83 FR 3134 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Rivervale South to Market Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 15 (January 23, 2018)

Page Range		3134-3135
FR Document		2018-01112

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3134-3135]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01112]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-490-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of the Rivervale South to Market Project

    On August 31, 2017, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC 
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-490-000 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 entirely within New Jersey. The proposed 
project is known as the Rivervale South to Market Project (Project), 
and would enable Transco to provide an additional 190 million cubic 
feet (MMcf) per day of firm transportation service to meet supply needs 
for the 2019/2020 winter heating season.
    On September 15, 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--March 16, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 14, 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 proposes to construct, modify, upgrade, and operate various 
facilities in connection with its proposed Rivervale South to Market 
Project in Bergen, Hudson, and Union Counties, New Jersey. According to 
Transco, the Project would increase the firm delivery transportation 
capacity of its existing pipeline system by 190 MMcf per day of natural 
gas from the Rivervale interconnection to existing Compressor Station 
210 in Mercer County and the Central Manhattan meter and regulation 
station (M&R) station in Hudson County. The Compressor Station 210 
pooling point would receive 140 MMcf, and the Central Manhattan M&R 
would receive 50 MMcf.
    The Project would consist of the following facilities:
     Construct 0.61 mile of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop \1\ 
along Transco's Mainline A, from mileposts 1825.80 to 1826.41 (Bergen 
County);
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    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipe that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. 
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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     uprate 10.35 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter North 
New Jersey Extension from the Paramus M&R station (Bergen County) to 
the Orange and Rockland M&R station (Bergen County). The North New 
Jersey Extension would be uprated from a maximum allowable operating 
pressure of 650 pounds per square inch gauge (``psig'') to 812 psig;
     upgrade the existing valves, including overpressure 
protection valves, and yard piping, and related activities at the 
Paramus, Central Manhattan, Orange and Rockland, and Emerson M&R 
stations; and
     construct additional facilities, such as mainline valves, 
cathodic protection, internal inspection device (pig \2\) launchers and 
receivers, and communication equipment.
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    \2\ A pig is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and 
pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting 
internal inspections, or other purposes.
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Background

    On October 19, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Rivervale South to 
Market Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). 
The NOI was sent to affected landowners; 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 Borough of Emerson, New Jersey; the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 
Food & Water Watch; and the New Jersey Sierra Club. Additionally, in 
response to the Notice of Application, the Commission received comments 
from the Hackensack Riverkeeper. The primary issues raised by the 
commentors are impacts on drinking water, wetlands, and wildlife; the 
necessity of the Project; pipeline safety; pollution prevention 
practices; the continued reliance on fossil fuels; long-term 
environmental impacts; improper segmentation; evaluation of cumulative, 
indirect, and secondary impacts; environmental impacts from increased 
shale gas development; evaluation of alternatives, including those 
outside FERC's jurisdiction; climate change; environmental justice; and 
the need for an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

[[Page 3135]]

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., CP17-490), 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 17, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-01112 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

3134 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices

gathering system in the Powder River pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Extension from the Paramus M&R
Basin of Wyoming, all as more fully Gas Act to construct and operate certain station (Bergen County) to the Orange
explained in the petition. natural gas pipeline facilities entirely and Rockland M&R station (Bergen
Any person desiring to intervene or to within New Jersey. The proposed County). The North New Jersey
protest this filing must file in project is known as the Rivervale South Extension would be uprated from a
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of to Market Project (Project), and would maximum allowable operating pressure
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and enable Transco to provide an additional of 650 pounds per square inch gauge
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). 190 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day (‘‘psig’’) to 812 psig;
Protests will be considered by the of firm transportation service to meet • upgrade the existing valves,
Commission in determining the supply needs for the 2019/2020 winter including overpressure protection
appropriate action to be taken, but will heating season. valves, and yard piping, and related
not serve to make protestants parties to On September 15, 2017, the Federal activities at the Paramus, Central
the proceeding. Any person wishing to Energy Regulatory Commission Manhattan, Orange and Rockland, and
become a party must file a notice of (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice Emerson M&R stations; and
intervention or motion to intervene, as of Application for the Project. Among • construct additional facilities, such
appropriate. Such notices, motions, or other things, that notice alerted agencies as mainline valves, cathodic protection,
protests must be filed on or before the issuing federal authorizations of the internal inspection device (pig 2)
comment date. Anyone filing a motion requirement to complete all necessary launchers and receivers, and
to intervene or protest must serve a copy reviews and to reach a final decision on communication equipment.
of that document on the Petitioner. a request for a federal authorization Background
The Commission encourages within 90 days of the date of issuance
of the Commission staff’s Environmental On October 19, 2017, the Commission
electronic submission of protests and
Assessment (EA) for the Project. This issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an
interventions in lieu of paper using the
instant notice identifies the FERC staff’s Environmental Assessment for the
eFiling link at http://www.ferc.gov.
planned schedule for the completion of Proposed Rivervale South to Market
Persons unable to file electronically Project and Request for Comments on
should submit an original and 5 copies the EA for the Project.
Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI
of the protest or intervention to the Schedule for Environmental Review was sent to affected landowners; federal,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state, and local government agencies;
Issuance of EA—March 16, 2018
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 90-day Federal Authorization Decision elected officials; environmental and
20426. Deadline—June 14, 2018 public interest groups; Native American
This filing is accessible on-line at tribes; other interested parties; and local
If a schedule change becomes
http://www.ferc.gov, using the eLibrary libraries and newspapers. In response to
necessary, additional notice will be
link and is available for review in the the NOI, the Commission received
provided so that the relevant agencies
Commission’s Public Reference Room in comments from the Borough of
are kept informed of the Project’s
Washington, DC. There is an Emerson, New Jersey; the U.S. Fish and
progress.
eSubscription link on the website that Wildlife Service; the U.S.
enables subscribers to receive email Project Description Environmental Protection Agency; Food
notification when a document is added Transco proposes to construct, & Water Watch; and the New Jersey
to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance modify, upgrade, and operate various Sierra Club. Additionally, in response to
with any FERC Online service, please facilities in connection with its the Notice of Application, the
email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or proposed Rivervale South to Market Commission received comments from
call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, Project in Bergen, Hudson, and Union the Hackensack Riverkeeper. The
call (202) 502–8659. Counties, New Jersey. According to primary issues raised by the
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time Transco, the Project would increase the commentors are impacts on drinking
on February 9, 2018. firm delivery transportation capacity of water, wetlands, and wildlife; the
Dated: January 17, 2018. its existing pipeline system by 190 necessity of the Project; pipeline safety;
Kimberly D. Bose, MMcf per day of natural gas from the pollution prevention practices; the
Secretary. Rivervale interconnection to existing continued reliance on fossil fuels; long-
[FR Doc. 2018–01110 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am]
Compressor Station 210 in Mercer term environmental impacts; improper
County and the Central Manhattan segmentation; evaluation of cumulative,
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
meter and regulation station (M&R) indirect, and secondary impacts;
station in Hudson County. The environmental impacts from increased
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Compressor Station 210 pooling point shale gas development; evaluation of
would receive 140 MMcf, and the alternatives, including those outside
Federal Energy Regulatory Central Manhattan M&R would receive FERC’s jurisdiction; climate change;
Commission 50 MMcf. environmental justice; and the need for
The Project would consist of the an Environmental Impact Statement.
[Docket No. CP17–490–000] following facilities:
• Construct 0.61 mile of 42-inch- Additional Information
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line diameter pipeline loop 1 along Transco’s In order to receive notification of the
Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Mainline A, from mileposts 1825.80 to issuance of the EA and to keep track of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Environmental Review of the Rivervale 1826.41 (Bergen County); all formal issuances and submittals in
South to Market Project • uprate 10.35 miles of the existing specific dockets, the Commission offers
On August 31, 2017, Transcontinental 24-inch-diameter North New Jersey a free service called eSubscription. This
Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) 1 A loop is a segment of pipe that is usually 2 A pig is a tool that the pipeline company inserts
filed an application in Docket No. installed adjacent to an existing pipeline and into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning
CP17–490–000 requesting a Certificate connected to it at both ends. The loop allows more the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or
of Public Convenience and Necessity gas to be moved through the system. other purposes.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1

Document Created: 2018-01-23 01:09:05
Document Modified: 2018-01-23 01:09:05

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 3134

83 FR 3134 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Rivervale South to Market Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 15 (January 23, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission