Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Supplemental Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Dalton Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 69455-69457 [2014-27548]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 2014 / Notices 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 December 15, 2014. For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use to file your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the project docket numbers (CP14–504–000) 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 may file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on the Commission’s Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; (2) You may 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 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 St. NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).1 Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission’s decision. The Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. 1 See the previous discussion on the methods for filing comments. Additional information about the project is available from the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:00 Nov 20, 2014 Jkt 235001 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., CP14– 504). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/ esubscribenow.htm. Dated: November 14, 2014. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–27552 Filed 11–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF14–10–000] Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Supplemental Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Dalton Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues On October 21, 2014, the Commission issued the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Dalton Expansion Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting (NOI). It has come to our attention that the environmental mailing list was not provided copies of the NOI; therefore, we are issuing this Supplemental NOI to extend the scoping period and provide additional time for interested parties to file comments on environmental issues. The NOI identified November 20, 2014 as the close of the scoping period. Please note that the scoping period is now extended and will close on December 20, 2014. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69455 environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC’s (Transco’s) Dalton Expansion Project (Project) involving construction and operation of new pipeline and aboveground facilities in Georgia and the modification of Transco’s existing mainline system in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity. 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 Transco plans to construct and operate about 110.8 miles of new natural gas pipeline in Coweta, Carroll, Douglas, Paulding, Bartow, Gordon, and Murray Counties, Georgia and a new compressor station in Carroll County, Georgia. In addition, Transco plans to modify facilities along its existing mainline system in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina to accommodate bidirectional flow. Transco has indicated that the Project would provide 448,000 dekatherms per day of incremental firm transportation service to markets in northwest Georgia. The Project would include the installation of the following facilities: E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM 21NON1 69456 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 2014 / Notices • A new 21,830 horsepower compressor station (Compressor Station 116) in Carroll County, Georgia; • three new meter stations in Bartow and Murray counties, Georgia; • about 7.6 miles of new 30-inchdiameter pipeline in Coweta and Caroll Counties, Georgia; • 48.2 miles of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Carroll, Douglas, Paulding, and Bartow Counties, Georgia; • 53.5 miles of new 20-inch-diameter pipeline in Bartow, Gordon, and Murray Counties, Georgia; • 1.5 miles of new 16-inch-diameter pipeline in Murray County, Georgia; and • ancillary facilities associated with the new pipeline including mainline valves and pig 1 launchers/receivers facilities. The Dalton Expansion Project would also include the following modifications to Transco’s existing mainline facilities: • Addition of 30-inch mainline regulators at a compressor station in Howard County, Maryland; • addition of valves and yard piping for south flow compression at compressor stations in Pittsylvania and Prince William Counties, Virginia; • modifications at a compressor station in Mecklenburg County, Virginia; • modifications at meter stations in Rockingham, Warren, Northampton, and Buffalo Island Counties, North Carolina, and Pittsylvania, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, and Greensville Counties, Virginia; and • modifications at two mainline valves in Rockingham County, North Carolina. The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.2 Land Requirements for Construction mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Construction of the planned pipeline and aboveground facilities in Georgia would disturb about 1,140 acres of land. Following construction, Transco would maintain about 685 acres for permanent operation of the Project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 66 percent of the planned pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way. Modifications to 1 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes. 2 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:00 Nov 20, 2014 Jkt 235001 Transco’s mainline facilities in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina would occur within the boundaries of the existing 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. In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the Project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • vegetation and wildlife; • endangered and threatened species; • land use; • socioeconomics; • cultural resources; • air quality and noise; and • public safety. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 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 EA. 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 EA 4. Agencies that would like to request cooperating 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 responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. 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 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(s), 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.5 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 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 planned facilities and the environmental information provided by Transco and public comments. 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 5 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. E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM 21NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 2014 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES subsurface 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. • Land Use—Effects on residential areas and agricultural lands during construction and operation of Project facilities. • 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 Project facilities. 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 20, 2014. 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 (PF14–10–000) 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:00 Nov 20, 2014 Jkt 235001 (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 EA 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 Once Transco 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 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69457 ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF14– 10). 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/docsfiling/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 14, 2014. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–27548 Filed 11–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 13563–003] Juneau Hydropower, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement and Soliciting Comments, and Final Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions November 17, 2014. Take notice that the following hydroelectric application and applicantprepared environmental assessment has been filed with Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: Original Major License. b. Project No.: 13563–003. c. Date filed: May 29, 2014. d. Applicant: Juneau Hydropower, Inc. e. Name of Project: Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: On Lower Sweetheart Lake and Sweetheart Creek in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska. The project would occupy about 2,058 acres of federal lands located in the Tongass E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM 21NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69455-69457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27548]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF14-10-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Supplemental Notice 
of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Dalton 
Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    On October 21, 2014, the Commission issued the Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Dalton Expansion 
Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting (NOI). It has come to our 
attention that the environmental mailing list was not provided copies 
of the NOI; therefore, we are issuing this Supplemental NOI to extend 
the scoping period and provide additional time for interested parties 
to file comments on environmental issues. The NOI identified November 
20, 2014 as the close of the scoping period. Please note that the 
scoping period is now extended and will close on December 20, 2014.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Company, LLC's (Transco's) Dalton Expansion Project (Project) involving 
construction and operation of new pipeline and aboveground facilities 
in Georgia and the modification of Transco's existing mainline system 
in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The Commission will use this 
EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is 
in the public convenience and necessity.
    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

    Transco plans to construct and operate about 110.8 miles of new 
natural gas pipeline in Coweta, Carroll, Douglas, Paulding, Bartow, 
Gordon, and Murray Counties, Georgia and a new compressor station in 
Carroll County, Georgia. In addition, Transco plans to modify 
facilities along its existing mainline system in Maryland, Virginia, 
and North Carolina to accommodate bidirectional flow. Transco has 
indicated that the Project would provide 448,000 dekatherms per day of 
incremental firm transportation service to markets in northwest 
Georgia.
    The Project would include the installation of the following 
facilities:

[[Page 69456]]

     A new 21,830 horsepower compressor station (Compressor 
Station 116) in Carroll County, Georgia;
     three new meter stations in Bartow and Murray counties, 
Georgia;
     about 7.6 miles of new 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Coweta 
and Caroll Counties, Georgia;
     48.2 miles of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Carroll, 
Douglas, Paulding, and Bartow Counties, Georgia;
     53.5 miles of new 20-inch-diameter pipeline in Bartow, 
Gordon, and Murray Counties, Georgia;
     1.5 miles of new 16-inch-diameter pipeline in Murray 
County, Georgia; and
     ancillary facilities associated with the new pipeline 
including mainline valves and pig \1\ launchers/receivers facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Dalton Expansion Project would also include the following 
modifications to Transco's existing mainline facilities:
     Addition of 30-inch mainline regulators at a compressor 
station in Howard County, Maryland;
     addition of valves and yard piping for south flow 
compression at compressor stations in Pittsylvania and Prince William 
Counties, Virginia;
     modifications at a compressor station in Mecklenburg 
County, Virginia;
     modifications at meter stations in Rockingham, Warren, 
Northampton, and Buffalo Island Counties, North Carolina, and 
Pittsylvania, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, and Greensville 
Counties, Virginia; and
     modifications at two mainline valves in Rockingham County, 
North Carolina.
    The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned pipeline and aboveground facilities in 
Georgia would disturb about 1,140 acres of land. Following 
construction, Transco would maintain about 685 acres for permanent 
operation of the Project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be 
restored and revert to former uses. About 66 percent of the planned 
pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-
way. Modifications to Transco's mainline facilities in Maryland, 
Virginia, and North Carolina would occur within the boundaries of the 
existing 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 Project under these general 
headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     endangered and threatened species;
     land use;
     socioeconomics;
     cultural resources;
     air quality and noise; and
     public safety.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 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 EA. 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 EA 
\4\. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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(s), 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.\5\ 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 EA for this Project 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 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 planned facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Transco and public comments. 
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

[[Page 69457]]

subsurface 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.
     Land Use--Effects on residential areas and agricultural 
lands during construction and operation of Project facilities.
     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 Project facilities.

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 20, 2014.
    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 (PF14-10-000) 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 EA 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

    Once Transco 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., PF14-
10). 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/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 14, 2014.
 Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-27548 Filed 11-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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