Project. The draft EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the following project facilities:115.1 miles of new, 36-inch-diameter pipeline extending from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Mercer County, New Jersey (77 miles in Pennsylvania and 38 miles in New Jersey); the 2.1-mile Hellertown Lateral consisting of 24-inch- diameter pipe in Northampton County, Pennsylvania; the 0.1-mile Gilbert Lateral consisting of 12-inch- diameter pipe in Hunterdon County, New Jersey; the 1.5-mile Lambertville Lateral consisting of 36-inch- diameter pipe in Hunterdon County, New Jersey; new, 47,700 total hp Kidder Compressor Station in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania; and associated aboveground facilities including eight metering and regulating stations for interconnections, 11 main line valve sites, and four pig launcher/receiver sites. The FERC staff mailed copies of the draft EIS to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. Paper copy versions of this EIS (Volume I in paper copy, Volumes II and III on CD) were mailed to those specifically requesting them; all others received a CD version of the entire document. In addition, the draft EIS is available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies are available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371. Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. To ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that the Commission receive your comments on or before September 12, 2016. 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 (CP15-558-000) 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 one of the public comment meetings its staff will conduct in the project area to receive comments on the draft EIS. To ensure interested parties have ample opportunity to attend a public comment meeting six meetings are scheduled as follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date and time Location ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, August 15, 2016 6-10 p.m......................................... Best Western Lehigh Valley & Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017, Phone: 610-866-5800. Monday, August 15, 2016 6-10 p.m......................................... Penn's Peak, 325 Maury Road, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, Phone: 610-826- 9000. Tuesday, August 16, 2016 6-10 p.m........................................ Grand Colonial, 86 Route 173 West, Hampton, NJ 08827, Phone: 908-735- 7889. Tuesday, August 16, 2016 6-10 p.m........................................ Peddler's Village, (Lahaska and Neshaminy Rooms), Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA 19831, Phone: 215-794- 4000. Wednesday, August 17, 2016 6-10 p.m...................................... Best Western Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, 77 E Market Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, Phone: 570-823-6152. Wednesday, August 17, 2016 6-10 p.m...................................... Clifford B. Memorial Hall, 1666 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ 08618, Phone: 609-882-3221. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The meetings will be scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff. The primary goal will be to have your verbal environmental comments on the draft EIS documented in the public record. Verbal comments will be recorded by stenographers in one-on-one settings, and transcriptions will be placed into the docket for the project and made available for public viewing on FERC's eLibrary system (see below for instructions on using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 3 to 5 minutes may be implemented for each commenter. It is important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight as written or electronically submitted comments. Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the meetings to answer your questions about the environmental review process. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR part 385.214).\1\ Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing comments. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions? Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC Web [[Page 49973]] site (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., CP15- 558-000). 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; 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 that 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. Dated: July 22, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016-18038 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices 49971
an application in Docket No. CP16–98– landowners; federal, state, and local DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
000 requesting a Certificate of Public government agencies; elected officials;
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to environmental and public interest Federal Energy Regulatory
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to groups; Native American tribes; other Commission
construct and operate certain natural gas interested parties; and local libraries [Docket No. CP15–558–000]
pipeline facilities. The proposed project and newspapers. In response to the NOI,
is known as the Transco to Charleston the Commission received comments PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC;
Project (Project), and would provide from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Notice of Availability of the Draft
firm transportation service of 80,000 the South Carolina Department of Environmental Impact Statement for
dekatherms per day (Dth/day) to local Natural Resources, the Columbia South the Proposed Penneast Pipeline
commercial, industrial, and power Project
Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the
generation customers.
On March 21, 2016, the Federal South Carolina Electric and Gas The staff of the Federal Energy
Energy Regulatory Commission Company, the Natural Gas Supply Regulatory Commission (FERC or
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice Association, Upstate Forever, and 20 Commission) has prepared a draft
of Application for the Project. Among landowners. The primary issues raised environmental impact statement (EIS)
other things, that notice alerted agencies by the commentors are potential for the PennEast Pipeline Project,
issuing federal authorizations of the crossings of private lands, wildlife proposed by PennEast Pipeline
requirement to complete all necessary species and habitat, and water quality, Company, LLC (PennEast) in the above-
reviews and to reach a final decision on as well as general support for, and referenced docket. PennEast requests
a request for a federal authorization opposition to, the Project. authorization to construct and operate a
within 90 days of the date of issuance 118.8-mile-long pipeline to provide 1.1
of the Commission staff’s Environmental Additional Information million dekatherms per day (MMDth/d)
Assessment (EA) for the Project. This of year-round natural gas transportation
In order to receive notification of the service from northern Pennsylvania to
instant notice identifies the FERC staff’s issuance of the EA and to keep track of
planned schedule for the completion of markets in eastern Pennsylvania, New
all formal issuances and submittals in Jersey, and surrounding states.
the EA for the Project. specific dockets, the Commission offers The draft EIS assesses the potential
Schedule for Environmental Review a free service called eSubscription. This environmental effects of the
Issuance of EA September 19, 2016 can reduce the amount of time you construction and operation of the
90-day Federal Authorization Decision spend researching proceedings by PennEast Pipeline Project in accordance
Deadline December 18, 2016 automatically providing you with with the requirements of the National
If a schedule change becomes notification of these filings, document Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The
necessary, additional notice will be summaries, and direct links to the FERC staff concludes that approval of
provided so that the relevant agencies documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- the proposed project, with the
are kept informed of the Project’s filing/esubscription.asp. mitigation measures recommended in
progress. the EIS, would result in some adverse
Additional information about the
environmental impacts, but impacts
Project Description Project is available from the would be reduced to less-than-
Commission’s Office of External Affairs significant levels with the
Dominion would construct and
at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC Web implementation of PennEast’s proposed
operate 55 miles of 12-inch-diameter
natural gas pipeline in Spartanburg, site (www.ferc.gov). Using the and FERC staff recommended mitigation
Laurens, Newberry, and Greenwood ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, select ‘‘General Search’’ measures. This determination is based
Counties, South Carolina; 5 miles of 4- from the eLibrary menu, enter the on a review of the information provided
inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in selected date range and ‘‘Docket by PennEast and further developed from
Dillon County, South Carolina; a new Number’’ excluding the last three digits data requests; field investigations;
3,600-horsepower (hp) compressor (i.e., CP16–98), and follow the scoping; literature research; alternatives
station in Dorchester County, South instructions. For assistance with access analysis; and contacts with federal,
Carolina; add 2,800 hp of compression to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached state, and local agencies as well as
at an existing compressor station in at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, Indian tribes and individual members of
Spartanburg County, South Carolina; or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The the public.
modify operation at an existing eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also The U.S. Environmental Protection
compressor station in Aiken County, provides access to the texts of formal Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
South Carolina; and construct and documents issued by the Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.
operate support facilities in Aiken, such as orders, notices, and rule Department of Agriculture, Natural
Charleston, Dillon, Dorchester, makings. Resource Conservation Service, and U.S.
Greenwood, Laurens, Newberry, and Department of Transportation’s Pipeline
Dated: July 25, 2016. and Hazardous Materials Safety
Spartanburg Counties, South Carolina.
Kimberly D. Bose, Administration participated as
Background Secretary. cooperating agencies in the preparation
On October 30, 2015, the Commission [FR Doc. 2016–18040 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am] of the EIS. Cooperating agencies have
issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an jurisdiction by law or special expertise
ebenthall on DSK5MVXVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Environmental Assessment for the with respect to resources potentially
Planned Transco to Charleston Project affected by the proposal and participate
and Request for Comments on in the NEPA analysis. Although these
Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI agencies provided input to the
was issued during the pre-filing review conclusions and recommendations
of the Project in Docket No. PF15–29– presented in the draft EIS, the agencies
000 and was sent to affected will present their own conclusions and
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / Notices 49973
site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary Description: Supplement to July 14, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on 2016 Clinton Battery Utility, LLC
‘‘General Search,’’ and enter the docket submits filing. Federal Energy Regulatory
number excluding the last three digits in Filed Date: 7/22/16. Commission
the Docket Number field (i.e., CP15–
Accession Number: 20160722–5185. Combined Notice of Filings
558–000). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/5/16.
Take notice that the Commission has
please contact FERC Online Support at Docket Numbers: ER16–2272–000. received the following Natural Gas
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free Applicants: Puget Sound Energy, Inc Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:
at (866) 208–3676; for TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Filings Instituting Proceedings
provides access to the texts of formal Attachment O Revisions to Implement
Intrachange Scheduling and Imbalance Docket Numbers: RP16–1098–000.
documents issued by the Commission, Applicants: Dominion Carolina Gas
such as orders, notices, and Charges to be effective 9/20/2016.
Transmission, LLC.
rulemakings. Filed Date: 7/22/16.
Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing:
In addition, the Commission offers a Accession Number: 20160722–5180. DCGT—July 20, 2016, Administrative
free service called eSubscription that Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/12/16. Changes to be effective 8/19/2016.
allows you to keep track of all formal Filed Date: 7/20/16.
issuances and submittals in specific Docket Numbers: ER16–2273–000.
Accession Number: 20160720–5086.
dockets. This can reduce the amount of Applicants: Passadumkeag Windpark, Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/1/16.
time you spend researching proceedings LLC.
by automatically providing you with Docket Numbers: RP16–1099–000.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Applicants: Colorado Interstate Gas
notification of these filings, document Passadumkeag Market-Based Rate Tariff
summaries, and direct links to the Company, L.L.C.
Amendment Filing to be effective 7/26/
documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing:
2016.
filing/esubscription.asp. Negotiated Rate Update Filing—
Filed Date: 7/25/16. Colorado Springs Utilities to be effective
Dated: July 22, 2016.
Accession Number: 20160725–5057. 8/1/2016.
Kimberly D. Bose, Filed Date: 7/20/16.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/15/16.
Secretary. Accession Number: 20160720–5122.
[FR Doc. 2016–18038 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am] Docket Numbers: ER16–2274–000. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/1/16.
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Applicants: Parrey, LLC. Docket Numbers: RP16–1100–000.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Applicants: Rockies Express Pipeline
Parrey Market-Based Rate Tariff LLC.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Amendment Filing to be effective 7/26/ Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing: Neg
Federal Energy Regulatory 2016. Rate 2016–07–20, CP, Encana to be
Commission Filed Date: 7/25/16. effective 7/21/2016.
Accession Number: 20160725–5058. Filed Date: 7/20/16.
Combined Notice of Filings #1 Accession Number: 20160720–5123.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/15/16.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/1/16.
Take notice that the Commission The filings are accessible in the
received the following electric corporate The filings are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system by Commission’s eLibrary system by
filings: clicking on the links or querying the
Docket Numbers: EC16–156–000. clicking on the links or querying the
docket number. docket number.
Applicants: Town Square Energy East, Any person desiring to intervene or
LLC, Town Square Energy, LLC. Any person desiring to intervene or
protest in any of the above proceedings protest in any of the above proceedings
Description: Application of Town must file in accordance with Rules 211
Square Energy East, LLC, et al. for must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s and 214 of the Commission’s
Authorization Under Federal Power Act Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
Section 203 and Requests for Expedited Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Treatment and Confidential time on the specified comment date.
Information. time on the specified comment date.
Protests may be considered, but Protests may be considered, but
Filed Date: 7/22/16.
intervention is necessary to become a intervention is necessary to become a
Accession Number: 20160722–5197.
party to the proceeding. party to the proceeding.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/12/16.
Take notice that the Commission eFiling is encouraged. More detailed eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
received the following electric rate information relating to filing information relating to filing
filings: requirements, interventions, protests, requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings service, and qualifying facilities filings
Docket Numbers: ER16–2035–000. can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/ can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/
Applicants: Black Oak Wind, LLC. docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
Description: Supplement to June 27,
ebenthall on DSK5MVXVN1PROD with NOTICES
other information, call (866) 208–3676 other information, call (866) 208–3676
2016 Black Oak Wind, LLC tariff filing. (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
Filed Date: 7/21/16.
Accession Number: 20160721–5124. Dated: July 25, 2016. Dated July 21, 2016.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/1/16. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Docket Numbers: ER16–2194–000. Deputy Secretary. Deputy Secretary.
Applicants: Clinton Battery Utility, [FR Doc. 2016–17993 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2016–17994 Filed 7–28–16; 8:45 am]
LLC. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:51:23
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:51:23
| 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 49971 |
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