83 FR 39435 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC Line Ka1 North Launcher/Receiver Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 154 (August 9, 2018)

Page Range		39435-39436
FR Document		2018-17029
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39435-39436]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17029]



[[Page 39435]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-508-000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC Line Ka1 North Launcher/
Receiver Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    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 proposed Line KA1 North 
Launcher/Receiver Project involving construction and operation of 
facilities by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in Fayette and 
Madison Counties, Kentucky. 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 September 
4, 2018.
    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 20, 2018, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-508-000 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.
    Columbia 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 [email protected]. 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 
(CP18-508-000) 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

    The Line KA1 North Launcher/Receiver Project involves the 
installation of two 16-inch x 12-inch bi-directional pig \1\ launcher/
receivers on Columbia's existing Line KA1 North pipeline and other 
modifications at seven discrete points along the pipeline within 
Fayette and Madison Counties, Kentucky. According to Columbia, these 
modifications are necessary to enable the use of smart pigs and 
cleaning pigs within the Line KA1 North pipeline, which would protect 
the pipeline from corrosion and provide advanced monitoring 
capabilities to maintain the pipeline's integrity between Columbia's 
existing Bybee and Muth Measurement and Regulation Stations.
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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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    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
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    \2\ 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.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 8.75 
acres of land. Following construction, Columbia would maintain about 
3.28 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities. 
Approximately 0.02 acre of temporary access road, 3.42 acres of staging 
area, and 2.03 acres of temporary workspace would be allowed to revert 
to preconstruction conditions.

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;

[[Page 39436]]

     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 staff's independent analysis of the 
issues. The EA will be available in the public record through 
eLibrary.\3\ Depending on the comments received during the scoping 
process, the Commission may also publish and distribute the EA to the 
public for an allotted comment period. Commission staff will consider 
and address all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the 
Commission. To ensure Commission staff has the opportunity to address 
your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public 
Participation section, beginning on page 2.
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    \3\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
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    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.\4\ Agencies that would like to request 
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this 
notice.
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    \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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 of the 
EA 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-
508). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] 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: August 3, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-17029 Filed 8-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39435

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY need to file those comments in Docket first create an account by clicking on
No. CP18–508–000 to ensure they are eRegister. You will be asked to select the
Federal Energy Regulatory considered as part of this proceeding. type of filing you are making; a
Commission This notice is being sent to the comment on a particular project is
[Docket No. CP18–508–000]
Commission’s current environmental considered a Comment on a Filing; or
mailing list for this project. State and (3) You can file a paper copy of your
Notice of Intent To Prepare an local government representatives should comments by mailing them to the
Environmental Assessment for the notify their constituents of this following address. Be sure to reference
Proposed Columbia Gas Transmission, proposed project and encourage them to the project docket number (CP18–508–
LLC Line Ka1 North Launcher/Receiver comment on their areas of concern. 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
Project and Request for Comments on If you are a landowner receiving this Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Environmental Issues notice, a pipeline company Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
representative may contact you about NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
The staff of the Federal Energy the acquisition of an easement to
Regulatory Commission (FERC or construct, operate, and maintain the Summary of the Proposed Project
Commission) will prepare an proposed facilities. The company would The Line KA1 North Launcher/
environmental assessment (EA) that will seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable Receiver Project involves the
discuss the environmental impacts of easement agreement. You are not installation of two 16-inch × 12-inch bi-
the proposed Line KA1 North Launcher/ required to enter into an agreement. directional pig 1 launcher/receivers on
Receiver Project involving construction However, if the Commission approves Columbia’s existing Line KA1 North
and operation of facilities by Columbia the project, that approval conveys with pipeline and other modifications at
Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in it the right of eminent domain. seven discrete points along the pipeline
Fayette and Madison Counties, Therefore, if you and the company do within Fayette and Madison Counties,
Kentucky. The Commission will use this not reach an easement agreement, the Kentucky. According to Columbia, these
EA in its decision-making process to pipeline company could initiate modifications are necessary to enable
determine whether the project is in the condemnation proceedings in court. In the use of smart pigs and cleaning pigs
public convenience and necessity. such instances, compensation would be within the Line KA1 North pipeline,
This notice announces the opening of determined by a judge in accordance which would protect the pipeline from
the scoping process the Commission with state law. corrosion and provide advanced
will use to gather input from the public Columbia provided landowners with monitoring capabilities to maintain the
and interested agencies about issues a fact sheet prepared by the FERC pipeline’s integrity between Columbia’s
regarding the project. The National entitled An Interstate Natural Gas existing Bybee and Muth Measurement
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Facility On My Land? What Do I Need and Regulation Stations.
requires the Commission to take into To Know? This fact sheet addresses a The general location of the project
account the environmental impacts that number of typically asked questions, facilities is shown in appendix 1.2
could result from its action whenever it including the use of eminent domain Land Requirements for Construction
considers the issuance of a Certificate of and how to participate in the
Public Convenience and Necessity. Commission’s proceedings. It is also Construction of the proposed facilities
NEPA also requires the Commission to available for viewing on the FERC would disturb about 8.75 acres of land.
discover concerns the public may have website (www.ferc.gov). Following construction, Columbia
about proposals. This process is referred would maintain about 3.28 acres for
to as scoping. The main goal of the Public Participation permanent operation of the project’s
scoping process is to focus the analysis For your convenience, there are three facilities. Approximately 0.02 acre of
in the EA on the important methods you can use to submit your temporary access road, 3.42 acres of
environmental issues. By this notice, the comments to the Commission. The staging area, and 2.03 acres of temporary
Commission requests public comments Commission encourages electronic filing workspace would be allowed to revert to
on the scope of the issues to address in of comments and has staff available to preconstruction conditions.
the EA. To ensure that your comments assist you at (866) 208–3676 or The EA Process
are timely and properly recorded, please FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
The EA will discuss impacts that
submit your comments so that the carefully follow these instructions so
could occur as a result of the
Commission receives them in that your comments are properly
construction and operation of the
Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. recorded.
(1) You can file your comments proposed project under these general
Eastern Time on September 4, 2018.
headings:
You can make a difference by electronically using the eComment
• Geology and soils;
submitting your specific comments or feature, which is located on the • land use;
concerns about the project. Your Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) • water resources, fisheries, and
comments should focus on the potential under the link to Documents and wetlands;
environmental effects, reasonable Filings. Using eComment is an easy
alternatives, and measures to avoid or method for submitting brief, text-only 1 A pig is a tool that the pipeline company inserts

lessen environmental impacts. Your comments on a project; into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning
input will help the Commission staff (2) You can file your comments the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or
electronically by using the eFiling other purposes.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

determine what issues they need to 2 The appendices referenced in this notice will
evaluate in the EA. Commission staff feature, which is located on the not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
will consider and address all filed Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) appendices were sent to all those receiving this
comments during the preparation of the under the link to Documents and notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
EA. Filings. With eFiling, you can provide using the link called eLibrary or from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
If you sent comments on this project comments in a variety of formats by Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–
to the Commission before the opening of attaching them as a file with your 8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary,
this docket on June 20, 2018, you will submission. New eFiling users must refer to the last page of this notice.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Aug 08, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1
Document Created: 2018-08-09 01:10:36
Document Modified: 2018-08-09 01:10:36
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 39435
83 FR 39435 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC Line Ka1 North Launcher/Receiver Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 154 (August 9, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
