Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned 2017 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 53134-53136 [2016-19082]
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53134
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 155 / Thursday, August 11, 2016 / Notices
Date and time
Location
Wednesday, August 17, 2016, 6–10 p.m ...........
Patriots Theater at War Memorial, George Washington Ballroom, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton,
NJ 08608, Phone: (609) 984–8484.
All other public comment meetings
will be held as listed in the Notice of
Availability issued on July 22, 2016.
Dated: August 5, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–19072 Filed 8–10–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF16–7–000]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Planned 2017 Expansion 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 2017 Expansion Project involving
construction and operation of facilities
by Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company
(Eastern Shore) in Lancaster and Chester
Counties, Pennsylvania; Cecil County,
Maryland; and New Castle, Kent, and
Sussex Counties, Delaware. 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
31, 2016.
If you sent comments on this project
to the Commission before the opening of
this docket on May 17, 2016, you will
need to file those comments in Docket
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:44 Aug 10, 2016
Jkt 238001
No. PF16–7–000 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 planned
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
planned 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.
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 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
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 (PF16–7–000)
with your submission: Kimberly D.
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Summary of the Planned Project
Eastern Shore plans to construct new
pipeline and appurtenant aboveground
facilities in the states of Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and Delaware. The 2017
Expansion Project facilities consist of (1)
approximately 30 miles of pipeline
looping in Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Delaware; (2) upgrades to existing
metering facilities; (3) installation of an
additional 3,550 horsepower (‘‘hp’’)
compressor unit at the existing Daleville
Compressor Station; and (4)
approximately 17 miles of new mainline
extension and the addition of two
pressure control stations in Sussex
County, Delaware.
The 2017 Expansion Project consists
of the following components, listed
below by geographic area:
Pennsylvania
Lancaster County
Honey Brook Meter and Regulator
Station: Replace existing meter runs and
pressure/flow control valves at the
existing interconnect site with Texas
Eastern Transmission, LP (‘‘Texas
Eastern’’). Modify the existing Honey
Brook Meter and Regulator Station and
lateral piping to accommodate the
installation of upsized mainline taps
and valves and the installation of a filter
separator, associated piping, and storage
tank as well as other ancillary
equipment at Eastern Shore’s existing
interconnect with Texas Eastern. All
construction work would be conducted
within the fenceline in previously
disturbed areas of the existing
interconnect site.
Chester County
Parkesburg Loop: Construct
approximately 5 miles of 16-inchdiameter pipeline loop 1 beginning at
Eastern Shore’s existing Parkesburg
1 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed
parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
11AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 155 / Thursday, August 11, 2016 / Notices
Meter and Regulator Station southward
to Lime Stone Road (PA–10).
Jennersville Loop: Construct
approximately 7 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline loop beginning at
Eastern Shore’s existing Daleville
Compressor Station southward to Hess
Mill Road.
Daleville Compressor Station
Upgrade: Install a new 3,550 hp gasfired compressor unit at the existing
Daleville Compressor Station.
Maryland
Cecil County
Fair Hill Loop: Construct
approximately 6.3 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline loop beginning at
Eastern Shore’s existing block valve on
Walker Road in Chester County,
Pennsylvania southward to Cecil
County, Maryland to tie into the existing
Eastern Shore pipeline north of Route 2
near the Maryland/Delaware state line.
Delaware
New Castle County
Middletown Loop: Construct
approximately 1 mile of 10-inchdiameter pipeline loop beginning on
Peterson Road and extending to a
location southeastern of Industrial Road.
Construct approximately 0.65 mile of 6inch-diameter pipeline lateral and meter
station from Industrial Road towards
Auto Park Drive.
Summit Loop: Construct
approximately 0.5 mile of 10-inchdiameter pipeline loop starting along
the south side of C&D Canal at Eastern
Shore’s existing 12- inch aerial crossing
southward to tie into the existing
Eastern Shore pipeline.
Kent County
Woodside Loop: Construct
approximately 5 miles of 16-inchdiameter pipeline loop beginning in
Wyoming, Delaware southward to Viola,
Delaware.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Sussex County
Hearns Pond Loop: Construct
approximately 1.5 miles of 10-inchdiameter pipeline loop along U.S. 13
near Seaford southward to Eastern
Shore’s existing Seaford Pressure
Control Station.
Seaford to Millsboro Segment:
Construct approximately 17.0 miles of
10-inch-diameter pipeline extension
from Seaford eastward to Eastern
Shore’s existing Millsboro Meter &
Regulator Station near Millsboro.
Laurel Loop: Construct approximately
5.1 miles of 10-inch-diameter pipeline
loop along U.S. 13 near Laurel
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:44 Aug 10, 2016
Jkt 238001
southward to connect with Eastern
Shore’s existing pipeline.
Pressure Control Stations: Construct
two pressure control stations located
near the towns of Millsboro and Delmar.
Please see appendix A for a map
depicting the general locations of the
planned 2017 Expansion Project
facilities.
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.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
planned 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 possible
alternatives to the planned project or
portions of the project, and make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas.
Although no formal application has
been filed, we have already initiated our
NEPA review under the Commission’s
pre-filing process. The purpose of the
pre-filing process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
the FERC receives an application. As
part of our pre-filing review, we have
begun to contact some 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. The EA will be
2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
53135
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 we make 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 related to 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
Office(s), 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 SHPO(s)
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
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
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.
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
11AUN1
53136
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 155 / Thursday, August 11, 2016 / Notices
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 planned 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
B).
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Eastern Shore files its
application with the Commission, 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. Motions to
intervene are more fully described at
https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/
how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions for
becoming an intervenor are in the
‘‘Document-less Intervention Guide’’
under the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the
Commission’s Web site. Please note that
the Commission will not accept requests
for intervenor status at this time. You
must wait until the Commission
receives a formal application for the
project.
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., PF16–
7). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:44 Aug 10, 2016
Jkt 238001
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.
Dated: August 1, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–19082 Filed 8–10–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Notice of Commission Staff
Attendance
The Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission) hereby gives
notice that members of the
Commission’s staff may attend the
following meetings related to the
transmission planning activities of the
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc.
The New York Independent System
Operator, Inc. Electric System Planning
Working Group Meeting
August 9, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
(EST)
The above-referenced meeting will be
via web conference and teleconference.
The above-referenced meeting is open
to stakeholders.
Further information may be found at:
https://www.nyiso.com/public/
committees/documents.jsp?com=bic_
espwg&directory=2016-08-09.
The New York Independent System
Operator, Inc. Business Issues
Committee Meeting
August 17, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
(EST)
The above-referenced meeting will be
via web conference and teleconference.
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The above-referenced meeting is open
to stakeholders.
Further information may be found at:
https://www.nyiso.com/public/
committees/documents.jsp?
com=bic&directory=2016-08-17.
The New York Independent System
Operator, Inc. Operating Committee
Meeting
August 18, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
(EST)
The above-referenced meeting will be
via web conference and teleconference.
The above-referenced meeting is open
to stakeholders.
Further information may be found at:
https://www.nyiso.com/public/
committees/documents.jsp?com=oc
&directory=2016-08-18.
The New York Independent System
Operator, Inc. Joint Electric System
Planning Working Group and
Transmission Planning Advisory
Subcommittee Meeting
August 25, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
(EST)
The above-referenced meeting will be
via web conference and teleconference.
The above-referenced meeting is open
to stakeholders.
Further information may be found at:
https://www.nyiso.com/public/
committees/documents.jsp?com=bic_
espwg&directory=2016-08-25.
The New York Independent System
Operator, Inc. Management Committee
Meeting
August 31, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
(EST)
The above-referenced meeting will be
via web conference and teleconference.
The above-referenced meeting is open
to stakeholders.
Further information may be found at:
https://www.nyiso.com/public/
committees/documents.jsp?com=
mc&directory=2016-08-31.
The discussions at the meetings
described above may address matters at
issue in the following proceedings:
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER13–102.
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER15–
2059.
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER13–
1942.
New York Transco, LLC, Docket No.
ER15–572.
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER16–966.
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc., Docket No. ER16–
1968.
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
11AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 155 (Thursday, August 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53134-53136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19082]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF16-7-000]
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Planned 2017 Expansion 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 2017 Expansion Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by Eastern Shore
Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore) in Lancaster and Chester Counties,
Pennsylvania; Cecil County, Maryland; and New Castle, Kent, and Sussex
Counties, Delaware. 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 31, 2016.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on May 17, 2016, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. PF16-7-000 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 planned
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 planned 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.
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 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
(PF16-7-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426.
Summary of the Planned Project
Eastern Shore plans to construct new pipeline and appurtenant
aboveground facilities in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and
Delaware. The 2017 Expansion Project facilities consist of (1)
approximately 30 miles of pipeline looping in Pennsylvania, Maryland
and Delaware; (2) upgrades to existing metering facilities; (3)
installation of an additional 3,550 horsepower (``hp'') compressor unit
at the existing Daleville Compressor Station; and (4) approximately 17
miles of new mainline extension and the addition of two pressure
control stations in Sussex County, Delaware.
The 2017 Expansion Project consists of the following components,
listed below by geographic area:
Pennsylvania
Lancaster County
Honey Brook Meter and Regulator Station: Replace existing meter
runs and pressure/flow control valves at the existing interconnect site
with Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (``Texas Eastern''). Modify the
existing Honey Brook Meter and Regulator Station and lateral piping to
accommodate the installation of upsized mainline taps and valves and
the installation of a filter separator, associated piping, and storage
tank as well as other ancillary equipment at Eastern Shore's existing
interconnect with Texas Eastern. All construction work would be
conducted within the fenceline in previously disturbed areas of the
existing interconnect site.
Chester County
Parkesburg Loop: Construct approximately 5 miles of 16-inch-
diameter pipeline loop \1\ beginning at Eastern Shore's existing
Parkesburg
[[Page 53135]]
Meter and Regulator Station southward to Lime Stone Road (PA-10).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jennersville Loop: Construct approximately 7 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline loop beginning at Eastern Shore's existing Daleville
Compressor Station southward to Hess Mill Road.
Daleville Compressor Station Upgrade: Install a new 3,550 hp gas-
fired compressor unit at the existing Daleville Compressor Station.
Maryland
Cecil County
Fair Hill Loop: Construct approximately 6.3 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline loop beginning at Eastern Shore's existing block
valve on Walker Road in Chester County, Pennsylvania southward to Cecil
County, Maryland to tie into the existing Eastern Shore pipeline north
of Route 2 near the Maryland/Delaware state line.
Delaware
New Castle County
Middletown Loop: Construct approximately 1 mile of 10-inch-diameter
pipeline loop beginning on Peterson Road and extending to a location
southeastern of Industrial Road. Construct approximately 0.65 mile of
6-inch-diameter pipeline lateral and meter station from Industrial Road
towards Auto Park Drive.
Summit Loop: Construct approximately 0.5 mile of 10-inch-diameter
pipeline loop starting along the south side of C&D Canal at Eastern
Shore's existing 12- inch aerial crossing southward to tie into the
existing Eastern Shore pipeline.
Kent County
Woodside Loop: Construct approximately 5 miles of 16-inch-diameter
pipeline loop beginning in Wyoming, Delaware southward to Viola,
Delaware.
Sussex County
Hearns Pond Loop: Construct approximately 1.5 miles of 10-inch-
diameter pipeline loop along U.S. 13 near Seaford southward to Eastern
Shore's existing Seaford Pressure Control Station.
Seaford to Millsboro Segment: Construct approximately 17.0 miles of
10-inch-diameter pipeline extension from Seaford eastward to Eastern
Shore's existing Millsboro Meter & Regulator Station near Millsboro.
Laurel Loop: Construct approximately 5.1 miles of 10-inch-diameter
pipeline loop along U.S. 13 near Laurel southward to connect with
Eastern Shore's existing pipeline.
Pressure Control Stations: Construct two pressure control stations
located near the towns of Millsboro and Delmar.
Please see appendix A for a map depicting the general locations of
the planned 2017 Expansion Project facilities.
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 planned 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 possible alternatives to the planned project
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Although no formal application has been filed, we have already
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process.
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we
have begun to contact some 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. 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 we make 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
related to 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.
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\3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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(s), 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 SHPO(s) 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.
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\4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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.
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Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest
[[Page 53136]]
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 planned 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 B).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Eastern Shore files its application with the Commission, 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. Motions to intervene are more fully described at
https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions
for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention
Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor
status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a
formal application for the project.
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., PF16-
7). 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.
Dated: August 1, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-19082 Filed 8-10-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P