83 FR 33928 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Portland Xpress Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues: Portland Natural Gas Transmission System
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 138 (July 18, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 138 (July 18, 2018)
| Page Range | 33928-33930 | |
| FR Document | 2018-15321 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 33928-33930] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-15321] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18-506-000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Portland Xpress Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues: Portland Natural Gas Transmission System The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Portland Xpress Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Portland Natural Gas Transmission Systems (Portland) to Portland owned, and Portland and Maritime jointly owned, facilities in Cumberland and York Counties, Maine and Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity. This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies about issues regarding the project. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires the Commission to discover concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 13, 2018. [[Page 33929]] You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Commission staff will consider and address all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on June 19, 2018, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18-506-000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list for this project. State and local government representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be determined by a judge in accordance with state law. Portland provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208- 3676 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, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment 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, which is located 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.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on a Filing''; 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 (CP18-506-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Summary of the Proposed Project Portland proposes to perform the following activities for construction of the project to provide 24,375 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d) to Portland owned facilities, and 22,339 Mcf/d on Portland and Maritimes jointly owned facilities. Westbrook Compressor Station (CS), Cumberland County, MaineInstall a new electrical control building with motor control center, emergency generator building and generator and ancillary equipment; and Eliot CS, York County, Maine Expansion of the existing building to include one new 6,300 horsepower (hp) gas-fired compression unit and ancillary equipment; and Install an auxiliary building housing a replacement emergency generator and boiler. Dracut Meter and Regulator (M&R) Station, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Install a low flow meter and transmitters and replace ultrasonic meter assemblies; Install a new 86-hp emergency generator; and Installation of ancillary equipment. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb 21.6 acres of land for the aboveground facilities. The Westbrook CS would utilize 8.4 acres, the Eliot CS would require 11.9 acres, and the Dracut M&R would disrupt 1.3 acres during construction. Construction access to each of the three sites would be from existing permanent access roads. No land outside the existing compressor station or meter station properties would be impacted for construction or operations of the Project. The EA Process The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings: Geology and soils; land use; water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; cultural resources; vegetation and wildlife; air quality and noise; endangered and threatened species; public safety; and cumulative impacts. Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. The EA will present Commission staffs' independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Commission staff will consider and address all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the Commission. To ensure Commission staff have the opportunity to address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2. With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate in the preparation of the EA.\2\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing [[Page 33930]] comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on historic properties.\3\ Commission staff will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). The EA for this project will document findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Environmental Mailing List The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that information related to this environmental review is sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. If the Commission publishes and distributes the EA, copies will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of a CD version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2). Additional Information Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP18-506). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which 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. Finally, public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information. Dated: July 12, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-15321 Filed 7-17-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![33928 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices
previously authorized by the to the proceedings for this project and 5 copies of the protest or
Commission in Docket No. CP12–508– should, on or before the comment date intervention to the Federal Energy
000. This new pipeline would be stated below, file with the Federal Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
capable of supplying feed gas to, and Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 NE, Washington, DC 20426.
bringing natural gas from, the Stage 3 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, Comment Date: August 2, 2018.
LNG Facilities. The Stage 3 Pipeline a motion to intervene in accordance Dated: July 12, 2018.
would be integrated and operated as with the requirements of the
Kimberly D. Bose,
part of the Corpus Christi Pipeline Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Secretary.
system, all as more fully set forth in the Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211)
application which is on file with the and the Regulations under the NGA (18 [FR Doc. 2018–15322 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am]
Commission and open for public CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
inspection. status will be placed on the service list
On June 9, 2015, the Commission staff maintained by the Secretary of the
granted the applicants’ request to utilize Commission and will receive copies of DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
the National Environmental Policy Act all documents filed by the applicant and
(NEPA) Pre-Filing Process and assigned Federal Energy Regulatory
by all other parties. A party must submit
Docket No. PF15–26–000 to staff Commission
7 copies of filings made with the
activities involving the project. Now, as Commission and must mail a copy to [Docket No. CP18–506–000]
of the filing of this application on June the applicant and to every other party in
28, 2018, the NEPA Pre-Filing Process the proceeding. Only parties to the Notice of Intent To Prepare an
for this project has ended. From this proceeding can ask for court review of Environmental Assessment for the
time forward, this proceeding will be Commission orders in the proceeding. Proposed Portland Xpress Project, and
conducted in Docket Nos. CP18–512– However, a person does not have to Request for Comments on
000 and CP18–513–000, as noted in the intervene in order to have comments Environmental Issues: Portland
caption of this Notice. considered. The second way to Natural Gas Transmission System
The filing may also be viewed on the participate is by filing with the
web at http://www.ferc.gov using the The staff of the Federal Energy
Secretary of the Commission, as soon as
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket Regulatory Commission (FERC or
possible, an original and two copies of
number excluding the last three digits in comments in support of or in opposition Commission) will prepare an
the docket number field to access the to this project. The Commission will environmental assessment (EA) that will
document. For assistance, please contact consider these comments in discuss the environmental impacts of
FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov determining the appropriate action to be the Portland Xpress Project involving
or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or TTY, taken, but the filing of a comment alone construction and operation of facilities
(202) 502–8659. will not serve to make the filer a party by Portland Natural Gas Transmission
Any questions regarding the proposed to the proceeding. The Commission’s Systems (Portland) to Portland owned,
project should be directed to Karri rules require that persons filing and Portland and Maritime jointly
Mahmoud, Cheniere Energy, Inc., 700 comments in opposition to the project owned, facilities in Cumberland and
Milam Street, Suite 1900, Houston, provide copies of their protests only to York Counties, Maine and Middlesex
Texas 77002, or by calling (713) 375– the party or parties directly involved in County, Massachusetts. The
5000 or by email at Karri.Mahmoud@ the protest. Commission will use this EA in its
cheniere.com. Persons who wish to comment only decision-making process to determine
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the on the environmental review of this whether the project is in the public
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, project should submit an original and convenience and necessity.
within 90 days of this Notice the two copies of their comments to the This notice announces the opening of
Commission staff will either: Complete Secretary of the Commission. the scoping process the Commission
its environmental assessment (EA) and Environmental commenters will be will use to gather input from the public
place it into the Commission’s public placed on the Commission’s and interested agencies about issues
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or environmental mailing list, will receive regarding the project. The National
issue a Notice of Schedule for copies of the environmental documents, Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Environmental Review. If a Notice of and will be notified of meetings requires the Commission to take into
Schedule for Environmental Review is associated with the Commission’s account the environmental impacts that
issued, it will indicate, among other environmental review process. could result from its action whenever it
milestones, the anticipated date for the Environmental commenters will not be considers the issuance of a Certificate of
Commission staff’s issuance of the EA required to serve copies of filed Public Convenience and Necessity.
for this proposal. The filing of the EA documents on all other parties. NEPA also requires the Commission to
in the Commission’s public record for However, the non-party commenters discover concerns the public may have
this proceeding or the issuance of a will not receive copies of all documents about proposals. This process is referred
Notice of Schedule for Environmental filed by other parties or issued by the to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the
Review will serve to notify federal and Commission (except for the mailing of scoping process is to focus the analysis
state agencies of the timing for the environmental documents issued by the in the EA on the important
completion of all necessary reviews, and Commission) and will not have the right environmental issues. By this notice, the
the subsequent need to complete all to seek court review of the Commission requests public comments
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
federal authorizations within 90 days of Commission’s final order. on the scope of the issues to address in
the date of issuance of the Commission The Commission strongly encourages the EA. To ensure that your comments
staff’s EA. electronic filings of comments, protests are timely and properly recorded, please
There are two ways to become and interventions in lieu of paper using submit your comments so that the
involved in the Commission’s review of the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at http:// Commission receives them in
this project. First, any person wishing to www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m.
obtain legal status by becoming a party electronically should submit an original Eastern Time on August 13, 2018.
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![33930 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices
comments provided under the Public the document instead of a CD version or information collection request (ICR),
Participation section of this notice. would like to remove your name from Production, Import, Export, Destruction,
the mailing list, please return the Transhipment, and Exempted Uses of
Consultation Under Section 106 of the
attached ‘‘Mailing List Update Form’’ Ozone-Depleting Substances (EPA ICR
National Historic Preservation Act
(appendix 2). No. 1432.34, OMB Control No. 2060–
In accordance with the Advisory 0170), to the Office of Management and
Council on Historic Preservation’s Additional Information Budget (OMB) for review and approval
implementing regulations for section Additional information about the in accordance with the Paperwork
106 of the National Historic project is available from the Reduction Act. This is a proposed
Preservation Act, the Commission is Commission’s Office of External Affairs, revision of the ICR, which is currently
using this notice to initiate consultation at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC approved through October 2018. Public
with the applicable State Historic website at www.ferc.gov using the comments were previously requested
Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Click on the eLibrary via the Federal Register on January 19,
solicit their views and those of other link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and 2018 during a 60-day comment period.
government agencies, interested Indian enter the docket number in the ‘‘Docket This notice allows for an additional 30
tribes, and the public on the project’s Number’’ field, excluding the last three days for public comments. A fuller
potential effects on historic properties.3 digits (i.e., CP18–506). Be sure you have description of the ICR is given below,
Commission staff will define the selected an appropriate date range. For including its estimated burden and cost
project-specific Area of Potential Effects assistance, please contact FERC Online to the public. An agency may not
(APE) in consultation with the SHPOs Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov conduct or sponsor and a person is not
as the project develops. On natural gas or (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact required to respond to a collection of
facility projects, the APE at a minimum (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also information unless it displays a
encompasses all areas subject to ground provides access to the texts of all formal currently valid OMB control number.
disturbance (examples include documents issued by the Commission, DATES: Additional comments may be
construction right-of-way, contractor/ such as orders, notices, and submitted on or before August 17, 2018.
pipe storage yards, compressor stations, rulemakings. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
and access roads). The EA for this In addition, the Commission offers a referencing Docket ID Number EPA–
project will document findings on the free service called eSubscription which HW–OAR–2017–0639, to EPA online
impacts on historic properties and allows you to keep track of all formal using www.regulations.gov or by mail
summarize the status of consultations issuances and submittals in specific to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental
under section 106. dockets. This can reduce the amount of Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
Environmental Mailing List time you spend researching proceedings 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
by automatically providing you with Washington, DC 20460, and OMB via
The environmental mailing list notification of these filings, document email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
includes federal, state, and local summaries, and direct links to the Address comments to OMB Desk Officer
government representatives and documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- for EPA.
agencies; elected officials; filing/esubscription.asp. EPA’s policy is that all comments
environmental and public interest Finally, public sessions or site visits received will be included in the public
groups; Native American Tribes; other will be posted on the Commission’s docket without change including any
interested parties; and local libraries calendar located at www.ferc.gov/ personal information provided, unless
and newspapers. This list also includes EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along the comment includes profanity, threats,
all affected landowners (as defined in with other related information. information claimed to be Confidential
the Commission’s regulations) who are Business Information (CBI) or other
Dated: July 12, 2018.
potential right-of-way grantors, whose information whose disclosure is
property may be used temporarily for Kimberly D. Bose,
restricted by statute.
project purposes, or who own homes Secretary.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
within certain distances of aboveground [FR Doc. 2018–15321 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am]
Katherine Sleasman, Stratospheric
facilities, and anyone who submits BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Protection Division, (6205T),
comments on the project. Commission Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
staff will update the environmental Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 20460; telephone number: (202) 564–
ensure that information related to this AGENCY 7716; fax number: (202) 343–2338;
environmental review is sent to all email address: sleasman.katherine@
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2017–0639; FRL—9980–77–
individuals, organizations, and OEI] epa.gov.
government entities interested in and/or
potentially affected by the proposed SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Information Collection Request
project. Supporting documents, which explain
Submitted to OMB for Review and
If the Commission publishes and in detail the information that the EPA
Approval; Comment Request;
distributes the EA, copies will be sent will be collecting, are available in the
Production, Import, Export,
to the environmental mailing list for public docket for this ICR. The docket
Destruction, Transhipment, and
public review and comment. If you can be viewed online at
Exempted Uses of Ozone-Depleting
would prefer to receive a paper copy of www.regulations.gov or in person at the
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Substances (Renewal)
EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room
3 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s AGENCY: Environmental Protection 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW,
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Agency (EPA). Washington, DC. The telephone number
Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic ACTION: Notice.
district, site, building, structure, or object included
For additional information about EPA’s
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection public docket, visit https://
of Historic Places. Agency (EPA) has submitted an www.epa.gov/dockets.
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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:24:34
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:24:34
| 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 33928 |
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