Paulsboro Natural Gas Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Delaware River Pipeline Relocation Project, 31925 [2016-11899]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 31925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11899]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-27-000]


Paulsboro Natural Gas Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of the Delaware River Pipeline Relocation 
Project

    On December 1, 2015, Paulsboro Natural Gas Pipeline Company, LLC 
(Paulsboro) filed an application in Docket No. CP16-27-000 requesting 
authorization and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity 
pursuant to Section 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to 
abandon, construct, and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Delaware River 
Pipeline Relocation Project (Project).
    On December 11, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--July 18, 2016

90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--October 16, 2016
    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    Paulsboro proposes to abandon about 2.4 miles of 6- and 8-inch-
diameter natural gas pipeline extending across the Delaware River 
between Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Gloucester County, New 
Jersey. Paulsboro would replace the abandoned pipeline with 2.6 miles 
of 12- and 24-inch-diameter pipeline installed under the Delaware River 
using the horizontal directional drill method. The purpose of the 
Project is to facilitate the United States Army Corps of Engineers' 
dredging activities for the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening 
Project (45-Foot Project). The Project would increase natural gas 
transportation capacity from 38 million standard cubic feet per day 
(MMScf/d) to 57.7 MMScf/d to the sole customer served by the pipeline, 
Paulsboro Refining Company, LLC.

Background

    On January 19, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Delaware River 
Pipeline Relocation Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues (NOI). The NOI was published in the Federal Register and mailed 
to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government agencies; 
elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native 
American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and 
newspapers.
    In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from 
Consolidated Rail Corporation, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, New Jersey 
Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey State Historic 
Preservation Office, and Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation 
Office. The primary issues raised by the commentors included state 
permit requirements and environmental compliance; potential impacts on 
cultural and natural resources; cumulative impacts; pipeline safety; 
future upgrades of Paulsboro's facilities and systems; and natural gas 
production methods.
    The Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District are cooperating agencies 
in the preparation of the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    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, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP16-27), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to 
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued 
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: May 11, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-11899 Filed 5-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P