81_FR_64632 81 FR 64450 - Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Mountaineer XPress Project and the Gulf XPress Project

81 FR 64450 - Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Mountaineer XPress Project and the Gulf XPress Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 182 (September 20, 2016)

Page Range64450-64451
FR Document2016-22604

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 182 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64450-64451]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22604]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-357-000; Docket No. CP16-361-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; 
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Mountaineer XPress 
Project and the Gulf XPress Project

    On April 29, 2016, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gas) 
and Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gulf) filed applications 
in Docket Nos. CP16-357-000 and CP16-361-000, respectively, requesting 
Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Sections 
7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, and 
maintain certain natural gas pipeline facilities. Columbia Gas' 
proposed Mountaineer XPress Project in West Virginia would transport up 
to 2,700,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of natural gas from receipt 
points in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, to markets on the 
Columbia Pipeline Group system. Columbia Gulf's proposed Gulf XPress 
Project in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi would expand the 
capacity of Columbia Gulf's existing system to allow for an additional 
860,000 Dth/d of natural gas delivery to high-demand markets in the 
Gulf Coast region. Because these are interrelated projects, the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) deemed it was 
appropriate to analyze them in a single environmental impact statement 
(EIS).
    FERC issued respective Notices of Application for the Mountaineer 
XPress and Gulf XPress Projects on May 13, 2016. Among other things, 
those notices 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 two 
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 November 2016.

[[Page 64451]]

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--April 28, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--July 27, 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 Mountaineer XPress Project consists of new pipeline and 
compression facilities, all in the state of West Virginia. The major 
proposed facilities include 163.9 miles of new 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline in Marshall and Cabell Counties; 5.8 miles of new 24-inch-
diameter pipeline in Doddridge County; 0.4 mile of replacement 30-inch-
diameter pipeline on segments of Columbia Gas' SM80 and SM80 loop 
pipelines in Cabell County; three new compressor stations (totaling 
106,300 horsepower) in Doddridge, Calhoun, and Jackson Counties; two 
new regulating stations in Ripley and Cabell Counties; and added 
compression at three existing compressor stations in Marshall, Wayne, 
and Kanawha Counties.
    The Gulf XPress Project consists of construction and operation of 
seven new compressor stations, and upgrades at one existing meter 
station and one pending compressor station (under Docket No. CP15-539) 
on Columbia Gulf's existing system, spread across Kentucky (Carter, 
Boyd, Rowan, Garrard, and Metcalfe Counties), Tennessee (Davidson and 
Wayne Counties), and Mississippi (Union and Grenada Counties).

Background

    On September 16, 2015, the Commission staff granted Columbia Gas' 
request to use the FERC's Pre-filing environmental review process and 
assigned the Mountaineer XPress Project temporary Docket No. PF15-31-
000. On November 18, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Mountaineer 
XPress Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings. The Gulf XPress Project did not 
utilize the FERC's Pre-filing environmental process, and on June 2, 
2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gulf XPress Project, 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public 
Scoping Meeting.
    The Notices of Intent were sent to our environmental mailing list 
that include federal, state, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; affected landowners; regional environmental groups and 
nongovernmental organizations; Native Americans and Indian tribes; 
local libraries and newspapers; and other interested parties. Major 
environmental issues raised during scoping included karst terrain; 
impacts on groundwater and surface waterbodies; impacts on forests; 
impacts on special status species; impacts on property values and the 
use of eminent domain; impacts on the local economy; impacts on 
historic properties and districts; visual impacts from compressor 
stations; impacts on land use; impacts on air quality and noise from 
construction and operation of pipeline facilities; and public health 
and safety.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency; 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., CP16-357 or CP16-
361), and the search dates. Questions about the projects can be 
directed to the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-
FERC.

    Dated: September 14, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-22604 Filed 9-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

64450 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 20, 2016 / Notices briefing will be held in the Commission remove the micro-turbine units for Dated: September 12, 2016. Meeting Room. Members of the public maintenance and lower them in place Kimberly D. Bose, may view this briefing in the designated for generation; (6) a tailrace made of Secretary. overflow room. This statement is steel draft tubes discharging directly [FR Doc. 2016–22603 Filed 9–19–16; 8:45 am] intended to notify the public that the into the Mississippi River; (7) a third BILLING CODE 6717–01–P press briefings that follow Commission powerhouse 60-foot-wide by 80-foot- meetings may now be viewed remotely long containing the controls for the at Commission headquarters, but will dam’s crest gates and necessary DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY not be telecast through the Capitol electrical and mechanical equipment to Connection service. Federal Energy Regulatory support the micro-turbines; (8) a 550- [FR Doc. 2016–22686 Filed 9–16–16; 11:15 am] foot-long, 13.8 kilo-volt underground Commission BILLING CODE 6717–01–P transmission line connecting to an Xcel Energy substation; and (9) appurtenant [Docket No. CP16–357–000; Docket No. facilities. The estimated annual CP16–361–000] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY generation of the proposed Coon Rapids Federal Energy Regulatory Project would be 62,790 megwatt-hours. Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, Commission Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Applicant Contact: Raymond J. Notice of Schedule for Environmental [Project No. 14798–000] Wahle, P.E., Missouri River Energy Review of the Mountaineer XPress Services, 3724 W. Avera Drive, P.O. Box Project and the Gulf XPress Project Western Minnesota Municipal Power 88920, Sioux Falls, SD 57109; phone: Agency; Notice of Preliminary Permit (605) 330–6963; fax: (605) 978–3960; On April 29, 2016, Columbia Gas Application Accepted for Filing and email: rwahle@mrenergy.com. Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gas) and Soliciting Comments, Motions To FERC Contact: Sergiu Serban; phone: Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC Intervene, and Competing Applications (202) 502–6211; email: sergiu.serban@ (Columbia Gulf) filed applications in On August 15, 2016, Western ferc.gov. Docket Nos. CP16–357–000 and CP16– Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Deadline for filing comments, motions 361–000, respectively, requesting filed an application for a preliminary to intervene, competing applications Certificates of Public Convenience and permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the Necessity pursuant to Sections 7(b) and (without notices of intent), or notices of Federal Power Act (FPA), proposing to 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, intent to file competing applications: 60 study the feasibility of the Coon Rapids operate, and maintain certain natural Hydroelectric Project (Coon Rapids days from the issuance of this notice. gas pipeline facilities. Columbia Gas’ Project or project) located on the Competing applications and notices of proposed Mountaineer XPress Project in Mississippi River at River Mile 866.2, intent must meet the requirements of 18 West Virginia would transport up to about 11.5 miles north of downtown CFR 4.36. 2,700,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The sole The Commission strongly encourages natural gas from receipt points in West purpose of a preliminary permit, if electronic filing. Please file comments, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, to issued, is to grant the permit holder motions to intervene, notices of intent, markets on the Columbia Pipeline priority to file a license application and competing applications using the Group system. Columbia Gulf’s during the permit term. A preliminary Commission’s eFiling system at http:// proposed Gulf XPress Project in permit does not authorize the permit www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi holder to perform any land-disturbing Commenters can submit brief comments would expand the capacity of Columbia activities or otherwise enter upon lands up to 6,000 characters, without prior Gulf’s existing system to allow for an or waters owned by others without the additional 860,000 Dth/d of natural gas registration, using the eComment system owners’ express permission. delivery to high-demand markets in the The proposed project would consist of at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ ecomment.asp. You must include your Gulf Coast region. Because these are the following facilities: (1) An existing name and contact information at the end interrelated projects, the Federal Energy reservoir with a surface area of 600 of your comments. For assistance, Regulatory Commission (FERC or square miles at normal pool elevation of please contact FERC Online Support at Commission) deemed it was appropriate 830.1 National Geodetic Vertical Datum FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) to analyze them in a single with no storage capacity; (2) the existing 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 environmental impact statement (EIS). 1,455-foot-long, 30.8-foot-high Coon Rapids Dam with nine intermediate (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please FERC issued respective Notices of piers and ten spans with crest gates; (3) send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Application for the Mountaineer XPress an array of micro-turbines placed in Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 and Gulf XPress Projects on May 13, front of two cast in place powerhouses; First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. 2016. Among other things, those notices (4) a 97-foot-long, 18-foot-wide, 19-foot- The first page of any filing should alerted other agencies issuing federal high reinforced concrete powerhouse include docket number P–14798–000. authorizations of the requirement to located immediately downstream of the complete all necessary reviews and to More information about this project, span 9 spillway section and a 103-foot- reach a final decision on the request for including a copy of the application, can long, 18-foot-wide, 19-foot-high a federal authorization within 90 days of sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES be viewed or printed on the ‘‘eLibrary’’ the date of issuance of the Commission reinforced concrete powerhouse located link of Commission’s Web site at http:// staff’s final EIS for the two projects. This immediately downstream of the span 10 spillway section with each powerhouse www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ instant notice identifies the FERC staff’s divided in half resulting in four bays in ecomment.asp. Enter the docket number planned schedule for completion of the which the micro-turbines would be (P–14798) in the docket number field to final EIS for the projects, which is based installed; (5) two crane rails spanning access the document. For assistance, on an issuance of the draft EIS in the length of each powerhouse to contact FERC Online Support. November 2016. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Sep 19, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM 20SEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 20, 2016 / Notices 64451 Schedule for Environmental Review Public Scoping Meetings. The Gulf Dated: September 14, 2016. Issuance of Notice of Availability of the XPress Project did not utilize the FERC’s Kimberly D. Bose, final EIS—April 28, 2017 Pre-filing environmental process, and Secretary. 90-day Federal Authorization Decision on June 2, 2016, the Commission issued [FR Doc. 2016–22604 Filed 9–19–16; 8:45 am] Deadline—July 27, 2017 a Notice of Intent to Prepare an BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Environmental Impact Statement for the If a schedule change becomes Proposed Gulf XPress Project, Request necessary for the final EIS, an additional for Comments on Environmental Issues, notice will be provided so that the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting. relevant agencies are kept informed of The Notices of Intent were sent to our Federal Energy Regulatory the projects’ progress. environmental mailing list that include Commission Project Description federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; affected [Docket No. CD16–21–000] The Mountaineer XPress Project landowners; regional environmental consists of new pipeline and groups and nongovernmental Mary Ann Gaston; Notice of compression facilities, all in the state of organizations; Native Americans and Preliminary Determination of a West Virginia. The major proposed Indian tribes; local libraries and Qualifying Conduit Hydropower facilities include 163.9 miles of new 36- newspapers; and other interested Facility and Soliciting Comments and inch-diameter pipeline in Marshall and parties. Major environmental issues Motions To Intervene Cabell Counties; 5.8 miles of new 24- raised during scoping included karst inch-diameter pipeline in Doddridge On September 1, 2016, as terrain; impacts on groundwater and supplemented on September 13, 2016, County; 0.4 mile of replacement 30- surface waterbodies; impacts on forests; inch-diameter pipeline on segments of Mary Ann Gaston filed a notice of intent impacts on special status species; Columbia Gas’ SM80 and SM80 loop to construct a qualifying conduit impacts on property values and the use pipelines in Cabell County; three new hydropower facility, pursuant to section of eminent domain; impacts on the local compressor stations (totaling 106,300 30 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), as economy; impacts on historic properties horsepower) in Doddridge, Calhoun, amended by section 4 of the and districts; visual impacts from and Jackson Counties; two new Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act compressor stations; impacts on land regulating stations in Ripley and Cabell of 2013 (HREA). The proposed Gaston use; impacts on air quality and noise Counties; and added compression at Hydro Facility would have an installed from construction and operation of three existing compressor stations in capacity of 4 kilowatts (kW), and would pipeline facilities; and public health Marshall, Wayne, and Kanawha be located near the end of an existing and safety. Counties. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; irrigation pipeline on the applicant’s The Gulf XPress Project consists of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; land. The project would be located near construction and operation of seven West Virginia Department of the Town of Norwood in San Miguel new compressor stations, and upgrades Environmental Protection; and West County, Colorado. at one existing meter station and one Virginia Division of Natural Resources Applicant Contact: Mary Ann Gaston, pending compressor station (under are cooperating agencies in the 1280 CR44ZN, Norwood, CO 81423 Docket No. CP15–539) on Columbia preparation of the EIS. Phone No. (970) 327–0333. Gulf’s existing system, spread across FERC Contact: Christopher Chaney, Kentucky (Carter, Boyd, Rowan, Additional Information Phone No. (202) 502–6778, email: Garrard, and Metcalfe Counties), In order to receive notification of the Christopher.Chaney@ferc.gov. Tennessee (Davidson and Wayne issuance of the EIS and to keep track of Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Counties), and Mississippi (Union and all formal issuances and submittals in Facility Description: The proposed Grenada Counties). specific dockets, the Commission offers project would consist of: (1) A barrel a free service called eSubscription housing containing one 4-jet Turgo Background (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ turbine/generating unit with an On September 16, 2015, the esubscription.asp). Additional data installed capacity of 4 kW; (2) 4 short, Commission staff granted Columbia Gas’ about the projects can be obtained 2-inch-diameter intake manifold pipes; request to use the FERC’s Pre-filing electronically through the Commission’s (3) one 8-inch-diameter tailrace pipe environmental review process and Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov). Under discharging water to an existing assigned the Mountaineer XPress Project ‘‘Dockets & Filings,’’ use the ‘‘eLibrary’’ irrigation pond; and (4) appurtenant temporary Docket No. PF15–31–000. On link, select ‘‘General Search’’ from the facilities. The proposed project would November 18, 2015, the Commission menu, enter the docket numbers have an estimated annual generating issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an excluding the last three digits (i.e., capacity of 6,382 kilowatt-hours. Environmental Impact Statement for the CP16–357 or CP16–361), and the search A qualifying conduit hydropower Planned Mountaineer XPress Project, dates. Questions about the projects can facility is one that is determined or Request for Comments on be directed to the Commission’s Office deemed to meet all of the criteria shown Environmental Issues, and Notice of of External Affairs at (866) 208–FERC. in the table below. TABLE 1—CRITERIA FOR QUALIFYING CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Satisfies Statutory provision Description (Y/N) FPA 30(a)(3)(A), as amended by HREA .. The conduit the facility uses is a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or Y similar manmade water conveyance that is operated for the distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not primarily for the gen- eration of electricity. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Sep 19, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM 20SEN1


Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:20:31
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:20:31
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 64450 
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