82 FR 37204 - Spire STL Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Spire STL Pipeline Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 152 (August 9, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37204-37205]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16749]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP17-40-000; CP17-40-001]


Spire STL Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Spire STL Pipeline Project

    On January 26, 2017, Spire STL Pipeline, LLC (Spire) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP17-40-000 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. On April 21, 2017, Spire amended its application to 
incorporate various changes in project routing. The proposed project is 
known as the Spire STL Pipeline Project (Project), and would link the 
greater St. Louis Region to a new supply of gas, through transport of 
about 400,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas service.
    On February 6, 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--September 29, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision--Deadline December 28, 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) about 65 miles of new 24-inch-
diameter pipeline in Scott, Greene, and Jersey Counties, Illinois and 
St. Charles and St. Louis Counties, Missouri, (ii) a new meter station 
in Scott County, Illinois, (iii) two new meter stations in St Louis 
County, Missouri, and (iv) additional piping and pigging facilities at 
each of the three meter stations.

Background

    During the Commission's pre-filing process, on October 26, 2016, 
the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Planned Spire STL Pipeline Project, Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping 
Sessions. Subsequent to this notice, Spire filed a potential pipeline 
route alternative in St. Louis County, Missouri. Therefore, on March 3, 
2017, the Commission issued a Supplemental Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Spire STL Pipeline Project 
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues. These two notices 
were published in the Federal Register \1\ and mailed to 1,141 and 342 
interested parties, respectively, including 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 
these two notices, the Commission received comments from The U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, Missouri 
Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 
Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, 
the Winnebago Tribe, several labor unions, and 13 landowners. The 
primary issues raised by the commentors include concerns for the 
proposed crossing of the Mississippi River regarding contamination of a 
public water source, construction on steep slopes, opposition to the 
Chautauqua alternative, concerns for impacts on the Upper Mississippi 
River Conservation Area, land held in conservation easement/habitat 
programs (specifically the conservation reserve and quail habitat 
programs), historic trails, Principia College/Three Rivers Community 
Farm, and safety.
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    \1\ 81 Federal Register 31922.
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    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois Department of 
Agriculture are cooperating agencies 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 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., CP17-40), 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.


[[Page 37205]]


    Dated: August 3, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-16749 Filed 8-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P