82 FR 60393 - Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP ; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Westlake Expansion Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 243 (December 20, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60393-60394]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27368]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-476-000]


Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP ; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Westlake Expansion Project

    On July 20, 2017, Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP17-476-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate facilities in 
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The proposed project is known as the 
Westlake Expansion Project (Project) and 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.
    On July 31, 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--February 27, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--May 29, 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

    Gulf South proposes to construct and operate the following 
facilities as part of the 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 Meter and Regulator Stations).

Background

    On August 30, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Westlake 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; Native American tribes; environmental 
groups; and local libraries. In response to the NOI, the Commission 
received comments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma, three Louisiana state senators/representatives, the 
Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (SWLA), and the 
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. The primary issues raised by the EPA and 
the LDWF are impacts on wetlands and wetland mitigation, waters of the 
United States, and construction and operational air quality impacts. 
The Choctaw Nation of

[[Page 60394]]

Oklahoma requested to be a consulting party, be involved in the 
development of the Area of Potential Effect, and requested Project 
shapefiles, which Gulf South provided. The Louisiana state senators/
representatives, SWLA, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury commented 
that they support the Project due to its potential economic benefits.

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 website (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., CP17-476), 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 website also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: December 14, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-27368 Filed 12-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P