83 FR 24095 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Lambertville East Expansion Project: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 101 (May 24, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 24095]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11178]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-26-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Lambertville 
East Expansion Project: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP

May 18, 2018.
    On December 7, 2017, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP18-26-000 requesting a Certificate 
of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to sections 7(b) and 7(c) 
of the Natural Gas Act to abandon, construct, and operate certain 
natural gas pipeline facilities at its existing Lambertville Compressor 
Station in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The proposed project is known 
as the Lambertville East Expansion Project (Project), and would provide 
about 60 million cubic feet of natural gas per day of incremental 
pipeline transportation service to existing city gates in New Jersey.
    On December 20, 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--July 24, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--October 22, 2018

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    Texas Eastern proposes to abandon by removal two 5,000 horsepower 
natural gas-fired turbine compressor units and appurtenant facilities, 
and replace these units with two new 8,600 horsepower natural gas-fired 
turbine compressor units and appurtenant facilities at its existing 
Lambertville Compressor Station in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. In 
addition to the incremental pipeline transportation service, the 
Project is also proposed to comply with new air emissions regulations 
under the New Jersey Reasonably Achievable Control Technology program.

Background

    On January 10, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Lambertville East 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and 
local government agencies; elected officials; Native American tribes; 
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In 
response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Township of West Amwell, and 
seven residents. The EPA commented that the EA should include a full 
discussion of purpose and need of the Project; an evaluation of 
alternatives; a general conformity applicability analysis; and an 
analysis of cumulative, indirect, and secondary impacts, and 
environmental justice. The Township of West Amwell expressed Project 
concerns about increases in toxic air emissions and pollutants and 
impacts on residents from construction and operation of the compressor 
station. The seven residents also expressed Project concerns about the 
following:
     Impacts on air quality, nearby high consequence areas, and 
health;
     compressor type and size;
     effects on local communities, nearby properties, and 
property rights and values;
     direct harm to commercial, cultural, and historical 
interests and open space;
     water quality impacts;
     contaminated groundwater and soil;
     traffic impacts;
     impacts on tourism; and
     effects on quality of life.
    All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can 
reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by 
automatically providing you with notification of these filings, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to 
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP18-26), 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 rulemakings.

Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-11178 Filed 5-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P