83 FR 48305 - Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Draft General Conformity Determination for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 185 (September 24, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 185 (September 24, 2018)
| Page Range | 48305-48306 | |
| FR Document | 2018-20679 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 48305-48306] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-20679] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP17-101-000] Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Draft General Conformity Determination for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft general conformity determination (GCD) for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project (Project) proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) in the above- referenced docket. The draft GCD assesses the potential air quality impacts associated with the construction and operation of natural gas facilities to provide about 400 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to Brooklyn Union Gas Company and KeySpan Gas East Corporation (collectively referred to as National Grid) to serve residential and commercial customers in the New York City area beginning in the 2020/heating season. The draft GCD was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the Clean Air Act. The FERC staff concludes that the Project would achieve conformity in New York and New Jersey through direct mitigation and the purchase of emission reduction credits. The draft GCD addresses the potential air quality impacts from construction and operation of the following relevant subset of Project facilities:A 3.4-mile-long, 26-inch-diameter pipeline loop \1\ in Middlesex County, New Jersey (Madison Loop); --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- a 23.5-mile long, 26-inch-diameter pipeline loop comprised of a 0.2-mile-long segment in onshore Middlesex County, New Jersey, and a 23.3-mile-long segment in the offshore waters of Middlesex and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey and Queens and Richmond Counties, New York (Raritan Bay Loop); and a new 32,000 horsepower natural gas-fired compressor station in Somerset County, New Jersey (Compressor Station 206). The draft GCD identifies that the Project is located within the NY- NJ-CT Interstate air quality control region (AQCR). The Clean Air Act defines nonattainment areas as ``any area that does not meet (or that contributes to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet) the national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard for the pollutant''. The draft environmental impact statement explains that in order to achieve improved air quality within a nonattainment area, reductions are required throughout the entire AQCR. The General Conformity Regulations require that offsets be purchased ``within the same nonattainment or maintenance area (or a nearby area of equal or higher classification provided the emissions from that area contribute to the violations, or have contributed to violations in the past).'' Transco proposes to implement a combination of direct mitigation projects and purchasing emission reduction credits to offset construction emissions nitrogen oxides for the Project. FERC staff will issue the final GCD with the final environmental impact statement on January 25, 2019. The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and libraries in the Project area. The draft GCD is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded using the eLibrary link on the FERC's website. Click on the eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp), click on General Search, and enter the docket number in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP17-101). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. In accordance with the General Conformity Regulations under the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 40 Part 93.156, the draft GCD is issued for a 30-day comment period. Any person wishing to comment on the draft GCD may do so. To ensure consideration of your comments on the Project, it is important that the Commission receive [[Page 48306]] your comments on or before October 18, 2018. 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 expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 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 on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. This 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 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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; 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 (CP17-101-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. 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 and the Project docket number (e.g., CP17-101). 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 rulemakings. Dated: September 18, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-20679 Filed 9-21-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 185 / Monday, September 24, 2018 / Notices 48305
phone at 214–721–9678, or via email at Comment Date: 5:00 p.m., October 3, • a new 32,000 horsepower natural
emily.fuquay@enlink.com; and Kenneth 2018. gas-fired compressor station in Somerset
W.Irvin, Sidley Austin LLP, 1501 K Dated: September 12, 2018. County, New Jersey (Compressor Station
Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, by Kimberly D. Bose, 206).
phone at 202–736- 8256, or via email at The draft GCD identifies that the
Secretary.
kirvin@sidley.com. Project is located within the NY–NJ–CT
There are two ways to become [FR Doc. 2018–20683 Filed 9–21–18; 8:45 am]
Interstate air quality control region
involved in the Commission’s review of BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
(AQCR). The Clean Air Act defines
this project. First, any person wishing to nonattainment areas as ‘‘any area that
obtain legal status by becoming a party does not meet (or that contributes to
to the proceedings for this project DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
ambient air quality in a nearby area that
should, on or before the comment date Federal Energy Regulatory does not meet) the national primary or
stated below, file with the Federal Commission secondary ambient air quality standard
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 for the pollutant’’. The draft
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, [Docket No. CP17–101–000]
environmental impact statement
a motion to intervene in accordance explains that in order to achieve
with the requirements of the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC; Notice of Draft General improved air quality within a
Commission’s Rules of Practice and nonattainment area, reductions are
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) Conformity Determination for the
Northeast Supply Enhancement required throughout the entire AQCR.
and the Regulations under the NGA (18 The General Conformity Regulations
CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party Project
require that offsets be purchased
status will be placed on the service list The staff of the Federal Energy ‘‘within the same nonattainment or
maintained by the Secretary of the Regulatory Commission (FERC or maintenance area (or a nearby area of
Commission and will receive copies of Commission) has prepared a draft equal or higher classification provided
all documents filed by the applicant and general conformity determination (GCD) the emissions from that area contribute
by all other parties. A party must submit for the Northeast Supply Enhancement to the violations, or have contributed to
5 copies of filings made with the Project (Project) proposed by violations in the past).’’ Transco
Commission and must mail a copy to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line proposes to implement a combination of
the applicant and to every other party in Company, LLC (Transco) in the above- direct mitigation projects and
the proceeding. Only parties to the referenced docket. The draft GCD purchasing emission reduction credits
proceeding can ask for court review of assesses the potential air quality to offset construction emissions nitrogen
Commission orders in the proceeding. impacts associated with the oxides for the Project. FERC staff will
However, a person does not have to construction and operation of natural issue the final GCD with the final
intervene in order to have comments gas facilities to provide about 400 environmental impact statement on
considered. The second way to million standard cubic feet of natural
participate is by filing with the January 25, 2019.
gas per day to Brooklyn Union Gas The Commission mailed a copy of the
Secretary of the Commission, as soon as Company and KeySpan Gas East
possible, an original and two copies of Notice of Availability to federal, state,
Corporation (collectively referred to as and local government representatives
comments in support of or in opposition National Grid) to serve residential and
to this project. The Commission will and agencies; elected officials;
commercial customers in the New York environmental and public interest
consider these comments in City area beginning in the 2020/heating
determining the appropriate action to be groups; Native American tribes;
season. potentially affected landowners and
taken, but the filing of a comment alone The draft GCD was prepared to satisfy
will not serve to make the filer a party other interested individuals and groups;
the requirements of the Clean Air Act. and libraries in the Project area. The
to the proceeding. The Commission’s The FERC staff concludes that the
rules require that persons filing draft GCD is only available in electronic
Project would achieve conformity in format. It may be viewed and
comments in opposition to the project New York and New Jersey through
provide copies of their protests only to downloaded using the eLibrary link on
direct mitigation and the purchase of the FERC’s website. Click on the
the party or parties directly involved in emission reduction credits. The draft
the protest. eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/
GCD addresses the potential air quality docs-filing/elibrary.asp), click on
The Commission strongly encourages
impacts from construction and General Search, and enter the docket
electronic filings of comments, protests
operation of the following relevant number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field,
and interventions in lieu of paper using
subset of Project facilities: excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
the eFiling link at http://www.ferc.gov. • A 3.4-mile-long, 26-inch-diameter
Persons unable to file electronically CP17–101). Be sure you have selected
pipeline loop 1 in Middlesex County, an appropriate date range. For
should submit an original and 7 copies
New Jersey (Madison Loop); assistance, please contact FERC Online
of the protest or intervention to the • a 23.5-mile long, 26-inch-diameter
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
pipeline loop comprised of a 0.2-mile-
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for
long segment in onshore Middlesex
20426. TTY, contact (202) 502–8659.
County, New Jersey, and a 23.3-mile-
There is an eSubscription link on the In accordance with the General
long segment in the offshore waters of
website that enables subscribers to Conformity Regulations under the Code
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Middlesex and Monmouth Counties,
receive email notification when a of Federal Regulations Chapter 40 Part
New Jersey and Queens and Richmond
document is added to a subscribed 93.156, the draft GCD is issued for a 30-
Counties, New York (Raritan Bay Loop);
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC day comment period. Any person
and
Online service, please email wishing to comment on the draft GCD
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call 1 A pipeline ‘‘loop’’ is a segment of pipe may do so. To ensure consideration of
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to your comments on the Project, it is
(202) 502–8659. increase capacity. important that the Commission receive
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![48306 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 185 / Monday, September 24, 2018 / Notices
your comments on or before October 18, eLibrary link and the Project docket off-the-record communication will not
2018. number (e.g., CP17–101). The eLibrary be considered by the Commission in
For your convenience, there are three link on the FERC website also provides reaching its decision. Parties to a
methods you can use to submit your access to the texts of formal documents proceeding may seek the opportunity to
comments to the Commission. The issued by the Commission, such as respond to any facts or contentions
Commission encourages electronic filing orders, notices, and rulemakings. made in a prohibited off-the-record
of comments and has expert staff Dated: September 18, 2018. communication, and may request that
available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 Kimberly D. Bose, the Commission place the prohibited
or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please communication and responses thereto
Secretary.
carefully follow these instructions so in the decisional record. The
[FR Doc. 2018–20679 Filed 9–21–18; 8:45 am]
that your comments are properly Commission will grant such a request
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
recorded. only when it determines that fairness so
(1) You can file your comments requires. Any person identified below as
electronically using the eComment having made a prohibited off-the-record
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
feature on the Commission’s website communication shall serve the
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to Federal Energy Regulatory document on all parties listed on the
Documents and Filings. This is an easy Commission official service list for the applicable
method for submitting brief, text-only proceeding in accordance with Rule
comments on a project; [Docket No. RM98–1–000]
2010, 18 CFR 385.2010.
(2) You can file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling Records Governing Off-the-Record Exempt off-the-record
feature on the Commission’s website Communications; Public Notice communications are included in the
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to decisional record of the proceeding,
This constitutes notice, in accordance
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, unless the communication was with a
with 18 CFR 385.2201(b), of the receipt
you can provide comments in a variety cooperating agency as described by 40
of prohibited and exempt off-the-record
of formats by attaching them as a file CFR 1501.6, made under 18 CFR
communications.
with your submission. New eFiling Order No. 607 (64 FR 51222, 385.2201(e)(1)(v).
users must first create an account by September 22, 1999) requires The following is a list of off-the-
clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing Commission decisional employees, who record communications recently
a comment on a particular project, make or receive a prohibited or exempt received by the Secretary of the
please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as off-the-record communication relevant Commission. The communications
the filing type; or to the merits of a contested proceeding, listed are grouped by docket numbers in
(3) You can file a paper copy of your to deliver to the Secretary of the ascending order. These filings are
comments by mailing them to the Commission, a copy of the available for electronic review at the
following address. Be sure to reference communication, if written, or a Commission in the Public Reference
the Project docket number (CP17–101– summary of the substance of any oral Room or may be viewed on the
000) with your submission: Kimberly D. communication. Commission’s website at http://
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Prohibited communications are www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link.
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street included in a public, non-decisional file Enter the docket number, excluding the
NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. associated with, but not a part of, the last three digits, in the docket number
Additional information about the decisional record of the proceeding. field to access the document. For
Project is available from the Unless the Commission determines that assistance, please contact FERC Online
Commission’s Office of External Affairs the prohibited communication and any Support at FERCOnlineSupport@
at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC responses thereto should become a part ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or
website (www.ferc.gov) using the of the decisional record, the prohibited for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659.
Docket No. File date Presenter or requester
Prohibited
1. CP16–10–000 ................................................................................................... 9–14–2018 Pipeliners Union 798.
Exempt
1. P–1855–000, P–1892–000, P–1904–000, P–1889–000, P–2485–000, P– 9–3–2018. U.S. Congress.1
1904–000.
2. P–516–000 ........................................................................................................ 9–11–2018 U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson.
3. CP17–41–000 ................................................................................................... 9–12–2018 FERC Staff.2
4. CP15–93–000 ................................................................................................... 9–12–2018 U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs.
5. P–2299–000, P–14581–000 ............................................................................. 9–13–2018 FERC Staff.3
6. CP18–46–000 ................................................................................................... 9–13–2018 FERC Staff.4
7. EL15–95–000 .................................................................................................... 9–14–2018 State of New Jersey.5
8. P–199–205 ........................................................................................................ 9–17–2018 FERC Staff.6
1 Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Margaret Wood Hassan, Patrick Leahy, and Bernard Sanders. Congressmen Anne McLane Kuster and Peter
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Welch.
2 Conference Call Notes for meeting on September 6, 2018 with Environmental Resources Management, Inc. and Eagle LNG Partners Jack-
sonville, LLC.
3 Memo reporting email conversation on September 9, 2018 with John Devine, Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts Consultant, with HDR
Engineering.
4 Memo for project conference call on September 10, 2018 with Adelphia Gateway, L.L.C.
5 Senator Christopher J. Connors. Assemblymen Brian E. Rumpf and Dianne C. Gove.
6 Email conversation dated September 17, 2018 with Patrick Opay with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Document Created: 2018-09-22 00:33:37
Document Modified: 2018-09-22 00:33:37
| 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 48305 |
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