Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Nexus Gas Transmission and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease Projects, 32324 [2016-12047]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 32324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12047]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Nexus Gas 
Transmission and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease Projects

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                                                     Docket Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC...............  CP16-22-000
Texas Eastern Transmission, LP............  CP16-23-000
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    On November 20, 2015, NEXUS Gas Transmission, LLC (NEXUS) and Texas 
Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) filed applications in Docket 
Nos. CP16-22-000 and CP16-23-000 requesting a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas 
Act to construct, operate, and maintain certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed projects are known as the NEXUS Gas 
Transmission (NGT) Project and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease (TEAL) 
Project (jointly referred to as ``Projects'') and would provide 
transportation of 1.5 million dekatherms per day of Appalachian Basin 
shale gas to consuming markets in Northern Ohio, Southeastern Michigan, 
and Midwestern markets, as well as the Dawn Hub in Ontario, Canada.
    On December 7, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC 
or Commission) issued its Notice of Application for the Projects. Among 
other things, that notice alerted other agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on the request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Projects. This instant 
notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of 
the final EIS for the Projects, which is based on an issuance of the 
draft EIS in July 2016.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--November 30, 2016

90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 28, 2017

    If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an 
additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are 
kept informed of the Projects' progress.

Project Description

    The NGT Project would include about 255 miles of new 36-inch-
diameter mainline pipeline, including about 208 miles in Columbiana, 
Stark, Summit, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron, Erie, Sandusky, Wood, 
Lucas, Henry, and Fulton Counties, Ohio and about 47 miles in Lenawee, 
Monroe, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties, Michigan. The NGT Project also 
would include about one mile of new 36-inch-diameter interconnecting 
pipeline in Columbiana County, Ohio. In addition, NEXUS proposes to 
construct and operate four new compressor stations and other 
aboveground facilities.
    The TEAL Project would include about 4.4 miles of new 36-inch-
diameter loop pipeline in Monroe County, Ohio; and about 0.3 mile of 
new 30-inch-diameter interconnecting pipeline between in Columbiana 
County, Ohio. The TEAL Project also would include construction of one 
new compressor station, modification of one existing compressor 
station, and construction and modification of other aboveground 
facilities.

Background

    On January 9, 2015 and January 26, 2015, the Commission staff 
granted NEXUS and Texas Eastern's requests to use the FERC's Pre-filing 
environmental review process and assigned the NGT Project and TEAL 
Project Docket Nos. PF15-10-000 and PF15-11-000, respectively. On April 
8, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Nexus Gas Transmission 
Project and Texas Eastern Appalachian Lease Project, Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings 
(NOI).
    The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Projects and 
was sent to federal, state, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; affected landowners; environmental and public interest 
groups; Native American tribes and regional organizations; commentors 
and other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. Major 
issues raised during scoping include underground mines, karst geology, 
topsoil, drain tiles, drinking water, waterbodies, wetlands, 
vegetation, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, Oak Openings 
ecosystem, residential development, socioeconomic resources, cultural 
resources, public safety, air quality, as well as potential cumulative 
resource impacts and recommended project alternatives.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the 
EIS.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EIS and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription (https://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., CP16-22 or CP16-23), and follow the 
instructions.

    Dated: May 17, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-12047 Filed 5-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P