83 FR 35633 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Columbia Gas Transmission, Llc Line 8000 Replacement Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 145 (July 27, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35633-35634]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16080]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-13-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Columbia Gas 
Transmission, Llc Line 8000 Replacement Project

    On November 3, 2017, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC filed an 
application in Docket No. CP18-13-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Sections 7(b) and (c) of 
the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, and abandon certain natural 
gas pipeline facilities in Mineral County, West Virginia and Allegany 
County, Maryland. The proposed project is known as the Line 8000 
Replacement Project (Project) and is part of Columbia's multi-year, 
comprehensive modernization program. The Project would not increase 
capacity and would continue to serve the Maryland distribution markets. 
According to Columbia, its Project would increase system reliability, 
thereby greatly reducing the risk of interruptions to Columbia's 
customers.
    On November 17, 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--August 29, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--November 27, 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

    The Line 8000 Replacement Project would consist of:
     Replacement of about 13.25 miles of existing 12-inch-
diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 13.54 miles of new, 
coated 12-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline in five 
sections and four modification points along Line 8000 and Lateral Line 
8006;
     replacement of about 0.54 miles of existing 4-inch-
diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 0.67 miles of new 
coated 4-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline along Lateral 
Lines 8225 and 8244;
     installation of two new pig \1\ launcher and receiver 
sites and four new mainline valves associated with pipeline facilities;
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    \1\ 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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     modifications/abandonment of three existing mainline 
valves and three existing side tap valve sites;
     modification of tie-ins at two regulator stations; and
     abandonment of 13 active residential taps and 109 inactive 
taps.

Background

    On December 19, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 8000 
Replacement 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 Columbia Gas of Maryland, Inc., Direct Energy 
Business Marketing, LLC, the West Virginia Division of Culture and 
History, the Maryland Department of Environment, and one landowner. The 
comments addressed the conversion to an alternate

[[Page 35634]]

energy source for customers who would be affected by the abandonment of 
residential farm taps, the cost of the Project, cultural resources, air 
quality, stormwater and erosion, water resources, and land use. 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., 
CP18-13), 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: July 20, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-16080 Filed 7-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P