81 FR 95978 - Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Eastern System Upgrade Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 250 (December 29, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95978-95979]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31536]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP16-486-000; PF16-3-000]


Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Eastern System Upgrade Project

    On July 29, 2016, Millennium Pipeline Company, LLC (Millennium) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP16-486-000 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 Eastern 
System Upgrade Project (Project), and it would transport additional 
natural gas from Millennium's existing Corning Compressor Station to an 
existing interconnect with Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC in Ramapo, 
New York.
    On August 11, 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, April 7, 2017.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline, July 6, 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 (i) approximately 7.8-miles of 30- 
and 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Orange County, New York; (ii) a 
new 22,400 horsepower (HP) compressor station in Sullivan County, New 
York (Highland Compressor Station); (iii) additional 22,400 HP at the 
existing Hancock Compressor Station in Delaware County, New York; (iv) 
modifications to the existing Ramapo Meter and Regulator Station in 
Rockland County, New York; (v) modifications to the Wagoner 
Interconnect in Orange County, New York; (vi) additional pipeline 
appurtenant facilities at the existing Huguenot and Westtown Meter and 
Regulator Stations in Orange County, New York; and (vii) an alternate 
interconnect to the 16-inch-diameter Valley Lateral at milepost 7.6 of 
the Project. The Project would allow Millennium to transport an 
additional 233,000 dekatherms per day of additional natural gas 
service.

Background

    On May 11, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Eastern System 
Upgrade Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). 
The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project in 
Docket No. PF16-3-000 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 New York State Department of 
Agriculture (NYSDAM), the Delaware Tribe of Indians, the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), environmental and public 
interest groups, and individual stakeholders. The primary issues raised 
by commentors addressed concerns specific to the Highland Compressor 
Station, including health risks associated with air and greenhouse gas 
emissions, and socioeconomic impacts. Commentors also expressed 
concerns regarding Project impacts on surface and groundwater; 
wetlands; threatened and endangered species; cultural resources and 
historic structures; soils; property values; safety, including strains 
on local emergency services; pollution prevention practices; and 
climate change.
    The EPA, NYSDAM, Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, and Delaware 
Tribe of Indians are

[[Page 95979]]

participating as cooperating agencies in the preparation of this EA.

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., 
CP16-486), 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: December 22, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31536 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P