82 FR 34517 - Northwest Pipeline LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the North Fork Nooksack Line Lowering Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 141 (July 25, 2017)

Page Range		34517-34518
FR Document		2017-15545

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 141 (Tuesday, July 25, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34517-34518]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15545]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-133-000]


Northwest Pipeline LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental 
Review of the North Fork Nooksack Line Lowering Project

    On April 6, 2017, Northwest Pipeline LLC (Northwest) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP17-133-000 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 North Fork Nooksack 
Line Lowering Project (Project), and would involve replacing and 
lowering approximately 1,700 feet of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Whatcom County, Washington.
    On April 20, 2017, 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 13, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 11, 2018

    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

    Northwest proposes to remove, replace, and lower about 1,700 feet 
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in the north floodplain of the North Fork 
Nooksack River. The project also includes removal of about 1,550 feet 
of previously abandoned 26-inch-diameter pipeline that would become 
exposed during the replacement of the 30-inch pipeline. The Project is 
located in Whatcom County, near Deming, Washington.

Background

    On May 9, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed North Fork Nooksack Line 
Lowering Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the 
Lummi Indian Business Council. The primary issues raised by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency are impacts on water quality during 
pipeline construction; impacts on wetlands, floodplains, and riparian 
resources; control of invasive and noxious weeds; and impacts on 
endangered species. The Lummi Business Council identified that it has 
an active interest in the proposed Project and requested additional 
time to prepare and submit scoping comments.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to participate as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the 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

[[Page 34518]]

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., CP17-133), 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: July 19, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-15545 Filed 7-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 25, 2017 / Notices 34517

www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. and will be notified of meetings schedule for the completion of the EA
Enter the docket number excluding the associated with the Commission’s for the Project.
last three digits in the docket number environmental review process.
Schedule for Environmental Review
field to access the document. For Environmental commenters will not be
assistance, contact FERC at required to serve copies of filed Issuance of EA—November 13, 2017
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call documents on all other parties. 90-day Federal Authorization Decision
toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) However, the non-party commenter will Deadline—February 11, 2018
502–8659. not receive copies of all documents filed If a schedule change becomes
Any questions regarding this by other parties or issued by the necessary, additional notice will be
application should be directed to Alice Commission (except for the mailing of provided so that the relevant agencies
A. Curtiss, Deputy General Counsel for environmental documents issued by the are kept informed of the Project’s
National Fuel, 6363 Main Street, Commission) and will not have the right progress.
Williamsville, New York 14221, or to seek court review of the Project Description
phone (716) 857–7075, or by email Commission’s final order.
curtissa@natfuel.com. The Commission strongly encourages Northwest proposes to remove,
Any person or the Commission’s staff electronic filings of comments, protests replace, and lower about 1,700 feet of
may, within 60 days after issuance of and interventions in lieu of paper using 30-inch-diameter pipeline in the north
the instant notice by the Commission, the eFiling link at http://www.ferc.gov. floodplain of the North Fork Nooksack
file pursuant to Rule 214 of the Persons unable to file electronically River. The project also includes removal
Commission’s Procedural Rules (18 CFR should submit an original and 5 copies of about 1,550 feet of previously
385.214) a motion to intervene or notice of the protest or intervention to the abandoned 26-inch-diameter pipeline
of intervention and pursuant to Section Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that would become exposed during the
157.205 of the regulations under the 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC replacement of the 30-inch pipeline.
NGA (18 CFR 157.205), a protest to the 20426. The Project is located in Whatcom
request. If no protest is filed within the County, near Deming, Washington.
time allowed therefore, the proposed Dated: July 19, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose, Background
activity shall be deemed to be
authorized effective the day after the Secretary. On May 9, 2017, the Commission
time allowed for filing a protest. If a [FR Doc. 2017–15546 Filed 7–24–17; 8:45 am] issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an
protest is filed and not withdrawn BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Environmental Assessment for the
within 30 days after the allowed time Proposed North Fork Nooksack Line
for filing a protest, the instant request Lowering Project and Request for
shall be treated as an application for DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Comments on Environmental Issues
authorization pursuant to section 7 of (NOI). The NOI was sent to affected
the NGA. Federal Energy Regulatory landowners; federal, state, and local
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission government agencies; elected officials;
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, [Docket No. CP17–133–000] environmental and public interest
within 90 days of this Notice the groups; Native American tribes; other
Commission staff will either: Complete Northwest Pipeline LLC; Notice of interested parties; and local libraries
its environmental assessment (EA) and Schedule for Environmental Review of and newspapers. In response to the NOI,
place it into the Commission’s public the North Fork Nooksack Line the Commission received comments
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding, or Lowering Project from the U.S. Environmental Protection
issue a Notice of Schedule for Agency and the Lummi Indian Business
Environmental Review. If a Notice of On April 6, 2017, Northwest Pipeline Council. The primary issues raised by
Schedule for Environmental Review is LLC (Northwest) filed an application in the U.S. Environmental Protection
issued, it will indicate, among other Docket No. CP17–133–000 requesting a Agency are impacts on water quality
milestones, the anticipated date for the Certificate of Public Convenience and during pipeline construction; impacts
Commission staff’s issuance of the final Necessity pursuant to section 7(c) of the on wetlands, floodplains, and riparian
environmental impact statement (FEIS) Natural Gas Act to construct and operate resources; control of invasive and
or EA for this proposal. The filing of the certain natural gas pipeline facilities. noxious weeds; and impacts on
EA in the Commission’s public record The proposed project is known as the endangered species. The Lummi
for this proceeding or the issuance of a North Fork Nooksack Line Lowering Business Council identified that it has
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Project (Project), and would involve an active interest in the proposed
Review will serve to notify federal and replacing and lowering approximately Project and requested additional time to
state agencies of the timing for the 1,700 feet of 30-inch-diameter pipeline prepare and submit scoping comments.
completion of all necessary reviews, and in Whatcom County, Washington. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
the subsequent need to complete all On April 20, 2017, the Federal Energy agreed to participate as a cooperating
federal authorizations within 90 days of Regulatory Commission (Commission or agency in the preparation of the EA.
the date of issuance of the Commission FERC) issued its Notice of Application
staff’s FEIS or EA. for the Project. Among other things, that Additional Information
Persons who wish to comment only notice alerted agencies issuing federal In order to receive notification of the
on the environmental review of this authorizations of the requirement to issuance of the EA and to keep track of
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

project should submit an original and complete all necessary reviews and to all formal issuances and submittals in
two copies of their comments to the reach a final decision on a request for specific dockets, the Commission offers
Secretary of the Commission. a federal authorization within 90 days of a free service called eSubscription. This
Environmental commenters will be the date of issuance of the Commission can reduce the amount of time you
placed on the Commission’s staff’s Environmental Assessment (EA) spend researching proceedings by
environmental mailing list, will receive for the Project. This instant notice automatically providing you with
copies of the environmental documents, identifies the FERC staff’s planned notification of these filings, document

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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:21:40
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:21:40

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		82 FR 34517

82 FR 34517 - Northwest Pipeline LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the North Fork Nooksack Line Lowering Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 141 (July 25, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission