Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare An Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Algonquin Incremental Market Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, 57626-57629 [2013-22781]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2013 / Notices
project, with appropriate mitigating
measures, would not constitute a major
federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment.
The New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation
participated as a cooperating agency in
the preparation of the EA. Cooperating
agencies have jurisdiction by law or
special expertise with respect to
resources potentially affected by the
proposal and participate in the NEPA
analysis.
In addition to the two existing salt
caverns previously used for liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) storage, the
proposed Gallery 2 Expansion Project
includes the following facilities:
• Approximately 500 feet of pipeline
(170 feet of 16-inch-diameter and 330
feet of 8-inch-diameter pipeline) to
connect the Gallery 2 injection/
withdrawal wells 30A and 31A to
Arlington’s existing Seneca Lake 16inch-diameter natural gas pipeline;
• A 500 horsepower skid-mounted
compressor unit;
• Use of well no. 45 for debrining and
future monitoring of the caverns;
• A temporary brine pump and
temporary brine pipelines;
• Electric and instrument air lines
connecting the Gallery 2 facilities to
Arlington’s existing Compressor Station;
and
• Plugging and abandonment of two
existing wells (30 and 31) formerly used
in the Gallery 2 caverns’ brine
production and liquefied petroleum gas
storage operation.
The FERC staff mailed copies of the
EA 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
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making its decision on this project, it is
important that we receive your
comments in Washington, DC on or
before October 15, 2013.
For your convenience, there are three
methods you can use to file your
comments with the Commission. In all
instances please reference the project
docket number CP13–83–000 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 located on the Commission’s
Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link
to Documents and Filings. This is an
easy method for submitting brief, textonly 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 Street 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.
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
1 See the previous discussion on the methods for
filing comments.
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number excluding the last three digits in
the Docket Number field (i.e., CP13–83).
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.
Dated: September 13, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–22779 Filed 9–18–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF13–16–000]
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC;
Notice of Intent To Prepare An
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Planned Algonquin Incremental
Market 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 impact statement (EIS)
that will discuss the environmental
impacts of the Algonquin Incremental
Market Project (AIM Project or Project)
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Algonquin Gas
Transmission, LLC (Algonquin), an
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of
Spectra Energy Corp, in New York,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and
Massachusetts. The Commission will
use this EIS 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 they need to
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evaluate in the EIS. Please note that the
scoping period will close on October 14,
2013. However, this is not your only
public input opportunity; please refer to
the 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
57627
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 a
Location
Monday, September 30, 2013, 7:00 PM Eastern Time ...........................
Muriel H. Morabito Community Center, 29 Westbrook Drive, Cortlandt
Manor, NY 10567.
Rogers Park Middle School, 21 Memorial Drive, Danbury, CT 06810.
Kelly Middle School, 25 Mahan Drive, Norwich, CT 06360.
Holiday Inn Dedham, 55 Ariadne Road, Dedham, MA 02026.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013, 7:00 PM Eastern Time .................................
Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 7:00 PM Eastern Time ............................
Thursday, October 3, 2013, 7:00 PM Eastern Time ................................
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a Algonquin representatives will be present one hour before each meeting (starting at 6:00 PM) to describe the Project, present maps, and answer questions.
The public meetings are designed to
provide you with more detailed
information and another opportunity to
offer your comments on the AIM
Project. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend the
meetings and present comments on the
issues they believe should be addressed
in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting
will be made so that your comments
will be accurately recorded.
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 planned
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
planned 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.
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 (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
Algonquin plans to construct, install,
own, operate, and maintain the planned
AIM Project, which will involve
expansion of its existing pipeline and
compressor station facilities located in
New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
and Massachusetts along with the
abandonment of approximately 0.5 mile
of existing mainline pipeline as a
related component of the Project.
Implementation of the Project will
create the additional capacity from the
Ramapo, New York and Mahwah, New
Jersey receipt points on Algonquin’s
systems to various Algonquin city gate
delivery points in Connecticut, and
Massachusetts. If completed, the Project
would be capable of delivering up to
342,000 dekatherms per day of natural
gas.
The planned AIM Project includes
approximately 37.0 miles of pipeline
composed of the following facilities:
• Replacement of approximately 19.6
miles of existing 26-inch-diameter
mainline pipeline with a 42-inchdiameter pipeline as follows:
Æ 3.3 miles in Rockland County, New
York (Ramapo to Stony Point Lift and
Relay (L&R) 2);
Æ 11.9 miles in Rockland and
Westchester counties, New York (Stony
Point to Yorktown Heights L&R), which
includes a new 1.2-mile-long horizontal
directional drill (HDD) crossing of the
Hudson River; and
Æ 4.4 miles in Putnam County, New
York and Fairfield County, Connecticut
(Southeast to Mainline Valve (MLV) 19
L&R).
• Extension of an existing loop 3
pipeline with approximately 2.1 miles
of additional 36-inch-diameter pipeline
along Algonquin’s existing pipeline
right-of-way in Middlesex and Hartford
counties, Connecticut (Cromwell Loop
Extension).
• Replacement of approximately 9.1
miles of existing 6-inch-diameter
pipeline with a 16-inch diameter
pipeline in New London County,
Connecticut (E–1 System L&R).
• Installation of approximately 1.4
miles of new 12-inch-diameter loop
pipeline along Algonquin’s existing
pipeline right-of-way in New London
County, Connecticut (E–1 System Loop).
• Installation of approximately 4.8
miles of new lateral pipeline off of
Algonquin’s existing I–4 System Lateral
in Norfolk and Suffolk counties,
Massachusetts (West Roxbury Lateral),
which includes:
Æ approximately 4.2 miles of new 16inch-diameter pipeline; and
Æ approximately 0.6 mile of new 24inch-diameter pipeline.
The majority of the pipeline facilities
(approximately 28.7 miles or 78 percent
of the total 37.0 miles) will replace
existing Algonquin pipelines, while the
remainder of the pipeline facilities
(approximately 8.3 miles or 22 percent)
will consist of new pipeline loops and
one new lateral.
In addition to the pipeline facilities,
Algonquin will modify 5 existing
compressor stations and 25 existing
metering and regulating (M&R) stations,
and construct 2 new M&R stations.
Modifications to the five existing
compressor stations will add an
additional 72,240 horsepower to its
pipeline system. The compressor
stations to be modified are located in
Rockland and Putnam counties, New
York; Middlesex, and Windham
counties, Connecticut; and Providence
County, Rhode Island. The AIM Project
will include modifications to 25 existing
Algonquin M&R stations in New York,
1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
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.
2 Lift and relay refers to a construction method by
which an existing pipeline is removed and replaced
with a new pipeline.
3 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed
parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2013 / Notices
Connecticut, and Massachusetts to
accept the new gas flows associated
with the proposed Project. The two new
M&R stations to be constructed are
located in Suffolk and Bristol counties,
Massachusetts. Algonquin will also
need to construct a number of pig 4
launcher and receiver facilities, one new
MLV, and potentially modify five
existing MLV sites.
The general location of the Project
facilities is shown in Appendix 2.
Pending Project approvals, the
projected in-service date of the AIM
Project is November 2016. The work is
scheduled to start in the 1st Quarter of
2015 and be completed by October
2016.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities
would disturb about 608 acres of land
for the pipeline and aboveground
facilities. Of the 608 acres, 255 acres
would consist of Algonquin’s existing
pipeline right-of-way or property
associated with its existing aboveground
facility sites. The remaining 353 acres
would consist of land outside of
Algonquin’s existing pipeline right-ofway or aboveground facility sites.
Following construction, Algonquin
would maintain an additional 12 acres
for permanent operation of the Project’s
facilities. Approximately 98 percent of
the 37.0 miles of AIM Project pipeline
facilities will be within or adjacent to
existing rights-of-way, consisting of
Algonquin pipeline rights-of-ways,
public roadways, railways, and/or other
utility rights-of-ways.
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The EIS 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 5 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 EIS on the
important environmental issues. By this
notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to
address in the EIS. We will consider all
filed comments during the preparation
of the EIS.
4 A pig is an internal tool that can be used to
clean and dry a pipeline and/or to inspect the
pipeline for damage. A pig launcher is the
launching stations from which the pig is launched.
5 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
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In the EIS we will discuss impacts
that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation and
maintenance of the planned Project
under these general headings:
• geology and soils;
• land use, including prime farmland;
• water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• cultural resources;
• vegetation and wildlife;
• air quality and noise;
• endangered and threatened species;
• traffic and transportation;
• public safety; and
• cumulative impacts.
We will also evaluate possible
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
the FERC receives an application. 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 EIS.
The EIS will present our independent
analysis of the issues. We will publish
and distribute the draft EIS for public
comment. After the comment period, we
will consider all timely comments and
revise the document, as necessary,
before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we
have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully
follow the instructions in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
With this notice, we are asking
agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues related to this
Project to formally cooperate with us in
the preparation of the EIS.6 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. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
and U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) have expressed their
intention to participate as a cooperating
agency in the preparation of the EIS to
6 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, § 1501.6.
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satisfy their NEPA responsibilities
related to this Project.
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
Office(s) (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.7 We will
define the Project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation
with the SHPO(s) 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 EIS 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
Algonquin. This preliminary list of
issues may change based on your
comments and our analysis.
• Geology—Effects as a result of
blasting to remove existing surface and
bedrock during Project construction.
• Biological Resources—Effects on
threatened and endangered species and
sensitive habitats potentially occurring
within or adjacent to the Project rightof-way.
• Water Resources—Effects on
waterbodies and wetlands including the
crossing of the Hudson River using the
HDD construction method; and the
potential inadvertent release of drilling
fluids associated with the HDD method.
• Land Use—Effects on residential
and commercial areas, traffic and
transportation corridors, and
agricultural lands from construction of
Project facilities.
7 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
district, site, building, structure, or object included
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
of Historic Places.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 182 / Thursday, September 19, 2013 / Notices
• Cultural Resources—Effects on
archaeological sites and historic
resources.
• Air Quality and Noise—Effects on
the local air quality and noise
environment from construction and
operation and maintenance of planned
Project facilities.
• Reliability and Safety—The
assessment of hazards associated with
natural gas pipelines and aboveground
facilities; the potential for Projectrelated fires during construction and
operation and maintenance activities;
and the development of an evacuation
strategy/plan in case of a fire or natural
disaster.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 the Commission receives them in
Washington, DC on or before October
14, 2013. However, this is not your only
public input opportunity; please refer to
the Review Process flow chart in
Appendix 1.
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 (PF13–16–000) 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 located on the Commission’s
Web site (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 using the eFiling feature
located 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
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17:27 Sep 18, 2013
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(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 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.
Copies of the completed draft EIS 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 Algonquin 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 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 the Commission receives a
formal application for the Project.
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
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57629
‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket
number, excluding the last three digits
in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF13–
16). 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 that
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: September 13, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–22781 Filed 9–18–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket Nos. EL13–87–000; QF13–658–000]
Eagle Valley Clean Energy, LLC; Notice
of Filing
Take notice that on September 9,
2013, Eagle Valley Clean Energy, LLC
filed Form 556 and a petition for
certification as a qualifying small power
production facility, including a Pro
Forma Generator Interconnection
Agreement with Holy Cross Electric
Association, Inc.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest this filing must file in
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214).
Protests will be considered by the
Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. Such notices, motions, or
protests must be filed on or before the
comment date. On or before the
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 182 (Thursday, September 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57626-57629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22781]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF13-16-000]
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare An
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Algonquin Incremental
Market 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 impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Algonquin Incremental
Market Project (AIM Project or Project) involving construction and
operation of facilities by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin),
an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Spectra Energy Corp, in New
York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The Commission will
use this EIS 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 they need to
[[Page 57627]]
evaluate in the EIS. Please note that the scoping period will close on
October 14, 2013. However, this is not your only public input
opportunity; please refer to the Review Process flow chart in Appendix
1.\1\
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\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the 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 \a\ Location
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Monday, September 30, 2013, 7:00 PM Muriel H. Morabito Community
Eastern Time. Center, 29 Westbrook Drive,
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013, 7:00 PM Rogers Park Middle School, 21
Eastern Time. Memorial Drive, Danbury, CT
06810.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013, 7:00 PM Kelly Middle School, 25 Mahan
Eastern Time. Drive, Norwich, CT 06360.
Thursday, October 3, 2013, 7:00 PM Holiday Inn Dedham, 55 Ariadne
Eastern Time. Road, Dedham, MA 02026.
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\a\ Algonquin representatives will be present one hour before each
meeting (starting at 6:00 PM) to describe the Project, present maps,
and answer questions.
The public meetings are designed to provide you with more detailed
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the AIM
Project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the
meetings and present comments on the issues they believe should be
addressed in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be made so that
your comments will be accurately recorded.
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 planned
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 planned 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.
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 (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
Algonquin plans to construct, install, own, operate, and maintain
the planned AIM Project, which will involve expansion of its existing
pipeline and compressor station facilities located in New York,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts along with the abandonment
of approximately 0.5 mile of existing mainline pipeline as a related
component of the Project. Implementation of the Project will create the
additional capacity from the Ramapo, New York and Mahwah, New Jersey
receipt points on Algonquin's systems to various Algonquin city gate
delivery points in Connecticut, and Massachusetts. If completed, the
Project would be capable of delivering up to 342,000 dekatherms per day
of natural gas.
The planned AIM Project includes approximately 37.0 miles of
pipeline composed of the following facilities:
Replacement of approximately 19.6 miles of existing 26-
inch-diameter mainline pipeline with a 42-inch-diameter pipeline as
follows:
[cir] 3.3 miles in Rockland County, New York (Ramapo to Stony Point
Lift and Relay (L&R) \2\);
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\2\ Lift and relay refers to a construction method by which an
existing pipeline is removed and replaced with a new pipeline.
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[cir] 11.9 miles in Rockland and Westchester counties, New York
(Stony Point to Yorktown Heights L&R), which includes a new 1.2-mile-
long horizontal directional drill (HDD) crossing of the Hudson River;
and
[cir] 4.4 miles in Putnam County, New York and Fairfield County,
Connecticut (Southeast to Mainline Valve (MLV) 19 L&R).
Extension of an existing loop \3\ pipeline with
approximately 2.1 miles of additional 36-inch-diameter pipeline along
Algonquin's existing pipeline right-of-way in Middlesex and Hartford
counties, Connecticut (Cromwell Loop Extension).
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\3\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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Replacement of approximately 9.1 miles of existing 6-inch-
diameter pipeline with a 16-inch diameter pipeline in New London
County, Connecticut (E-1 System L&R).
Installation of approximately 1.4 miles of new 12-inch-
diameter loop pipeline along Algonquin's existing pipeline right-of-way
in New London County, Connecticut (E-1 System Loop).
Installation of approximately 4.8 miles of new lateral
pipeline off of Algonquin's existing I-4 System Lateral in Norfolk and
Suffolk counties, Massachusetts (West Roxbury Lateral), which includes:
[cir] approximately 4.2 miles of new 16-inch-diameter pipeline; and
[cir] approximately 0.6 mile of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline.
The majority of the pipeline facilities (approximately 28.7 miles
or 78 percent of the total 37.0 miles) will replace existing Algonquin
pipelines, while the remainder of the pipeline facilities
(approximately 8.3 miles or 22 percent) will consist of new pipeline
loops and one new lateral.
In addition to the pipeline facilities, Algonquin will modify 5
existing compressor stations and 25 existing metering and regulating
(M&R) stations, and construct 2 new M&R stations. Modifications to the
five existing compressor stations will add an additional 72,240
horsepower to its pipeline system. The compressor stations to be
modified are located in Rockland and Putnam counties, New York;
Middlesex, and Windham counties, Connecticut; and Providence County,
Rhode Island. The AIM Project will include modifications to 25 existing
Algonquin M&R stations in New York,
[[Page 57628]]
Connecticut, and Massachusetts to accept the new gas flows associated
with the proposed Project. The two new M&R stations to be constructed
are located in Suffolk and Bristol counties, Massachusetts. Algonquin
will also need to construct a number of pig \4\ launcher and receiver
facilities, one new MLV, and potentially modify five existing MLV
sites.
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\4\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry
a pipeline and/or to inspect the pipeline for damage. A pig launcher
is the launching stations from which the pig is launched.
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The general location of the Project facilities is shown in Appendix
2.
Pending Project approvals, the projected in-service date of the AIM
Project is November 2016. The work is scheduled to start in the 1st
Quarter of 2015 and be completed by October 2016.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 608
acres of land for the pipeline and aboveground facilities. Of the 608
acres, 255 acres would consist of Algonquin's existing pipeline right-
of-way or property associated with its existing aboveground facility
sites. The remaining 353 acres would consist of land outside of
Algonquin's existing pipeline right-of-way or aboveground facility
sites. Following construction, Algonquin would maintain an additional
12 acres for permanent operation of the Project's facilities.
Approximately 98 percent of the 37.0 miles of AIM Project pipeline
facilities will be within or adjacent to existing rights-of-way,
consisting of Algonquin pipeline rights-of-ways, public roadways,
railways, and/or other utility rights-of-ways.
The EIS 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
\5\ 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 EIS on the important
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. We will
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.
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\5\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation and maintenance of the planned Project
under these general headings:
geology and soils;
land use, including prime farmland;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
cultural resources;
vegetation and wildlife;
air quality and noise;
endangered and threatened species;
traffic and transportation;
public safety; and
cumulative impacts.
We will also evaluate possible 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
the FERC receives an application. 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 EIS.
The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have
the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section of this
notice.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues
related to this Project to formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EIS.\6\ 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. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have expressed their intention to
participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS to
satisfy their NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.
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\6\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Sec. 1501.6.
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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 Office(s) (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.\7\ We will define the Project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) 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 EIS 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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\7\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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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 Algonquin. This preliminary
list of issues may change based on your comments and our analysis.
Geology--Effects as a result of blasting to remove
existing surface and bedrock during Project construction.
Biological Resources--Effects on threatened and endangered
species and sensitive habitats potentially occurring within or adjacent
to the Project right-of-way.
Water Resources--Effects on waterbodies and wetlands
including the crossing of the Hudson River using the HDD construction
method; and the potential inadvertent release of drilling fluids
associated with the HDD method.
Land Use--Effects on residential and commercial areas,
traffic and transportation corridors, and agricultural lands from
construction of Project facilities.
[[Page 57629]]
Cultural Resources--Effects on archaeological sites and
historic resources.
Air Quality and Noise--Effects on the local air quality
and noise environment from construction and operation and maintenance
of planned Project facilities.
Reliability and Safety--The assessment of hazards
associated with natural gas pipelines and aboveground facilities; the
potential for Project-related fires during construction and operation
and maintenance activities; and the development of an evacuation
strategy/plan in case of a fire or natural disaster.
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 the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before
October 14, 2013. However, this is not your only public input
opportunity; please refer to the Review Process flow chart in Appendix
1.
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 (PF13-16-000) 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 located on the Commission's Web site (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 using the eFiling
feature located 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 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.
Copies of the completed draft EIS 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 Algonquin 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 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 the Commission
receives a formal application for the Project.
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-
16). 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 that 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: September 13, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-22781 Filed 9-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
