83 FR 45428 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP Willis Lateral Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 174 (September 7, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 174 (September 7, 2018)
| Page Range | 45428-45432 | |
| FR Document | 2018-19397 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 45428-45432] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-19397] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18-525-000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP Willis Lateral 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 Willis Lateral Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) in Montgomery and San Jacinto Counties, Texas. 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 October 1, 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 July 13, 2018, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18-525-000 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. Gulf South 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 (CP18-525-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. [[Page 45429]] Summary of the Proposed Project Gulf South proposes to construct, operate, and maintain various facilities in connection with its proposed Willis Lateral Project located in Montgomery and San Jacinto Counties, Texas. According to Gulf South, the Willis Lateral Project would provide about 200 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to the existing Goodrich Compressor Station. The Willis Lateral Project would consist of the following facilities:Approximately 19 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline; addition of a new 15,876 horsepower turbine engine to the existing Goodrich Compressor Station and construction of a new Meter and Regulator (M&R) station; a tie-in and launcher facility (including a pig \1\ launcher, and ancillary equipment); --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- a M&R station at the terminus of the project (including a pig receiver, filter separators with a liquid storage tank, and ancillary equipment); and a mainline valve facility. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 465 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, Gulf South would maintain about 141 acres of land for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and would revert to former uses. About 91 percent of the proposed pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way. 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 \3\ and will be issued 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 have the opportunity to address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \4\ 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 Office (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.\5\ Commission staff will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ 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. A Notice of Availability of the EA will be sent to the environmental mailing list and will provide instructions to access the electronic document on the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov). If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you 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., CP18-525). 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 [[Page 45430]] 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 31, 2018. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. BILLING CODE 6717-01-P [[Page 45431]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07SE18.000 [[Page 45432]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07SE18.001 [FR Doc. 2018-19397 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-C
![45428 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 174 / Friday, September 7, 2018 / Notices
Additional Information decision-making process to determine However, if the Commission approves
In order to receive notification of the whether the project is in the public the project, that approval conveys with
issuance of the EIS and to keep track of convenience and necessity. it the right of eminent domain.
This notice announces the opening of Therefore, if you and the company do
all formal issuances and submittals in
the scoping process the Commission not reach an easement agreement, the
specific dockets, the Commission offers
will use to gather input from the public pipeline company could initiate
a free service called eSubscription. This
and interested agencies about issues condemnation proceedings in court. In
can reduce the amount of time you
regarding the project. The National such instances, compensation would be
spend researching proceedings by
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determined by a judge in accordance
automatically providing you with
requires the Commission to take into with state law.
notification of these filings, document
account the environmental impacts that Gulf South provided landowners with
summaries, and direct links to the
could result from its action whenever it a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
considers the issuance of a Certificate of entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
filing/esubscription.asp.
Public Convenience and Necessity. Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
Additional information about the
NEPA also requires the Commission to To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a
project is available from the
discover concerns the public may have number of typically asked questions,
Commission’s Office of External Affairs
about proposals. This process is referred including the use of eminent domain
at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC
to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the and how to participate in the
website (www.ferc.gov). Using the
scoping process is to focus the analysis Commission’s proceedings. It is also
eLibrary link, select General Search
in the EA on the important available for viewing on the FERC
from the eLibrary menu, enter the
environmental issues. By this notice, the website (www.ferc.gov).
selected date range and Docket Number
Commission requests public comments
excluding the last three digits (i.e., Public Participation
on the scope of the issues to address in
CP16–454 or CP16–455), and follow the
the EA. To ensure that your comments For your convenience, there are three
instructions. For assistance with access
are timely and properly recorded, please methods you can use to submit your
to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached
submit your comments so that the comments to the Commission. The
at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659,
Commission receives them in Commission encourages electronic filing
or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The
Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. of comments and has staff available to
eLibrary link on the FERC website also
Eastern Time on October 1, 2018. assist you at (866) 208–3676 or
provides access to the texts of formal You can make a difference by
documents issued by the Commission, FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
submitting your specific comments or carefully follow these instructions so
such as orders, notices, and rule concerns about the project. Your
makings. that your comments are properly
comments should focus on the potential recorded.
Dated: August 31, 2018. environmental effects, reasonable
(1) You can file your comments
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., alternatives, and measures to avoid or
electronically using the eComment
Deputy Secretary. lessen environmental impacts. Your
feature, which is located on the
[FR Doc. 2018–19398 Filed 9–6–18; 8:45 am] input will help the Commission staff
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
determine what issues they need to
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P under the link to Documents and
evaluate in the EA. Commission staff
Filings. Using eComment is an easy
will consider and address all filed
method for submitting brief, text-only
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY comments during the preparation of the
comments on a project;
EA.
Federal Energy Regulatory If you sent comments on this project (2) You can file your comments
Commission to the Commission before the opening of electronically by using the eFiling
this docket on July 13, 2018, you will feature, which is located on the
[Docket No. CP18–525–000] Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
need to file those comments in Docket
No. CP18–525–000 to ensure they are under the link to Documents and
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
considered as part of this proceeding. Filings. With eFiling, you can provide
Environmental Assessment for the
This notice is being sent to the comments in a variety of formats by
Proposed Gulf South Pipeline
Commission’s current environmental attaching them as a file with your
Company, LP Willis Lateral Project,
mailing list for this project. State and submission. New eFiling users must
and Request for Comments on
local government representatives should first create an account by clicking on
Environmental Issues
notify their constituents of this ‘‘eRegister.’’ You will be asked to select
The staff of the Federal Energy proposed project and encourage them to the type of filing you are making; a
Regulatory Commission (FERC or comment on their areas of concern. comment on a particular project is
Commission) will prepare an If you are a landowner receiving this considered a ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or
environmental assessment (EA) that will notice, a pipeline company (3) You can file a paper copy of your
discuss the environmental impacts of representative may contact you about comments by mailing them to the
the Willis Lateral Project involving the acquisition of an easement to following address. Be sure to reference
construction and operation of facilities construct, operate, and maintain the the project docket number (CP18–525–
by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP proposed facilities. The company would 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
(Gulf South) in Montgomery and San seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Jacinto Counties, Texas. The easement agreement. You are not Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
Commission will use this EA in its required to enter into an agreement. NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Sep 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_45602/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-09-07 00:15:20
Document Modified: 2018-09-07 00:15:20
| 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 45428 |
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