83 FR 1255 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 7 (January 10, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1255-1256]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00271]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-101-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project

    On March 27, 2017, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC 
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-101-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, and maintain certain 
natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the 
Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE Project or Project) and 
would provide 400,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service 
to the New York City area.
    On April 6, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. Among 
other things, that notice alerted other agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on the request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NESE Project. This instant 
notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of 
the final EIS for the Project, which is based on an issuance of the 
draft EIS in March 2018.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--September 17, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--December 16, 2018

    This schedule is predicated on Transco demonstrating a feasible and 
timely method for addressing general conformity, such that the final 
General Conformity Determination can be issued with the final EIS. If a 
schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an

[[Page 1256]]

additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are 
kept informed of the Project's progress.

Project Description

    The NESE Project consists of 10.2 miles of 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop \1\ in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (the Quarryville 
Loop); 3.4 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Middlesex County, 
New Jersey (the Madison Loop); 23.5 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline 
loop in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey, and Queens and 
Richmond Counties, New York (the Raritan Bay Loop \2\); modification of 
existing Compressor Station 200 in Chester County, Pennsylvania; 
construction of new Compressor Station 206 in Somerset County, New 
Jersey; and appurtenant facilities.
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    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipe that is installed adjacent to an 
existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. A loop generally 
allows more gas to move through the system.
    \2\ Except for 0.2 mile of pipe in onshore Middlesex County, New 
Jersey, the Raritan Bay Loop would occur in offshore New Jersey 
waters (6.0 miles) and offshore New York waters (17.3 miles).
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Background

    On August 24, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Northeast 
Supply Enhancement Project, Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions (NOI). The NOI was issued 
during the pre-filing review of the Project in Docket No. PF16-5 and 
was sent to federal, state, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; affected landowners; environmental and public interest 
groups; Native American tribes and regional organizations; commentors 
and other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. The 
majority of environmental issues raised during scoping were related to 
proposed Compressor Station 206, including air quality and noise 
impacts; impacts on nearby residences, schools, and churches; 
socioeconomic impacts, including environmental justice; safety; and 
impacts related to activities at the nearby existing Trap Rock Quarry. 
Other major issues raised during scoping related to the Project include 
purpose and need; surface water and groundwater impacts; impacts on 
wildlife and aquatic resources; traffic; and alternatives.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, and the City of New York are cooperating agencies in the 
preparation of the EIS.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EIS 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., CP17-101), 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: January 3, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-00271 Filed 1-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P