82 FR 17628 - Monongahela National Forest; West Virginia; Proposed WB Xpress Project (FERC)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 69 (April 12, 2017)

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended; and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA), as amended; the Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), and West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) have participated as cooperating agencies with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the preparation of the WB XPress Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA addresses the impacts of the project and the proposal for authorization from the Forest Service to construct, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission a natural gas transmission pipeline that crosses National Forest System (NFS) lands. With this agency-specific Notice of Availability, the FS is announcing the opening of the FERC comment period. Comments submitted to the FERC concerning FS actions need to be timely and specific, showing a direct relationship to the proposal and include supporting reasons.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17628-17629]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07042]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Monongahela National Forest; West Virginia; Proposed WB Xpress 
Project (FERC)

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the environmental assessment for the 
Proposed WB XPress Project.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended; and the National Forest Management Act of 1976 
(NFMA), as amended; the Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), West Virginia 
Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), and West Virginia Department of 
Environmental Protection (WVDEP) have participated as cooperating 
agencies with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the 
preparation of the WB XPress Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA 
addresses the impacts of the project and the proposal for authorization 
from the Forest Service to construct, operate, maintain, and eventually 
decommission a natural gas transmission pipeline that crosses National 
Forest System (NFS) lands. With this agency-specific Notice of 
Availability, the FS is announcing the opening of the FERC comment 
period. Comments submitted to the FERC concerning FS actions need to be 
timely and specific, showing a direct relationship to the proposal and 
include supporting reasons.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the FERC must 
receive written comments on the WB XPress EA within 30 days following 
the date of publication of the FERC Notice of Availability (NOA) for 
the EA in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the WB XPress Project EA, 
including any comments related to the FS consideration of the 
authorization of WB XPress to cross NFS lands to the FERC by any of the 
three methods listed below. The FERC encourages electronic filing of 
comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 
or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these instructions so that 
your comments are properly recorded.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature on the FERC'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 file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature on the FERC'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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(CP16-38-000) with your submission:

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street NE., Room 1A
Washington, DC 20426

Your comments must reference the FERC Docket number for the WB XPress 
Project, Docket No. CP16-38-000, to be correctly attributed to this 
specific project. Copies of the WB XPress are available for inspection 
in the offices of

[[Page 17629]]

the Forest Supervisor for the Monongahela National Forest.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information about the 
projects is available from the FERC's Office of External Affairs at 
866-208-FERC (3372), or on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). On the 
FERC's Web site, go to ``Documents & Filings,'' click on the 
``eLibrary'' link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket 
number CP16-38. 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 issues by the FERC such as orders, notices, 
and rulemakings. For additional information about authorizing project 
activities on NFS lands, contact Clyde Thompson at (304) 636-1800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOA is specific to the FS and provides 
notice that the agency has participated as a cooperating agency with 
FERC in the preparation of the WB XPress Project EA. The WB XPress 
route would cross about 11.4 miles of NFS lands managed by the 
Monongahela National Forest, in Randolph and Pendleton counties, West 
Virginia.
    The FERC is the NEPA Lead Federal Agency for the environmental 
analysis of the construction and operation of the proposed WB XPress 
Project. The FS is the federal agency responsible for authorizing this 
use and issuing special use permits for natural gas pipelines across 
NFS lands under its jurisdiction.
    Before issuing a Special Use permit (SUP) to construct, operate, 
maintain, and eventually decommission a natural gas transmission 
pipeline that crosses NFS lands, the FS would include any specific 
stipulations applicable to lands, facilities, water bodies, and 
easements for inclusion in the SUP.
    The FERC's EA includes the consideration of a USFS authorization 
across NFS lands. The USFS intends to adopt FERC's EA for agency 
decisions if the analysis provides sufficient evidence to support the 
agency's decisions and the agency is satisfied that agency comments and 
suggestions have been addressed.
    The FS will prepare separate Decision Notice (DN) for the 
authorization decision after issuance of the FERC EA. The FS decision 
to authorize WB XPress will be subject to FS predecisional 
administrative review procedures established in 36 CFR 218. The FS is 
requesting public comments on the authorization of WB XPress on NFS 
lands that would allow WB XPress to cross the MNF. All comments must be 
submitted to the FERC, the Lead Federal Agency, within 30 days 
following the date of publication of the FERC Notice of Availability 
for their EA in the Federal Register. Refer to Docket CP16-38-000 in 
all correspondence to ensure that your comments are correctly filed in 
the record. You may submit comments to the FERC using one of the 
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Only those who submit 
timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project 
during a public comment period are eligible to file an objection with 
the FS. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be 
aware that the entire text of your comments--including your personal 
identifying information--would be publicly available through the FERC 
eLibrary system if you file your comments with the Secretary of the 
FERC.
    Responsible Official for FS Authorization of Use to Issue a Special 
Use Permit: The Regional Forester Eastern Region is the Responsible 
Official.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6.

    Dated: March 28, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-07042 Filed 4-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P