83 FR 800 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC Proposed Gateway Expansion Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 5 (January 8, 2018)

Page Range		800-801
FR Document		2018-00091
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 5 (Monday, January 8, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 800-801]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00091]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-18-000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC Proposed Gateway Expansion 
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 Gateway Expansion Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities Transcontinental Gas 
Pipe Line Company (Transco) in Essex and Passaic Counties, New Jersey. 
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 on the project. You can make a difference by providing us with 
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. To ensure that your comments are timely and 
properly recorded, please send your comments so that the Commission 
receives them in Washington, DC on or before February 2, 2018.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on November 16, 2017, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP18-18-000 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 agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with 
state law.
    Transco 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 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 
CP18-18-000 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

    Transco proposes to perform the following activities for 
construction of the project.

Compressor Station (CS) 303 (Essex County, New Jersey)

     Expansion of the existing building to include one new 
33,000 horsepower (hp) electric-motor driven compression unit and 
ancillary equipment;
     Install gas cooling equipment;
     Extend existing security fencing to encompass new 
equipment; and
     A new driveway to connect the new gas cooler location with 
CS 303.

Roseland Meter and Regulator (M&R), Essex County, New Jersey

     One new 36-inch ML block valve with automation controls; 
and
     Actuator modification on existing ML block valve.

Paterson M&R, Passaic County, New Jersey

     Remove existing 12-inch headers, meter skid, building, and 
associated equipment;
     Install a meter skid with two 6-inch ultrasonic meters 
with 12-inch inlet and outlet headers;
     Install a new M&R building;
     Install new remote terminal unit (RTU)/gas chromatograph 
building;
     Install new flow computer, radio, and an antenna/pole; and
     Install a new condensate tank.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb 9.43 acres of 
land, with 9.06 acres being utilized for the CS 303 site and the 
remaining 0.37 acres utilized for the Paterson M&R site. All proposed 
land affected is currently in use as Transco existing property. No new 
land would need to be acquired for operational use.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a

[[Page 801]]

Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 
\2\ to discover and address 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. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the 
Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EA we 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
    We 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 our independent analysis of the issues. The EA 
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. We will 
consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations to 
the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and 
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the 
Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of 
this project to formally cooperate with us 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. Currently, no agency has 
expressed intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the 
preparation of the EA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultations 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, we 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\ We 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). Our EA for this project will document our 
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status 
of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. We will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related 
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies 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 the CD 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the 
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard 
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. 
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a 
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in 
the ``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on 
the Commission's website. Motions to intervene are more fully described 
at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.

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, 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP18-
18). 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. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of 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: January 2, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-00091 Filed 1-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
800 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2018 / Notices

20426, in accordance with Rule 214 of notify their constituents of this Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and proposed project and encourage them to NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Procedure, 18 CFR 385.214, within 21 comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this Summary of the Proposed Project
days of the date of issuance of the order.
notice, a pipeline company Transco proposes to perform the
Dated: January 2, 2018.
representative may contact you about following activities for construction of
Kimberly D. Bose,
the acquisition of an easement to the project.
Secretary. construct, operate, and maintain the
[FR Doc. 2018–00092 Filed 1–5–18; 8:45 am] Compressor Station (CS) 303 (Essex
proposed facilities. The company would
County, New Jersey)
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the Commission • Expansion of the existing building
approves the project, that approval to include one new 33,000 horsepower
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY conveys with it the right of eminent (hp) electric-motor driven compression
domain. Therefore, if easement unit and ancillary equipment;
Federal Energy Regulatory • Install gas cooling equipment;
negotiations fail to produce an
Commission agreement, the pipeline company could • Extend existing security fencing to
[Docket No. CP18–18–000] initiate condemnation proceedings encompass new equipment; and
where compensation would be • A new driveway to connect the new
Notice of Intent To Prepare an determined in accordance with state gas cooler location with CS 303.
Environmental Assessment for the law. Roseland Meter and Regulator (M&R),
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Transco provided landowners with a Essex County, New Jersey
Company LLC Proposed Gateway fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled
Expansion Project, and Request for An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On • One new 36-inch ML block valve
Comments on Environmental Issues My Land? What Do I Need To Know? with automation controls; and
This fact sheet addresses a number of • Actuator modification on existing
The staff of the Federal Energy typically asked questions, including the ML block valve.
Regulatory Commission (FERC or use of eminent domain and how to
Commission) will prepare an Paterson M&R, Passaic County, New
participate in the Commission’s Jersey
environmental assessment (EA) that will proceedings. It is also available for
discuss the environmental impacts of viewing on the FERC website • Remove existing 12-inch headers,
the Gateway Expansion Project (www.ferc.gov). meter skid, building, and associated
involving construction and operation of equipment;
facilities Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Public Participation • Install a meter skid with two 6-inch
Company (Transco) in Essex and Passaic For your convenience, there are three ultrasonic meters with 12-inch inlet and
Counties, New Jersey. The Commission methods you can use to submit your outlet headers;
will use this EA in its decision-making comments to the Commission. The • Install a new M&R building;
process to determine whether the Commission encourages electronic filing • Install new remote terminal unit
project is in the public convenience and of comments and has expert staff (RTU)/gas chromatograph building;
necessity. available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 • Install new flow computer, radio,
This notice announces the opening of or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please and an antenna/pole; and
the scoping process the Commission carefully follow these instructions so • Install a new condensate tank.
will use to gather input from the public that your comments are properly The general location of the project
and interested agencies on the project. recorded. facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
You can make a difference by providing (1) You can file your comments Land Requirements for Construction
us with your specific comments or electronically using the eComment
concerns about the project. Your feature on the Commission’s website Construction of the proposed facilities
comments should focus on the potential (www.ferc.gov) under the link to would disturb 9.43 acres of land, with
environmental effects, reasonable Documents and Filings. This is an easy 9.06 acres being utilized for the CS 303
alternatives, and measures to avoid or method for submitting brief, text-only site and the remaining 0.37 acres
lessen environmental impacts. Your comments on a project; utilized for the Paterson M&R site. All
input will help the Commission staff (2) You can file your comments proposed land affected is currently in
determine what issues they need to electronically by using the eFiling use as Transco existing property. No
evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your feature on the Commission’s website new land would need to be acquired for
comments are timely and properly (www.ferc.gov) under the link to operational use.
recorded, please send your comments so Documents and Filings. With eFiling, The EA Process
that the Commission receives them in you can provide comments in a variety
Washington, DC on or before February of formats by attaching them as a file The National Environmental Policy
2, 2018. with your submission. New eFiling Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
If you sent comments on this project users must first create an account by take into account the environmental
to the Commission before the opening of clicking on eRegister. If you are filing a impacts that could result from an action
this docket on November 16, 2017, you comment on a particular project, please whenever it considers the issuance of a
will need to file those comments in
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
Docket No. CP18–18–000 to ensure they filing type; or not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of
are considered as part of this (3) You can file a paper copy of your appendices were sent to all those receiving this
proceeding. comments by mailing them to the notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
This notice is being sent to the following address. Be sure to reference using the link called eLibrary or from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First
Commission’s current environmental the project docket number CP18–18–000 Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–
mailing list for this project. State and with your submission: Kimberly D. 8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary,
local government representatives should Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy refer to the last page of this notice.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Jan 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1
Document Created: 2018-01-06 02:32:04
Document Modified: 2018-01-06 02:32:04
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 800
83 FR 800 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC Proposed Gateway Expansion Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 5 (January 8, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
