82 FR 56599 - RH energytrans, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Risberg Line Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 228 (November 29, 2017)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 228 (November 29, 2017)
| Page Range | 56599-56604 | |
| FR Document | 2017-25722 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 29, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 56599-56604] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-25722] [[Page 56599]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18-6-000] RH energytrans, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Risberg Line 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 Risberg Line Project involving construction, modification, and operation of facilities by RH energytrans, LLC (RH) in Crawford and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County, Ohio. 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 December 21, 2017. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on October 16, 2017, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18-6-000 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. RH 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 (CP18-6-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. In addition, the FERC environmental staff plans on attending RH- sponsored open houses in Conneaut, Ohio on December 5, 2017 and in Edinboro, Pennsylvania on December 6, 2017 to explain the Commission's environmental review process. If you are interested in attending, RH has requested that you RSVP at www.rhenergytrans.com/rsvp or by calling (844) 315-0857. Summary of the Proposed Project RH proposes to construct, modify, operate, and maintain a new interstate natural gas pipeline system located in Crawford and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County, Ohio. The Risberg Line Project would provide about 55 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to Dominion Energy Ohio and other prospective customers in the vicinity of the project. The Risberg Line Project would consist of the following actions in Pennsylvania:Minor modifications at the existing County Line Compressor Station in Erie County; installation of compression (approximately 1,600 horsepower, natural gas-fired), receipt metering, and appurtenant facilities at the existing (currently vacant) Meadville Compressor Station site in Crawford County; re-certification and use of an existing 12-inch-diameter pipeline extending 26.6 miles from the Meadville Compressor Station north to an existing valve set in Washington Township, Erie County, including construction of a new launcher/receiver; next to the Meadville Compressor Station, construction of a 650-foot lateral within the existing 12-inch-diameter pipeline right- of-way to move gas from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC system to the existing pipeline; and re-certification and use of a portion of an existing 8- inch-diameter pipeline extending from the 12-inch valve set west about 5.0 miles to a point in Elk Creek Township, Erie County (Line 10257), including construction of two new launcher/receivers. In Pennsylvania and Ohio, the project would include: Construction of 28.3 miles of new 12-inch-diameter pipeline from the west end of the recertified 8-inch-diameter pipeline to connect with Dominion Energy Ohio facilities located in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio (Risberg Pipeline). The pipeline would be constructed in new right-of-way and include launcher/receiver facilities and mainline valves; and construction of a new meter station at the terminus of the new pipeline in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 56600]] Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 242 acres of land for the aboveground facilities, access roads, and the pipeline. Following construction, RH would maintain about 171 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. Approximately 30 percent of the proposed new pipeline route parallels existing roads and railroads. The EA Process The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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; land use; socioeconomics; water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; cultural resources; vegetation and wildlife; endangered and threatened species; 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. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish and 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Offices (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(s) 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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., CP18- 6). 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 [[Page 56601]] 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: November 21, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. BILLING CODE 6717-01-P [[Page 56602]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29NO17.005 [[Page 56603]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29NO17.006 [[Page 56604]] [FR Doc. 2017-25722 Filed 11-28-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-C
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices 56599
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY conveys with it the right of eminent www.rhenergytrans.com/rsvp or by
domain. Therefore, if easement calling (844) 315–0857.
Federal Energy Regulatory negotiations fail to produce an
Commission Summary of the Proposed Project
agreement, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings RH proposes to construct, modify,
[Docket No. CP18–6–000]
where compensation would be operate, and maintain a new interstate
RH energytrans, LLC; Notice of Intent determined in accordance with state natural gas pipeline system located in
To Prepare an Environmental law. Crawford and Erie Counties,
Assessment for the Proposed Risberg RH provided landowners with a fact Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County,
Line Project, and Request for sheet prepared by the FERC entitled An Ohio. The Risberg Line Project would
Comments on Environmental Issues Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My provide about 55 million standard cubic
Land? What Do I Need To Know? This feet of natural gas per day to Dominion
The staff of the Federal Energy Energy Ohio and other prospective
fact sheet addresses a number of
Regulatory Commission (FERC or customers in the vicinity of the project.
typically asked questions, including the
Commission) will prepare an The Risberg Line Project would
use of eminent domain and how to
environmental assessment (EA) that will consist of the following actions in
participate in the Commission’s
discuss the environmental impacts of Pennsylvania:
proceedings. It is also available for
the Risberg Line Project involving • Minor modifications at the existing
viewing on the FERC Web site
construction, modification, and County Line Compressor Station in Erie
(www.ferc.gov). County;
operation of facilities by RH
energytrans, LLC (RH) in Crawford and Public Participation • installation of compression
Erie Counties, Pennsylvania and (approximately 1,600 horsepower,
For your convenience, there are three natural gas-fired), receipt metering, and
Ashtabula County, Ohio. The
methods you can use to submit your appurtenant facilities at the existing
Commission will use this EA in its
comments to the Commission. The (currently vacant) Meadville
decision-making process to determine
Commission encourages electronic filing Compressor Station site in Crawford
whether the project is in the public
of comments and has expert staff County;
convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 • re-certification and use of an
the scoping process the Commission or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please existing 12-inch-diameter pipeline
will use to gather input from the public carefully follow these instructions so extending 26.6 miles from the Meadville
and interested agencies on the project. that your comments are properly Compressor Station north to an existing
You can make a difference by providing recorded. valve set in Washington Township, Erie
us with your specific comments or (1) You can file your comments County, including construction of a new
concerns about the project. Your electronically using the eComment launcher/receiver;
comments should focus on the potential feature on the Commission’s Web site • next to the Meadville Compressor
environmental effects, reasonable (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Station, construction of a 650-foot
alternatives, and measures to avoid or Documents and Filings. This is an easy lateral within the existing 12-inch-
lessen environmental impacts. Your method for submitting brief, text-only diameter pipeline right-of-way to move
input will help the Commission staff comments on a project; gas from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline
determine what issues they need to (2) You can file your comments Company, LLC system to the existing
evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your electronically by using the eFiling pipeline; and
comments are timely and properly feature on the Commission’s Web site • re-certification and use of a portion
recorded, please send your comments so (www.ferc.gov) under the link to of an existing 8-inch-diameter pipeline
that the Commission receives them in Documents and Filings. With eFiling, extending from the 12-inch valve set
Washington, DC on or before December you can provide comments in a variety west about 5.0 miles to a point in Elk
21, 2017. of formats by attaching them as a file Creek Township, Erie County (Line
If you sent comments on this project with your submission. New eFiling 10257), including construction of two
to the Commission before the opening of users must first create an account by new launcher/receivers.
this docket on October 16, 2017, you clicking on eRegister. If you are filing a In Pennsylvania and Ohio, the project
will need to file those comments in comment on a particular project, please would include:
select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the • Construction of 28.3 miles of new
Docket No. CP18–6–000 to ensure they
filing type; or 12-inch-diameter pipeline from the west
are considered as part of this
(3) You can file a paper copy of your end of the recertified 8-inch-diameter
proceeding.
This notice is being sent to the comments by mailing them to the pipeline to connect with Dominion
Commission’s current environmental following address. Be sure to reference Energy Ohio facilities located in North
mailing list for this project. State and the project docket number (CP18–6– Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio
local government representatives should 000) with your submission: Kimberly D. (Risberg Pipeline). The pipeline would
notify their constituents of this Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy be constructed in new right-of-way and
proposed project and encourage them to Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street include launcher/receiver facilities and
comment on their areas of concern. NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. mainline valves; and
If you are a landowner receiving this In addition, the FERC environmental • construction of a new meter station
at the terminus of the new pipeline in
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
notice, a pipeline company staff plans on attending RH-sponsored
representative may contact you about open houses in Conneaut, Ohio on North Kingsville, Ashtabula County,
the acquisition of an easement to December 5, 2017 and in Edinboro, Ohio.
The general location of the project
construct, operate, and maintain the Pennsylvania on December 6, 2017 to
facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
proposed facilities. The company would explain the Commission’s
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable environmental review process. If you 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
agreement. However, if the Commission are interested in attending, RH has not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
approves the project, that approval requested that you RSVP at Continued
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![56604 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices
[FR Doc. 2017–25722 Filed 11–28–17; 8:45 am] (e) Assess information collection version, with the exception of new
BILLING CODE 6717–01–C costs. supplements that are being added on
To request additional information on asthma and cancer control. These
the proposed project or to obtain a copy supplements replace those from 2017 on
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND of the information collection plan and receipt of culturally and linguistically
HUMAN SERVICES instruments, call (404) 639–7570 or appropriate health care services,
send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Direct diabetes, epilepsy, cognitive disability,
Centers for Disease Control and written comments and/or suggestions complementary health, hepatitis B/C
Prevention regarding the items contained in this screening, vision, and heart disease and
notice to the Attention: CDC Desk stroke prevention. Continuing from
[30Day–18–0214]
Officer, Office of Management and 2017 are supplemental questions about
Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Budget, 725 17th Street NW., access to and utilization of care and
Reduction Act Review Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) barriers to care, disability and
395–5806. Provide written comments functioning, family food security, ABCS
In accordance with the Paperwork within 30 days of notice publication. of heart disease and stroke prevention,
Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for immunizations, smokeless tobacco and
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Proposed Project
e-cigarettes, and children’s mental
has submitted the information National Health Interview Survey
health.
collection request titled National Health (NHIS) (OMB Control Number 0920–
Interview Survey (NHIS) to the Office of 0214, Expiration Date 12/31/2019)— In addition, in the last quarter of
Management and Budget (OMB) for Revision—National Center for Health 2018, a portion of the regular 2018 NHIS
review and approval. CDC previously Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease sample will be used to carry out a dress
published a ‘‘Proposed Data Collection Control and Prevention (CDC). rehearsal and systems test of the
Submitted for Public Comment and redesigned NHIS questionnaire that is
Background and Brief Description scheduled for launch in January 2019.
Recommendations’’ notice on August
21, 2017. CDC received eight comments Section 306 of the Public Health The redesigned questionnaire revises
related to the previous notice. This Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C.), as the NHIS both in terms of content and
notice serves to allow an additional 30 amended, authorizes that the Secretary structure in order to (1) improve the
days for public and affected agency of Health and Human Services (HHS), measurement of covered health topics,
comments. acting through NCHS, shall collect (2) reduce respondent burden by
CDC will accept all comments for this statistics on the extent and nature of shortening the length of the
proposed information collection project. illness and disability of the population questionnaire and seamlessly
The Office of Management and Budget of the United States. integrating supplements, (3) harmonize
is particularly interested in comments The annual National Health Interview overlapping content with other federal
that: Survey (NHIS) is a major source of health surveys, (4) establish a long-term
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed general statistics on the health of the structure of ongoing and periodic topics,
collection of information is necessary U.S. population and has been in the and (5) incorporate advances in survey
for the proper performance of the field continuously since 1957. This methodology and measurement.
functions of the agency, including voluntary and confidential household-
based survey collects demographic and As in past years, and in accordance
whether the information will have with the 1995 initiative to increase the
practical utility; health-related information from a
nationally-representative sample of integration of surveys within the DHHS,
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the
households and noninstitutionalized, respondents to the 2018 NHIS will serve
agencies estimate of the burden of the
civilian persons throughout the country. as the sampling frame for the Medical
proposed collection of information,
NHIS data have long been used by Expenditure Panel Survey. In addition,
including the validity of the
government, academic, and private a subsample of NHIS respondents and/
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and researchers to evaluate both general or members of commercial survey
clarity of the information to be health and specific issues, such as panels may be identified to participate
collected; smoking, diabetes, health care coverage, in cognitive testing and methodological
(d) Minimize the burden of the and access to health care. The survey is projects, using web and/or mail survey
collection of information on those who also a leading source of data for the tools, that will inform the development
are to respond, including, through the Congressionally-mandated ‘‘Health US’’ of new rotating and supplemental
use of appropriate automated, and related publications, as well as the content.
electronic, mechanical, or other single most important source of There is no cost to the respondents
technological collection techniques or statistics to track progress toward other than their time. Clearance is
other forms of information technology, Departmental health objectives. sought for three years, to collect data for
e.g., permitting electronic submission of The 2018 NHIS questionnaire remains 2018–2020, with an estimated
responses; and largely unchanged from its 2017 annualized burden of 47,735 hours.
ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Average
Number of
Number of burden per
Type of respondents Form name responses per
respondents response
respondent (in hours)
Adult Household Member ............................... Main Household Composition and Family 39,375 1 23/60
Core.
Sample Adult ................................................... Main Adult Core ............................................. 31,500 1 15/60
Adult Family Member ...................................... Main Child Core ............................................. 12,250 1 10/60
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Document Created: 2017-11-29 01:26:18
Document Modified: 2017-11-29 01:26:18
| 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 56599 |
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