81 FR 67342 - Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 67342]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23679]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP16-472-000; PF15-33-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project

    On June 25, 2016, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP16-472-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Northern Lights 2017 
Expansion Project (Project), and would expand the capacity of 
Northern's market area facilities in Minnesota.
    On July 8, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--November 9, 2016
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 7, 2017

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    The proposed Project includes 2 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline 
loop in Sherburne County, Minnesota; 2.8 miles of 12-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop in Isanti County, Minnesota; as well as an additional 
15,900-horsepower compression unit at Northern's existing Faribault 
Compressor Station in Rice County, Minnesota. The Project would allow 
Northern to transport an incremental load of approximately 76,000 
dekatherms per day.

Background

    On April 11, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Lights 
2017 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project 
in Docket No. PF15-33-000 and was sent to affected landowners; federal, 
state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental 
and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, 
the Commission received comments from the Minnesota Department of 
Natural Resources (MN DNR) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA). The primary issue raised by the MN DNR was a request to describe 
potential impacts to the Rum River and any associated mitigation 
measures. The primary issues raised by the EPA were requests to address 
a range of specific environmental issues of concern in pipeline 
construction.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    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, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP16-472), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to 
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at [email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued 
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: September 26, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-23679 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P