81 FR 53134 - Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned 2017 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 155 (August 11, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 155 (Thursday, August 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53134-53136]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19082]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF16-7-000]


Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned 2017 Expansion 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 2017 Expansion Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Eastern Shore 
Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore) in Lancaster and Chester Counties, 
Pennsylvania; Cecil County, Maryland; and New Castle, Kent, and Sussex 
Counties, Delaware. 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 August 31, 2016.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on May 17, 2016, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. PF16-7-000 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 planned 
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 planned 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.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). 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.

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 
(PF16-7-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Eastern Shore plans to construct new pipeline and appurtenant 
aboveground facilities in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
Delaware. The 2017 Expansion Project facilities consist of (1) 
approximately 30 miles of pipeline looping in Pennsylvania, Maryland 
and Delaware; (2) upgrades to existing metering facilities; (3) 
installation of an additional 3,550 horsepower (``hp'') compressor unit 
at the existing Daleville Compressor Station; and (4) approximately 17 
miles of new mainline extension and the addition of two pressure 
control stations in Sussex County, Delaware.
    The 2017 Expansion Project consists of the following components, 
listed below by geographic area:

Pennsylvania

Lancaster County
    Honey Brook Meter and Regulator Station: Replace existing meter 
runs and pressure/flow control valves at the existing interconnect site 
with Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (``Texas Eastern''). Modify the 
existing Honey Brook Meter and Regulator Station and lateral piping to 
accommodate the installation of upsized mainline taps and valves and 
the installation of a filter separator, associated piping, and storage 
tank as well as other ancillary equipment at Eastern Shore's existing 
interconnect with Texas Eastern. All construction work would be 
conducted within the fenceline in previously disturbed areas of the 
existing interconnect site.
Chester County
    Parkesburg Loop: Construct approximately 5 miles of 16-inch-
diameter pipeline loop \1\ beginning at Eastern Shore's existing 
Parkesburg

[[Page 53135]]

Meter and Regulator Station southward to Lime Stone Road (PA-10).
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    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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    Jennersville Loop: Construct approximately 7 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline loop beginning at Eastern Shore's existing Daleville 
Compressor Station southward to Hess Mill Road.
    Daleville Compressor Station Upgrade: Install a new 3,550 hp gas-
fired compressor unit at the existing Daleville Compressor Station.

Maryland

Cecil County
    Fair Hill Loop: Construct approximately 6.3 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline loop beginning at Eastern Shore's existing block 
valve on Walker Road in Chester County, Pennsylvania southward to Cecil 
County, Maryland to tie into the existing Eastern Shore pipeline north 
of Route 2 near the Maryland/Delaware state line.

Delaware

New Castle County
    Middletown Loop: Construct approximately 1 mile of 10-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop beginning on Peterson Road and extending to a location 
southeastern of Industrial Road. Construct approximately 0.65 mile of 
6-inch-diameter pipeline lateral and meter station from Industrial Road 
towards Auto Park Drive.
    Summit Loop: Construct approximately 0.5 mile of 10-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop starting along the south side of C&D Canal at Eastern 
Shore's existing 12- inch aerial crossing southward to tie into the 
existing Eastern Shore pipeline.
Kent County
    Woodside Loop: Construct approximately 5 miles of 16-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop beginning in Wyoming, Delaware southward to Viola, 
Delaware.
Sussex County
    Hearns Pond Loop: Construct approximately 1.5 miles of 10-inch-
diameter pipeline loop along U.S. 13 near Seaford southward to Eastern 
Shore's existing Seaford Pressure Control Station.
    Seaford to Millsboro Segment: Construct approximately 17.0 miles of 
10-inch-diameter pipeline extension from Seaford eastward to Eastern 
Shore's existing Millsboro Meter & Regulator Station near Millsboro.
    Laurel Loop: Construct approximately 5.1 miles of 10-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop along U.S. 13 near Laurel southward to connect with 
Eastern Shore's existing pipeline.
    Pressure Control Stations: Construct two pressure control stations 
located near the towns of Millsboro and Delmar.
    Please see appendix A for a map depicting the general locations of 
the planned 2017 Expansion Project facilities.

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.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned 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 possible alternatives to the planned project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before 
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we 
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their 
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
    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 we make 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 
related to 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.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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(s), 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(s) 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.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest

[[Page 53136]]

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 planned project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies of the EA 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 B).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Eastern Shore files its application with the Commission, 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. Motions to intervene are more fully described at 
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions 
for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention 
Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site. 
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor 
status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a 
formal application for the project.

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 (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., PF16-
7). 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.

    Dated: August 1, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-19082 Filed 8-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P