Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed West Leg 2014 Expansion Project, 72671-72672 [2013-28896]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72671-72672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28896]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP13-528-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed West Leg 2014 Expansion 
Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the West 
Leg 2014 Expansion Project, proposed by Northern Natural Gas Company 
(Northern) in the above-referenced docket. Northern requests 
authorization to construct, operate, and maintain new natural gas 
facilities in Dakota and Dodge Counties, Nebraska and Woodbury County, 
Iowa to provide for 88,430 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to serve 
increased markets for industrial, commercial, and residential uses.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the West Leg 2014 Expansion Project in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969. The FERC staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural 
Resources, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and the Papio-Missouri 
River Natural Resources District participated as cooperating agencies 
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.
    The proposed project includes the following facilities:
     Approximately 7 miles of 20- and 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
in Dakota County, Nebraska and Woodbury County, Iowa;
     A new 4,700-horsepower compressor station in Dodge County, 
Nebraska;
     A new 9,480-horsepower compressor station in Dakota 
County, Nebraska; and
     A new meter station in Woodbury County, Iowa.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA to federal, state, and local 
government representatives and

[[Page 72672]]

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 January 6, 
2014.
    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 (CP13-528-000) 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, 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 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.
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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., CP13-
528). 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 https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ferconline.asp.

    Dated: November 26, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-28896 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P