Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Leidy Southeast Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, 33403-33406 [2013-13117]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2013 / Notices
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
project-specific Area of Potential Effects
(APE) in consultation with the State
Historic Preservation Office 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.
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 June 28,
2013. This is not your only public input
opportunity; please refer to the
Environmental Review Process
Flowchart in appendix 2.
For your convenience, there are three
methods you can use to submit your
comments to the Commission. In all
instances, please reference the project
docket number (PF13–10–000) 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 Quick
Comment feature, which is located at
www.ferc.gov under the link called
‘‘Documents and Filings’’. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for
interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments
electronically by using the ‘‘eFiling’’
feature that is listed under the
‘‘Documents and Filings’’ link. eFiling
involves preparing your submission in
the same manner as you would if filing
on paper, and then saving the file on
your computer’s hard drive. You will
attach that file to your submission. New
eFiling users must first create an
account by clicking on the links called
‘‘Sign up’’ or ‘‘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’’; or
(3) You may file a paper copy of your
comments at the following address:
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18:33 Jun 03, 2013
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Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426.
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 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once CEGT 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 (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary
link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on
‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket
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33403
number, excluding the last three digits
in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF13–
10). 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 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/
esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits
will be posted on the Commission’s
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Dated: May 29, 2013..
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–13154 Filed 6–3–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF13–5–000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Planned Leidy Southeast
Expansion Project, Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues,
and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings
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 Leidy Southeast Expansion Project
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Transcontinental Gas Pipe
Line Company, LLC (Transco) in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland,
Virginia, and North Carolina. 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2013 / Notices
Your input will help the Commission
staff determine what issues they need to
evaluate in the EA. The Commission
staff will also use the scoping process to
help determine whether preparation of
an environmental impact statement is
more appropriate for this project based
upon the potential significance of the
anticipated levels of impact. Please note
that the scoping period will close on
June 24, 2013. This is not your only
public input opportunity; please refer to
the Environmental Review Process flow
chart in appendix 1.1
You may submit comments in written
form or verbally. Further details on how
to submit written comments are in the
Public Participation section of this
notice. In lieu of or in addition to
sending written comments, the
Commission invites you to attend the
public scoping meeting(s) scheduled as
follows:
Date and time
Location
June 12, 2013,
7:00 PM.
The Woodlands Inn, 1073
Highway 315, WilkesBarre, PA 18702.
Hillsborough Township Middle School, 260 Triangle
Road, Hillsborough
Township, NJ 08844.
June 13, 2013,
7:00 PM.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The scoping meetings will commence
at the times listed above; however,
representatives from Transco will be
present one hour before each meeting to
describe their proposal, present maps,
and answer questions.
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
1 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 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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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 Web site
(www.ferc.gov).
loops. Following construction, about 95
acres outside of Transco’s existing
easement 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 Transco’s existing
pipeline system.
The EA Process
Transco is still in the planning phase
for the project, and workspace
requirements have not been finalized at
this time. As currently planned,
construction would disturb
approximately 485 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline
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 3 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.
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;
• Socioeconomics;
• Cultural resources;
• Land use and cumulative impacts;
• Air quality and noise; and
• Public safety.
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.
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. In addition, representatives
from FERC participated in the public
2 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed
parallel (and is connected) to an existing pipeline
to increase capacity.
3 ‘‘Us,’’ ‘‘we,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
Summary of the Planned Project
Transco plans to build approximately
30.1 miles of 42-inch-diameter natural
gas pipeline in four loop 2 segments,
consisting of 6.4 miles in Mercer and
Somerset Counties, New Jersey
(Skillman Loop), 6.9 miles in Somerset
and Hunterdon Counties, New Jersey
(Pleasant Run Loop), 11.5 miles in
Monroe and Luzerne Counties,
Pennsylvania (Franklin Loop), and 5.3
miles in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
(Dorrance Loop). The new pipeline
loops would primarily be installed
adjacent to Transco’s existing rights-ofway.
The project would also include
installing an approximate total of 84,500
horsepower of compression and making
other modifications at existing
compressor stations in Mercer County,
New Jersey and Luzerne, Columbia, and
Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania, and
modifying various existing valve sites
and meter stations along Transco’s
mainline system in Maryland, Virginia,
and North Carolina. As designed, the
project would enable Transco to provide
an additional 525,000 dekatherms per
day of natural gas transportation
capacity from receipt points on
Transco’s Leidy Line in Pennsylvania to
delivery points on Transco’s mainline
system as far south as Choctaw County,
Alabama. A map depicting the general
location of the project facilities is
included in appendix 2.
Transco plans to begin construction of
the project in late 2014 and place the
facilities in service by December 2015.
Land Requirements for Construction
and Operation
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2013 / Notices
open houses sponsored by Transco in
the project area in April 2013 to explain
the environmental review process to
interested stakeholders.
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 5.
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.4 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, the
U.S. Department of Transportation’s
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration has expressed its
intention to participate as a cooperating
agency in the preparation of the EA.
Consultations Under Section 106 of the
National Historic Perservation Act
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
4 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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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, the environmental
information provided by Transco, and
comments received by the public. This
preliminary list of issues may be
changed based on your comments and
our analysis:
• Residential impacts, including the
potential for decreased property values;
• Impacts on forest and unique
habitats;
• Impacts on conservation lands;
• Impacts on water resources;
• The purpose and need for the
project;
• Consideration of alternatives,
including renewable energy sources;
and
• Public safety.
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 June 24,
2013.
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 (PF13–5–000) 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 can file your comments
electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at www.ferc.gov
under the link to Documents and
Filings. This is an easy method for
interested persons to submit brief, textonly comments on a project;
2. You can file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at 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
PO 00000
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33405
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’’;
3. You can 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 can file a paper copy of your
comments by mailing them to the
following address: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room
1A, Washington, DC 20426
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.
When 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
3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Transco 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 4, 2013 / Notices
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 (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., PF13–
5). 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 www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related
information.
Finally, Transco has established a
Web site for this project at https://
leidysoutheast.wordpress.com/. The
Web site includes a project overview,
environmental information, and
information for affected stakeholders.
Dated: May 24, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–13117 Filed 6–3–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project Nos. P–13404–002, P–13405–002,
P–13406–002, P–13407–002, P–13408–002,
and P–13411–002]
Clean River Power MR–1, LLC, Clean
River Power MR–2, LLC, Clean River
Power MR–3, LLC, Clean River Power
MR–5, LLC, Clean River Power MR–6,
LLC, Clean River Power MR–7, LLC;
Notice of Scoping Meetings and
Environmental Site Reviews and
Soliciting Scoping Comments
a. Type of Applications: Original
Major Licenses.
Project No.
Projects
County(s)
P–13404 ...........
P–13405 ...........
P–13406 ...........
Beverly Lock and Dam ...................................
Devola Lock and Dam ....................................
Malta/McConnelsville Lock and Dam .............
Washington .............................
Washington .............................
Morgan ...................................
P–13407 ...........
P–13408 ...........
P–13411 ...........
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
b. Project Nos. 13404–002, 13405–
002, 13406–002, 13407–002, 13408–002,
and 13411–002.
c. Dated Filed: October 31, 2012.
d. Applicants: Clean River Power
MR–1, LLC; Clean River Power MR–2,
LLC; Clean River Power MR–3, LLC;
Clean River Power MR–5, LLC; Clean
River Power MR–6, LLC; and Clean
River Power MR–7, LLC (Clean River
Power), subsidiaries of Free Flow Power
Corporation.
e. Names of Projects: Beverly Lock
and Dam Project, P–13404–002; Devola
Lock and Dam Project, P–13405–002;
Malta/McConnelsville Lock and Dam
Project, P–13406–002; Lowell Lock and
Dam Project, P–13407–002; Philo Lock
and Dam Project, P–13408–002; and
Rokeby Lock and Dam Project, P–
13411–002.
f. Location: At existing locks and
dams formally owned and operated by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but
now owned and operated by the State of
Ohio on the Muskingum River in
Washington, Morgan, and Muskingum
counties, Ohio (see table below for
specific project locations).
Lowell Lock and Dam .....................................
Philo Lock and Dam .......................................
Rokeby Lock and Dam ...................................
Washington .............................
Muskingum .............................
Morgan ...................................
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act, 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)–825(r).
h. Applicant Contacts: Ramya
Swaminathan, Chief Operating Officer,
Free Flow Power Corporation, 239
Causeway Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA
02114; or at (978) 283–2822.
Daniel Lissner, General Counsel, Free
Flow Power Corporation, 239 Causeway
Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02114; or
at (978) 283–2822.
Alan Topalian, Regulatory Attorney,
Free Flow Power Corporation, 239
Causeway Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA
02114; or at (978) 283–2822.
i. FERC Contact: Aaron Liberty at
(202) 502–6862; or email at
aaron.liberty@ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing scoping
comments: July 23, 2013.
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18:33 Jun 03, 2013
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All documents may be filed
electronically via the Internet. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission’s Web
site 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. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY,
(202) 502–8659. Although the
Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing, documents may also be
paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an
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City/town
Upstream of the city of Beverly.
Near the city of Devola.
Southern
shore
of
the
McConnelsville.
West of the city of Lowell.
North of the city of Philo.
Near the city of Rokeby.
town
of
original and five copies to: Kimberly D.
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE., Washington, DC 20426.
The Commission’s Rules of Practice
and Procedure require all interveners
filing documents with the Commission
to serve a copy of that document on
each person on the official service list
for the project. Further, if an intervener
files comments or documents with the
Commission relating to the merits of an
issue that may affect the responsibilities
of a particular resource agency, they
must also serve a copy of the document
on that resource agency.
k. The applications are not ready for
environmental analysis at this time.
l. The proposed Devola Lock and Dam
Project would be located at the existing
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33403-33406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13117]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF13-5-000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Leidy Southeast
Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings
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 Leidy Southeast Expansion
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) in Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. 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.
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Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they
need to evaluate in the EA. The Commission staff will also use the
scoping process to help determine whether preparation of an
environmental impact statement is more appropriate for this project
based upon the potential significance of the anticipated levels of
impact. Please note that the scoping period will close on June 24,
2013. This is not your only public input opportunity; please refer to
the Environmental Review Process flow chart in appendix 1.\1\
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\1\ 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
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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You may submit comments in written form or verbally. Further
details on how to submit written comments are in the Public
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of or in addition to
sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend the
public scoping meeting(s) scheduled as follows:
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Date and time Location
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June 12, 2013, 7:00 PM............... The Woodlands Inn, 1073 Highway
315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.
June 13, 2013, 7:00 PM............... Hillsborough Township Middle
School, 260 Triangle Road,
Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844.
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The scoping meetings will commence at the times listed above;
however, representatives from Transco will be present one hour before
each meeting to describe their proposal, present maps, and answer
questions.
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 Web site (www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Planned Project
Transco plans to build approximately 30.1 miles of 42-inch-diameter
natural gas pipeline in four loop \2\ segments, consisting of 6.4 miles
in Mercer and Somerset Counties, New Jersey (Skillman Loop), 6.9 miles
in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, New Jersey (Pleasant Run Loop),
11.5 miles in Monroe and Luzerne Counties, Pennsylvania (Franklin
Loop), and 5.3 miles in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (Dorrance Loop).
The new pipeline loops would primarily be installed adjacent to
Transco's existing rights-of-way.
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\2\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel
(and is connected) to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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The project would also include installing an approximate total of
84,500 horsepower of compression and making other modifications at
existing compressor stations in Mercer County, New Jersey and Luzerne,
Columbia, and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania, and modifying various
existing valve sites and meter stations along Transco's mainline system
in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. As designed, the project
would enable Transco to provide an additional 525,000 dekatherms per
day of natural gas transportation capacity from receipt points on
Transco's Leidy Line in Pennsylvania to delivery points on Transco's
mainline system as far south as Choctaw County, Alabama. A map
depicting the general location of the project facilities is included in
appendix 2.
Transco plans to begin construction of the project in late 2014 and
place the facilities in service by December 2015.
Land Requirements for Construction and Operation
Transco is still in the planning phase for the project, and
workspace requirements have not been finalized at this time. As
currently planned, construction would disturb approximately 485 acres
of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline loops.
Following construction, about 95 acres outside of Transco's existing
easement 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 Transco's existing pipeline system.
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
\3\ 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.
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\3\ ``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;
Socioeconomics;
Cultural resources;
Land use and cumulative impacts;
Air quality and noise; and
Public safety.
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.
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.
In addition, representatives from FERC participated in the public
[[Page 33405]]
open houses sponsored by Transco in the project area in April 2013 to
explain the environmental review process to interested stakeholders.
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 5.
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.\4\ 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, the U.S.
Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration has expressed its intention to participate as a
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA.
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\4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Perservation
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, the
environmental information provided by Transco, and comments received by
the public. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on
your comments and our analysis:
Residential impacts, including the potential for decreased
property values;
Impacts on forest and unique habitats;
Impacts on conservation lands;
Impacts on water resources;
The purpose and need for the project;
Consideration of alternatives, including renewable energy
sources; and
Public safety.
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 June 24,
2013.
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 (PF13-5-000) 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 can file your comments electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at www.ferc.gov
under the link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for
interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
2. You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at 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'';
3. You can 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 can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426
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.
When 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 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Transco 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
[[Page 33406]]
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 (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., PF13-
5). 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 www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Finally, Transco has established a Web site for this project at
https://leidysoutheast.wordpress.com/. The Web site includes a project
overview, environmental information, and information for affected
stakeholders.
Dated: May 24, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-13117 Filed 6-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
