Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northeast Upgrade Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, 64303-64306 [2010-26241]
Download as PDF
64303
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices
DETAILS FOR FERC–537, ‘‘GAS PIPELINE CERTIFICATES: CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, AND ABANDONMENT’’—Continued
[Based on Fiscal Year 2010 information and records]
Regulation section 18 CFR
157.201–.209; 157.211;
157.214–.218.
157.201–.209; 157.211;
157.214–.218.
284.11 ...............................
284.8 .................................
284.126 (a) & (c) ..............
Regulation topic
Number of respondents
Avg. hours to
prepare a filing or application
Number of filings or responses
Blanket Certificates prior notice filings.
45
200
Blanket Certificates—annual reports ..........................
145 companies .................
(145 different)
336
50
168 ...................................
50 companies ...................
(50 different)
20 .....................................
168
100
75
30
20
100
284.224 .............................
NGPA Sec. 311 Construction—annual reports.
Capacity Release—record keeping ............................
Intrastate bypass, semi annual transportation & storage—reports.
Blanket Certificates—one time filing, inc. new tariff
and rate design proposal.
Hinshaw Blanket Certificates— ...................................
2
75
157.5–.11; & 157.13–.20;
Non-facility certificate or abandonment applications ..
2 .......................................
(2 different)
9 .......................................
(3 different)
12
75
......................................................................................
225 different .....................
775
284.221 .............................
Totals .........................
[FR Doc. 2010–26240 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project Nos. 2558–030; 2445–023; 2558–
029; 2445–023; 2558–029]
Vermont Marble Power, Division of
Omya Inc.; Central Vermont Public
Service Corporation; Notice of
Application of Transfer of Licenses,
Substitution of Relicense Applicant,
and Soliciting Comments and Motions
To Intervene
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
October 12, 2010.
On August 31, 2010, Vermont Marble
Power, Division of Omya Inc.
(transferor) and Central Vermont Public
Service Corporation (transferee) filed an
application for the transfer of licenses
for the Otter Creek Hydroelectric Project
No. 2558, and the Center Rutland
Project No. 2445, located on the Otter
Creek in Addison and Rutland Counties,
Vermont. On October 8, 2010, the
transferor and transferee filed a joint
request to substitute the transferee for
the transferor as the applicant in the
pending application for a new license
filed by the transferor in Project No.
2558–029.
The transfer application was filed
within five years of the expiration of the
license for Project No. 2558, which is
the subject of pending relicensing
applications. In Hydroelectric
Relicensing Regulations Under the
Federal Power Act (54 FR 23,756 FERC
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16:24 Oct 18, 2010
Jkt 223001
Stats. and Regs., Regs. Preambles 1986–
1990 30,854 at p. 31,437), the
Commission declined to forbid all
license transfers during the last five
years of an existing license, and instead
indicated that it would scrutinize all
such transfer requests to determine if
the transferor’s primary purpose was to
give the transferee an advantage in
relicensing.
Applicant Contacts: For transferor:
Todd Allard, Operations Engineer
Omya, Inc., Vermont Marble Power,
9987 Carver Road, Suite 300, Cincinnati,
OH 45252, (513) 387–4344. Andrew D.
Qua, Project Manager, Klienschmidt
Associates, 75 Main Street, P.O. Box
576, Pittsfield, ME 04967, (207) 487–
3328. For transferee: Dale A. Rocheleau,
Esq., Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary, 77
Grove Street, Rutland, VT 05701–3400,
(802) 747–5355.
FERC Contact: Kim Carter (202) 502–
6486.
Deadline for filing comments and
motions to intervene: 30 days from the
issuance date of this notice. Comments
and motions to intervene may be filed
electronically via the Internet. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1) and the instructions
on the Commission’s Web site under
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.
asp. Commenters can submit brief
comments up to 6,000 characters,
without prior registration, using the
eComment system at https://www.ferc.
gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You
must include your name and contact
information at the end of your
comments. If unable to be filed
electronically, documents may be paperfiled. To paper-file, an original plus
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133 average,
weighted.
seven copies should be mailed to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
More information about this project can
be viewed or printed on the eLibrary
link of Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number
(P–2558, P–2445) in the docket number
field to access the document. For
assistance, call toll-free 1–866–208–
3372.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–26244 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF10–23–000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Planned Northeast Upgrade Project,
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Notice of
Public Scoping Meetings
October 8, 2010.
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 Northeast Upgrade Project involving
construction and operation of facilities
by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices
(TGP) in northeastern Pennsylvania
northern New Jersey. This EA will be
used by the Commission in its decisionmaking 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.
Your input will help the Commission
staff determine what issues need to be
evaluated in the EA. Please note that the
scoping period will close on November
12, 2010.
Comments may be submitted in
written form or verbally. Further details
on how to submit written comments are
provided in the Public Participation
section of this notice. In lieu of or in
addition to sending written comments,
you are invited to attend the public
scoping meetings listed below.
Date and Time
Location
Monday, November 1, 2010 7 p.m. EDT .................................................
Eleanor G. Hewitt Elementary School Gymnasium, 266 Sloatsburg
Road, Ringwood, NJ 07456.
Delaware Valley High School Auditorium, 252 Routes 6 & 209, Milford,
PA 18337.
Wyalusing Valley Junior and Senior High School Auditorium, 11364
Wyalusing New Albany Road, Wyalusing, PA 18853.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 7 p.m. EDT ...........................................
Thursday, November 4, 2010 7 p.m. EDT ...............................................
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and
local government representatives are
asked to notify their constituents of this
planned project and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
pipeline company representative about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
planned facilities. The company would
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is
approved by the Commission, 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 Federal
or state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ is available for viewing on
the FERC Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov). 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.
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Summary of the Planned Project
TGP has announced its intention to
build approximately 37 miles of 30inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in
five loop 1 segments and other facilities
in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The
project would increase natural gas
transmission capacity to the northeast
region of the United States by about
636,000 dekatherms per day and would
provide access to natural gas supplies in
the Marcellus Shale supply area. The
1 A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an
existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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16:24 Oct 18, 2010
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project would not, however, involve
facilities necessary to produce natural
gas from the Marcellus Shale. TGP has
signed binding precedent agreements
with two shippers for all of the project’s
additional firm transportation capacity.
The Northeast Upgrade Project would
consist of the following components:
1. Installation of five pipeline loop
segments:
• Loop 317—Installation of 5.4 miles
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop in
Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
• Loop 319—Installation of 2.0 miles
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop in
Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
• Loop 321—Installation of 8.0 miles
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop in
Wayne and Pike Counties,
Pennsylvania.
• Loop 323—Installation of 14.0 miles
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop in
Pike County, Pennsylvania and Sussex
County, New Jersey.
• Loop 325—Installation of 7.7 miles
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop in
Passaic and Bergen Counties, New
Jersey.
2. Modifications at four existing
compressor stations:
• Compressor Station 319—An inlet
gas filter-separator, a blowdown
silencer, and a relief valve would be
installed and unit piping would be
modified at the existing compressor
station in Wyalusing Township,
Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
• Compressor Station 321—
Approximately 10,310 horsepower (hp)
of additional compression would be
installed at the existing compressor
station in Clifford Township,
Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. An
inlet gas filter-separator, a blowdown
silencer, and a relief valve would also
be installed.
• Compressor Station 323—
Approximately 10,310 hp of additional
compression would be installed at the
existing compressor station in
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Lackawaxen Township, Pike County,
Pennsylvania. An existing compressor
unit would be restaged, unit piping
would be modified, and an inlet gas
filter-separator, a blowdown silencer,
and a relief valve would also be
installed.
• Compressor Station 325—An inlet
gas filter-separator, a blowdown
silencer, and a relief valve would be
installed at the existing compressor
station in Wantage Township, Sussex
County, New Jersey.
3. Construction or modification of
other aboveground facilities including
one meter station, two pig 2 receivers,
three mainline block valves, and other
appurtenant facilities.
The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 1.3
Land Requirements for Construction
TGP is still in the planning phase for
the Northeast Upgrade Project, and
workspace requirements have not been
finalized at this time. As currently
planned, construction would disturb
approximately 638 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, about 112 acres
would be maintained for permanent
operation of the project facilities. The
remaining acreage would be restored
and allowed to revert to former uses. As
planned, the new pipeline loops would
primarily be installed adjacent to TGP’s
existing pipeline system.
2 A pig is a tool that is inserted into and moves
through the pipeline, and can be used to clean and/
or dry the pipeline, for internal inspection, or other
purposes.
3 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of
appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail and are available at https://
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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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
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
Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity. NEPA also requires us 4 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. All comments
received will be considered during the
preparation of the EA.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
planned project under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils;
• Water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• Vegetation, wildlife, and
endangered and threatened species;
• Cultural resources;
• Land use and cumulative impacts;
• Air quality and noise; and
• Public safety.
We will also evaluate reasonable
alternatives to the planned project or
portions of the project, and make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas.
Although no formal application has
been filed, we have already initiated our
NEPA review under the Commission’s
pre-filing process. The purpose of the
pre-filing process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
an application is filed with the FERC.
As part of our pre-filing review, we have
begun to contact some Federal and state
agencies to discuss their involvement in
the scoping process and the preparation
of the EA.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be presented in the EA. The
EA will be placed in the public record
and, depending on the comments
received during the scoping process,
may be published and distributed to the
public. A comment period will be
allotted if the EA is published for
review. We will consider all comments
on the EA before we make our
recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the
4 ‘‘Us,’’ ‘‘we,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental
staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects.
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16:24 Oct 18, 2010
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instructions in the Public Participation
section beginning on page 6.
With this notice, we are asking
agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of
the EA. These agencies may choose to
participate once they have evaluated the
proposal relative to their
responsibilities. 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.
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
applicable State Historic Preservation
Offices (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.5 We will
define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation
with the SHPOs as the project is further
developed. 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.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
planned facilities and the
environmental information provided by
TGP. This preliminary list of issues may
be changed based on your comments
and our analysis:
• Route alternatives on and near the
Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area in Pike County,
Pennsylvania and Sussex County, New
Jersey;
• Crossing the Appalachian Trail in
Sussex County, New Jersey;
5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s
regulations are at Title 36 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, part 800. Historic properties are
defined in those regulations as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object
included in or eligible for inclusion in the National
Register for Historic Places.
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64305
• Crossing the Susquehanna River in
Bradford County, Pennsylvania; and
• Crossing the New Jersey Highlands
in Passaic and Bergen Counties, New
Jersey.
Public Participation
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.
The more specific your comments, the
more useful they will be. To ensure that
your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please send your comments so
that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before November
12, 2010.
For your convenience, there are four
methods you can use to submit your
comments to the Commission. In all
instances, please reference the project
docket number (PF10–23–000) with
your submission. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert eFiling staff
available to assist you at (202) 502–8258
or efiling@ferc.gov.
1. You may file your comments
electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. An eComment
is an easy method for interested persons
to submit brief, text-only comments on
a project;
2. You may file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
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’’;
3. You may attend and provide either
oral or written comments at a public
scoping meeting. A transcript of each
meeting will be made so that your
comments will be accurately recorded
and included in the public record; or
4. You may file a paper copy of your
comments at the following address:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426.
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
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64306
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 19, 2010 / Notices
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 planned project.
If the EA is published for distribution,
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
Once TGP files its application with
the Commission, 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 included in the User’s
Guide under the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the
Commission’s Web site. Please note that
the Commission will not accept requests
for intervenor status at this time. You
must wait until a formal application for
the project is filed with the
Commission.
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 Web
site (https://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.,
PF10–23). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also
provides access to the text 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 https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits
will be posted on the Commission’s
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–26241 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket Nos. ER08–656–007; EL10–83–000]
Shell Energy North America (US), LP;
Notice of Institution of Proceeding and
Refund Effective Date
October 12, 2010.
On October 12, 2010, the Commission
issued an order that instituted a
proceeding in Docket No. EL10–83–000,
pursuant to section 206 of the Federal
Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824e (2005),
concerning the justness and
reasonableness of Shell Energy North
America (US), LP’s market-based rate
authority in the Central and Southwest
balancing authority area. Shell Energy
North America (US), LP, 133 FERC
¶ 61,033 (2010).
The refund effective date in Docket
No. EL10–83–000, established pursuant
to section 206(b) of the FPA, will be the
date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–26242 Filed 10–18–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Sunshine Act Meeting Notice
October 14, 2010.
The following notice of meeting is
published pursuant to section 3(a) of the
government in the Sunshine Act (Pub.
L. 94–409), 5 U.S.C. 552b:
AGENCY HOLDING MEETING: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission.
DATE AND TIME: October 21, 2010, 10
a.m.
PLACE: Room 2C, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
STATUS: Open.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Agenda
*Note—Items listed on the agenda
may be deleted without further notice.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Telephone
(202) 502–8400.
For a recorded message listing items
struck from or added to the meeting, call
(202) 502–8627.
This is a list of matters to be
considered by the Commission. It does
not include a listing of all documents
relevant to the items on the agenda. All
public documents, however, may be
viewed on line at the Commission’s
Web site at https://www.ferc.gov using
the eLibrary link, or may be examined
in the Commission’s Public Reference
Room.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
963RD—MEETING; REGULAR MEETING
[October 21, 2010, 10 a.m.]
Item No.
Docket No.
Company
Administrative
A–1 ...........
A–2 ...........
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AD02–1–000 ...............................................
AD02–7–000 ...............................................
18:35 Oct 18, 2010
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Agency Administrative Matters.
Customer Matters, Reliability, Security and Market Operations.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64303-64306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26241]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF10-23-000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northeast Upgrade Project,
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public
Scoping Meetings
October 8, 2010.
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 Northeast Upgrade Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by Tennessee Gas
Pipeline Company
[[Page 64304]]
(TGP) in northeastern Pennsylvania northern New Jersey. This EA will be
used by the Commission 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. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that
the scoping period will close on November 12, 2010.
Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of or in addition to
sending written comments, you are invited to attend the public scoping
meetings listed below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date and Time Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 1, 2010 7 p.m. EDT.... Eleanor G. Hewitt Elementary
School Gymnasium, 266
Sloatsburg Road, Ringwood, NJ
07456.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 7 p.m. EDT. Delaware Valley High School
Auditorium, 252 Routes 6 &
209, Milford, PA 18337.
Thursday, November 4, 2010 7 p.m. EDT.. Wyalusing Valley Junior and
Senior High School Auditorium,
11364 Wyalusing New Albany
Road, Wyalusing, PA 18853.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities.
The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the project is approved by the Commission, 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 Federal or state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Web site (https://www.ferc.gov). 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.
Summary of the Planned Project
TGP has announced its intention to build approximately 37 miles of
30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in five loop \1\ segments and
other facilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The project would
increase natural gas transmission capacity to the northeast region of
the United States by about 636,000 dekatherms per day and would provide
access to natural gas supplies in the Marcellus Shale supply area. The
project would not, however, involve facilities necessary to produce
natural gas from the Marcellus Shale. TGP has signed binding precedent
agreements with two shippers for all of the project's additional firm
transportation capacity.
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\1\ A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an existing
pipeline to increase capacity.
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The Northeast Upgrade Project would consist of the following
components:
1. Installation of five pipeline loop segments:
Loop 317--Installation of 5.4 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline loop in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
Loop 319--Installation of 2.0 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline loop in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
Loop 321--Installation of 8.0 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline loop in Wayne and Pike Counties, Pennsylvania.
Loop 323--Installation of 14.0 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline loop in Pike County, Pennsylvania and Sussex County, New
Jersey.
Loop 325--Installation of 7.7 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline loop in Passaic and Bergen Counties, New Jersey.
2. Modifications at four existing compressor stations:
Compressor Station 319--An inlet gas filter-separator, a
blowdown silencer, and a relief valve would be installed and unit
piping would be modified at the existing compressor station in
Wyalusing Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
Compressor Station 321--Approximately 10,310 horsepower
(hp) of additional compression would be installed at the existing
compressor station in Clifford Township, Susquehanna County,
Pennsylvania. An inlet gas filter-separator, a blowdown silencer, and a
relief valve would also be installed.
Compressor Station 323--Approximately 10,310 hp of
additional compression would be installed at the existing compressor
station in Lackawaxen Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania. An existing
compressor unit would be restaged, unit piping would be modified, and
an inlet gas filter-separator, a blowdown silencer, and a relief valve
would also be installed.
Compressor Station 325--An inlet gas filter-separator, a
blowdown silencer, and a relief valve would be installed at the
existing compressor station in Wantage Township, Sussex County, New
Jersey.
3. Construction or modification of other aboveground facilities
including one meter station, two pig \2\ receivers, three mainline
block valves, and other appurtenant facilities.
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\2\ A pig is a tool that is inserted into and moves through the
pipeline, and can be used to clean and/or dry the pipeline, for
internal inspection, or other purposes.
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The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\3\
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\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to
all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
https://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
TGP is still in the planning phase for the Northeast Upgrade
Project, and workspace requirements have not been finalized at this
time. As currently planned, construction would disturb approximately
638 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, about 112 acres would be maintained for
permanent operation of the project facilities. The remaining acreage
would be restored and allowed to revert to former uses. As planned, the
new pipeline loops would primarily be installed adjacent to TGP's
existing pipeline system.
[[Page 64305]]
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
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\4\ 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. All comments
received will be considered during the preparation of the EA.
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\4\ ``Us,'' ``we,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the planned project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
Vegetation, wildlife, and endangered and threatened
species;
Cultural resources;
Land use and cumulative impacts;
Air quality and noise; and
Public safety.
We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the planned
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Although no formal application has been filed, we have already
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process.
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC. As part of our pre-filing review,
we have begun to contact some Federal and state agencies to discuss
their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA.
The EA will be placed in the public record and, depending on the
comments received during the scoping process, may be published and
distributed to the public. A comment period will be allotted if the EA
is published for review. We will consider all comments on the EA before
we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure your comments
are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public
Participation section beginning on page 6.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. 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.
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 applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (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.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the project
is further developed. 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.
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\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 800.
Historic properties are defined in those regulations as any
prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or
object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National
Register for Historic Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and
the environmental information provided by TGP. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis:
Route alternatives on and near the Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area in Pike County, Pennsylvania and Sussex
County, New Jersey;
Crossing the Appalachian Trail in Sussex County, New
Jersey;
Crossing the Susquehanna River in Bradford County,
Pennsylvania; and
Crossing the New Jersey Highlands in Passaic and Bergen
Counties, New Jersey.
Public Participation
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. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so
that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before November 12,
2010.
For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the
project docket number (PF10-23-000) with your submission. The
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert
eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or
efiling@ferc.gov.
1. You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an
easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments
on a project;
2. You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at https://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'';
3. You may attend and provide either oral or written comments at a
public scoping meeting. A transcript of each meeting will be made so
that your comments will be accurately recorded and included in the
public record; or
4. You may file a paper copy of your comments at the following
address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
[[Page 64306]]
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
planned project.
If the EA is published for distribution, 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
Once TGP files its application with the Commission, 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 included in the
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor
status at this time. You must wait until a formal application for the
project is filed with the Commission.
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 Web site (https://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., PF10-23). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range.
For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
text 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 https://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-26241 Filed 10-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P