Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Additional Public Scoping Period and Meeting for the Proposed New Market Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 68234-68236 [2014-26960]
Download as PDF
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
68234
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Notices
regulations, 18 CFR part 380 (Order No.
486, 52 FR 47897), the Office of Energy
Projects has reviewed Grand River Dam
Authority’s application for license for
the 260-megawatt (MW) Salina Pumped
Storage Project (FERC Project No. 2524),
located on Saline Creek and the Saline
Creek arm of Lake Hudson on the Grand
River, near the city of Salina in Mayes
County, Oklahoma. The project does not
occupy any Federal lands.
Staff prepared a draft environmental
assessment (EA), which analyzes the
potential environmental effects of
relicensing the project, and concludes
that relicensing the project, with
appropriate environmental protective
measures, would not constitute a major
federal action that would significantly
affect the quality of the human
environment.
A copy of the draft EA is on file with
the Commission and is available for
public inspection. The draft may also be
viewed on the Commission’s Web site at
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. For
assistance, contact FERC Online
Support at FERCOnlineSupport@
ferc.gov or toll-free at 1–866–208–3676,
or for TTY, 202–502–8659.
You may also register online at
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via
email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
Comments on the draft EA should be
filed within 30 days from the date of
this notice. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filing. Please file
comments using the Commission’s
eFiling system at https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can
submit brief comments up to 6,000
characters, without prior registration,
using the eComment system at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
ecomment.asp. You must include your
name and contact information at the end
of your comments. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY,
202–502–8659. In lieu of electronic
filing, please send a paper copy to:
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. The first page of
any filing should include docket
number P–2524–021.
For further information, contact
Stephen Bowler by telephone at 202–
502–6861 or by email at
stephen.bowler@ferc.gov or Jeanne
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Nov 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
Edwards by telephone at 202–502–6181
or by email at jeanne.edwards@ferc.gov.
Dated: November 4, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–26961 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP14–497–000]
Dominion Transmission, Inc.;
Supplemental Notice of Additional
Public Scoping Period and Meeting for
the Proposed New Market Project and
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will re-open the public
scoping period and hold an additional
public scoping meeting in Madison
County, New York to receive comments
on Dominion Transmission, Inc.’s
(Dominion) New Market Project
(Project), including alternative site
locations under consideration for the
proposed Sheds Compressor Station.
The date, time, and location of the
meeting is detailed in the table below.
Date and time
Location
Thursday, November
20, 2014 6:30 PM.*
Auditorium, Morrisville-Eaton Middle/
High School, 5061
Fearon Rd., Morrisville, NY 13408
* The school ground will be open to meeting
attendees starting at 6:00 PM.
In response to concerns raised
regarding Dominion’s proposed Sheds
Compressor Station location, FERC staff
is considering additional compressor
station site alternatives. These
alternatives, which are described below,
could affect new landowners; therefore,
the FERC is issuing this supplemental
notice to provide these landowners and
other interested parties an opportunity
to comment on the Project. FERC staff
will prepare an environmental
assessment (EA) that will discuss the
environmental impacts of the Project
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Dominion in multiple
counties in upstate New York. The
Commission will use this EA in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the Project is in the public
convenience and necessity.
In addition to commenting at the
public meeting, you may submit
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
comments in writing. Further details on
how to submit written comments are
provided in the Public Participation
section of this notice. Your input will
help the Commission staff determine
what issues it needs to evaluate in the
EA. Please note that the re-opened
scoping period will close on December
5, 2014.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for this Project, including
landowners within 0.5 mile of Sheds
Compressor Station alternative sites at
West Wilcox Road (West Eaton) and
DeRuyter. State and local government
representatives should notify their
constituents of this proposed Project
and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
proposed facilities. The company would
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the Commission
approves the Project, that approval
conveys with it the right of eminent
domain. Therefore, if easement
negotiations fail to produce an
agreement, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings
where compensation would be
determined in accordance with state
law.
Dominion 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 Project
Dominion proposes to construct and
operate 2 new compressor stations and
add additional compression and minor
changes at 3 existing compressor
stations. Dominion would also modify a
meter station in Schenectady County,
New York. Specifically, the New Market
Project would consist of the following
proposed facilities in New York:
• Construction of the new Horseheads
Compressor Station in Chemung
County;
• installation of gas coolers and filter/
separator at the existing Borger
Compressor Station in Tompkins
County;
• construction of the new Sheds
Compressor Station in Madison County;
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Notices
• installation of gas coolers and filter/
separator at the existing Utica
Compressor Station in Herkimer
County;
• installation of additional engine
and turbine driven compressor units at
the existing Brookman Compressor
Station in Montgomery County; and
• modifications to the existing West
Schenectady Meter Station in
Schenectady County.
Although Dominion is proposing
additional compressor stations, it is not
proposing to increase the maximum
allowable operating pressure on the
pipeline. The general location of the
Project facilities and alternative sites for
the proposed Sheds Compressor Station
are shown in appendix 1.1
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities
would disturb about 200 acres of land
for the aboveground facilities. Following
construction, Dominion would maintain
about 78 acres for permanent operation
of the Project facilities; the remaining
acreage would be restored and revert to
former uses.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 2 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 Project under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils;
• water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• cultural resources;
1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
not appear 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.
2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Nov 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
• socioeconomics;
• land use;
• vegetation and wildlife;
• air quality and noise; and
• public safety.
We will also evaluate cumulative
impacts and reasonable alternatives to
the proposed Project or portions of the
Project, and make recommendations on
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the
various resource areas.
The EA will present our independent
analysis of the issues. The EA will be
available in the public record through
the FERC’s eLibrary system. 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
making our recommendations to the
Commission. To ensure we have the
opportunity to consider and address
your comments, please carefully follow
the instructions in the Public
Participation section beginning on page
5.
With this notice, we are asking
agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues of this Project to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA 3. 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
New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets has expressed
its intention to participate as a
cooperating agency in the preparation of
the EA to satisfy its 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 the
applicable State Historic Preservation
Office (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.4 We will define the
3 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s
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.
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
68235
project-specific Area of Potential Effects
(APE) in consultation with the SHPO as
the Project develops. On natural gas
facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground
disturbance (examples include
construction right-of-way, contractor/
pipe storage yards, compressor stations,
and access roads). Our EA for this
Project will document our findings on
the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations
under Section 106.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
proposed facilities, comments received
from the public, and the environmental
information provided by Dominion.
This preliminary list of issues may be
changed based on your comments and
our analysis.
• Air quality—health impacts from
emissions;
• socioeconomic issues—traffic,
home values;
• noise and vibration;
• land use—industrialization;
• visual impacts;
• cumulative impacts; and
• public safety.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Project.
Your comments should focus on the
potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to
avoid or lessen environmental impacts.
The more specific your comments, the
more useful they will be. To ensure that
your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please send your comments so
that the Commission receives them in
Washington, DC on or before December
5, 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 (CP14–497–000) with
your submission. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert staff available
to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or
efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments
electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission’s Web site
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy
method for interested persons to submit
brief, text-only comments on the Project;
(2) You can file your comments
electronically using the eFiling feature
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
68236
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 220 / Friday, November 14, 2014 / Notices
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 proposed Project.
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).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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 in the User’s Guide under
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:37 Nov 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the Commission’s
Web site.
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 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., CP14–497). 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
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: November 4, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–26960 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
of the QF/CHP Settlement was an
exercise of its authority under the
Public Utilities Regulatory Policies 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. Anyone filing a motion
to intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Petitioner.
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,
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 December 4, 2014.
Dated: November 6, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[FR Doc. 2014–26964 Filed 11–13–14; 8:45 am]
[Docket No. EL15–14–000]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Energy Producers and Users Coalition;
Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Take notice that on November 4,
2014, pursuant to Rule 207 of the
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s (Commission) Rules of
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.207
(2014), Energy Producers and Users
Coalition filed a petition for declaratory
order finding that California Public
Utilities Commission’s approval 1 of asavailable procurement options relying
on short-run avoided cost pricing as part
1 Decision Adopting Proposed Settlement, D.10–
12–035, Docket A.08–11–001 (December 21, 2010).
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Notice of Commission Staff
Attendance
The Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission) hereby gives
notice that members of the
Commission’s staff will attend the
following meeting related to the
Midcontinent Independent System
Operator, Inc. (MISO)—PJM
Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) Joint and
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68234-68236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26960]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP14-497-000]
Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Additional
Public Scoping Period and Meeting for the Proposed New Market Project
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will re-open the public scoping period and hold an
additional public scoping meeting in Madison County, New York to
receive comments on Dominion Transmission, Inc.'s (Dominion) New Market
Project (Project), including alternative site locations under
consideration for the proposed Sheds Compressor Station. The date,
time, and location of the meeting is detailed in the table below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date and time Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, November 20, 2014 6:30 PM.* Auditorium, Morrisville-
Eaton Middle/High School,
5061 Fearon Rd.,
Morrisville, NY 13408
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The school ground will be open to meeting attendees starting at 6:00
PM.
In response to concerns raised regarding Dominion's proposed Sheds
Compressor Station location, FERC staff is considering additional
compressor station site alternatives. These alternatives, which are
described below, could affect new landowners; therefore, the FERC is
issuing this supplemental notice to provide these landowners and other
interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Project. FERC staff
will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the
environmental impacts of the Project involving construction and
operation of facilities by Dominion in multiple counties in upstate New
York. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process to
determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and
necessity.
In addition to commenting at the public meeting, you may submit
comments in writing. Further details on how to submit written comments
are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. Your
input will help the Commission staff determine what issues it needs to
evaluate in the EA. Please note that the re-opened scoping period will
close on December 5, 2014.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this Project, including landowners within 0.5 mile of
Sheds Compressor Station alternative sites at West Wilcox Road (West
Eaton) and DeRuyter. State and local government representatives should
notify their constituents of this proposed Project and encourage them
to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law.
Dominion 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 Project
Dominion proposes to construct and operate 2 new compressor
stations and add additional compression and minor changes at 3 existing
compressor stations. Dominion would also modify a meter station in
Schenectady County, New York. Specifically, the New Market Project
would consist of the following proposed facilities in New York:
Construction of the new Horseheads Compressor Station in
Chemung County;
installation of gas coolers and filter/separator at the
existing Borger Compressor Station in Tompkins County;
construction of the new Sheds Compressor Station in
Madison County;
[[Page 68235]]
installation of gas coolers and filter/separator at the
existing Utica Compressor Station in Herkimer County;
installation of additional engine and turbine driven
compressor units at the existing Brookman Compressor Station in
Montgomery County; and
modifications to the existing West Schenectady Meter
Station in Schenectady County.
Although Dominion is proposing additional compressor stations, it
is not proposing to increase the maximum allowable operating pressure
on the pipeline. The general location of the Project facilities and
alternative sites for the proposed Sheds Compressor Station are shown
in appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear 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
Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 200
acres of land for the aboveground facilities. Following construction,
Dominion would maintain about 78 acres for permanent operation of the
Project facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert
to former uses.
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
\2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``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 Project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
cultural resources;
socioeconomics;
land use;
vegetation and wildlife;
air quality and noise; and
public safety.
We will also evaluate cumulative impacts and reasonable
alternatives to the proposed Project or portions of the Project, and
make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various
resource areas.
The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through the FERC's eLibrary
system. 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 making
our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure we have the
opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section beginning
on page 5.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of
this Project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA
\3\. 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 New York
State Department of Agriculture and Markets has expressed its intention
to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to
satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 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 the applicable State Historic Preservation Office (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.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the Project
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this Project will document our
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status
of consultations under Section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities,
comments received from the public, and the environmental information
provided by Dominion. This preliminary list of issues may be changed
based on your comments and our analysis.
Air quality--health impacts from emissions;
socioeconomic issues--traffic, home values;
noise and vibration;
land use--industrialization;
visual impacts;
cumulative impacts; and
public safety.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so
that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before
December 5, 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 (CP14-497-000) with your
submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and
has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or
efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for interested persons to
submit brief, text-only comments on the Project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling
feature
[[Page 68236]]
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
proposed Project.
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 in
the User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web
site.
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 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-
497). 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
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: November 4, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-26960 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P