81 FR 91159 - Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Cedar Station Upgrade Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 242 (December 16, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91159-91160]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30207]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-487-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Cedar Station Upgrade Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Cedar 
Station Upgrade Project, proposed by Northern Natural Gas Company 
(Northern) in the above-referenced docket. Northern requests 
authorization to construct approximately 7.86 miles of natural gas 
pipeline in Dakota County, Minnesota in order to fulfill its 
contractual obligation with Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota 
Corporation (NSP-MN) to increase the delivery pressure to NSP-MN's 
existing Black Dog Generating Station from 400 pounds per square inch 
gauge (psig) to 650 psig. As part of NSP-MN's process

[[Page 91160]]

of reducing its carbon footprint, it has increased its use of natural 
gas-fired generation.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Cedar Station Upgrade Project in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed 
project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a 
major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment.
    The Cedar Station Upgrade Project includes the following 
facilities:
     Approximately 7.86 miles of new 20-inch-diameter pipeline 
loop; \1\
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    \1\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe installed adjacent 
to an existing pipeline and connected to the existing pipeline at 
both ends.
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     a new pig \2\ launcher and takeoff valve setting at 
Northern's existing Rosemount Junction facility; and
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    \2\ A ``pig'' is an internal pipeline tool used to clean a 
pipeline and/or to inspect for damage or corrosion.
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     a new pig receiver, tie-in valve setting, and modification 
of existing regulators and piping at Northern's existing Cedar Meter 
Station facility.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA 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; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. In addition, 
the EA is available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site 
(www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies of 
the EA 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.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments 
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. 
The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To 
ensure that the Commission has the opportunity to consider your 
comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important 
that we receive your comments in Washington, DC on or before January 9, 
2017.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
project docket number (CP16-487-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert 
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected].
    (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 also file your comments electronically 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.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If 
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select 
``Comment on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).\3\ Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The Commission 
grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns 
intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a 
clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can 
adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not 
give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to 
have your comments considered.
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    \3\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments.
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    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., CP16-
487). 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.

    Dated: December 9, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-30207 Filed 12-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P