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 Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 7 (January 10, 2018)
| Page Range | 1255-1256 | |
| FR Document | 2018-00271 |
[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. 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
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 10, 2018 / Notices 1255
proposes to abandon and convert CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
1,629,000 Dekatherms (Dth) of CMC status will be placed on the service list (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
Service to 762,373 Dth of No-Notice maintained by the Secretary of the (202) 502–8659.
Service. Tallgrass states that the Commission and will receive copies of Comment Date: January 24, 2018.
requested authorization is required in all documents filed by the applicant and Dated: January 3, 2018.
order to properly align Tallgrass’ by all other parties. A party must submit Kimberly D. Bose,
certificated storage levels with the 7 copies of filings made with the
Secretary.
demand for firm storage services Commission and must mail a copy to
expressed by Tallgrass’ shippers. the applicant and to every other party in [FR Doc. 2018–00272 Filed 1–9–18; 8:45 am]
Further, Tallgrass also state that the the proceeding. Only parties to the BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
quality of service being provided to its proceeding can ask for court review of
customers will not be affected, all as Commission orders in the proceeding.
more fully set forth in the application, However, a person does not have to DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
which is on file with the Commission intervene in order to have comments
Federal Energy Regulatory
and open to public inspection. The considered. The second way to
Commission
filing may also be viewed on the web at participate is by filing with the
http://www.ferc.gov using the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as [Docket No. CP17–101–000]
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket possible, an original and two copies of
number excluding the last three digits in comments in support of or in opposition Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
the docket number field to access the to this project. The Commission will Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for
document. For assistance, contact FERC consider these comments in Environmental Review of the Northeast
at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call determining the appropriate action to be Supply Enhancement Project
toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) taken, but the filing of a comment alone On March 27, 2017, Transcontinental
502–8659. will not serve to make the filer a party Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco)
Any questions regarding this to the proceeding. The Commission’s
filed an application in Docket No.
application should be directed to Skip rules require that persons filing
CP17–101–000 requesting a Certificate
George, Manager Regulatory, Tallgrass comments in opposition to the project
of Public Convenience and Necessity
Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC, 370 provide copies of their protests only to
pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural
Van Gordon Street, Lakewood, Colorado the party or parties directly involved in
Gas Act to construct, operate, and
80228 or phone (303) 763–3251. the protest.
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Persons who wish to comment only maintain certain natural gas pipeline
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, on the environmental review of this facilities. The proposed project is
within 90 days of this Notice the project should submit an original and known as the Northeast Supply
Commission staff will either: Complete two copies of their comments to the Enhancement Project (NESE Project or
its environmental assessment (EA) and Secretary of the Commission. Project) and would provide 400,000
place it into the Commission’s public Environmental commentors will be dekatherms per day of firm
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or placed on the Commission’s transportation service to the New York
issue a Notice of Schedule for environmental mailing list, will receive City area.
Environmental Review. If a Notice of copies of the environmental documents, On April 6, 2017, the Federal Energy
Schedule for Environmental Review is and will be notified of meetings Regulatory Commission (FERC or
issued, it will indicate, among other associated with the Commission’s Commission) issued its Notice of
milestones, the anticipated date for the environmental review process. Application for the Project. Among
Commission staff’s issuance of the final Environmental commentors will not be other things, that notice alerted other
environmental impact statement (FEIS) required to serve copies of filed agencies issuing federal authorizations
or EA for this proposal. The filing of the documents on all other parties. of the requirement to complete all
EA in the Commission’s public record However, the non-party commentors necessary reviews and to reach a final
for this proceeding or the issuance of a will not receive copies of all documents decision on the request for a federal
Notice of Schedule for Environmental filed by other parties or issued by the authorization within 90 days of the date
Review will serve to notify federal and Commission (except for the mailing of of issuance of the Commission staff’s
state agencies of the timing for the environmental documents issued by the final Environmental Impact Statement
completion of all necessary reviews, and Commission) and will not have the right (EIS) for the NESE Project. This instant
the subsequent need to complete all to seek court review of the notice identifies the FERC staff’s
federal authorizations within 90 days of Commission’s final order. planned schedule for completion of the
the date of issuance of the Commission The Commission strongly encourages final EIS for the Project, which is based
staff’s FEIS or EA. electronic filings of comments, protests on an issuance of the draft EIS in March
There are two ways to become and interventions in lieu of paper using 2018.
involved in the Commission’s review of the eFiling link at http://www.ferc.gov. Schedule for Environmental Review
this project. First, any person wishing to Persons unable to file electronically
obtain legal status by becoming a party should submit an original and 5 copies Issuance of Notice of Availability of the
to the proceedings for this project of the protest or intervention to the final EIS—September 17, 2018
should, on or before the comment date Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 90-day Federal Authorization Decision
stated below, file with the Federal 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC Deadline—December 16, 2018
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 20426. This schedule is predicated on
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on Transco demonstrating a feasible and
a motion to intervene in accordance the website that enables subscribers to timely method for addressing general
with the requirements of the receive email notification when a conformity, such that the final General
Commission’s Rules of Practice and document is added to a subscribed Conformity Determination can be issued
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) docket(s). For assistance with any FERC with the final EIS. If a schedule change
and the Regulations under the NGA (18 Online service, please email becomes necessary for the final EIS, an
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![1256 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 10, 2018 / Notices
additional notice will be provided so Additional Information Schoharie County, New York. The
that the relevant agencies are kept In order to receive notification of the project does not affect federal lands.
informed of the Project’s progress. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
issuance of the EIS and to keep track of
Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r).
Project Description all formal issuances and submittals in h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Robert
The NESE Project consists of 10.2 specific dockets, the Commission offers Daly, Licensing Manager, New York
miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline a free service called eSubscription. This Power Authority 123 Main Street, White
loop 1 in Lancaster County, can reduce the amount of time you Plains, New York 10601. Telephone:
Pennsylvania (the Quarryville Loop); 3.4 spend researching proceedings by (914) 681–6564, Email: Rob.Daly@
miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline loop automatically providing you with nypa.gov.
in Middlesex County, New Jersey (the notification of these filings, document i. FERC Contact: Andy Bernick at
Madison Loop); 23.5 miles of 26-inch- summaries, and direct links to the (202) 502–8660, and email
diameter pipeline loop in Middlesex documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- andrew.bernick@ferc.gov.
and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey, filing/esubscription.asp. j. Deadline for filing comments,
and Queens and Richmond Counties, Additional information about the recommendations, preliminary terms
New York (the Raritan Bay Loop 2); Project is available from the and conditions, and preliminary
modification of existing Compressor Commission’s Office of External Affairs fishway prescriptions: 60 days from the
Station 200 in Chester County, at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC issuance date of this notice; reply
Pennsylvania; construction of new website (www.ferc.gov). Using the comments are due 105 days from the
Compressor Station 206 in Somerset eLibrary link, select General Search issuance date of this notice.
County, New Jersey; and appurtenant from the eLibrary menu, enter the The Commission strongly encourages
facilities. selected date range and Docket Number electronic filing. Please file comments,
excluding the last three digits (i.e., recommendations, preliminary terms
Background CP17–101), and follow the instructions. and conditions, and preliminary
On August 24, 2016, the Commission For assistance with access to eLibrary, fishway prescriptions using the
issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an the helpline can be reached at (866) Commission’s eFiling system at http://
Environmental Impact Statement for the 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Planned Northeast Supply FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The Commenters can submit brief comments
Enhancement Project, Request for eLibrary link on the FERC website also up to 6,000 characters, without prior
Comments on Environmental Issues, provides access to the texts of formal registration, using the eComment system
and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions documents issued by the Commission, at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
(NOI). The NOI was issued during the such as orders, notices, and rule ecomment.asp. You must include your
pre-filing review of the Project in Docket makings. name and contact information at the end
No. PF16–5 and was sent to federal, Dated: January 3, 2018. of your comments. For assistance,
state, and local government agencies; please contact FERC Online Support at
Kimberly D. Bose,
elected officials; affected landowners; FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)
environmental and public interest Secretary.
208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659
groups; Native American tribes and [FR Doc. 2018–00271 Filed 1–9–18; 8:45 am]
(TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please
regional organizations; commentors and BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal
other interested parties; and local Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
libraries and newspapers. The majority First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
of environmental issues raised during DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The first page of any filing should
scoping were related to proposed include docket number P–2685–029.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Compressor Station 206, including air The Commission’s Rules of Practice
Commission
quality and noise impacts; impacts on require all intervenors filing documents
nearby residences, schools, and with the Commission to serve a copy of
churches; socioeconomic impacts, [Project No. 2685–029]
that document on each person on the
including environmental justice; safety; New York Power Authority; Notice of official service list for the project.
and impacts related to activities at the Application Ready for Environmental Further, if an intervenor files comments
nearby existing Trap Rock Quarry. Other Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, or documents with the Commission
major issues raised during scoping Recommendations, Preliminary Terms relating to the merits of an issue that
related to the Project include purpose and Conditions, and Preliminary may affect the responsibilities of a
and need; surface water and particular resource agency, they must
Fishway Prescriptions
groundwater impacts; impacts on also serve a copy of the document on
wildlife and aquatic resources; traffic; Take notice that the following that resource agency.
and alternatives. hydroelectric application has been filed k. This application has been accepted
The U.S. Environmental Protection with the Commission and is available for filing and is now ready for
Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of for public inspection. environmental analysis.
Engineers, and the City of New York are a. Type of Application: New Major l. The existing Blenheim-Gilboa
cooperating agencies in the preparation License. Project consists of the following: (1) A
of the EIS. b. Project No.: 2685–029. 2.25-mile-long, 30-foot-wide earth and
c. Date filed: April 27, 2017. rock fill embankment dike with a
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
1 A loop is a segment of pipe that is installed
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to
d. Applicant: New York Power maximum height of 110 feet,
it at both ends. A loop generally allows more gas Authority (NYPA). constructed at Brown Mountain and
to move through the system. e. Name of Project: Blenheim-Gilboa forming the 399-acre Upper Reservoir
2 Except for 0.2 mile of pipe in onshore
Pumped Storage Project. (operating at the maximum and extreme
Middlesex County, New Jersey, the Raritan Bay f. Location: The existing project is minimum elevations of 2,003 feet and
Loop would occur in offshore New Jersey waters
(6.0 miles) and offshore New York waters (17.3 located on Schoharie Creek, in the 1,955 feet National Geodetic Vertical
miles). Towns of Blenheim and Gilboa in Datum of 1929 [NGVD 29], respectively)
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Document Created: 2018-10-26 09:34:26
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 09:34:26
| 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 | 83 FR 1255 |
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