83 FR 24984 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Gateway Expansion Project; Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, L.L.C.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 105 (May 31, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24984-24985]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11636]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-18-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Gateway 
Expansion Project; Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, L.L.C.

    On November 15, 2017, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, 
L.L.C. (Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP18-18-000 
requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant 
to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain 
natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the 
Gateway Expansion Project (Project), and it would increase the firm 
transportation capacity of Transco's existing pipeline system by 65,000 
dekatherms per day and enable Transco to provide customers with an 
incremental service of natural gas during high demand periods.
    On November 30, 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 17, 2018.
    90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline, October 15, 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

    Transco's Project would require modifications at the existing 
facilities in the following counties of New Jersey:

Essex County

Compressor Station 303
     Expansion of the building and installation of a 33,000 
horsepower electric-motor driven compression unit and ancillary 
equipment; and
     extension of security fencing and access to new equipment.
Roseland Meter and Regulator
     Installation of a 36-inch Main Line block valve with 
automation controls.
Roseland Electric Substation
     Installation of an electric transformer unit.

Passaic County

Paterson Meter and Regulator
     Replacing the existing 12-inch headers with two new 6-inch 
ultrasonic meter skids and associated equipment; and
     installation of ancillary equipment.

Background

    On January 2, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Gateway Expansion 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI 
was sent to affected landowners within 0.5 mile of the existing 
facilities; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American 
tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. 
In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the New 
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Sierra Club, two local 
community groups (350 Rockland, Roseland Against the Compressor 
Station), and several individual stakeholder comments. The primary 
issues raised by the commenters are concerns over health impacts from 
compressor station emissions; safety concerns including leaks, rupture, 
and emergency responder training; concerns that the Project would 
result in contaminant impacts on the nearby wetlands, wildlife, and 
soils; as well as concerns on cumulative impacts. 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

[[Page 24985]]

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., CP18-18), 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: May 24, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-11636 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P