Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Central Virginia Connector Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 68008-68010 [2016-23818]

Download as PDF 68008 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 191 / Monday, October 3, 2016 / Notices Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 17, 2016. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. EL16–115–000; QF16–362– 002; QF16–363–002; QF16–364–002; QF16– 365–002; QF16–366–002; QF16–367–002; QF16–368–002; QF16–369–002; QF16–370– 002; QF16–371–002; QF16–372–002; QF16– 373–002; QF16–374–002; QF16–375–002; QF16–376–002; QF16–377–002; QF16–378– 002; QF16–379–002; QF16–380–002; QF16– 381–002; QF16–382–002; QF16–383–002; QF16–384–002; QF16–385–002; QF16–386– 002; QF16–387–002] sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Windham Solar LLC; Allco Finance Limited; Windham Solar LLC; Notice of Amendment of Petition for Enforcement Take notice that on September 26, 2016, Windham Solar LLC filed an amendment to the September 12, 2016 filed petition for enforcement pursuant to section 210 of Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA), 16 U.S.C. 824a–3. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. On or before the comment date, it is not necessary to serve motions to intervene or protests on persons other than the Applicant. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 5 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. This filing is accessible on-line at https://www.ferc.gov, using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for review in the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive email notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:56 Sep 30, 2016 Jkt 241001 Dated: September 27, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–23815 Filed 9–30–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP16–493–000] Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Central Virginia Connector 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 Central Virginia Connector Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Columbia Gas Transmission, L.L.C. (Columbia) in Louisa and Goochland Counties, 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 October 27, 2016. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on August 12, 2016, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP16–493–000 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. PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 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 (CP16–493– 000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM 03OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 191 / Monday, October 3, 2016 / Notices Summary of the Proposed Project Columbia proposes to replace three Solar Saturn units with one Solar Centaur 50 unit at the existing Louisa Compressor Station, convert the replaced units to standby, increase the certificated horsepower (HP) at the Louisa Compressor Station from 4,050 HP to 6,130 HP, install pipe and valve modifications to make the existing point of delivery between Columbia’s Mainline VM–108 and VM–109 at Boswell’s Tavern Compressor Station bidirectional, install a new point of delivery meter station adjacent to Columbia’s Goochland Compressor Station, and install other appurtenant facilities. The Central Virginia Connector Project is in Louisa and Goochland Counties, Virginia and would provide 45,000 cubic feet per day of natural gas on its system and modernize compression at the Louisa Compressor Station. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would temporarily disturb about 13.3 acres of land. Following construction, Columbia Gas would maintain about 0.9 acre for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. The EA Process sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD 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. 1 The appendices referenced in this notice would 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 17:56 Sep 30, 2016 Jkt 241001 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. 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 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 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68009 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 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. 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\03OCN1.SGM 03OCN1 68010 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 191 / Monday, October 3, 2016 / Notices 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., CP16–493). 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 would be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at www.ferc.gov/ EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information. Dated: September 27, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–23818 Filed 9–30–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Combined Notice of Filings #1 Take notice that the Commission received the following electric corporate filings: Docket Numbers: EC16–192–000. Applicants: Boulder Solar II, LLC, Avangrid Renewables, LLC. Description: Joint Application of Boulder Solar II, LLC, et. al. for Authorization of Transaction Under Section 203 of the FPA, and Requests for Shortened Comment Period, Expedited Action, Waivers of Filing Requirements and Confidential Treatment. Filed Date: 9/26/16. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:56 Sep 30, 2016 Jkt 241001 Accession Number: 20160926–5285. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/17/16. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER10–2302–006. Applicants: Public Service Company of New Mexico. Description: Supplement to December 29, 2015 Public Service Company of New Mexico submits Triennial Market Power Update. [CD being filed under separate cover]. Filed Date: 9/27/16. Accession Number: 20160927–5084. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/18/16. Docket Numbers: ER10–2633–027; ER10–2570–027; ER10–2717–027; ER10–3140–027; ER13–55–017. Applicants: Birchwood Power Partners, L.P., Shady Hills Power Company, L.L.C., EFS Parlin Holdings, LLC, Inland Empire Energy Center, LLC, Homer City Generation, L.P. Description: Notice of Non-Material Change in Status of the GE Companies. Filed Date: 9/26/16. Accession Number: 20160926–5219. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/17/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2669–000. Applicants: Consumers Energy Company. Description: Initial rate filing: Blackstart Service to be effective 10/1/ 2016. Filed Date: 9/26/16. Accession Number: 20160926–5214. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/17/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2670–000. Applicants: Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. Description: Tariff Cancellation: Cancellation of Tariff Identifier ER16– 896 to be effective 12/31/9998. Filed Date: 9/26/16. Accession Number: 20160926–5216. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/17/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2671–000. Applicants: FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Normal filing 2016 to be effective 11/26/ 2015. Filed Date: 9/27/16. Accession Number: 20160927–5072. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/18/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2672–000. Applicants: Georgia Power Company. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Amendment of Georgia Power Company Rate Schedule No. 850 to be effective 11/1/2016. Filed Date: 9/27/16. Accession Number: 20160927–5098. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/18/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2673–000. Applicants: Public Service Company of Colorado. PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 20160927_SAP Production Clean Up to be effective 1/1/2016. Filed Date: 9/27/16. Accession Number: 20160927–5112. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/18/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2674–000. Applicants: Public Service Company of Colorado. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 20160927_SAP Production Formula Rate to be effective 4/16/2016. Filed Date: 9/27/16. Accession Number: 20160927–5113. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/18/16. Docket Numbers: ER16–2675–000. Applicants: AltaGas Pomona Energy Storage Inc. Description: Baseline eTariff Filing: AltaGas Pomona Energy Storage Inc. MBR Tariff to be effective 10/1/2016. Filed Date: 9/27/16. Accession Number: 20160927–5137. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/18/16. 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: September 27, 2016. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–23844 Filed 9–30–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER16–2659–000] Grant Plains Wind, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204 Authorization This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of Grant Plains Wind, LLC’s application for market-based rate authority, with an E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM 03OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68008-68010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23818]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-493-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Central Virginia Connector 
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 Central Virginia Connector 
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Columbia 
Gas Transmission, L.L.C. (Columbia) in Louisa and Goochland Counties, 
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 October 27, 2016.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on August 12, 2016, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP16-493-000 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 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 
(CP16-493-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

[[Page 68009]]

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Columbia proposes to replace three Solar Saturn units with one 
Solar Centaur 50 unit at the existing Louisa Compressor Station, 
convert the replaced units to standby, increase the certificated 
horsepower (HP) at the Louisa Compressor Station from 4,050 HP to 6,130 
HP, install pipe and valve modifications to make the existing point of 
delivery between Columbia's Mainline VM-108 and VM-109 at Boswell's 
Tavern Compressor Station bi-directional, install a new point of 
delivery meter station adjacent to Columbia's Goochland Compressor 
Station, and install other appurtenant facilities.
    The Central Virginia Connector Project is in Louisa and Goochland 
Counties, Virginia and would provide 45,000 cubic feet per day of 
natural gas on its system and modernize compression at the Louisa 
Compressor Station.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice would 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 temporarily disturb 
about 13.3 acres of land. Following construction, Columbia Gas would 
maintain about 0.9 acre 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; 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 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 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.

[[Page 68010]]

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., CP16-
493). 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 would be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: September 27, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-23818 Filed 9-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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