83_FR_8109 83 FR 8072 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Okeechobee Lateral Pipeline Project Florida Southeast Connection, LLC

83 FR 8072 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Okeechobee Lateral Pipeline Project Florida Southeast Connection, LLC

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 37 (February 23, 2018)

Page Range8072-8073
FR Document2018-03715

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8072-8073]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03715]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-463-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Okeechobee 
Lateral Pipeline Project Florida Southeast Connection, LLC

    On August 22, 2017, Florida Southeast Connection, LLC (FSC) filed 
an application to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is 
considering this application in Docket No. CP17-463-000 for a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). The proposed project is known as the 
Okeechobee Lateral Pipeline Project (Project), and would connect FSC's 
mainline system with the Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL) 
Okeechobee Clean Energy Center (OCEC). The Project would be capable of 
transporting up to 400 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to the 
OCEC.
    This Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review indicates the 
anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of an 
environmental assessment (EA) for this proposal. The issuance of a 
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify 
federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all 
necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal 
authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission 
staff's EA.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--March 16, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 14, 2018

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    FSC requests authorization to construct and operate approximately 
5.2 miles of 20-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline and 
associated facilities including an inspection tool launcher and a 
receiver and a meter station in Okeechobee County, Florida. As 
described above, this lateral pipeline would connect FSC's mainline 
system with FPL's OCEC. FSC anticipates construction would require four 
to five months.

Background

    On October 24, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Okeechobee Lateral 
Pipeline Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and 
local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and 
local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, the Commission 
received comments from the Treasure Coast Democratic Environmental 
Caucus, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Sierra Club, and the Economic 
Council of Okeechobee County. The primary issues raised by the 
commentors concern air quality, cumulative impacts, potential future 
projects and connected actions, cultural resources, purpose and need, 
alternatives, and greenhouse gas and upstream emissions.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs

[[Page 8073]]

at (866) 208-FERC or on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the 
eLibrary link, select General Search from the eLibrary menu, enter the 
selected date range and Docket Number excluding the last three digits 
(i.e., CP17-463), and follow the instructions. For assistance with 
access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY 
(202) 502-8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. 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 rule makings.

    Dated: February 16, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-03715 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

8072 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2018 / Notices A. Curtiss, Deputy General Counsel for filed by other parties or issued by the date of issuance of the Commission National Fuel, 6363 Main Street, Commission (except for the mailing of staff’s EA. Williamsville, New York 14221, by environmental documents issued by the Schedule for Environmental Review phone (716) 857–7075, by fax (716) 857– Commission) and will not have the right 7206, or by email at curtissa@ to seek court review of the Issuance of EA—March 16, 2018 natfuel.com. Commission’s final order. 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Any person may, within 60 days after The Commission strongly encourages Deadline—June 14, 2018 the issuance of the instant notice by the electronic filings of comments, protests, If a schedule change becomes Commission, file pursuant to Rule 214 and interventions via the internet in lieu necessary, additional notice will be of the Commission’s Procedural Rules of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) provided so that the relevant agencies (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to intervene and the instructions on the are kept informed of the Project’s or notice of intervention. Any person Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) progress. filing to intervene or the Commission’s under the e-Filing link. Persons unable Project Description staff may, pursuant to section 157.205 of to file electronically should submit the Commission’s Regulations under the original and 5 copies of the protest or FSC requests authorization to NGA (18 CFR 157.205) file a protest to intervention to the Federal Energy construct and operate approximately 5.2 the request. If no protest is filed within Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street miles of 20-inch-diameter natural gas the time allowed therefor, the proposed NE, Washington, DC 20426. transmission pipeline and associated activity shall be deemed to be facilities including an inspection tool authorized effective the day after the Dated: February 16, 2018. launcher and a receiver and a meter time allowed for protest. If a protest is Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., station in Okeechobee County, Florida. filed and not withdrawn within 30 days Deputy Secretary. As described above, this lateral pipeline after the time allowed for filing a [FR Doc. 2018–03717 Filed 2–22–18; 8:45 am] would connect FSC’s mainline system protest, the instant request shall be BILLING CODE 6717–01–P with FPL’s OCEC. FSC anticipates treated as an application for construction would require four to five authorization pursuant to section 7 of months. the NGA. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Background Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, Federal Energy Regulatory On October 24, 2017, the Commission within 90 days of this Notice the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Commission staff will either: Complete Environmental Assessment for the its environmental assessment (EA) and [Docket No. CP17–463–000] Proposed Okeechobee Lateral Pipeline place it into the Commission’s public Project and Request for Comments on record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or Notice of Schedule for Environmental Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI issue a Notice of Schedule for Review of the Okeechobee Lateral was sent to affected landowners; federal, Environmental Review. If a Notice of Pipeline Project Florida Southeast state, and local government agencies; Schedule for Environmental Review is Connection, LLC elected officials; environmental and issued, it will indicate, among other public interest groups; Native American milestones, the anticipated date for the On August 22, 2017, Florida tribes; other interested parties; and local Commission staff’s issuance of the final Southeast Connection, LLC (FSC) filed libraries and newspapers. In response to environmental impact statement (FEIS) an application to construct and operate the NOI, the Commission received or EA for this proposal. The filing of the certain natural gas pipeline facilities. comments from the Treasure Coast EA in the Commission’s public record The Federal Energy Regulatory Democratic Environmental Caucus, for this proceeding or the issuance of a Commission (Commission) is Seminole Tribe of Florida, Sierra Club, Notice of Schedule for Environmental considering this application in Docket and the Economic Council of Review will serve to notify federal and No. CP17–463–000 for a Certificate of Okeechobee County. The primary issues state agencies of the timing for the Public Convenience and Necessity raised by the commentors concern air completion of all necessary reviews, and pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural quality, cumulative impacts, potential the subsequent need to complete all Gas Act (NGA). The proposed project is future projects and connected actions, federal authorizations within 90 days of known as the Okeechobee Lateral cultural resources, purpose and need, the date of issuance of the Commission Pipeline Project (Project), and would alternatives, and greenhouse gas and staff’s FEIS or EA. connect FSC’s mainline system with the upstream emissions. Persons who wish to comment only Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) on the environmental review of this Okeechobee Clean Energy Center Additional Information project should submit an original and (OCEC). The Project would be capable of In order to receive notification of the two copies of their comments to the transporting up to 400 million cubic feet issuance of the EA and to keep track of Secretary of the Commission. per day of natural gas to the OCEC. all formal issuances and submittals in Environmental commenters will be This Notice of Schedule for specific dockets, the Commission offers placed on the Commission’s Environmental Review indicates the a free service called eSubscription. This environmental mailing list, will receive anticipated date for the Commission can reduce the amount of time you copies of the environmental documents, staff’s issuance of an environmental spend researching proceedings by and will be notified of meetings assessment (EA) for this proposal. The automatically providing you with daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES associated with the Commission’s issuance of a Notice of Schedule for notification of these filings, document environmental review process. Environmental Review will serve to summaries, and direct links to the Environmental commenters will not be notify federal and state agencies of the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- required to serve copies of filed timing for the completion of all filing/esubscription.asp. documents on all other parties. necessary reviews, and the subsequent Additional information about the However, the non-party commentary need to complete all federal Project is available from the will not receive copies of all documents authorizations within 90 days of the Commission’s Office of External Affairs VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:52 Feb 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2018 / Notices 8073 at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC the public regarding EPA’s preliminary The proposed federal action under website (www.ferc.gov). Using the determination. consideration in this EA is approving or eLibrary link, select General Search DATES: Comments must be received by denying IFA’s application by either from the eLibrary menu, enter the March 25, 2018. issuing or not issuing a WIFIA loan. The selected date range and Docket Number IFA provides loans for the design, ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, excluding the last three digits (i.e., construction, operation, and CP17–463), and follow the instructions. identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– maintenance of eligible water and For assistance with access to eLibrary, OW–2018–0079 to the Federal wastewater infrastructure projects as the helpline can be reached at (866) eRulemaking Portal: Go to http:// described in section 603(c) of the 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at www.regulations.gov. Please follow the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The online instructions for submitting U.S.C. 1383(c)) and section 1452(a)(2) of eLibrary link on the FERC website also comments. Once submitted, comments the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. provides access to the texts of formal cannot be edited or withdrawn. The 300j–12(a)(2)). IFA applied for a WIFIA documents issued by the Commission, EPA may publish public comments loan to help fund the 2017 3rd Quarter such as orders, notices, and rule received to its public docket. Do not Project Priority Lists for the Drinking makings. submit electronically any information Water SRF (DWSRF) and Clean Water you consider to be Confidential SRF (CWSRF) Loan Programs for Dated: February 16, 2018. Business Information (CBI) or other Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., projects applying for financial information whose disclosure is assistance in State Fiscal Year 2017. The Deputy Secretary. restricted by statute. Multimedia proposed action involves the planning, [FR Doc. 2018–03715 Filed 2–22–18; 8:45 am] submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be design, construction, operation, and BILLING CODE 6717–01–P accompanied by a written comment. maintenance for a wide range of water The written comment is considered the and wastewater infrastructure projects, official comment and should include which are eligible for WIFIA credit discussion of all points you wish to assistance. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION make. The EPA will generally not AGENCY The environmental review process, consider comments or comment which is documented by the EA, contents located outside of the primary [EPA–HQ–OW–2018–0079] [ER–FRL–9037– indicates that no potential significant 7] submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or adverse environmental impacts are other file sharing system). For anticipated from the proposed action. Availability of an Environmental additional submission methods, the full The EA, which analyzed the potential Assessment (EA) and Finding of No EPA public comment policy, environmental impacts of issuing of Significant Impact (FONSI) information about CBI or multimedia credit assistance to IFA for SRF Loans submissions, and general guidance on AGENCY: Environmental Protection under the WIFIA program, considered making effective comments, please visit Agency (EPA). the potential environmental impacts https://www.epa.gov/dockets/ ACTION: Environmental Assessment from water and waste water commenting-epa-dockets. (EA)/Finding of No Significant Impact infrastructure projects. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Based on the environmental impact (FONSI). Danusha Chandy, Water Infrastructure analysis in the EA, EPA has determined SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Division, Office of Wastewater that no significant environmental Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Management, WIFIA Program, Mail impacts are anticipated from the Council on Environmental Quality’s Code: 4201T, Environmental Protection issuance of credit assistance to IFA for NEPA regulations, and EPA’s Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue SRF Loans and the proposed action does regulations for implementing NEPA, NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone not constitute a major Federal action EPA has prepared an Environmental number: 202–564–2165; email address significantly affecting the quality of the Assessment (EA) to analyze the chandy.danusha@epa.gov. human environment, making the potential environmental impacts related SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA is preparation of an Environmental Impact to the issuance of credit assistance to seeking public comment regarding its Statement (EIS) unnecessary. Therefore, the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) for preliminary Finding of No Significant EPA is issuing a preliminary FONSI. State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loans Impact (FONSI) to document its Dated: February 20, 2018. under the Water Infrastructure Finance determination that no significant Kelly Knight, and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. environmental impacts are anticipated Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office The EA evaluates the potential from the issuance of credit assistance to of Federal Activities. environmental impacts of water IFA for SRF Loans under the WIFIA [FR Doc. 2018–03730 Filed 2–22–18; 8:45 am] infrastructure projects funded under the program. EPA invites the public to BILLING CODE 6560–50–P WIFIA credit assistance program in submit comments through compliance with NEPA and the required Regulations.gov during the 30-day environmental cross-cutters and other comment period following the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION federal, state, and local environmental publication of this notice in the Federal AGENCY reviews. Based on the environmental Register. impact analysis in the EA, EPA has Congress enacted the WIFIA as part of daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES [ER–FRL–9037–8] made a preliminary determination that the Water Resources Reform and no significant environmental impacts Development Act of 2014, as amended Environmental Impact Statements; are anticipated from the issuance of the by sec. 1445 of Public Law 114–94 [1] Notice of Availability credit assistance to IFA. This notice and codified at 33 U.S.C. 3901–3914. initiates the 30-day review period and WIFIA establishes a new federal credit Responsible Agency: Office of Federal invites comments from Federal, State, program for water infrastructure projects Activities, General Information 202– and local agencies, Indian tribes, and to be administered by EPA. 564–7156 or http://www2.epa.gov/nepa. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:52 Feb 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1


Document Created: 2018-02-23 01:32:25
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 01:32:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
FR Citation83 FR 8072 
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