82_FR_8434 82 FR 8419 - DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Birdsboro Pipeline Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session

82 FR 8419 - DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Birdsboro Pipeline Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 15 (January 25, 2017)

Page Range8419-8421
FR Document2017-01676

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 15 (Wednesday, January 25, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8419-8421]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01676]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF17-1-000]


DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned Birdsboro Pipeline Project, 
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public 
Scoping Session

    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 Birdsboro Pipeline Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by DTE Midstream 
Appalachia, LLC (DTE) in Berks County, Pennsylvania. 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 February 17, 2017.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on October 14, 2016, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. PF17-1-000 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

[[Page 8420]]

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 Web site (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 four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. 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 
(PF17-1-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426;
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend the public scoping session its staff 
will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Date and time                          Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, February 2, 2017, 5:30-10:00 p.m  Oley Fair Center, 26
                                             Jefferson Street, Oley, PA,
                                             484-256-8009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be 
considered in the EA to be prepared for this project. Individual verbal 
comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. 
This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of verbal 
comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.
    The scoping session is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
Eastern Standard Time. You may arrive at any time after 5:30 p.m. There 
will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session 
opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers 
in the order of your arrival; distribution of numbers will be 
discontinued at 8:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional 
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 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 the last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Your scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter (with 
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public 
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on 
FERC's eLibrary system (see below for instructions on using eLibrary). 
If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal 
comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may be 
implemented for each commentor.
    It is important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight 
as written or electronically submitted comments. Although there will 
not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available 
throughout the comment session to answer your questions about the 
environmental review process. Representatives from DTE will also be 
present to answer project-specific questions.

Summary of the Planned Project

    DTE plans to construct and operate about 14 miles of up to 16-inch-
diameter pipeline and appurtenant facilities. The purpose of the 
planned Birdsboro Pipeline Project is to provide about 79,000 
dekatherms of natural gas per day to the Birdsboro Power Plant in Berks 
County, Pennsylvania. The Birdsboro Power Plant is not under the 
jurisdiction of FERC and will not be part of the proposed action 
evaluated in the EA. The power plant is/will be obtaining multiple 
federal, state, and local permits and approvals for construction and 
operation of the facility.
    The Birdsboro Pipeline Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     About 14 miles of up to 16-inch-diameter pipeline;
     a pig launcher and receiver; \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     a new meter station and associated facilities at the Texas 
Eastern Transmission Company Pipeline right-of-way; and
     6 new mainline valves.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 147.8 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, DTE would maintain about 82.7 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses.

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;

[[Page 8421]]

     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. We will 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    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 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once DTE 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 Web site. 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 Web site (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-
1). 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: January 18, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-01676 Filed 1-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 25, 2017 / Notices                                             8419

                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                      Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing:                     DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                    Docket No. ER17–358, Southwest                        January 2017 Negotiated Rate Cleanup
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                    Filing to be effective 2/17/2017.                      Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                    Docket No. ER17–426, Southwest                                                                               Commission
                                                                                                            Filed Date: 1/17/17.
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.
                                                                                                            Accession Number: 20170117–5127.                     [Docket No. PF17–1–000]
                                                    Docket No. ER17–427, Southwest
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                      Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/30/17.                     DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC;
                                                    Docket No. ER17–428, Southwest                                                                               Notice of Intent To Prepare an
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                       Docket Numbers: RP17–337–000.
                                                                                                                                                                 Environmental Assessment for the
                                                    Docket No. ER17–469, Southwest                           Applicants: Algonquin Gas                           Planned Birdsboro Pipeline Project,
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                    Transmission, LLC.                                     and Request for Comments on
                                                    Docket No. ER17–483, Southwest
                                                                                                             Description: § 4(d) Rate Filing:                    Environmental Issues, and Notice of
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.
                                                                                                          Jan2017 Removal of Terminated                          Public Scoping Session
                                                    Docket No. ER17–587, Southwest
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                    Statements of Negotiated Rates to be                      The staff of the Federal Energy
                                                    Docket No. ER17–589, Southwest                        effective 2/17/2017.                                   Regulatory Commission (FERC or
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                       Filed Date: 1/17/17.                                Commission) will prepare an
                                                    Docket No. ER17–591, Southwest                                                                               environmental assessment (EA) that will
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                       Accession Number: 20170117–5130.
                                                                                                                                                                 discuss the environmental impacts of
                                                    Docket No. ER17–722, ITC Midwest,                        Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/30/17.                    the Birdsboro Pipeline Project involving
                                                      LLC                                                    Any person desiring to intervene or                 construction and operation of facilities
                                                    Docket No. ER17–738, Southwest                        protest in any of the above proceedings                by DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                    must file in accordance with Rules 211                 (DTE) in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
                                                    Docket No. ER17–739, Southwest                                                                               The Commission will use this EA in its
                                                                                                          and 214 of the Commission’s
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                                                                           decision-making process to determine
                                                    Docket No. ER17–745, ITC Midwest,                     Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
                                                                                                          § 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern              whether the project is in the public
                                                      LLC                                                                                                        convenience and necessity.
                                                    Docket No. ER17–749, Southwest                        time on the specified comment date.
                                                                                                          Protests may be considered, but                           This notice announces the opening of
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.                                                                                           the scoping process the Commission
                                                    Docket No. ER17–762, Southwest                        intervention is necessary to become a
                                                                                                          party to the proceeding.                               will use to gather input from the public
                                                      Power Pool, Inc.
                                                                                                                                                                 and interested agencies on the project.
                                                    These meetings are open to the                        Filings in Existing Proceedings                        You can make a difference by providing
                                                  public.                                                                                                        us with your specific comments or
                                                    For more information, contact Patrick                    Docket Numbers: RP17–320–001.                       concerns about the project. Your
                                                  Clarey, Office of Energy Market                                                                                comments should focus on the potential
                                                                                                             Applicants: Texas Gas Transmission,
                                                  Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory                                                                          environmental effects, reasonable
                                                                                                          LLC.
                                                  Commission at (317) 249–5937 or                                                                                alternatives, and measures to avoid or
                                                  patrick.clarey@ferc.gov.                                   Description: Tariff Amendment:
                                                                                                          Amendment to Filing in Docket No.                      lessen environmental impacts. Your
                                                    Dated: January 18, 2017.                                                                                     input will help the Commission staff
                                                                                                          RP17–320–000 to be effective 1/1/2017.
                                                  Kimberly D. Bose,                                                                                              determine what issues they need to
                                                  Secretary.                                                 Filed Date: 1/17/17.                                evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–01672 Filed 1–24–17; 8:45 am]                Accession Number: 20170117–5030.                    comments are timely and properly
                                                  BILLING CODE 6717–01–P                                     Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/30/17.                    recorded, please send your comments so
                                                                                                                                                                 that the Commission receives them in
                                                                                                             Any person desiring to protest in any               Washington, DC on or before February
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                    of the above proceedings must file in                  17, 2017.
                                                                                                          accordance with Rule 211 of the                           If you sent comments on this project
                                                  Federal Energy Regulatory                               Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR                       to the Commission before the opening of
                                                  Commission                                              385.211) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern                this docket on October 14, 2016, you
                                                                                                          time on the specified comment date.                    will need to file those comments in
                                                  Combined Notice of Filings                                                                                     Docket No. PF17–1–000 to ensure they
                                                                                                             The filings are accessible in the
                                                    Take notice that the Commission has                   Commission’s eLibrary system by                        are considered as part of this
                                                  received the following Natural Gas                      clicking on the links or querying the                  proceeding.
                                                  Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:                docket number.                                            This notice is being sent to the
                                                                                                                                                                 Commission’s current environmental
                                                  Filings Instituting Proceedings                            eFiling is encouraged. More detailed                mailing list for this project. State and
                                                    Docket Number: PR17–17–000.                           information relating to filing                         local government representatives should
                                                    Applicants: DTE Gas Company.                          requirements, interventions, protests,                 notify their constituents of this planned
                                                    Description: Tariff filing per                        service, and qualifying facilities filings             project and encourage them to comment
                                                  284.123(b), (e)/: DTE Gas Operating                     can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/                  on their areas of concern.
                                                  Statement Update to be effective 12/16/                 docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For                   If you are a landowner receiving this
                                                                                                          other information, call (866) 208–3676                 notice, a pipeline company
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  2016; Filing Type: 1000.
                                                    Filed Date: 1/6/2017.                                 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.             representative may contact you about
                                                    Accession Number: 201701065060.                         Dated: January 17, 2017.                             the acquisition of an easement to
                                                    Comments/Protests Due: 5 p.m. ET                                                                             construct, operate, and maintain the
                                                  1/27/17.                                                Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                                                                                                                                                 planned facilities. The company would
                                                    Docket Numbers: RP17–336–000.                         Deputy Secretary.                                      seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
                                                    Applicants: East Tennessee Natural                    [FR Doc. 2017–01634 Filed 1–24–17; 8:45 am]            agreement. However, if the Commission
                                                  Gas, LLC.                                               BILLING CODE 6717–01–P                                 approves the project, that approval


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:29 Jan 24, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00024   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM   25JAN1


                                                  8420                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 25, 2017 / Notices

                                                  conveys with it the right of eminent                          Date and time                 Location           per day to the Birdsboro Power Plant in
                                                  domain. Therefore, if easement                                                                                 Berks County, Pennsylvania. The
                                                  negotiations fail to produce an                         Thursday, February 2,        Oley Fair Center, 26      Birdsboro Power Plant is not under the
                                                  agreement, the pipeline company could                     2017, 5:30–10:00             Jefferson Street,       jurisdiction of FERC and will not be part
                                                  initiate condemnation proceedings                         p.m.                         Oley, PA, 484–          of the proposed action evaluated in the
                                                                                                                                         256–8009.               EA. The power plant is/will be
                                                  where compensation would be
                                                  determined in accordance with state                                                                            obtaining multiple federal, state, and
                                                                                                             The primary goal of these scoping
                                                  law.                                                                                                           local permits and approvals for
                                                                                                          sessions is to have you identify the
                                                    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC                                                                            construction and operation of the
                                                                                                          specific environmental issues and
                                                  entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas                                                                           facility.
                                                                                                          concerns that should be considered in
                                                                                                                                                                   The Birdsboro Pipeline Project would
                                                  Facility On My Land? What Do I Need                     the EA to be prepared for this project.
                                                                                                                                                                 consist of the following facilities:
                                                  To Know?’’ is available for viewing on                  Individual verbal comments will be
                                                                                                                                                                   • About 14 miles of up to 16-inch-
                                                  the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This                  taken on a one-on-one basis with a court
                                                                                                                                                                 diameter pipeline;
                                                  fact sheet addresses a number of                        reporter. This format is designed to
                                                                                                                                                                   • a pig launcher and receiver; 2
                                                  typically asked questions, including the                receive the maximum amount of verbal                     • a new meter station and associated
                                                  use of eminent domain and how to                        comments, in a convenient way during
                                                                                                                                                                 facilities at the Texas Eastern
                                                  participate in the Commission’s                         the timeframe allotted.
                                                                                                                                                                 Transmission Company Pipeline right-
                                                  proceedings.                                               The scoping session is scheduled
                                                                                                          from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern                   of-way; and
                                                  Public Participation                                                                                             • 6 new mainline valves.
                                                                                                          Standard Time. You may arrive at any
                                                                                                                                                                   The general location of the project
                                                                                                          time after 5:30 p.m. There will not be a
                                                     For your convenience, there are four                                                                        facilities is shown in appendix 2.
                                                                                                          formal presentation by Commission staff
                                                  methods you can use to submit your
                                                                                                          when the session opens. If you wish to                 Land Requirements for Construction
                                                  comments to the Commission. The                         speak, the Commission staff will hand
                                                  Commission will provide equal                                                                                    Construction of the planned facilities
                                                                                                          out numbers in the order of your arrival;              would disturb about 147.8 acres of land
                                                  consideration to all comments received,                 distribution of numbers will be
                                                  whether filed in written form or                                                                               for the aboveground facilities and the
                                                                                                          discontinued at 8:00 p.m. Please see                   pipeline. Following construction, DTE
                                                  provided verbally. The Commission                       appendix 1 for additional information
                                                  encourages electronic filing of                                                                                would maintain about 82.7 acres for
                                                                                                          on the session format and conduct.1                    permanent operation of the project’s
                                                  comments and has expert staff available                   Your scoping comments will be
                                                  to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or                                                                             facilities; the remaining acreage would
                                                                                                          recorded by the court reporter (with
                                                  efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow                                                                      be restored and revert to former uses.
                                                                                                          FERC staff or representative present)
                                                  these instructions so that your                         and become part of the public record for               The EA Process
                                                  comments are properly recorded.                         this proceeding. Transcripts will be                      The National Environmental Policy
                                                     (1) You can file your comments                       publicly available on FERC’s eLibrary                  Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
                                                  electronically using the eComment                       system (see below for instructions on                  take into account the environmental
                                                  feature on the Commission’s Web site                    using eLibrary). If a significant number               impacts that could result from an action
                                                  (www.ferc.gov) under the link to                        of people are interested in providing                  whenever it considers the issuance of a
                                                  Documents and Filings. This is an easy                  verbal comments in the one-on-one                      Certificate of Public Convenience and
                                                  method for submitting brief, text-only                  settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may                Necessity. NEPA also requires us 3 to
                                                  comments on a project;                                  be implemented for each commentor.                     discover and address concerns the
                                                                                                            It is important to note that verbal
                                                     (2) You can file your comments                                                                              public may have about proposals. This
                                                                                                          comments hold the same weight as
                                                  electronically by using the eFiling                                                                            process is referred to as scoping. The
                                                                                                          written or electronically submitted
                                                  feature on the Commission’s Web site                                                                           main goal of the scoping process is to
                                                                                                          comments. Although there will not be a
                                                  (www.ferc.gov) under the link to                                                                               focus the analysis in the EA on the
                                                                                                          formal presentation, Commission staff
                                                  Documents and Filings. With eFiling,                                                                           important environmental issues. By this
                                                                                                          will be available throughout the
                                                  you can provide comments in a variety                                                                          notice, the Commission requests public
                                                                                                          comment session to answer your
                                                  of formats by attaching them as a file                                                                         comments on the scope of the issues to
                                                                                                          questions about the environmental
                                                  with your submission. New eFiling                                                                              address in the EA. We will consider all
                                                                                                          review process. Representatives from
                                                  users must first create an account by                                                                          filed comments during the preparation
                                                                                                          DTE will also be present to answer
                                                  clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing                                                                   of the EA.
                                                                                                          project-specific questions.
                                                  a comment on a particular project,                                                                                In the EA we will discuss impacts that
                                                  please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as                Summary of the Planned Project                         could occur as a result of the
                                                  the filing type; or                                       DTE plans to construct and operate                   construction and operation of the
                                                     (3) You can file a paper copy of your                about 14 miles of up to 16-inch-                       planned project under these general
                                                  comments by mailing them to the                         diameter pipeline and appurtenant                      headings:
                                                  following address. Be sure to reference                 facilities. The purpose of the planned                    • Geology and soils;
                                                                                                          Birdsboro Pipeline Project is to provide                  • land use;
                                                  the project docket number (PF17–1–000)
                                                                                                          about 79,000 dekatherms of natural gas                    • water resources, fisheries, and
                                                  with your submission: Kimberly D.
                                                                                                                                                                 wetlands;
                                                  Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
                                                                                                                                                                    • cultural resources;
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                                                  Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street                   1 The appendices referenced in this notice will

                                                  NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;                     not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
                                                                                                                                                                   2 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company
                                                                                                          appendices were sent to all those receiving this
                                                     (4) In lieu of sending written or                    notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov   inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for
                                                  electronic comments, the Commission                     using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the         cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal
                                                                                                          Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First          inspections, or other purposes.
                                                  invites you to attend the public scoping                Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)          3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
                                                  session its staff will conduct in the                   502–8371. For instructions on connecting to            environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
                                                  project area, scheduled as follows:                     eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.       Energy Projects.



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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 15 / Wednesday, January 25, 2017 / Notices                                                      8421

                                                     • vegetation and wildlife;                            historic properties.5 We will define the                  more fully described at http://
                                                     • air quality and noise;                              project-specific Area of Potential Effects                www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/
                                                     • endangered and threatened species;                  (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s)                    intervene.asp. Instructions for becoming
                                                     • public safety; and                                  as the project develops. On natural gas                   an intervenor are in the ‘‘Document-less
                                                     • cumulative impacts.                                 facility projects, the APE at a minimum                   Intervention Guide’’ under the ‘‘e-filing’’
                                                                                                           encompasses all areas subject to ground                   link on the Commission’s Web site.
                                                     We will also evaluate possible
                                                                                                           disturbance (examples include                             Please note that the Commission will
                                                  alternatives to the planned project or
                                                                                                           construction right-of-way, contractor/                    not accept requests for intervenor status
                                                  portions of the project, and make
                                                                                                           pipe storage yards, compressor stations,                  at this time. You must wait until the
                                                  recommendations on how to lessen or
                                                                                                           and access roads). Our EA for this                        Commission receives a formal
                                                  avoid impacts on the various resource
                                                                                                           project will document our findings on                     application for the project.
                                                  areas.
                                                                                                           the impacts on historic properties and
                                                     Although no formal application has                    summarize the status of consultations                     Additional Information
                                                  been filed, we have already initiated our                under section 106.                                           Additional information about the
                                                  NEPA review under the Commission’s                                                                                 project is available from the
                                                  pre-filing process. The purpose of the                   Environmental Mailing List
                                                                                                                                                                     Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
                                                  pre-filing process is to encourage early                    The environmental mailing list                         at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web
                                                  involvement of interested stakeholders                   includes federal, state, and local                        site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary
                                                  and to identify and resolve issues before                government representatives and                            link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on
                                                  the FERC receives an application. As                     agencies; elected officials;                              ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket
                                                  part of our pre-filing review, we have                   environmental and public interest                         number, excluding the last three digits
                                                  begun to contact some federal and state                  groups; Native American Tribes; other                     in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF17–
                                                  agencies to discuss their involvement in                 interested parties; and local libraries                   1). Be sure you have selected an
                                                  the scoping process and the preparation                  and newspapers. This list also includes                   appropriate date range. For assistance,
                                                  of the EA.                                               all affected landowners (as defined in                    please contact FERC Online Support at
                                                     The EA will present our independent                   the Commission’s regulations) who are                     FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
                                                  analysis of the issues. The EA will be                   potential right-of-way grantors, whose                    at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
                                                  available in the public record through                   property may be used temporarily for                      (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also
                                                  eLibrary. We will also publish and                       project purposes, or who own homes                        provides access to the texts of formal
                                                  distribute the EA to the public for an                   within certain distances of aboveground                   documents issued by the Commission,
                                                  allotted comment period. We will                         facilities, and anyone who submits                        such as orders, notices, and
                                                  consider all comments on the EA before                   comments on the project. We will                          rulemakings.
                                                  we make our recommendations to the                       update the environmental mailing list as                     In addition, the Commission offers a
                                                  Commission. To ensure we have the                        the analysis proceeds to ensure that we                   free service called eSubscription which
                                                  opportunity to consider and address                      send the information related to this                      allows you to keep track of all formal
                                                  your comments, please carefully follow                   environmental review to all individuals,                  issuances and submittals in specific
                                                  the instructions in the Public                           organizations, and government entities                    dockets. This can reduce the amount of
                                                  Participation section, beginning on page                 interested in and/or potentially affected                 time you spend researching proceedings
                                                  2.                                                       by the planned project.                                   by automatically providing you with
                                                     With this notice, we are asking                          Copies of the EA will be sent to the                   notification of these filings, document
                                                  agencies with jurisdiction by law and/                   environmental mailing list for public                     summaries, and direct links to the
                                                  or special expertise with respect to the                 review and comment. If you would                          documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
                                                  environmental issues related to this                     prefer to receive a paper copy of the                     filing/esubscription.asp.
                                                  project to formally cooperate with us in                 document instead of the CD version or                        Finally, public sessions or site visits
                                                  the preparation of the EA.4 Agencies                     would like to remove your name from                       will be posted on the Commission’s
                                                  that would like to request cooperating                   the mailing list, please return the                       calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
                                                  agency status should follow the                          attached Information Request (appendix                    EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
                                                  instructions for filing comments                         3).                                                       with other related information.
                                                  provided under the Public Participation                  Becoming an Intervenor
                                                  section of this notice.                                                                                              Dated: January 18, 2017.
                                                                                                             Once DTE files its application with                     Kimberly D. Bose,
                                                  Consultations Under Section 106 of the                   the Commission, you may want to                           Secretary.
                                                  National Historic Preservation Act                       become an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an                      [FR Doc. 2017–01676 Filed 1–24–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    In accordance with the Advisory                        official party to the Commission’s                        BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                  Council on Historic Preservation’s                       proceeding. Intervenors play a more
                                                  implementing regulations for section                     formal role in the process and are able
                                                  106 of the National Historic                             to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be                DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  Preservation Act, we are using this                      heard by the courts if they choose to
                                                  notice to initiate consultation with the                 appeal the Commission’s final ruling.                     Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                  applicable State Historic Preservation                   An intervenor formally participates in                    Commission
                                                  Office(s), and to solicit their views and                the proceeding by filing a request to
                                                                                                                                                                     Combined Notice of Filings #1
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                                                  those of other government agencies,                      intervene. Motions to intervene are
                                                  interested Indian tribes, and the public                                                                              Take notice that the Commission
                                                                                                             5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
                                                  on the project’s potential effects on                                                                              received the following electric corporate
                                                                                                           regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
                                                                                                           Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define           filings:
                                                    4 The Council on Environmental Quality                 historic properties as any prehistoric or historic           Docket Numbers: EC17–32–000.
                                                  regulations addressing cooperating agency                district, site, building, structure, or object included
                                                  responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal        in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register        Applicants: American Illuminating
                                                  Regulations, Part 1501.6.                                of Historic Places.                                       Company, LLC.


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Document Created: 2017-01-25 00:08:43
Document Modified: 2017-01-25 00:08:43
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation82 FR 8419 

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