82 FR 42668 - Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Westlake Expansion Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 174 (September 11, 2017)

Page Range		42668-42669
FR Document		2017-19114
Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 174 (Monday, September 11, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 174 (Monday, September 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42668-42669]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19114]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-476-000]


Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Westlake Expansion Project, 
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Westlake Expansion Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Gulf South 
Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The 
Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine 
whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. You can make a difference by providing us with 
your specific comments or concerns about the project. Your comments 
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. 
Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they 
need to evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and 
properly recorded, please send your comments so that the Commission 
receives them in Washington, DC on or before September 29, 2017.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on July 20, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP17-476-000 to ensure they are considered as 
part of this proceeding.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with 
state law.
    Gulf South provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the 
FERC entitled An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I 
Need To Know? This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked 
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate 
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on 
the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission 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 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 file your comments electronically by 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. 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 
(CP17-476-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Gulf South proposes to construct and operate the following 
facilities as part of the Westlake Expansion Project in Calcasieu 
Parish, Louisiana:
     One new 10,000 horsepower compressor station (Westlake 
Compressor Station) and appurtenant facilities;
     approximately 1,600 feet of 16-inch-diamater natural gas 
pipeline lateral; and
     two new metering and regulating stations (Entergy Lake 
Charles and Varibus M&R Stations).
    The project would provide about 200 million cubic feet of natural 
gas per day to the proposed 980 megawatt natural gas-fired combined 
cycle electric generating plant near Westlake, Louisiana.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those 
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov 
using the link called eLibrary or from the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call 
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to 
the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the pipeline facilities, including additional 
temporary workspace and a temporary access road, would disturb about 
11.8 acres of land, of which Gulf South would permanently maintain 0.9 
acre. Construction of the aboveground facilities (Westlake Compressor 
Station, Entergy Lake Charles M&R Station, and Varibus M&R Station) and 
access roads would disturb about 30 acres, of which Gulf South would 
permanently maintain 10.7 acres.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental

[[Page 42669]]

impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the 
issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA 
also requires us \2\ to discover and address concerns the public may 
have about proposals. This process is referred to as scoping. The main 
goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the 
important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests 
public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We 
will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
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    \2\ We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the 
Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     endangered and threatened species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     air quality and noise;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to 
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA 
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. We may also 
distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We will 
consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations to 
the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and 
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the 
Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of 
this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the 
EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status 
should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the 
Public Participation section of this notice.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and to 
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested 
Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on 
historic properties.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of 
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project 
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum 
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include 
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor 
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our 
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status 
of consultations under section 106.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related 
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies of the EA will be sent 
to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you 
would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an intervenor which is an official party to the Commission's 
proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are 
able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if 
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the 
``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the 
Commission's Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully described at 
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.

Additional Information

    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 at 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., CP17-
476). 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.
    Finally, public sessions or site visits will be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: August 30, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-19114 Filed 9-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
42668 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 174 / Monday, September 11, 2017 / Notices

should submit an original and 5 copies evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
of the protest or intervention to the comments are timely and properly Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, recorded, please send your comments so you can provide comments in a variety
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC that the Commission receives them in of formats by attaching them as a file
20426. Washington, DC on or before September with your submission. New eFiling
This filing is accessible on-line at 29, 2017. users must first create an account by
http://www.ferc.gov, using the eLibrary If you sent comments on this project clicking on eRegister. If you are filing a
link and is available for electronic to the Commission before the opening of comment on a particular project, please
review in the Commission’s Public this docket on July 20, 2017, you will select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the
Reference Room in Washington, DC need to file those comments in Docket filing type; or
There is an eSubscription link on the No. CP17–476–000 to ensure they are (3) You can file a paper copy of your
Web site that enables subscribers to considered as part of this proceeding. comments by mailing them to the
receive email notification when a This notice is being sent to the following address. Be sure to reference
document is added to a subscribed Commission’s current environmental the project docket number (CP17–476–
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC mailing list for this project. State and 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
Online service, please email local government representatives should Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call notify their constituents of this Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call proposed project and encourage them to NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
(202) 502–8659. comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this Summary of the Proposed Project
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on September 20, 2017. notice, a pipeline company Gulf South proposes to construct and
representative may contact you about operate the following facilities as part of
Dated: September 1, 2017.
the acquisition of an easement to the Westlake Expansion Project in
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., construct, operate, and maintain the Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana:
Deputy Secretary. proposed facilities. The company would • One new 10,000 horsepower
[FR Doc. 2017–19144 Filed 9–8–17; 8:45 am] seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable compressor station (Westlake
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P agreement. However, if the Commission Compressor Station) and appurtenant
approves the project, that approval facilities;
conveys with it the right of eminent • approximately 1,600 feet of 16-inch-
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY domain. Therefore, if easement diamater natural gas pipeline lateral;
negotiations fail to produce an and
Federal Energy Regulatory agreement, the pipeline company could • two new metering and regulating
Commission initiate condemnation proceedings stations (Entergy Lake Charles and
[Docket No. CP17–476–000] where compensation would be Varibus M&R Stations).
determined in accordance with state The project would provide about 200
Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; law. million cubic feet of natural gas per day
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Gulf South provided landowners with to the proposed 980 megawatt natural
Environmental Assessment for the a fact sheet prepared by the FERC gas-fired combined cycle electric
Proposed Westlake Expansion Project, entitled An Interstate Natural Gas generating plant near Westlake,
and Request for Comments on Facility On My Land? What Do I Need Louisiana.
Environmental Issues To Know? This fact sheet addresses a The general location of the project
number of typically asked questions, facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
The staff of the Federal Energy including the use of eminent domain Land Requirements for Construction
Regulatory Commission (FERC or and how to participate in the
Commission) will prepare an Construction of the pipeline facilities,
Commission’s proceedings. It is also
environmental assessment (EA) that will including additional temporary
available for viewing on the FERC Web
discuss the environmental impacts of workspace and a temporary access road,
site (www.ferc.gov).
the Westlake Expansion Project would disturb about 11.8 acres of land,
involving construction and operation of Public Participation of which Gulf South would permanently
facilities by Gulf South Pipeline For your convenience, there are three maintain 0.9 acre. Construction of the
Company, LP (Gulf South) in Calcasieu methods you can use to submit your aboveground facilities (Westlake
Parish, Louisiana. The Commission will comments to the Commission. The Compressor Station, Entergy Lake
use this EA in its decision-making Commission encourages electronic filing Charles M&R Station, and Varibus M&R
process to determine whether the of comments and has expert staff Station) and access roads would disturb
project is in the public convenience and available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 about 30 acres, of which Gulf South
necessity. or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please would permanently maintain 10.7 acres.
This notice announces the opening of carefully follow these instructions so The EA Process
the scoping process the Commission that your comments are properly
will use to gather input from the public The National Environmental Policy
recorded.
and interested agencies on the project. (1) You can file your comments Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

You can make a difference by providing electronically using the eComment
us with your specific comments or feature on the Commission’s Web site 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
concerns about the project. Your (www.ferc.gov) under the link to not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
comments should focus on the potential Documents and Filings. This is an easy appendices were sent to all those receiving this
environmental effects, reasonable method for submitting brief, text-only notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
alternatives, and measures to avoid or comments on a project; using the link called eLibrary or from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
lessen environmental impacts. Your (2) You can file your comments Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
input will help the Commission staff electronically by using the eFiling 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
determine what issues they need to feature on the Commission’s Web site eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:34 Sep 08, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM 11SEN1
Document Created: 2017-09-09 00:04:12
Document Modified: 2017-09-09 00:04:12
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 42668
82 FR 42668 - Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Westlake Expansion Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 174 (September 11, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
