83 FR 55359 - Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Empire North Project; Empire Pipeline, Inc.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 214 (November 5, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55359-55360]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24105]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-89-000]


Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed Empire North Project; Empire Pipeline, Inc.

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the 
Empire North Project, proposed by Empire Pipeline, Inc. (Empire) in the 
above-referenced docket. Empire requests authorization to construct and 
operate gas compression facilities in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and 
Ontario County, New York.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of construction 
and operation of the Empire North Project in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate 
mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
    The U.S. Department of Transportation participated as a cooperating 
agency in the preparation of the EA. Cooperating agencies have 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA 
analysis.
    The proposed Empire North Project includes the following 
facilities:
     A new 21,000 horsepower compressor station in Jackson 
Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania;
     a new 32,000 horsepower compressor station in the Town of 
Farmington, Ontario County, New York;
     modifications of the existing regulator valves and station 
piping and installation of metering facilities at the existing New 
Victor Regulator Station in Ontario County, New York;
     minor modifications to the existing Jackson Meter and 
Regulator Station in Jackson Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; and
     upgrading the maximum allowable operating pressure of the 
Empire Connector Pipeline from 1,290 to 1,440 pounds per square inch 
gauge.
    The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to 
federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; 
elected officials; Native American tribes; other interested parties; 
and local libraries and newspapers. The EA is only available in 
electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC's 
website (www.ferc.gov), on the Environmental Documents page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). In addition, the EA may be 
accessed by 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., CP18-89). 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.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments 
should focus on the EA's disclosure and discussion of potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid 
or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the 
more useful they will be. To ensure that the Commission has the 
opportunity to consider your comments prior to making its decision on 
this project, it is important that we receive your comments in 
Washington, DC, on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 29, 
2018.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file 
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 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 also file your comments electronically 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. You must select the type of filing you are making. If you 
are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ``Comment 
on a Filing;'' or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the

[[Page 55360]]

following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(CP18-89-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more 
fully described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or 
judicial review of the Commission's decision. The Commission may grant 
affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor 
status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and 
direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately 
represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you 
intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your 
comments considered.
    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. 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.

    Dated: October 30, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-24105 Filed 11-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P