Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Leidy South Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 45529-45531 [2015-18679]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices 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 inlieu 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 August 7, 2015. Dated: July 22, 2015. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–18482 Filed 7–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15–492–000] Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Leidy South Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Leidy South Expansion Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Dominion Transmission, Inc. (DTI) in Clinton, Centre, and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania, Frederick County, Maryland, and Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, Virginia. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project. 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 the 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 August 22, 2015. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on May 15th, 2015, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP15–492–000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. 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 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 your property in order 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 property negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with state law. DTI 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). Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 45529 follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded. (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 submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature on the Commission’s Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the filing type; or (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP15–492– 000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Summary of the Proposed Project DTI proposes to construct, install, own, operate, and maintain compression or appurtenant facilities located in Clinton, Franklin, and Centre Counties, Pennsylvania; Frederick County, Maryland; and Loudoun and Fauquier counties, Virginia. The Leidy South Project would consist of the following facilities: • 11,000 horsepower (hp) of additional compression at the Finnefrock Compressor Station in Clinton County, Pennsylvania; • upgrade filter separators at the Centre Compressor Station in Centre County, Pennsylvania; • 13,220 hp of additional compression at the Chambersburg Compressor Station in Franklin County, Pennsylvania; • 15,900 hp of additional compression, installation of a selective catalytic reduction systems, and modifications to existing compressor unit at the Myersville Compressor Station in Frederick County, Maryland; • 8,000 hp additional electric compression at the Leesburg Compressor Station in Loudoun County, Virginia; • installation of a new cooler and filter separator at the Quantico Compressor Station in Fauquier County, Virginia; and • construction of a new metering and regulation station at the Panda E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 45530 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices Stonewall Meter Station, in Loudoun County, Virginia. The Leidy South Project would provide about 155 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to existing and new electric power generation facilities. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would temporarily disturb about 124.1 acres of land within DTI’s or the Leidy Storage facility property boundaries, including 34.7 acres within existing compressor station fence lines. Following construction, DTI would maintain about 56.4 acres for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. The EA Process Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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; • land use; • water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • cultural resources; • vegetation and wildlife; • air quality and noise; • endangered and threatened species; • public safety; • socioeconomics; and • cumulative impacts 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 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 We will also evaluate 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 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 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 2. 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. 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 (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 SHPOs 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 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 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 and the environmental information provided by DTI. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. • Visual • Air and noise; and • Cumulative impacts 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 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 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. E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 2015 / Notices 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., CP15–492). 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. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–18679 Filed 7–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9931–44–Region 6] Draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems in New Mexico (NMR040000) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of proposed permit reissuance and notice of public meetings. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 Water Quality Protection Division, today is proposing for public comment the reissuance of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for storm water discharges from small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) located within the State Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Jul 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 45531 of New Mexico except MS4s located in Indian lands, Los Alamos County, the Middle Rio Grande Sub-Watersheds described in Appendix A of the NPDES permit No NMR04A000, or within the area of another MS4 permit. This proposed permit offers discharge authorization to regulated small MS4s within the boundaries of the Bureau of the Census-designated 2000 and 2010 Farmington, Santa Fe, Los Lunas, Las Cruces and El Paso Urbanized Areas and any other small MS4s in the State of New Mexico designated by the Director as needing a MS4 permit, other than those primarily located in Los Alamos. This permit is intended to replace the expired general permit NMR040000. The Director is also providing notice of public meetings to be held regarding today’s proposed general permit reissuance. The Region is also providing notice that general permits NMR04000I and OKR04000I (MS4s on Indian Country lands in New Mexico and Oklahoma, respectively) are not being reissued and are considered terminated by expiration. DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before October 28, 2015. Proposed Documents: The proposed general permit and fact sheet which sets forth principal facts and the significant factual, legal, and policy questions considered in the development of the proposed general permit, may be obtained via the Internet at https:// epa.gov/region6/water/npdes/sw/sms4/ index.htm. To obtain hard copies of these documents or any other information in the administrative record, please contact Ms. Evelyn Rosborough using the contact information provided below. public meetings in the Santa Fe, Farmington, Los Lunas, Las Cruces and El Paso urbanized areas. The public meetings will include a presentation on the proposed general permit and a question and answer session. Written, but not oral, comments for the official permit record will be accepted at the public meetings. Public notice of these meetings will be provided in The Sun News, Albuquerque Journal, The Santa Fe New Mexican, and The Farmington Daily Times. How do I comment on this proposal? Comment Submittals: Submit your comments, by one of the following methods: • Email: rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov. • Mail: Ms. Evelyn Rosborough, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Administrative Record: The proposed general permit and other related documents in the administrative record are on file and may be inspected any time between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the addresses listed for submission of comments. It is recommended that you write or call to the contact above for an appointment, so the record(s) will be available at your convenience. Public Meetings and Public Hearing: EPA will be holding five informal Santa Fe Urbanized Area Meeting PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 El Paso Urbanized Area Meeting Date and Time: Monday September 14, 2015 from 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m. MST. Location: New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College-Sunland Park Campus, Room 102—Auditorium, 3365 McNutt Rd., Sunland Park, NM 88063. Las Cruces Urbanized Area Meeting Date and Time: Monday September 14, 2015 from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. MST Location: New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College-East Mesa Campus, Student Resource Building, 2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces, NM 88003. Los Lunas Urbanized Area Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday September 15, 2015 from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. MST Location: Holiday Inn Express Belen, 2110 Camino del Llano, Belen, NM 87002. Farmington Urbanized Area Meeting Date and Time: Wednesday September 16, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. MST Location: Courtyard by Marriott Farmington, 560 Scott Ave., Farmington, NM 87401. Date and Time: Thursday September 17, 2015 from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m. MST. Location: The Lodge at Santa Fe, 750 N. St. Francis Dr., Santa Fe, NM 87501. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Evelyn Rosborough, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Telephone: (214) 655–7515. Email address: rosborough.evelyn@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. General Information This permit authorizes stormwater discharges to waters of the United States from small MS4s within the State of New Mexico except MS4s located in Indian lands, Los Alamos County, the Middle Rio Grande Sub-Watersheds described in Appendix A of the NPDES permit No NMR04A000, or within the E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45529-45531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18679]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-492-000]


Dominion Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Leidy South Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Leidy South Expansion Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Dominion 
Transmission, Inc. (DTI) in Clinton, Centre, and Franklin Counties, 
Pennsylvania, Frederick County, Maryland, and Loudoun and Fauquier 
Counties, Virginia. 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 announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. 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 the 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 August 22, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on May 15th, 2015, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP15-492-000 to ensure they are considered as 
part of this proceeding.
    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 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 your property 
in order 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 property 
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could 
initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be 
determined in accordance with state law.
    DTI 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).

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. 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 on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a 
variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. 
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on 
``eRegister.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(CP15-492-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    DTI proposes to construct, install, own, operate, and maintain 
compression or appurtenant facilities located in Clinton, Franklin, and 
Centre Counties, Pennsylvania; Frederick County, Maryland; and Loudoun 
and Fauquier counties, Virginia.
    The Leidy South Project would consist of the following facilities:
     11,000 horsepower (hp) of additional compression at the 
Finnefrock Compressor Station in Clinton County, Pennsylvania;
     upgrade filter separators at the Centre Compressor Station 
in Centre County, Pennsylvania;
     13,220 hp of additional compression at the Chambersburg 
Compressor Station in Franklin County, Pennsylvania;
     15,900 hp of additional compression, installation of a 
selective catalytic reduction systems, and modifications to existing 
compressor unit at the Myersville Compressor Station in Frederick 
County, Maryland;
     8,000 hp additional electric compression at the Leesburg 
Compressor Station in Loudoun County, Virginia;
     installation of a new cooler and filter separator at the 
Quantico Compressor Station in Fauquier County, Virginia; and
     construction of a new metering and regulation station at 
the Panda

[[Page 45530]]

Stonewall Meter Station, in Loudoun County, Virginia.
    The Leidy South Project would provide about 155 million standard 
cubic feet of natural gas per day to existing and new electric power 
generation facilities. The general location of the project facilities 
is 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 temporarily disturb 
about 124.1 acres of land within DTI's or the Leidy Storage facility 
property boundaries, including 34.7 acres within existing compressor 
station fence lines. Following construction, DTI would maintain about 
56.4 acres for permanent operation of the project's 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;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public safety;
     socioeconomics; and
     cumulative impacts
    We will also evaluate 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 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 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 2.
    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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 Offices (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 SHPOs 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 and 
the environmental information provided by DTI. This preliminary list of 
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.

 Visual
 Air and noise; and
 Cumulative impacts

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 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

    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.

[[Page 45531]]

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., CP15-
492). 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-18679 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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