83 FR 46155 - Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 1-N Abandonment Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 177 (September 12, 2018)

Page Range		46155-46156
FR Document		2018-19806
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46155-46156]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19806]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-533-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 1-N Abandonment 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 Line 1-N Abandonment Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Texas Eastern 
Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in Harrison and Marion Counties, 
Texas. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process 
to determine whether to authorize the project.
    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 an authorization. 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 p.m. Eastern Time on October 6, 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 24, 2018, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-533-000 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.
    Texas Eastern 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 
(CP18-533-000) 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

    Texas Eastern proposes to abandon a portion of its lateral Line 1-N 
and related facilities, in Harrison and Marion Counties, Texas. 
Specifically, Texas Eastern is requesting approval to abandon in place 
and by removal a total of approximately 30 miles of 8-inch, 10-inch, 
and 12-inch-diameter lateral pipeline; abandon by removal all of the 
facilities at Metering and Regulating (M&R) Station 70191; and abandon 
by removal all aboveground appurtenances on each of the 8-inch, 10-inch 
and 12-inch-diameter pipeline segments.
    According to Texas Eastern, the project would eliminate the need 
for operating and maintenance expenditures on facilities that have not 
been used to provide service for over a year and are not necessary to 
meet Texas Eastern's firm service obligations. The project would not 
impact the daily design capacity of, or the operating conditions on, 
Texas Eastern's system, and it would not impact service for Texas 
Eastern's existing shippers.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
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    \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.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The project would temporarily affect approximately 6 acres of land 
within the existing right-of-way. Following abandonment, Texas Eastern 
would revegetate temporary work areas in accordance with its Erosion 
and Sedimentation Control Plan. Texas Eastern would retain and continue 
to maintain the pipeline right-of-way following abandonment activities.

[[Page 46156]]

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.\2\ 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.
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    \2\ 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.\3\ 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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    \3\ 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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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 are 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.\4\ 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.
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    \4\ 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.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native 
American Tribes; 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.
    As stated above, the EA will be available in the public record 
through the Commission's eLibrary, under the Docket Number CP18-533-
000.

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., 
CP18-533). 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: September 6, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-19806 Filed 9-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 12, 2018 / Notices 46155

Dated: September 6, 2018. comments during the preparation of the under the link to Documents and
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., EA. Filings. With eFiling, you can provide
Deputy Secretary. If you sent comments on this project comments in a variety of formats by
[FR Doc. 2018–19814 Filed 9–11–18; 8:45 am] to the Commission before the opening of attaching them as a file with your
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
this docket on July 24, 2018, you will submission. New eFiling users must
need to file those comments in Docket first create an account by clicking on
No. CP18–533–000 to ensure they are ‘‘eRegister.’’ You will be asked to select
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY considered as part of this proceeding. the type of filing you are making; a
This notice is being sent to the comment on a particular project is
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s current environmental considered a ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or
Commission mailing list for this project. State and (3) You can file a paper copy of your
local government representatives should comments by mailing them to the
[Docket No. CP18–533–000]
notify their constituents of this following address. Be sure to reference
Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; proposed project and encourage them to the project docket number (CP18–533–
Notice of Intent To Prepare an comment on their areas of concern. 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
Environmental Assessment for the If you are a landowner receiving this Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Proposed Line 1–N Abandonment notice, a pipeline company Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
Project and Request for Comments on representative may contact you about NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Environmental Issues the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the Summary of the Proposed Project
The staff of the Federal Energy proposed facilities. The company would Texas Eastern proposes to abandon a
Regulatory Commission (FERC or seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable portion of its lateral Line 1–N and
Commission) will prepare an easement agreement. You are not related facilities, in Harrison and
environmental assessment (EA) that will required to enter into an agreement. Marion Counties, Texas. Specifically,
discuss the environmental impacts of However, if the Commission approves Texas Eastern is requesting approval to
the Line 1–N Abandonment Project the project, that approval conveys with abandon in place and by removal a total
involving construction and operation of it the right of eminent domain. of approximately 30 miles of 8-inch, 10-
facilities by Texas Eastern Therefore, if you and the company do inch, and 12-inch-diameter lateral
Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in not reach an easement agreement, the pipeline; abandon by removal all of the
Harrison and Marion Counties, Texas. pipeline company could initiate facilities at Metering and Regulating
The Commission will use this EA in its condemnation proceedings in court. In (M&R) Station 70191; and abandon by
decision-making process to determine such instances, compensation would be removal all aboveground appurtenances
whether to authorize the project. determined by a judge in accordance
This notice announces the opening of on each of the 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-
with state law. inch-diameter pipeline segments.
the scoping process the Commission Texas Eastern provided landowners
will use to gather input from the public According to Texas Eastern, the
with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC project would eliminate the need for
and interested agencies about issues entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
regarding the project. The National operating and maintenance
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need expenditures on facilities that have not
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a
requires the Commission to take into been used to provide service for over a
number of typically asked questions, year and are not necessary to meet
account the environmental impacts that including the use of eminent domain
could result from its action whenever it Texas Eastern’s firm service obligations.
and how to participate in the The project would not impact the daily
considers the issuance of an Commission’s proceedings. It is also
authorization. NEPA also requires the design capacity of, or the operating
available for viewing on the FERC conditions on, Texas Eastern’s system,
Commission to discover concerns the website (www.ferc.gov).
public may have about proposals. This and it would not impact service for
process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The Public Participation Texas Eastern’s existing shippers.
main goal of the scoping process is to The general location of the project
For your convenience, there are three
focus the analysis in the EA on the facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
methods you can use to submit your
important environmental issues. By this comments to the Commission. The Land Requirements for Construction
notice, the Commission requests public Commission encourages electronic filing The project would temporarily affect
comments on the scope of the issues to of comments and has staff available to approximately 6 acres of land within the
address in the EA. To ensure that your assist you at (866) 208–3676 or existing right-of-way. Following
comments are timely and properly FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please abandonment, Texas Eastern would
recorded, please submit your comments carefully follow these instructions so revegetate temporary work areas in
so that the Commission receives them in that your comments are properly accordance with its Erosion and
Washington, DC on or before 5 p.m. recorded. Sedimentation Control Plan. Texas
Eastern Time on October 6, 2018. (1) You can file your comments
You can make a difference by Eastern would retain and continue to
electronically using the eComment
submitting your specific comments or maintain the pipeline right-of-way
feature, which is located on the
concerns about the project. Your following abandonment activities.
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
comments should focus on the potential under the link to Documents and
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
environmental effects, reasonable Filings. Using eComment is an easy not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
alternatives, and measures to avoid or method for submitting brief, text-only appendices were sent to all those receiving this
lessen environmental impacts. Your comments on a project; notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
input will help the Commission staff (2) You can file your comments using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
determine what issues they need to electronically by using the eFiling Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–
evaluate in the EA. Commission staff feature, which is located on the 8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary,
will consider and address all filed Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) refer to the last page of this notice.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Sep 11, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1
Document Created: 2018-09-12 02:06:23
Document Modified: 2018-09-12 02:06:23
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 46155
83 FR 46155 - Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 1-N Abandonment Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 177 (September 12, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
