National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation and Empire Pipeline, Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Access 2016 Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, Notice of Environmental Site Review, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting, 26015-26017 [2015-10557]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability is May 20, 2015. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at https:// www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 5 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filings in the above-referenced proceeding(s) are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also 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. Dated: April 30, 2015. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–10572 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15–115–000] tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation and Empire Pipeline, Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Access 2016 Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, Notice of Environmental Site Review, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting On October 22, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued in Docket No. PF14–18–000 a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Access 2016 Project, Request for Comments on VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:43 May 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings (NOI). In their application in the above-referenced docket, National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (Supply) and Empire Pipeline Inc. (Empire) (collectively National Fuel) have since filed their proposed locations for one new compressor station and one natural gas dehydration facility in Niagara County, New York. This Supplemental Notice is being issued to seek comments on the new aboveground facilities and opens a new scoping period for interested parties to file comments on environmental issues specific to these facilities. The October 22, 2014 NOI announced that the FERC will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to address the environmental impacts of the Northern Access 2016 Project (Project). Please refer to the NOI for more information about the facilities proposed by National Fuel in Pennsylvania and 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. 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. Your input will help Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. 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 29, 2015. The Commission previously solicited public input on the pipeline portion of the project in Pennsylvania and New York in the fall of 2014. We 1 are specifically seeking comments on the aboveground facilities to help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. If you have previously submitted comments during the pre-filing review in docket no. PF14–18–000, you do not need to resubmit your comments at this time. Please note that this special scoping period will close on May 29, 2015. This notice is being sent to the Commission’s current environmental mailing list for this Project. State and local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this 1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26015 proposed Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. 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. Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form or provided verbally. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded. (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. (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the Commission invites you to attend the public scoping meeting its staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows. FERC Public Scoping Meeting, Northern Access 2016 Project— Aboveground Facilities in NY, May 20, 2015, 7:00 p.m., Wendelville Fire Company, 7340 Campbell Boulevard, North Tonawanda, NY 14120. We will begin our sign up of speakers at 6:00 p.m. The scoping meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a description of E:\FR\FM\06MYN1.SGM 06MYN1 26016 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices our environmental review process by Commission staff, after which speakers will be called. The meeting will end once all speakers have provided their comments or at 10:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Please note that there may be a time limit of three minutes to present comments, and speakers should structure their comments accordingly. If time limits are implemented, they will be strictly enforced to ensure that as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to comment. The meetings are recorded by a stenographer to ensure comments are accurately recorded. Transcripts will be entered into the formal record of the Commission proceeding. National Fuel representatives will be present one hour prior to the start of the scoping meeting to provide additional information about the project and answer questions. Environmental Onsite Review Commission staff will conduct two environmental onsite reviews of National Fuel’s proposed Pendleton Compressor Station site and its proposed Wheatfield Dehydration Facility. Notes from this onsite environmental site review will be posted to the docket. Summary of the Newly Proposed Facilities The aboveground facilities that are the focus of this notice are the new Pendleton Compressor Station and Wheatfield Dehydration Facility, both in Niagara County, New York. The general location of these proposed project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.2 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD 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 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 important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues to address in the EA. 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:43 May 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 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; • soils; • water resources; • vegetation; • wildlife and aquatic resources; • fisheries and aquatic resources; • threatened, endangered, and other special-status species; • land use, recreation, special interest areas, and visual resources; • socioeconomics; • cultural resources; • air quality and noise; • reliability and safety; and • cumulative environmental impacts. We will also evaluate possible 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. Please note that since National Fuel has filed an application for the proposed Project, a new docket number has been assigned (CP15–115–000). As part of our pre-filing review, we participated in public Open House meetings sponsored by National Fuel in the project area in August 2014 to explain the environmental review process to interested stakeholders. We also conducted public scoping meetings along the proposed pipeline route in November 2014. We have also contacted federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA. The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. We will publish and distribute the EA for public comment. After the comment period, we will consider all timely comments which will be addressed in the Commission’s decisional order. With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues related to this Project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 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 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Offices 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.3 We will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Offices as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the Area of Potential Effects 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. 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 by 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. Copies of the completed 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 a 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 3 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 of Historic Places. E:\FR\FM\06MYN1.SGM 06MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 87 / Wednesday, May 6, 2015 / Notices 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 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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., CP15– 115). 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. 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. Finally, National Fuel has established a project contact (Emily Ciraolo), a tollfree phone number (1–800–634–5440 ext. 7861) and an email support address (ciraoloe@natfuel.com) so that parties can call them directly with questions about the project. Dated: April 29, 2015. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–10557 Filed 5–5–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:43 May 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 137–178] Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection: a. Type of Application: Application for Temporary Variance of License Requirement. b. Project No.: 137–178. c. Date Filed: April 24, 2015, and supplemented April 29, 2015. d. Applicants: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee). e. Name of Project: Mokelumne River Project. f. Location: Mokelumne River, South Fork Mokelumne River, Bear River, and their tributaries in Amador, Alpine, and Calaveras counties, California. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r. h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Ezra Becker, License Coordinator, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, (415) 973–3082. i. FERC Contact: Mr. John Aedo, (415) 369–3335, or john.aedo@ferc.gov. j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, protests, and recommendations is 30 days from the issuance date of this notice by the Commission (April 29, 2015). The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file motions to intervene, protests, comments, or recommendations 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, (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include the project number (P– 137–178) on any comments, motions to intervene, protests, or recommendations filed. k. Description of Request: The licensee requests Commission approval of a temporary variance of the minimum and pulse flow requirements at the PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26017 project Upper Lakes under the requirements of the project license and Condition No. 7 of the U.S. Forest Service’s (FS) section 4(e) Conditions. Specifically, the license requests that the 5 cubic feet per second (cfs) minimum flow requirement be reduced to 2 cfs below Lower Blue and Meadow Lakes from May 1, 2015 through the June 30, 2015. The licensee also requests Commission approval to forego the 5-day, 20 cfs pulse flow requirement in 2015 at Upper Blue, Lower Blue, and Meadow Lakes. The licensee states that the temporary variance is necessary to conserve water in order to ensure minimum flow releases through the fall and to maintain an adequate level to recreation opportunities at the Upper Lakes this summer. l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission’s Public Reference Room, located at 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling (202) 502–8371. This filing may also be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. You may also register online at https://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, call 1–866–208–3676 or email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for TTY, call (202) 502–8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) above. m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission’s mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission. n. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene: Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission’s Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application. o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the title ‘‘COMMENTS’’, ‘‘PROTEST’’, or ‘‘MOTION TO INTERVENE’’ as E:\FR\FM\06MYN1.SGM 06MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26015-26017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10557]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-115-000]


National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation and Empire Pipeline, Inc.; 
Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment 
for the Proposed Northern Access 2016 Project, Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues, Notice of Environmental Site Review, and Notice 
of Public Scoping Meeting

    On October 22, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC 
or Commission) issued in Docket No. PF14-18-000 a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Access 
2016 Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice 
of Public Scoping Meetings (NOI). In their application in the above-
referenced docket, National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (Supply) and 
Empire Pipeline Inc. (Empire) (collectively National Fuel) have since 
filed their proposed locations for one new compressor station and one 
natural gas dehydration facility in Niagara County, New York. This 
Supplemental Notice is being issued to seek comments on the new 
aboveground facilities and opens a new scoping period for interested 
parties to file comments on environmental issues specific to these 
facilities.
    The October 22, 2014 NOI announced that the FERC will prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) to address the environmental impacts of 
the Northern Access 2016 Project (Project). Please refer to the NOI for 
more information about the facilities proposed by National Fuel in 
Pennsylvania and 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.
    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. Your input will help 
Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. 
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 29, 2015.
    The Commission previously solicited public input on the pipeline 
portion of the project in Pennsylvania and New York in the fall of 
2014. We \1\ are specifically seeking comments on the aboveground 
facilities to help the Commission staff determine what issues need to 
be evaluated in the EA. If you have previously submitted comments 
during the pre-filing review in docket no. PF14-18-000, you do not need 
to resubmit your comments at this time. Please note that this special 
scoping period will close on May 29, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this Project. State and local government 
representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this proposed 
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    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.

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. The Commission encourages electronic filing of 
comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 
or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow these instructions so that 
your comments are properly recorded.
    (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.
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend the public scoping meeting its staff 
will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows.
    FERC Public Scoping Meeting, Northern Access 2016 Project--
Aboveground Facilities in NY, May 20, 2015, 7:00 p.m., Wendelville Fire 
Company, 7340 Campbell Boulevard, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
    We will begin our sign up of speakers at 6:00 p.m. The scoping 
meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. with a description of

[[Page 26016]]

our environmental review process by Commission staff, after which 
speakers will be called. The meeting will end once all speakers have 
provided their comments or at 10:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Please 
note that there may be a time limit of three minutes to present 
comments, and speakers should structure their comments accordingly. If 
time limits are implemented, they will be strictly enforced to ensure 
that as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to 
comment. The meetings are recorded by a stenographer to ensure comments 
are accurately recorded. Transcripts will be entered into the formal 
record of the Commission proceeding.
    National Fuel representatives will be present one hour prior to the 
start of the scoping meeting to provide additional information about 
the project and answer questions.

Environmental Onsite Review

    Commission staff will conduct two environmental onsite reviews of 
National Fuel's proposed Pendleton Compressor Station site and its 
proposed Wheatfield Dehydration Facility. Notes from this onsite 
environmental site review will be posted to the docket.

Summary of the Newly Proposed Facilities

    The aboveground facilities that are the focus of this notice are 
the new Pendleton Compressor Station and Wheatfield Dehydration 
Facility, both in Niagara County, New York. The general location of 
these proposed project facilities is 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
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 important environmental 
issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of issues to address in 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;
     soils;
     water resources;
     vegetation;
     wildlife and aquatic resources;
     fisheries and aquatic resources;
     threatened, endangered, and other special-status species;
     land use, recreation, special interest areas, and visual 
resources;
     socioeconomics;
     cultural resources;
     air quality and noise;
     reliability and safety; and
     cumulative environmental impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible 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.
    Please note that since National Fuel has filed an application for 
the proposed Project, a new docket number has been assigned (CP15-115-
000). As part of our pre-filing review, we participated in public Open 
House meetings sponsored by National Fuel in the project area in August 
2014 to explain the environmental review process to interested 
stakeholders. We also conducted public scoping meetings along the 
proposed pipeline route in November 2014. We have also contacted 
federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping 
process and the preparation of the EA.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. We will 
publish and distribute the EA for public comment. After the comment 
period, we will consider all timely comments which will be addressed in 
the Commission's decisional order.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or 
special expertise with respect to environmental issues related to this 
Project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. 
Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should 
follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public 
Participation section of this notice. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers 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 Offices 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.\3\ We will define the project-specific Area of Potential 
Effects in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Offices as 
the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the Area of 
Potential Effects 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 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 of Historic 
Places.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 by 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.
    Copies of the completed 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 a 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

[[Page 26017]]

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 (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., CP15-
115). 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.
    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.
    Finally, National Fuel has established a project contact (Emily 
Ciraolo), a toll-free phone number (1-800-634-5440 ext. 7861) and an 
email support address (ciraoloe@natfuel.com) so that parties can call 
them directly with questions about the project.

    Dated: April 29, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-10557 Filed 5-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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