Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed St. Charles Parish Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 59615-59617 [2016-20752]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2016 / Notices Docket Numbers: ER16–2475–000. Applicants: Gulf Power Company. Description: Tariff Cancellation: Termination of UPS Agreements to be effective 12/31/2011. Filed Date: 8/24/16. Accession Number: 20160824–5170. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/14/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2476–000. Applicants: Mississippi Power Company. Description: Tariff Cancellation: Termination of UPS Agreements to be effective 12/31/2011. Filed Date: 8/24/16. Accession Number: 20160824–5173. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/14/16. The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the links or querying the docket number. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dated: August 24, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–20756 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP16–478–000] mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed St. Charles Parish 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 St. Charles Parish Expansion Project (Project) involving construction and operation of natural gas pipeline and compression facilities by Gulf South VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:04 Aug 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) in St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes, Louisiana. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and. 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 September 23, 2016. If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the opening of this docket July 11, 2016, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP16–478–000 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. Gulf South 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). PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 59615 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 (CP16–478– 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 Gulf South plans to begin construction of the Project in the fall of 2017 and place the facilities in-service by September 1, 2018. The Project purpose is to provide 133,333 dekatherms per day to serve Entergy Louisiana, LLC’s proposed natural gasfired power plant facility located near Montz, Louisiana. Specifically, Gulf South proposes to construct: • A new 5,000 horsepower compressor station near Montz, Louisiana (Montz Compressor Station); • about 900 feet of new 16-inchdiameter pipeline; and • auxiliary facilities. The proposed Montz Compressor Station would be on the border of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes and would include two CAT G3608 A4 engines and Erial JGK/6 compressor units, housed in a permanent building. The proposed pipeline would commence at the Montz Compressor Station, extend approximately 900 feet southeast, and terminate at Gulf South’s existing Index 270–94 Lateral in St. E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM 30AUN1 59616 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2016 / Notices Charles Parish, Louisiana. Gulf South would co-locate the proposed 16-inchpipeline with its existing Index 270 pipeline right-of-way. Installation of the proposed pipeline would utilize a 135foot-wide temporary construction rightof-way. Following construction, Gulf South proposes to maintain a 35-footwide permanent right-of-way along the pipeline route, adjacent to the existing Index 270 permanent right-of-way. The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 13.9 acres of land for the aboveground facilities, pipeline, and two permanent access roads. Following construction, Gulf South would maintain about 3.5 acres for permanent operation of the Project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. The EA Process mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD 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; 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 20:04 Aug 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 • 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. 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.4 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 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 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. 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 ‘‘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 E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM 30AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 168 / Tuesday, August 30, 2016 / Notices field (i.e., CP16–478). 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. Dated: August 24, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. Dated: August 24, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–20752 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P [FR Doc. 2016–20751 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Federal Energy Regulatory Commission DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Combined Notice of Filings #2 Take notice that the Commission received the following exempt wholesale generator filings: Docket Numbers: EG16–140–000. Applicants: Astra Wind LLC. Description: Self-Certification of EG of Astra Wind LLC. Filed Date: 8/22/16. Accession Number: 20160822–5275. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/12/16. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER16–2453–000. Applicants: Brady Interconnection, LLC. Description: Baseline eTariff Filing: Brady Interconnection, LLC Application for market-Based Rates to be effective 10/18/2016. Filed Date: 8/19/16. Accession Number: 20160819–5300. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/9/16. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric reliability filings: Docket Numbers: RR16–6–000. Applicants: North American Electric Reliability Corporation. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:04 Aug 29, 2016 Description: Request of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation for Acceptance of its 2017 Business Plan and Budget. Filed Date: 8/23/16. Accession Number: 20160823–5166. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 9/13/16. The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the links or querying the docket number. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Jkt 238001 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 wholesale markets of ISO New England Inc.: Integrating Markets and Public Policy August 30, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (EST) Seaport Hotel, One Seaport Lane, Boston, MA 02110 September 14, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST) Doubletree Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 October 6, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST) Doubletree Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 October 21, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST) Location to be determined. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 59617 November 10, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST) Doubletree Hotel, 5400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 December 2, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (EST) Colonnade Seaport Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116 Further information may be found at www.nepool.com/IMAPP.php. The discussion at the meeting described above may address matters at issue in the following proceedings: Docket Nos. EL13–33 and EL 14–86, Environment Northeast et al. v. Bangor Hydro-Electric Company et al. Docket No. EL16–19, ISO New England Inc. Participating Transmission Owners Administrative Committee Docket No. EL16–38, Dominion Energy Marketing, Inc. et al. v. ISO New England Inc. Docket No. EL16–93, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and PSEG Companies v. ISO New England Inc. Docket No. RP16–618, Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC Docket No. ER12–1650, Emera Maine Docket No. ER14–1409, ISO New England Inc. Docket No. ER14–1639, ISO New England Inc. and New England Power Pool Participants Committee Docket No. ER13–2266, ISO New England Inc. Docket No. ER15–1429, Emera Maine Docket No. ER16–551, ISO New England Inc. Docket No. ER16–1301, ISO New England Inc. and Emera Maine Docket No. ER16–1041, ISO New England Inc. Docket No. ER16–1904, ISO New England Inc. Docket No. ER16–2126, ISO New England Inc. and New England Power Pool Participants Committee Docket No. ER16–2215, ISO New England Inc. Docket No. ER16–2283, Genbright LLC Docket No. ER16–2451, ISO New England Inc. and New England Power Pool Participants Committee For more information, contact Michael Cackoski, Office of Energy Market Regulation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at (202) 502– 6169 or Michael.Cackoski@ferc.gov. Dated: August 24, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–20754 Filed 8–29–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM 30AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59615-59617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20752]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-478-000]


Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed St. Charles Parish 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 St. Charles Parish Expansion 
Project (Project) involving construction and operation of natural gas 
pipeline and compression facilities by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP 
(Gulf South) in St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes, 
Louisiana. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making 
process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience 
and.
    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 September 23, 2016.
    If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket July 11, 2016, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP16-478-000 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.
    Gulf South 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 
(CP16-478-000) 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

    Gulf South plans to begin construction of the Project in the fall 
of 2017 and place the facilities in-service by September 1, 2018. The 
Project purpose is to provide 133,333 dekatherms per day to serve 
Entergy Louisiana, LLC's proposed natural gas-fired power plant 
facility located near Montz, Louisiana.
    Specifically, Gulf South proposes to construct:
     A new 5,000 horsepower compressor station near Montz, 
Louisiana (Montz Compressor Station);
     about 900 feet of new 16-inch-diameter pipeline; and
     auxiliary facilities.
    The proposed Montz Compressor Station would be on the border of St. 
Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes and would include two CAT 
G3608 A4 engines and Erial JGK/6 compressor units, housed in a 
permanent building. The proposed pipeline would commence at the Montz 
Compressor Station, extend approximately 900 feet southeast, and 
terminate at Gulf South's existing Index 270-94 Lateral in St.

[[Page 59616]]

Charles Parish, Louisiana. Gulf South would co-locate the proposed 16-
inch-pipeline with its existing Index 270 pipeline right-of-way. 
Installation of the proposed pipeline would utilize a 135-foot-wide 
temporary construction right-of-way. Following construction, Gulf South 
proposes to maintain a 35-foot-wide permanent right-of-way along the 
pipeline route, adjacent to the existing Index 270 permanent right-of-
way.
    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 disturb about 13.9 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities, pipeline, and two 
permanent access roads. Following construction, Gulf South would 
maintain about 3.5 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 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.\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 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 ``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

[[Page 59617]]

field (i.e., CP16-478). 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 24, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-20752 Filed 8-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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