Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed SM-80 MAOP Restoration Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 66526-66528 [2015-27574]

Download as PDF 66526 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 209 / Thursday, October 29, 2015 / Notices Lynchburg Public Library, 2315 Memorial Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501, and the Liberty University Library, DeMoss Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24502. o. 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, contact FERC Online Support. Dated: October 23, 2015. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–27575 Filed 10–28–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP15–549–000] asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed SM–80 MAOP Restoration 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 SM–80 MAOP Restoration Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gas) in Wayne County, West 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 November 14, 2015. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on September 2, 2015, you VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:37 Oct 28, 2015 Jkt 238001 will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP15–549–000 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 an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with state law. Columbia Gas 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, PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 (CP15–549– 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 Columbia Gas proposes to abandon in place approximately 3.3 miles of 30inch-diameter pipeline and associated above ground appurtenances located on its existing SM–80 natural gas transmission system located in Wayne County, West Virginia. This section would be abandoned due to its age and condition, and the current Department of Transportation requirements based on increases in population density near the pipeline. Columbia would also construct approximately 3.9 miles of 30inch-diameter pipe to replace the abandoned pipeline. The new pipeline would be tied-in to the existing SM–80 pipeline at mileposts 0.67 and 4.56 and would be co-located with the existing SM–80 Loop 1 and other existing easements for 3.8 of the 3.9 miles. The 3.3 miles of 30-inch diameter pipeline is located in an area that has undergone an increase in residential development. In order to decrease the potential impacts to this residential development, Columbia Gas proposed to install the 30-inch diameter replacement pipeline to the south and east of the proposed abandonment. In addition to the above-mentioned pipeline, the SM–80 MAOP Restoration Project would require minor modification to support facilities. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.2 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 77.9 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, Columbia Gas would maintain about 12.4 acres for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 96 percent of the 1 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity. 2 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. E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM 29OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 209 / Thursday, October 29, 2015 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES proposed pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rightsof-way. The EA Process The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 3 to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed 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; 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. 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.4 Agencies that 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. 4 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:37 Oct 28, 2015 Jkt 238001 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 Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project’s potential effects on historic properties.5 We will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/ pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. Environmental Mailing List The environmental mailing list includes: Federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission’s regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the environmental responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. 5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. 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 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66527 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 ‘‘Document-less Intervention Guide’’ under the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the Commission’s Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/ resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. 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., CP15–549). 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. E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM 29OCN1 66528 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 209 / Thursday, October 29, 2015 / Notices Dated: October 23, 2015. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–27574 Filed 10–28–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P FEDERAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD Notice of Renewal of FASAB Charter Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Board Action: Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3511(d),the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), as amended, and the FASAB Rules Of Procedure, as amended in October 2010, notice is hereby given that under the authority and in furtherance of the objectives of 31 U.S.C. 3511(d), the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of OMB, and the Comptroller General (the Sponsors) have agreed to continue an advisory committee to consider and recommend accounting standards and principles for the federal government. For Further Information, or to Obtain a Copy of the Charter, Contact: Ms. Wendy M. Payne, Executive Director, 441 G St. NW., Mail Stop 6H20, Washington, DC 20548, or call (202) 512–7350. Authority: Federal Advisory Committee Act, Pub. L. 92–463. Dated: October 23, 2015. Charles Jackson, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–27578 Filed 10–28–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1610–02–P Federal Communications Commission. Jeffrey J. Gee, Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [DA 15–1130] Notice of Debarment; Federal Lifeline Universal Service Support Mechanism Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) gives notice of Oscar Enrique Perez-Zumaeta’s debarment from the federal Lifeline universal service support mechanism (Lifeline program) for a period of three years. During this debarment period, Mr. Perez-Zumaeta is prohibited from participating in activities associated with or related to the Lifeline program, including the receipt of funds or discounted services through the Lifeline program, or asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:37 Oct 28, 2015 Jkt 238001 consulting with, assisting, or advising applicants or service providers regarding the Lifeline program. DATES: Debarment commences on the date Mr. Perez-Zumaeta receives the debarment letter or October 29, 2015, whichever comes first, for a period of three years. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Celia Lewis, Paralegal Specialist, Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division, Room 4–A422, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Celia Lewis may be contacted by telephone at (202) 418–7456 or email at Celia.Lewis@fcc.gov. If Ms. Lewis is unavailable, you may contact Mr. Kalun Lee, Deputy Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division, by telephone at (202) 418–0796 or email at Kalun.Lee@ fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bureau debars Mr. Perez-Zumaeta for a period of three years pursuant to 47 CFR 54.8 and 0.111(a)(14). Mr. PerezZumaeta’s conviction for money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957(a) and 18 U.S.C. 2, in connection with fraudulent claims against the Lifeline program is the basis for this debarment. Attached is the Notice of Debarment, DA 15–1130, which was mailed to Mr. Perez-Zumaeta and released on October 5, 2015. The complete text of the Notice of Debarment is available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portal II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. In addition, the complete text is available on the FCC’s Web site at https://www.fcc.gov. October 5, 2015 DA 15–1130 SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Oscar Enrique Perez-Zumaeta c/o William P. Earley Federal Public Defender-OKC 215 Dean A McGee Ave Suite 109 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Re: Notice of Debarment, File No. EB– IHD–15–00019209 Dear Mr. Perez-Zumaeta: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) hereby notifies you that, pursuant to section 54.8 of the Commission’s rules, you are prohibited from participating in activities associated with or related to PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the federal low-income support mechanism (Lifeline program) for three years from either the date of your receipt of this Notice of Debarment or of its publication in the Federal Register, whichever comes first (Debarment Date).1 On June 8, 2015, the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) sent you a notice of suspension and initiation of debarment proceeding (Notice of Suspension) that was published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2015.2 The Notice of Suspension suspended you from participating in any activities associated with or related to the Lifeline program, including receiving funds or discounted services through the Lifeline program, or consulting with, assisting, or advising applicants or service providers regarding the Lifeline program.3 It also described the basis for initiating debarment proceedings against you, the applicable debarment procedures, and the effect of debarment. As discussed in the Notice of Suspension, on November 7, 2014, you were convicted of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1957(a) and 18 U.S.C. 2, in connection with fraudulent claims against the federal Lifeline program.4 You owned and managed PSPS Sales LLC (PSPS), a California entity that recruited low-income individuals to apply for Lifeline telephone service through Icon Telecom, Inc. (Icon).5 Specifically, you pled guilty to one count of money laundering for depositing a $52,390.00 check from Icon into a PSPS bank account, despite knowing that more 1 47 CFR 54.8(e), (g); 47 CFR 0.111 (delegating to the Bureau authority to resolve universal service suspension and debarment proceedings). In 2007, the Commission extended the debarment rules to apply to all federal universal service support mechanisms, including the Lifeline program. See Comprehensive Review of the Universal Service Fund Management, Administration, & Oversight, Report and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 16372, 16410–12 (2007) (Program Management Order) (renumbering section 54.521 of the universal service debarment rules as section 54.8 and amending paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(5), (c), (d), (e)(2)(i), (e)(3), (e)(4), and (g)). 2 Letter from Jeffrey J. Gee, Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division, FCC Enforcement Bureau, to Oscar Enrique Perez-Zumaeta, Notice of suspension and initiation of debarment proceeding, 30 FCC Rcd 6121 (Enf. Bur. 2015); 80 FR 39430–01, July 9, 2015. 3 47 CFR 54.8(a)(1), (d). 4 Any further reference in this letter to ‘‘your conviction’’ refers to your guilty plea and subsequent sentencing in United States v. PerezZumaeta, Criminal Docket No. 5:14–cr–00165–D–1, Plea Agreement (W.D. Okla. filed Nov. 07, 2014) (Plea Agreement). See also Lifeline & Link Up Reform & Modernization, WC Docket No. 11–42, CC Docket No. 96–45, WC Docket No. 03–109, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 27 FCC Rcd 6656 (2012) (Lifeline Reform Order). 5 United States v. Perez-Zumaeta, Criminal Docket No. 5:14–cr–00165–D–1, Indictment at 1–2 (W.D. Okla. filed June 03, 2014) (Indictment). E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM 29OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66526-66528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27574]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-549-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed SM-80 MAOP Restoration 
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 SM-80 MAOP Restoration Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Columbia Gas 
Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gas) in Wayne County, West 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 November 14, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on September 2, 2015, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP15-549-000 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 an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with 
state law.
    Columbia Gas 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 
(CP15-549-000) 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

    Columbia Gas proposes to abandon in place approximately 3.3 miles 
of 30-inch-diameter pipeline and associated above ground appurtenances 
located on its existing SM-80 natural gas transmission system located 
in Wayne County, West Virginia. This section would be abandoned due to 
its age and condition, and the current Department of Transportation 
requirements based on increases in population density near the 
pipeline. Columbia would also construct approximately 3.9 miles of 30-
inch-diameter pipe to replace the abandoned pipeline. The new pipeline 
would be tied-in to the existing SM-80 pipeline at mileposts 0.67 and 
4.56 and would be co-located with the existing SM-80 Loop \1\ and other 
existing easements for 3.8 of the 3.9 miles. The 3.3 miles of 30-inch 
diameter pipeline is located in an area that has undergone an increase 
in residential development. In order to decrease the potential impacts 
to this residential development, Columbia Gas proposed to install the 
30-inch diameter replacement pipeline to the south and east of the 
proposed abandonment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the above-mentioned pipeline, the SM-80 MAOP 
Restoration Project would require minor modification to support 
facilities.
    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 appendices were sent to all those 
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov 
using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call 
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to 
the last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 77.9 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, Columbia Gas would maintain about 12.4 acres 
for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining 
acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 96 percent 
of the

[[Page 66527]]

proposed pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road 
rights-of-way.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 
\3\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about 
proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of 
the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important 
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public 
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed 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; 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. 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.\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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and to 
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested 
Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on 
historic properties.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of 
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project 
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum 
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include 
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor 
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our 
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status 
of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes: Federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related 
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the 
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would 
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the 
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard 
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. 
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a 
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in 
the ``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on 
the Commission's Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully 
described at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.

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-
549). 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.


[[Page 66528]]


    Dated: October 23, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-27574 Filed 10-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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