82 FR 58802 - Cimarron River Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 239 (December 14, 2017)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 239 (December 14, 2017)
| Page Range | 58802-58804 | |
| FR Document | 2017-26929 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 58802-58804] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-26929] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF17-7-000] Cimarron River Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned 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 Cimarron Expansion Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Cimarron River Pipeline, LLC (Cimarron) in Beaver and Texas Counties, Oklahoma and Seward County, Kansas. 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 8, 2018. If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on July 10, 2017, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. PF17-7-000 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 planned 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 planned 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. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). 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. Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your [[Page 58803]] 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 (PF17-7-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Summary of the Planned Project Cimarron plans to construct, own, operate, and maintain the Project facilities to provide up to an aggregate of 631 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day of additional firm natural gas transportation capacity in order to support the growing demand for liquids-rich natural gas transportation service in the region to ensure that gas is properly treated and processed before it is distributed for market use. Cimarron plans to expand its pipeline system by constructing about 49.3 miles of new natural gas pipeline in Beaver County, Oklahoma and Seward County, Kansas and leasing approximately 19.1 miles of an existing, currently idle 26-inch-diameter pipeline in Texas and Beaver Counties, Oklahoma. A total of 23 miles of the Project would consist of 20-inch- diameter pipeline extending north from a proposed tie-in facility located near Cimarron's existing Beaver Compressor Station in Beaver County. At a new tie-in with the leased pipeline in Beaver County, the 20-inch-diameter pipeline would change to 30-inch-diameter pipeline and continue north about 24.3 miles through Seward County, Kansas before reaching a new drip valve site. Two 30-inch-diameter pipelines would then extend for approximately 1.5 miles and 0.6 mile, respectively, to the National Helium Gas Processing Plant. The planned Project also includes two new receipt point facilities, one at the beginning of the leased pipeline in Texas County, Oklahoma and one along the 0.6-mile- long 30-inch-diameter pipeline between the new drip valve site and the National Helium Gas Processing Plant. The Project also includes the construction of five new pig launcher and/or receiver facilities \1\ at the beginning and end of the new pipelines and at the end of the leased pipeline; three meter and regulator facilities; and four mainline valves. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the 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 page 6 of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 649.7 acres of land for the pipelines and aboveground facilities. Following construction, Cimarron would maintain about 339.2 acres for permanent operation of the Project facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 67 percent of the planned pipeline route is within or parallel to existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way. 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ 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 planned 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 possible alternatives to the planned Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Although no formal application has been filed, we have already initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA. 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 we make 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 related to 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 58804]] 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(s), 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(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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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 planned 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 Once Cimarron files its application with the Commission, 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. Motions to intervene are more fully described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's website. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for the Project. 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 (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., PF17- 7). 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: December 7, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017-26929 Filed 12-13-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![58802 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices
Arch Dams of its Engineering Guidelines (3) In lieu of electronic filing, you can Counties, Oklahoma and Seward
for the Evaluation of Hydropower mail a paper copy of your comments to: County, Kansas. The Commission will
Projects. The staff has revised Chapter Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal use this EA in its decision-making
11—Arch Dams 1 and comments are Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 process to determine whether the
now requested on the draft document First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, Project is in the public convenience and
from federal and state agencies, DC 20426. necessity.
licensees whose infrastructure portfolio The OEP staff provided copies of This notice announces the opening of
includes arch dams, independent revised Chapter 11—Arch Dams to the scoping process the Commission
consultants and inspectors, and other federal and state agencies, licensees will use to gather input from the public
interested parties with special expertise whose portfolio includes arch dams, and interested agencies on the Project.
with respect dam safety and arch dams. independent consultants and inspectors, You can make a difference by providing
A 60-day public comment period is and other interested parties. In addition, us with your specific comments or
allotted to collect comments. Please all information related to the proposed concerns about the Project. Your
note that this comment period will close updates to Chapter 11—Arch Dams and comments should focus on the potential
on February 5, 2018. submitted comments can be found on environmental effects, reasonable
Interested parties can help us the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using alternatives, and measures to avoid or
determine the appropriate updates and the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary lessen environmental impacts. Your
improvements by providing: Meaningful link, click on General Search and enter input will help the Commission staff
comments or suggestions that focus on the docket number, excluding the last determine what issues they need to
the specific sections requiring three digits in the Docket Number field evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your
clarification; updates to reflect current (i.e., AD18–6). Be sure you have comments are timely and properly
laws and regulations; or improved selected an appropriate date range. The recorded, please send your comments so
measures for evaluating the safety of Commission also offers a free service that the Commission receives them in
arch dams. The more specific your called eSubscription which allows you Washington, DC on or before January 8,
comments, the more useful they will be. to keep track of all formal issuances and 2018.
A detailed explanation of your submittals in specific dockets. This can If you sent comments on this Project
submissions and/or any references of reduce the amount of time you spend to the Commission before the opening of
scientific studies associated with your researching proceedings by this docket on July 10, 2017, you will
comments will greatly help us with this automatically providing you with need to file those comments in Docket
process. We will consider all timely electronic notification of these filings No. PF17–7–000 to ensure they are
comments on the revised Guidelines and direct links to the documents. Go to considered as part of this proceeding.
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ This notice is being sent to the
before issuing the final version.
esubscription.asp. Users must be Commission’s current environmental
For your convenience, there are three
registered in order to use eSubscription. mailing list for this Project. State and
methods which you can use to submit
For assistance with filing or any of the local government representatives should
your comments to the Commission. In
Commission’s online systems, please notify their constituents of this planned
all instances please reference the docket
contact FERC Online Support at Project and encourage them to comment
number (AD18–6–000) on the first page
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free on their areas of concern.
of your submission. The Commission If you are a landowner receiving this
strongly encourages electronic filing. at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
notice, a pipeline company
(1) You can file your comments (202) 502–8258.
representative may contact you about
electronically using the eComment Dated: December 7, 2017. the acquisition of an easement to
feature on the Commission’s website Kimberly D. Bose, construct, operate, and maintain the
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to Secretary. planned facilities. The company would
Documents and Filings. This is an easy seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
[FR Doc. 2017–26927 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am]
method for interested persons to submit agreement. However, if the Commission
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
brief, text-only comments up to 6,000 approves the Project, that approval
characters. You must include your name conveys with it the right of eminent
and contact information at the end of domain. Therefore, if easement
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
your comments; negotiations fail to produce an
(2) You can file your comments Federal Energy Regulatory agreement, the pipeline company could
electronically using the eFiling feature Commission initiate condemnation proceedings
on the Commission’s website where compensation would be
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to [Docket No. PF17–7–000]
determined in accordance with state
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, law.
Cimarron River Pipeline, LLC; Notice
you can provide comments in a variety A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
of formats by attaching them as a file entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Assessment for the Planned Request
with your submission. New eFiling Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
for Comments on Environmental
users must first create an account by To Know?’’ is available for viewing on
Issues
clicking on eRegister. When selecting the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). This
the filing type, select General, then The staff of the Federal Energy fact sheet addresses a number of
chose Comment (on Filing, Environ. Regulatory Commission (FERC or
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
typically asked questions, including the
Report or Tech Conf); or Commission) will prepare an use of eminent domain and how to
environmental assessment (EA) that will participate in the Commission’s
1 The existing Chapter 11—Arch Dams is dated discuss the environmental impacts of proceedings.
October 1999 and can be found on the Federal the Cimarron Expansion Project
Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission)
involving construction and operation of Public Participation
website to use as a reference to see the changes
made: http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/ facilities by Cimarron River Pipeline, For your convenience, there are three
safety/guidelines/eng-guide/chap11.pdf. LLC (Cimarron) in Beaver and Texas methods you can use to submit your
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![58804 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Notices
Consultations Under Section 106 of the Becoming an Intervenor FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
National Historic Preservation Act COMMISSION
Once Cimarron files its application
In accordance with the Advisory with the Commission, you may want to [OMB 3060–1205]
Council on Historic Preservation’s become an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an
implementing regulations for Section official party to the Commission’s Information Collection Being Reviewed
106 of the National Historic proceeding. Intervenors play a more by the Federal Communications
Preservation Act, we are using this formal role in the process and are able Commission Under Delegated
notice to initiate consultation with the to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be Authority
applicable State Historic Preservation heard by the courts if they choose to AGENCY: Federal Communications
Office(s), and to solicit their views and appeal the Commission’s final ruling. Commission.
those of other government agencies, An intervenor formally participates in ACTION: Notice and request for
interested Indian tribes, and the public the proceeding by filing a request to
on the Project’s potential effects on comments.
intervene. Motions to intervene are
historic properties.5 We will define the more fully described at http:// SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort
Project-specific Area of Potential Effects www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/ to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
(APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) intervene.asp. Instructions for becoming required by the Paperwork Reduction
as the Project develops. On natural gas an intervenor are in the ‘‘Document-less Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal
facility projects, the APE at a minimum Intervention Guide’’ under the ‘‘e-filing’’ Communications Commission (FCC or
encompasses all areas subject to ground link on the Commission’s website. Commission) invites the general public
disturbance (examples include Please note that the Commission will and other Federal agencies to take this
construction right-of-way, contractor/ not accept requests for intervenor status opportunity to comment on the
pipe storage yards, compressor stations, at this time. You must wait until the following information collections.
and access roads). Our EA for this Commission receives a formal Comments are requested concerning:
Project will document our findings on application for the Project. Whether the proposed collection of
the impacts on historic properties and information is necessary for the proper
summarize the status of consultations Additional Information performance of the functions of the
under Section 106. Commission, including whether the
Additional information about the
Environmental Mailing List Project is available from the information shall have practical utility;
Commission’s Office of External Affairs, the accuracy of the Commission’s
The environmental mailing list burden estimate; ways to enhance the
includes federal, state, and local at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC
website (www.ferc.gov) using the quality, utility, and clarity of the
government representatives and information collected; ways to minimize
agencies; elected officials; eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link,
click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the the burden of the collection of
environmental and public interest information on the respondents,
groups; Native American Tribes; other docket number, excluding the last three
digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., including the use of automated
interested parties; and local libraries collection techniques or other forms of
and newspapers. This list also includes PF17–7). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, information technology; and ways to
all affected landowners (as defined in further reduce the information
the Commission’s regulations) who are please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free collection burden on small business
potential right-of-way grantors, whose concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
property may be used temporarily for at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also The FCC may not conduct or sponsor
Project purposes, or who own homes a collection of information unless it
within certain distances of aboveground provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission, displays a currently valid Office of
facilities, and anyone who submits Management and Budget (OMB) control
comments on the Project. We will such as orders, notices, and
rulemakings. number. No person shall be subject to
update the environmental mailing list as any penalty for failing to comply with
the analysis proceeds to ensure that we In addition, the Commission offers a a collection of information subject to the
send the information related to this free service called eSubscription which PRA that does not display a valid OMB
environmental review to all individuals, allows you to keep track of all formal control number.
organizations, and government entities issuances and submittals in specific DATES: Written comments should be
interested in and/or potentially affected dockets. This can reduce the amount of submitted on or before February 12,
by the planned Project. time you spend researching proceedings 2018. If you anticipate that you will be
If we publish and distribute the EA, by automatically providing you with submitting comments, but find it
copies will be sent to the environmental notification of these filings, document difficult to do so within the period of
mailing list for public review and summaries, and direct links to the time allowed by this notice, you should
comment. If you would prefer to receive documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- advise the contacts below as soon as
a paper copy of the document instead of filing/esubscription.asp. possible.
the CD version or would like to remove Finally, public sessions or site visits
your name from the mailing list, please ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to
will be posted on the Commission’s
return the attached Information Request Cathy Williams, FCC, via email: PRA@
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
(appendix 2). EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
with other related information.
5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation additional information about the
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
Dated: December 7, 2017. information collection, contact Cathy
Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define Kimberly D. Bose, Williams at (202) 418–2918.
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic Secretary. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of
district, site, building, structure, or object included
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register [FR Doc. 2017–26929 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am] its continuing effort to reduce
of Historic Places. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P paperwork burdens, and as required by
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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:52:02
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:52:02
| 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 58802 |
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