Tallgrass Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Pony Express Pipeline Conversion Project, 37215-37216 [2013-14728]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37215-37216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14728]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP12-495-000]


Tallgrass Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of 
Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Pony 
Express Pipeline Conversion Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) of the Pony 
Express Pipeline Conversion Project (PXP Conversion Project) proposed 
by Tallgrass Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC, (TIGT) formerly known as 
Kinder Morgan Interstate Gas Transmission, LLC (KMIGT) in the above 
referenced docket.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the proposed Project in accordance with 
the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The 
FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed projects, with 
appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

[[Page 37216]]

    TIGT proposes to: (1) Abandon certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities and the service by transfer to an affiliate, Tallgrass Pony 
Express Pipeline, LLC (TPXP) for the purpose of converting the 
facilities to oil transportation facilities; and (2) construct and 
operate certain replacement type facilities necessary to continue 
service to existing natural gas firm transportation customers. TIGT 
also is seeking authorization to construct certain new compression, 
pipeline segments and interconnects and has agreed to enter into 
transportation arrangements with four natural gas transmission 
companies in order to maintain service for the long-term customer needs 
of approximately 104,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/day). The proposed 
activities include the following:
     Abandonment of a 432.4-mile pipeline segment (20-inch and 
24-inch diameter) to be transferred by sale to TPXP;
     Abandonment and removal of three natural gas mainline 
compressor stations, four meter stations, and certain ancillary 
facilities;
     Construction of a new mainline compressor station referred 
to as the Tescott Compressor Station in Ottawa County, Kansas;
     Construction of a 4-inch-diameter, 4-mile-long lateral 
pipeline in Colorado;
     Construction of a 22-mile-long, 4-inch-diameter lateral 
pipeline in Nebraska and Kansas;
     Construction of two booster compressor units and certain 
ancillary facilities at the existing Glenrock Compressor Station in 
Wyoming and the existing Yuma Compressor Station in Colorado; and
     Construction/conversion/modification of six meter stations 
to enable deliveries into and/or receipts from other interstate 
pipeline systems.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA have been mailed to federal, 
state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American 
tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested 
individuals and groups; newspapers and libraries in the project area; 
and parties to this proceeding. In addition, the EA is available for 
public viewing on the FERC's Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary 
link. A limited number of copies of the EA are available for 
distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, 
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. 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 the Commission has the opportunity to consider your 
comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important 
that we receive your comments in Washington, DC on or before July 15, 
2013.
    For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use 
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please 
reference the project docket numbers (CP12-495-000) with your 
submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and 
has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or 
efiling@ferc.gov.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can also file your comments electronically using the 
eFiling feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the 
link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments 
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your 
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking 
on ``eRegister.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If 
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select 
``Comment on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).\1\ Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The Commission 
grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns 
intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a 
clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can 
adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not 
give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to 
have your comments considered.
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    \1\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments.
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    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., CP12-
495). 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 now 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.

    Dated: June 14, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-14728 Filed 6-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P