83 FR 13741 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Northeast Supply Enhancement Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 62 (March 30, 2018)

Page Range		13741-13742
FR Document		2018-06410
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 62 (Friday, March 30, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13741-13742]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06410]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-101-000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, 
Northeast Supply Enhancement Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (NESE Project or Project) 
as proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) in 
the above-referenced docket. Transco requests authorization to 
construct and operate 36.9 miles of onshore and offshore natural gas 
transmission pipeline loop \1\ and associated facilities, one new 
natural gas-fired compressor station, and modifications at one existing 
compressor station. The Project would provide about 400,000 dekatherms 
per day of natural gas to end use residential and commercial customers 
in the New York City area.
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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.
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    The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Project in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the Project would result in some 
adverse environmental impacts; however, all impacts would be reduced to 
less-than-significant levels with the implementation of Transco's 
proposed mitigation and the additional measures recommended in the 
draft EIS.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, and the City of New York participated as cooperating agencies 
in the preparation of the draft EIS. Cooperating agencies have 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposals and participate in the NEPA 
analysis. Although the cooperating agencies provide input to the 
conclusions and recommendations presented in the draft EIS, the 
agencies will each present its own conclusions and recommendations in 
its respective record of decision or determination for the Project.
    The draft EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following Project facilities:
     10.2 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop 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\);
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    \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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     modification of existing Compressor Station 200 in Chester 
County, Pennsylvania;
     construction of new Compressor Station 206 in Somerset 
County, New Jersey; and
     ancillary facilities (including cathodic protection 
systems, new and modified mainline valves with tie-in assemblies, new 
and modified launcher/receiver facilities, and facilities to connect 
the Raritan Bay Loop to the existing Rockaway Delivery Lateral at the 
Rockaway Transfer Point).
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the draft EIS to federal, state, 
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; 
potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and 
groups; and newspapers and libraries in the Project area. Paper copy 
versions of this draft EIS were mailed to those specifically requesting 
them; all others received a CD version. In addition, the draft EIS is 
available for public viewing on the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov) using 
the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies are available for 
distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Room 2A, 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.
    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. To ensure 
consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is 
important that the Commission receive your comments on or before May 
14, 2018.
    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 FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow these 
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a 
variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. 
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on 
``eRegister.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project,

[[Page 13742]]

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 
(CP17-101-000) 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 one of the public comment sessions its 
staff will conduct in the Project area to receive comments on the draft 
EIS, scheduled as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Date and time                           Location
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Wednesday, April 25, 5:00 to   George Bush Senior Center, 1 Old Bridge
 9:00 p.m.                      Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ 08857, (732) 721-
                                5600.
Thursday, April 26, 5:00 to    Best Western Gregory Hotel, 8315 4th
 9:00 p.m.                      Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209, (718) 238-
                                3737.
Wednesday, May 2, 5:00 to      Franklin Township Community Center, 505
 9:00 p.m.                      Demott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873, (732)
                                873-1991.
Thursday, May 3, 5:00 to 9:00  Solanco High School, 585 Solanco Road,
 p.m.                           Quarryville, PA 17566, (717) 786-2151.
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    The primary goal of these comment sessions is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns with the draft EIS. 
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.
    Each comment session is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time Zone. You may arrive at any time after 5:00 p.m. There 
will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session 
opens. The Commission staff will hand out numbers to those who wish to 
speak in the order of their arrival until 8:00 p.m. If no additional 
numbers have been handed out and all individuals who wish to provide 
comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may conclude the 
session at 8:00 p.m.
    Your verbal 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 3 to 5 minutes may 
be implemented for each commenter.
    It is important to note that written comments mailed to the 
Commission and those submitted electronically are reviewed by staff 
with the same scrutiny and consideration as the verbal comments given 
at the public sessions. Although there will not be a formal 
presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the evening 
to answer your questions about the environmental review process.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR part 385.214).\3\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The 
Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental 
concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they 
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other 
party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments 
will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor 
status to have your comments considered.
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    \3\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments.
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Questions

    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search,'' and enter the docket number 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP17-
101). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676; 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 that 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.

    Dated: March 23, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-06410 Filed 3-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2018 / Notices 13741

eligible for Grants and Cooperative offshore natural gas transmission • ancillary facilities (including
Agreements under Energy Efficiency pipeline loop 1 and associated facilities, cathodic protection systems, new and
and Renewable Energy (EERE) one new natural gas-fired compressor modified mainline valves with tie-in
programs; station, and modifications at one assemblies, new and modified launcher/
(5) Annual Estimated Number of existing compressor station. The Project receiver facilities, and facilities to
Respondents: 400; would provide about 400,000 connect the Raritan Bay Loop to the
(6) Annual Estimated Number of dekatherms per day of natural gas to end existing Rockaway Delivery Lateral at
Total Responses: 400; use residential and commercial the Rockaway Transfer Point).
(7) Annual Estimated Number of customers in the New York City area. The FERC staff mailed copies of the
Burden Hours: 24 hours, per response; The draft EIS assesses the potential draft EIS to federal, state, and local
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and environmental effects of the government representatives and
Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $940.80 construction and operation of the agencies; elected officials;
per one time response; Project in accordance with the environmental and public interest
(9) Statutory Authority: Section 989(a) requirements of the National groups; Native American tribes;
EPACT 2005 [Merit Review] {42 U.S.C. Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The potentially affected landowners and
16353(a)}; Section 646 DOE FERC staff concludes that approval of other interested individuals and groups;
Organization Act [Contracts] {42 U.S.C. the Project would result in some adverse and newspapers and libraries in the
7256(a)}; and 31 U.S.C. 503 (the Chief environmental impacts; however, all Project area. Paper copy versions of this
Financial Officers Act, Functions of the impacts would be reduced to less-than- draft EIS were mailed to those
Deputy Director for Management), 31 significant levels with the specifically requesting them; all others
U.S.C. 1111 (Improving Economy and implementation of Transco’s proposed received a CD version. In addition, the
Efficiency of the United States mitigation and the additional measures draft EIS is available for public viewing
Government), 41 U.S.C. 1101–1131 (the recommended in the draft EIS. on the FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov)
Office of Federal Procurement Policy The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, using the eLibrary link. A limited
Act), Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1970, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, number of copies are available for
and Executive Order 11541 and the City of New York participated distribution and public inspection at:
(‘‘Prescribing the Duties of the Office of as cooperating agencies in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Management and Budget and the preparation of the draft EIS. Cooperating Public Reference Room, 888 First Street
Domestic Policy Council in the agencies have jurisdiction by law or
NE, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426,
Executive Office of the President’’), the special expertise with respect to
(202) 502–8371.
Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, resources potentially affected by the
Any person wishing to comment on
(31 U.S.C. 7501–7507), as well as The proposals and participate in the NEPA
the draft EIS may do so. To ensure
Federal Program Information Act (Pub. analysis. Although the cooperating
consideration of your comments on the
L. 95–220 and Pub. L. 98–169, as agencies provide input to the
conclusions and recommendations proposal in the final EIS, it is important
amended, codified at 31 U.S.C. 6101–
presented in the draft EIS, the agencies that the Commission receive your
6106).
will each present its own conclusions comments on or before May 14, 2018.
Issued in Golden, CO, on March 22, 2018. For your convenience, there are four
Derek Passarelli,
and recommendations in its respective
record of decision or determination for methods you can use to submit your
Director, Golden Field Office, U.S. comments to the Commission. The
Department of Energy, Office of Energy
the Project.
The draft EIS addresses the potential Commission will provide equal
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Golden consideration to all comments received,
Field Office. environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the whether filed in written form or
[FR Doc. 2018–06458 Filed 3–29–18; 8:45 am] provided verbally. The Commission
following Project facilities:
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
• 10.2 miles of 42-inch-diameter encourages electronic filing of
pipeline loop in Lancaster County, comments and has expert staff available
Pennsylvania (the Quarryville Loop); to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• 3.4 miles of 26-inch-diameter FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
Federal Energy Regulatory pipeline loop in Middlesex County, carefully follow these instructions so
Commission New Jersey (the Madison Loop); that your comments are properly
• 23.5 miles of 26-inch-diameter recorded.
[Docket No. CP17–101–000] pipeline loop in Middlesex and (1) You can file your comments
Monmouth Counties, New Jersey, and electronically using the eComment
Notice of Availability of the Draft Queens and Richmond Counties, New feature on the Commission’s website
Environmental Impact Statement for York (the Raritan Bay Loop 2); (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
the Proposed Transcontinental Gas • modification of existing Compressor Documents and Filings. This is an easy
Pipe Line Company, LLC, Northeast Station 200 in Chester County, method for submitting brief, text-only
Supply Enhancement Project Pennsylvania; comments on a project;
The staff of the Federal Energy • construction of new Compressor (2) You can file your comments
Regulatory Commission (FERC or Station 206 in Somerset County, New electronically by using the eFiling
Commission) has prepared a draft Jersey; and feature on the Commission’s website
environmental impact statement (EIS) 1 A loop is a segment of pipe that is installed
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES

for the Northeast Supply Enhancement adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to
Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
Project (NESE Project or Project) as it at both ends. A loop generally allows more gas you can provide comments in a variety
proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe to move through the system. of formats by attaching them as a file
2 Except for 0.2 mile of pipe in onshore
Line Company, LLC (Transco) in the with your submission. New eFiling
Middlesex County, New Jersey, the Raritan Bay
above-referenced docket. Transco Loop would occur in offshore New Jersey waters
users must first create an account by
requests authorization to construct and (6.0 miles) and offshore New York waters (17.3 clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
operate 36.9 miles of onshore and miles). a comment on a particular project,

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Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:58:20
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:58:20
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 13741
83 FR 13741 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Northeast Supply Enhancement Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 62 (March 30, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
