82 FR 58384 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed TX-LA Markets Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues; Enbridge-Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 237 (December 12, 2017)

Page Range		58384-58386
FR Document		2017-26744
Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58384-58386]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26744]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-10-000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed TX-LA Markets Project and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues; Enbridge--Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P.

    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 TX-LA Markets Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Enbridge--Texas 
Eastern Transmission, L.P. (Texas Eastern) in Beauregard 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 January 5, 2018.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on October 19, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-10-000 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.
    Texas Eastern 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 website (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 website (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 website (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 
(CP18-10-000) 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

    Texas Eastern proposes to modify its existing Gillis Compressor 
Station in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The TX-LA Markets Project 
would provide about 157,500 dekatherms of natural gas per day to 
Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Natgasoline LLC.
    The TX-LA Markets Project would consist of the following 
modifications at the existing Gills Compressor Station:
     Installation of two gas cooling bays; and
     installation of two new impellers \1\ for existing 
compressor units.
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    \1\ An impeller is a rotor used to increase gas pressure.
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    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
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    \2\ 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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[[Page 58385]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 39 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities. All areas affected are 
owned by Texas Eastern. Texas Eastern would not require any additional 
acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities.

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 
\3\ 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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    \3\ ``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;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     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.\4\ 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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    \4\ 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.\5\ 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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    \5\ 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 website. 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 website 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-
10). 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

[[Page 58386]]

calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 
with other related information.

    Dated: December 6, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-26744 Filed 12-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
58384 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 12, 2017 / Notices

established under section 807 of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY available for viewing on the FERC
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), website (www.ferc.gov).
Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 849, to Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Public Participation
provide advice and recommendations to
the Secretary of Energy on the program [Docket No. CP18–10–000]
For your convenience, there are three
authorized by Title VIII of EPACT. methods you can use to submit your
Notice of Intent To Prepare an comments to the Commission. The
Tentative Agenda: (updates will be Commission encourages electronic filing
Environmental Assessment for the
posted on the web at): http:// of comments and has expert staff
Proposed TX-LA Markets Project and
hydrogen.energy.gov/advisory_ available to assist you at (202) 502–8258
Request for Comments on
htac.html). Environmental Issues; Enbridge— or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
• HTAC Business (including public Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P. carefully follow these instructions so
comment period) that your comments are properly
The staff of the Federal Energy recorded.
• DOE Leadership Updates Regulatory Commission (FERC or (1) You can file your comments
• Program and Budget Updates Commission) will prepare an electronically using the eComment
environmental assessment (EA) that will feature on the Commission’s website
• Updates from Federal/State discuss the environmental impacts of
Governments and Industry (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
the TX-LA Markets Project involving Documents and Filings. This is an easy
• HTAC Subcommittee Updates construction and operation of facilities method for submitting brief, text-only
• Open Discussion Period by Enbridge—Texas Eastern comments on a project;
Transmission, L.P. (Texas Eastern) in (2) You can file your comments
Public Participation: The meeting is Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The
open to the public. Individuals who electronically by using the eFiling
Commission will use this EA in its feature on the Commission’s website
would like to attend and/or to make oral decision-making process to determine
statements during the public comment (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
whether the project is in the public
period must register no later than 5:00 Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
convenience and necessity.
you can provide comments in a variety
p.m. on Monday, February 5, 2018, by This notice announces the opening of
of formats by attaching them as a file
email at HTAC@nrel.gov. Entry to the the scoping process the Commission
with your submission. New eFiling
meeting room will be restricted to those will use to gather input from the public
users must first create an account by
who have confirmed their attendance in and interested agencies on the project.
clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
advance. Please provide your name, You can make a difference by providing
a comment on a particular project,
organization, citizenship, and contact us with your specific comments or
please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
information. Anyone attending the concerns about the project. Your
the filing type; or
meeting will be required to present comments should focus on the potential
(3) You can file a paper copy of your
government-issued identification. Those environmental effects, reasonable
comments by mailing them to the
wishing to make a public comment are alternatives, and measures to avoid or
following address. Be sure to reference
required to register. The public lessen environmental impacts. Your
the project docket number (CP18–10–
input will help the Commission staff
comment period will take place between 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
determine what issues they need to
8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. on February 13, Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your
2018. Time allotted per speaker will Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
comments are timely and properly
depend on the number who wish to NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
recorded, please send your comments so
speak but will not exceed five minutes. that the Commission receives them in Summary of the Proposed Project
Those not able to attend the meeting or Washington, DC on or before January 5,
have insufficient time to address the Texas Eastern proposes to modify its
2018. existing Gillis Compressor Station in
committee are invited to send a written If you sent comments on this project
statement to HTAC@nrel.gov. Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The TX-
to the Commission before the opening of
LA Markets Project would provide about
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting this docket on October 19, 2017, you
157,500 dekatherms of natural gas per
will be available for public review at will need to file those comments in
day to Entergy Louisiana, LLC and
http://hydrogen.energy.gov/advisory_ Docket No. CP18–10–000 to ensure they
Natgasoline LLC.
htac.html. are considered as part of this
The TX-LA Markets Project would
proceeding. This notice is being sent to
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 7, consist of the following modifications at
the Commission’s current
2017. the existing Gills Compressor Station:
environmental mailing list for this
LaTanya R. Butler, • Installation of two gas cooling bays;
project. State and local government
and
Deputy Committee Management Officer. representatives should notify their
• installation of two new impellers 1
[FR Doc. 2017–26747 Filed 12–11–17; 8:45 am] constituents of this proposed project
for existing compressor units.
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P and encourage them to comment on
The general location of the project
their areas of concern.
Texas Eastern provided landowners facilities is shown in appendix 1.2
with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

1 An impeller is a rotor used to increase gas
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas pressure.
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need 2 The appendices referenced in this notice will

To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
number of typically asked questions, appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
including the use of eminent domain using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
and how to participate in the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
Commission’s proceedings. It is also Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–

VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:03 Dec 11, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM 12DEN1
Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:48:40
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:48:40
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 58384
82 FR 58384 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed TX-LA Markets Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues; Enbridge-Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 237 (December 12, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
