Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Niagara Expansion Project and Northern Access 2015 Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 21752-21754 [2014-08750]
Download as PDF
21752
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 2014 / Notices
Dated: April 11, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–08755 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL14–38–000]
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation
v. Kansas Municipal Energy Agency
Southwest Power Pool, Inc.; Notice of
Complaint
Take notice that on April 10, 2014,
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation
(Complainant) filed a formal complaint
against Kansas Municipal Energy
Agency (KMEA) and Southwest Power
Pool, Inc. (SPP) (collectively,
Respondents) pursuant to sections 206,
306, and 309 of the Federal Power Act
(FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824(e), 825(e), and
825(h) (2013) and Rule 206 of the
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (Commission) Rules of
Practice and Procedures, 18 CFR
385.206 (2013), alleging that the
Respondents have violated the SPP
Open Access Transmission Tariff, other
SPP rules, and the Commission’s rules
and regulations under the Federal
Power Act, as more fully explained in
the Complaint.
The Complainant certifies that copies
of the complaint were served on the
contacts for the Respondents as listed
on the Commission’s list of Corporate
Officials.
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. The Respondent’s answer
and all interventions, or protests must
be filed on or before the comment date.
The Respondent’s answer, motions to
intervene, and protests must be served
on the Complainants.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 5 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Apr 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
Web site that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on April 30, 2014.
Dated: April 10, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–08671 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
serve motions to intervene or protests
on persons other than the Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
Web site that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s).
For assistance with any FERC Online
service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on May 12, 2014.
Dated: April 11, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[Docket No. EL14–39–000]
Upper Peninsula Power Company,
Integrys Energy Group, Inc., Balfour
Beatty Infrastructure Partners GP
Limited; Notice of Petition for
Declaratory Order
[FR Doc. 2014–08753 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
Take notice that on April 10, 2014,
Upper Peninsula Power Company
(UPPCO), Integrys Energy Group, Inc.
(Integrys), and Balfour Beatty
Infrastructure Partners GP Limited
(BBIP GP), filed a petition for
declaratory order requesting that the
Commission declare that the proposed
transfer of UPPCO’s indirect interest in
American Transmission Company to
UPPCO’s direct parent Integrys, as more
fully described in the petition, will not
violate section 305(a) of the Federal
Power Act.
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
comment date, it is not necessary to
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP14–88–000; Docket No.
CP14–100–000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company,
L.L.C.; National Fuel Gas Supply
Corporation; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Proposed Niagara Expansion
Project and Northern Access 2015
Project, and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
two related projects proposed by
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company,
L.L.C. (TGP) and National Fuel Gas
Supply Corporation (National Fuel).
TGP’s Niagara Expansion Project would
involve construction and operation of
facilities in Chautaugua and Erie
Counties, New York and Mercer County,
Pennsylvania. National Fuel’s Northern
Access 2015 Project would involve
construction and operation of facilities
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 2014 / Notices
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
in Cattaraugus and Erie Counties, New
York. The Commission will use this EA
in its decision-making process to
determine whether the projects are 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 projects.
Your input will help the Commission
staff determine what issues they need to
evaluate in the EA. Please note that the
scoping period will close on May 12,
2014.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for these projects. State and
local government representatives are
asked to notify their constituents of
these planned projects 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 projects, 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.
TGP and National Fuel 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 Proposed Projects
TGP proposes to construct and
operate 3.1 miles of natural gas pipeline
loop 1 and modifications at two existing
compressor stations and one existing
meter station, and other appurtenant
facilities. The Niagara Expansion Project
would provide TGP with 140,000
dekatherms per day of leased capacity
from National Fuel. According to TGP
and National Fuel, their projects would
increase natural gas delivery capacity in
the northeast region of the U.S.
TGP proposes to construct pipeline
facilities and modify existing
1 A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an
existing pipeline to increase capacity.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Apr 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
compressor and meter station facilities
to lease capacity from National Fuel.
The Niagara Expansion Project would
consist of the following facilities:
• 3.1 Miles of 30-inch-diameter
natural gas looping pipeline in
Chautauqua County, New York;
• modifications to piping at
Compressor Station 219 in Mercer
County, Pennsylvania;
• modifications to piping and
installation of a new pig launcher at
existing Compressor Station 224 in
Chautauqua County, New York; and
• modifications to the existing
Hamburg Meter Station in Erie County,
New York.
National Fuel proposes to construct
compression and metering facilities to
provide the proposed leased capacity to
TGP. The Northern Access 2015 Project
would consist of the following facilities:
• a new 15,400 horsepower
compressor station in Cattaraugus
County, New York;
• 7,700 horsepower of additional
compression ancillary facilities at the
existing Concord Compressor Station in
Erie County, New York; and
• modifications to allow for bidirectional flow at the existing East
Eden Station in Erie County, New York.
The general locations of the projects’
facilities are shown in appendix 1.2
Land Requirements for Construction
TGP’s project would disturb
approximately 86 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, about 18 acres
would be maintained for permanent
operation of the project’s facilities; the
remaining acreage would be restored
and allowed to revert to former uses.
The entire proposed pipeline route
parallels TGP’s existing pipeline rightof-way.
National Fuel’s project would disturb
approximately 39 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities. Following
construction, about 18 acres would be
maintained for permanent operation of
the project’s facilities; the remaining
acreage would be restored and allowed
to revert to former uses. National Fuel’s
proposed facilities would be
constructed adjacent to existing
aboveground facilities and/or pipeline
facilities.
2 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
21753
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.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
proposed projects under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils;
• land use;
• water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• cultural resources;
• vegetation and wildlife, including
migratory birds;
• air quality and noise;
• endangered and threatened species;
and
• public safety.
We will also evaluate reasonable
alternatives to the proposed projects or
portions of the projects, and make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas.
The EA will present our independent
analysis of the issues. The EA will be
available in the public record through
eLibrary. Depending on the comments
received during the scoping process, we
may also publish and distribute the EA
to the public for an allotted comment
period. We will consider all comments
on the EA before we make 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
environmental issues of these projects to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA.4 Agencies that
3 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
4 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
Continued
17APN1
21754
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 74 / Thursday, April 17, 2014 / Notices
would like to request cooperating
agency status should follow the
instructions for filing comments
provided under the Public Participation
section of this notice.
Consultations Under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act
In accordance with the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation’s
implementing regulations for section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this
notice to initiate consultation with
applicable State Historic Preservation
Offices (SHPO), and to solicit their
views and those of other government
agencies, interested Indian tribes, and
the public on the projects’ potential
effects on historic properties.5 We will
define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation
with the SHPOs as the projects develop.
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 these projects will document
our findings on the impacts on historic
properties and summarize the status of
consultations under section 106.
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the
projects. 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 May 12,
2014.
For your convenience, there are three
methods which you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In
all instances please reference the project
docket number (CP14–88–000 and
CP14–100–000) with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has expert
eFiling staff available to assist you at
(202) 502–8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eComment
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, 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.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Apr 16, 2014
Jkt 232001
feature 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 may file your comments
electronically by 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 may 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 projects. 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 proposed projects.
If we publish and distribute the EA,
copies will be sent to the environmental
mailing list for public review and
comment. If you would prefer to receive
a paper copy of the document instead of
the CD version or would like to remove
your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request
(appendix 2).
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, 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
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
Additional Information
Additional information about the
projects is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web
site at 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., CP14–88 or CP14–100). 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/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
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: April 11, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–08750 Filed 4–16–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2179–043]
Merced Irrigation District; Notice of
Environmental Site Review
Take notice that the following
hydroelectric applications have been
filed with Commission and are available
for public inspection:
a. Type of Application: New License.
b. Project No.: 2179–043.
c. Date filed: February 27, 2012.
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 74 (Thursday, April 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21752-21754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08750]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP14-88-000; Docket No. CP14-100-000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; National Fuel Gas Supply
Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Proposed Niagara Expansion Project and Northern Access 2015
Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of two related projects proposed by
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (TGP) and National Fuel Gas
Supply Corporation (National Fuel). TGP's Niagara Expansion Project
would involve construction and operation of facilities in Chautaugua
and Erie Counties, New York and Mercer County, Pennsylvania. National
Fuel's Northern Access 2015 Project would involve construction and
operation of facilities
[[Page 21753]]
in Cattaraugus and Erie Counties, New York. The Commission will use
this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the
projects are 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 projects. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Please note that
the scoping period will close on May 12, 2014.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for these projects. State and local government
representatives are asked to notify their constituents of these planned
projects 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 projects, 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.
TGP and National Fuel 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 Proposed Projects
TGP proposes to construct and operate 3.1 miles of natural gas
pipeline loop \1\ and modifications at two existing compressor stations
and one existing meter station, and other appurtenant facilities. The
Niagara Expansion Project would provide TGP with 140,000 dekatherms per
day of leased capacity from National Fuel. According to TGP and
National Fuel, their projects would increase natural gas delivery
capacity in the northeast region of the U.S.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an existing
pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TGP proposes to construct pipeline facilities and modify existing
compressor and meter station facilities to lease capacity from National
Fuel. The Niagara Expansion Project would consist of the following
facilities:
3.1 Miles of 30-inch-diameter natural gas looping pipeline
in Chautauqua County, New York;
modifications to piping at Compressor Station 219 in
Mercer County, Pennsylvania;
modifications to piping and installation of a new pig
launcher at existing Compressor Station 224 in Chautauqua County, New
York; and
modifications to the existing Hamburg Meter Station in
Erie County, New York.
National Fuel proposes to construct compression and metering
facilities to provide the proposed leased capacity to TGP. The Northern
Access 2015 Project would consist of the following facilities:
a new 15,400 horsepower compressor station in Cattaraugus
County, New York;
7,700 horsepower of additional compression ancillary
facilities at the existing Concord Compressor Station in Erie County,
New York; and
modifications to allow for bi-directional flow at the
existing East Eden Station in Erie County, New York.
The general locations of the projects' facilities are shown in
appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
TGP's project would disturb approximately 86 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, about
18 acres would be maintained for permanent operation of the project's
facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to
revert to former uses. The entire proposed pipeline route parallels
TGP's existing pipeline right-of-way.
National Fuel's project would disturb approximately 39 acres of
land for the aboveground facilities. Following construction, about 18
acres would be maintained for permanent operation of the project's
facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to
revert to former uses. National Fuel's proposed facilities would be
constructed adjacent to existing aboveground facilities and/or pipeline
facilities.
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed projects under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
land use;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
cultural resources;
vegetation and wildlife, including migratory birds;
air quality and noise;
endangered and threatened species; and
public safety.
We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed
projects or portions of the projects, and make recommendations on how
to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We
will consider all comments on the EA before we make 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 environmental issues of these
projects to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA.\4\
Agencies that
[[Page 21754]]
would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the
instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the projects' potential effects on
historic properties.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the projects
develop. 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 these projects will document
our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the
status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the projects. 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 May
12, 2014.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number (CP14-88-000 and CP14-100-000) with
your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert eFiling staff available to assist you at (202)
502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment
feature 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 may file your comments electronically by 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 may 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 projects. 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
proposed projects.
If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, 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.
Additional Information
Additional information about the projects is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site at 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., CP14-
88 or CP14-100). 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/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
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: April 11, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-08750 Filed 4-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P