81 FR 8192 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the White Oak Mainline Expansion Project and System Reliability Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 32 (February 18, 2016)

Page Range		8192-8193
FR Document		2016-03323
Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8192-8193]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03323]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the White Oak 
Mainline Expansion Project and System Reliability Project

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Docket Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company......  CP15-18-000
                                         CP15-18-001
                                         CP15-498-000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On November 21, 2014, Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (Eastern 
Shore) filed an application in Docket No. CP15-18-000 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 as part of the White Oak Mainline Expansion 
Project (White Oak Project) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and New 
Castle County, Delaware. On November 18, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an 
amendment to its application in Docket No. CP15-18-001 to construct the 
Kemblesville Loop Alternative 2 along Eastern Shore's existing right-
of-way. Also, on May 22, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an application in 
Docket No. CP15-498-000 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 as part 
of the System Reliability Project in Kent, New Castle, and Sussex 
Counties, Delaware.
    On December 8, 2014 and June 8, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its respective Notice of 
Application for the White Oak Project and the System Reliability 
Project. On November 25, 2015, the Commission issued its Notice of 
Amendment to Application for the White Oak Project. Among other things, 
these notices 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 projects. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff's 
planned schedule for the completion of the EA for the White Oak and 
System Reliability Projects. Staff is preparing a single EA for the two 
projects because of the proximity of the projects to each other and 
because the System Reliability Project assumes the prior completion of 
the White Oak Project, as stated in Eastern Shore's amended 
application.

                    Schedule for Environmental Review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issuance of EA.........................  April 12, 2016.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision    July 11, 2016.
 Deadline.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Project Descriptions

    The White Oak Project consists of 3.3 miles of 16-inch-diameter 
looping pipeline (the Daleville Loop) and 2.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter 
looping pipeline (Kemblesville Loop) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 
and 3,550 horsepower of additional compression at Eastern Shore's 
existing Delaware City Compressor Station in New Castle County, 
Delaware. The White Oak Project would result in incremental expansion 
capacity sufficient to support Eastern Shore's agreement to provide 
45,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service to Calpine 
Energy Services, L.P.'s Garrison Energy Center.
    The System Reliability Project consists of 2.5 miles of 16-inch-
diameter looping pipeline in New Castle County; about 7.6 miles of 16-
inch-diameter looping pipeline in Kent County; installation of various 
appurtenant underground and aboveground facilities; and an additional 
1,775 horsepower of compression at Eastern Shore's existing Bridgeville 
Compressor Station in Sussex County, all in Delaware. According to 
Eastern Shore, the System Reliability Project would increase the 
reliability of natural gas to Eastern Shore's existing customers during 
high demand winter months.

Background

    On January 22, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed White Oak Mainline 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(White Oak NOI). On July 9, 2015, the Commission issued a Supplemental 
White Oak NOI and opened a supplemental scoping period for the 
Kemblesville Loop Alternative 2 route. On September 4, 2015, the 
Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed System Reliability Project and Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues (System Reliability NOI). The notices 
were sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government 
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; 
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In 
response to the White Oak NOI, the Commission received environmental 
comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Delaware Nation, 
the Franklin Township Historical Commission, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, the Franklin 
Township, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural 
Resources, the Chester County Water Resources Authority, and private 
landowners. The primary concerns raised were regarding wetland and 
waterbody impacts; impacts due to forest clearing; impacts on the White 
Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic River; impacts on watersheds within 
the project area; impacts on the Kemblesville Village Historic 
District; impacts on bog turtle habitat; cultural resources; 
alternative routes, including the Kemblesville Loop Alternative Route 
2; old growth forested areas along the pipeline routes; pipeline 
safety; and pipeline installation within proximity to residences. In 
response to the System Reliability NOI, the Commission received 
comments from the National Park Service and landowners. The National 
Park Service noted potential impacts on the Bridgeville Playground, 
which was funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant. 
Landowners submitted comments about public safety; effects on private 
property; wetlands; the 100-year floodplain; noise; vibration from 
trains; property values; less expensive alternatives to the project; 
and whether the Porter Road Loop would be necessary for system 
reliability.

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.

[[Page 8193]]

    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., 
CP15-18 or CP15-498), 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.
    Additional information about the White Oak and System Reliability 
Projects can be obtained by contacting the environmental project 
manager, Gertrude Johnson, by telephone at (202) 502-6692 or by 
electronic mail at [email protected].

    Dated: February 10, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-03323 Filed 2-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
8192 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Notices

Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern identifies the FERC staff’s planned Kemblesville Loop Alternative 2 route.
Time on February 17, 2016. schedule for the completion of the EA On September 4, 2015, the Commission
Dated: February 10, 2016. for the White Oak and System issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Reliability Projects. Staff is preparing a Environmental Assessment for the
single EA for the two projects because Proposed System Reliability Project and
Deputy Secretary.
of the proximity of the projects to each Request for Comments on
[FR Doc. 2016–03312 Filed 2–17–16; 8:45 am]
other and because the System Reliability Environmental Issues (System
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Project assumes the prior completion of Reliability NOI). The notices were sent
the White Oak Project, as stated in to affected landowners; federal, state,
Eastern Shore’s amended application. and local government agencies; elected
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
officials; environmental and public
Federal Energy Regulatory SCHEDULE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL interest groups; other interested parties;
Commission REVIEW and local libraries and newspapers. In
response to the White Oak NOI, the
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Issuance of EA .................. April 12, 2016. Commission received environmental
Review of the White Oak Mainline 90-day Federal Authoriza- July 11, 2016. comments from the U.S. Fish and
Expansion Project and System tion Decision Deadline. Wildlife Service, the Delaware Nation,
Reliability Project the Franklin Township Historical
If a schedule change becomes Commission, the National Oceanic and
Docket Nos. necessary, additional notice will be Atmospheric Administration, the
provided so that the relevant agencies National Park Service, the Franklin
Eastern Shore Natural Gas CP15–18–000 are kept informed of the projects’ Township, the Pennsylvania
Company. CP15–18–001 progress. Department of Conservation and Natural
CP15–498–000
Project Descriptions Resources, the Chester County Water
Resources Authority, and private
On November 21, 2014, Eastern Shore The White Oak Project consists of 3.3 landowners. The primary concerns
Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore) miles of 16-inch-diameter looping raised were regarding wetland and
filed an application in Docket No. pipeline (the Daleville Loop) and 2.1 waterbody impacts; impacts due to
CP15–18–000 requesting a Certificate of miles of 16-inch-diameter looping forest clearing; impacts on the White
Public Convenience and Necessity pipeline (Kemblesville Loop) in Chester Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural County, Pennsylvania, and 3,550 River; impacts on watersheds within the
Gas Act to construct and operate certain horsepower of additional compression project area; impacts on the
natural gas pipeline facilities as part of at Eastern Shore’s existing Delaware Kemblesville Village Historic District;
the White Oak Mainline Expansion City Compressor Station in New Castle impacts on bog turtle habitat; cultural
Project (White Oak Project) in Chester County, Delaware. The White Oak resources; alternative routes, including
County, Pennsylvania, and New Castle Project would result in incremental the Kemblesville Loop Alternative
County, Delaware. On November 18, expansion capacity sufficient to support Route 2; old growth forested areas along
2015, Eastern Shore filed an amendment Eastern Shore’s agreement to provide the pipeline routes; pipeline safety; and
to its application in Docket No. CP15– 45,000 dekatherms per day of firm pipeline installation within proximity to
18–001 to construct the Kemblesville transportation service to Calpine Energy residences. In response to the System
Loop Alternative 2 along Eastern Services, L.P.’s Garrison Energy Center. Reliability NOI, the Commission
Shore’s existing right-of-way. Also, on The System Reliability Project received comments from the National
May 22, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an consists of 2.5 miles of 16-inch-diameter Park Service and landowners. The
application in Docket No. CP15–498– looping pipeline in New Castle County; National Park Service noted potential
000 requesting a Certificate of Public about 7.6 miles of 16-inch-diameter impacts on the Bridgeville Playground,
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to looping pipeline in Kent County; which was funded through a Land and
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to installation of various appurtenant Water Conservation Fund Grant.
construct and operate certain natural gas underground and aboveground Landowners submitted comments about
pipeline facilities as part of the System facilities; and an additional 1,775 public safety; effects on private
Reliability Project in Kent, New Castle, horsepower of compression at Eastern property; wetlands; the 100-year
and Sussex Counties, Delaware. Shore’s existing Bridgeville Compressor floodplain; noise; vibration from trains;
On December 8, 2014 and June 8, Station in Sussex County, all in property values; less expensive
2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Delaware. According to Eastern Shore, alternatives to the project; and whether
Commission (Commission or FERC) the System Reliability Project would the Porter Road Loop would be
issued its respective Notice of increase the reliability of natural gas to necessary for system reliability.
Application for the White Oak Project Eastern Shore’s existing customers
and the System Reliability Project. On during high demand winter months. Additional Information
November 25, 2015, the Commission In order to receive notification of the
issued its Notice of Amendment to Background issuance of the EA and to keep track of
Application for the White Oak Project. On January 22, 2015, the Commission all formal issuances and submittals in
Among other things, these notices issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an specific dockets, the Commission offers
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

alerted agencies issuing federal Environmental Assessment for the a free service called eSubscription. This
authorizations of the requirement to Proposed White Oak Mainline can reduce the amount of time you
complete all necessary reviews and to Expansion Project and Request for spend researching proceedings by
reach a final decision on a request for Comments on Environmental Issues automatically providing you with
a federal authorization within 90 days of (White Oak NOI). On July 9, 2015, the notification of these filings, document
the date of issuance of the Commission Commission issued a Supplemental summaries, and direct links to the
staff’s Environmental Assessment (EA) White Oak NOI and opened a documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
for the projects. This instant notice supplemental scoping period for the filing/esubscription.asp.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:03 Feb 17, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM 18FEN1
Document Created: 2016-02-18 07:46:44
Document Modified: 2016-02-18 07:46:44
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 8192
81 FR 8192 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the White Oak Mainline Expansion Project and System Reliability Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 32 (February 18, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
