82 FR 47503 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project; Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 196 (October 12, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 47503]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22000]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-80-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Eastern 
Panhandle Expansion Project; Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC

    On March 15, 2017, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) filed 
an application in Docket No. CP17-80-000 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 Panhandle 
Expansion Project (Project), and would involve construction and 
operation of approximately 3.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Fulton County, Pennsylvania; Washington County, Maryland: and Morgan 
County, West Virginia.
    On April 25, 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--January 26, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--April 26, 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

    Columbia proposes to construct, operate, and maintain the Project 
in three counties and states (Fulton County, Pennsylvania; Washington 
County, Maryland; and Morgan County, West Virginia). The Project would 
provide an additional 47.5 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of capacity for 
firm transportation service to markets in West Virginia through 
Mountaineer Gas Company's (Mountaineer) gathering system. The Project 
will involve the construction and operation of approximately 3.4 miles 
of new greenfield 8-inch-diameter pipeline, three main line valves, and 
two new tie-in assemblies.

Background

    On April 25, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Eastern Panhandle 
Expansion 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. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. 
Department of Interior, National Park Service, Potomac Riverkeeper 
Network, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Allegheny 
Defense Project, West Virginia Rivers, 1,761 signatories from the 
Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and 115 concerned citizens from the 
region. The primary issues raised by the commentors are: Potential 
impacts on the Potomac River, karst features, groundwater quality, 
safety, climate change, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National 
Historical Park.
    The U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service and the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency 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., CP17-080), 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: October 5, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-22000 Filed 10-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P