81 FR 62498 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Leach Xpress Project and Rayne Xpress Expansion Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 175 (September 9, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62498-62499]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21681]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Leach Xpress Project and Rayne Xpress 
Expansion Project

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                                                   Docket No.
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Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC........  CP15-514-000
Columbia Gulf Transmission. LLC.......  CP15-539-000
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    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Leach XPress and Rayne XPress Expansion Projects (Projects), 
proposed by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gas) and Columbia 
Gulf Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gulf), respectively, in the above-
referenced dockets. Columbia Gas requests authorization to construct, 
operate, abandon in-place, replace, and operate certain natural gas 
pipeline facilities in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to 
transport about 1.5 million dekatherms of natural gas per day of firm 
transportation service to natural gas consumers served by the Columbia 
Gas pipeline systems. Columbia Gulf requests authorization to add new 
compression in Kentucky to provide about 621,000 dekatherms per day of 
firm transportation on Columbia Gulf's system.
    The final EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Projects in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the Projects would have some adverse 
and significant environmental impacts; however, these impacts would be 
reduced to less than significant levels with the implementation of 
Columbia Gas' and Columbia Gulf's proposed mitigation and the 
additional measures recommended by staff in the final EIS.
    The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Department for Environmental 
Protection, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania 
Department of Environmental Protection, West Virginia Department of 
Environmental Protection, and West Virginia Department of Natural 
Resources participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of 
the final EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special 
expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the 
proposals and participate in the NEPA analysis. Although the 
cooperating agencies provided input to the conclusions and 
recommendations presented in the final EIS, the agencies will present 
their own conclusions and recommendations in their respective Records 
of Decision for the Projects.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:
     132 miles of new 36-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, 24 
miles of 36- inch-diameter looping pipeline,\1\ 28 miles of 20-inch-
diameter pipeline to be abandoned in place, 3 new compressor stations, 
and appurtenant facilities including 2 existing compressor station 
modifications, 4 new and 1 modified regulator stations, 13 pig launcher 
and receiver facilities,\2\ 9 mainline valves and 5 odorization 
facilities proposed by Columbia Gas; and
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    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
    \2\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry 
a pipeline and/or to inspect it for damage or corrosion.
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     two new compressor stations, and a modification to an 
existing measurement and regulation station proposed by Columbia Gulf.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the final 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; newspapers and libraries in the project area; and parties to 
this proceeding. Paper copy versions of this final EIS were mailed to 
those specifically requesting them; all others received a CD version. 
In addition, the final 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.
    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., CP15-
514 or CP15-539). 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

[[Page 62499]]

notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to 
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

    Dated: September 1, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-21681 Filed 9-8-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P