Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project, 81091-81092 [2016-27614]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 222 / Thursday, November 17, 2016 / Notices no new project facilities or operational changes, but proposes that both projects be combined under a single license. m. A copy of the application is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above. You may also register online at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. n. Scoping Process: The Commission intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) on the projects in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. Scoping Meetings FERC staff will conduct one agency scoping meeting and one public meeting. The agency scoping meeting will focus on resource agency and nongovernmental organization (NGO) concerns, while the public scoping meeting is primarily for public input. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend one or both of the meetings, and to assist the staff in identifying the scope of the environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EA. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows: Agency Scoping Meeting Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Croghan Volunteer Fire Department. Address: 6860 Fire Hall Street, Croghan, New York. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Scoping Meeting Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Croghan Volunteer Fire Department. Address: 6860 Fire Hall Street, Croghan, New York. Copies of the Scoping Document (SD1) outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EA were distributed to the parties on the Commission’s mailing list. Copies of the SD1 will be available VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:24 Nov 16, 2016 Jkt 241001 81091 at the scoping meeting or may be viewed on the web at https:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link (see item m above). DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Environmental Site Review [Docket No. CP16–472–000] The Applicant and FERC staff will conduct a project Environmental Site Review beginning at 1:00 p.m. on December 13, 2016. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend. All participants should meet at the Upper Beaver Falls Project facility, located at 9692 New York State Route 126, Castorland, New York. All participants are responsible for their own transportation to the site and during the site visit. Anyone with questions about the Environmental Site Review should contact Mr. Jeff Kirch, Northern New York Regional Operator for Algonquin Power (Beaver Falls) LLC, at 315–783–5854 or Jeffrey.kirch@ eaglecreekre.com. Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project Objectives At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (2) solicit from the meeting participants all available information, especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue; (3) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that should be analyzed in the EA, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in support of, the staff’s preliminary views; (4) determine the resource issues to be addressed in the EA; and (5) identify those issues that require a detailed analysis, as well as those issues that do not require a detailed analysis. Procedures The meetings are recorded by a stenographer and become part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the projects. Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed in the EA. Dated: November 9, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–27618 Filed 11–16–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P PO 00000 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project, proposed by Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in the abovereferenced docket. Northern requests authorization to construct, operate, and maintain new natural gas facilities in Sherburne, Isanti, and Rice counties, Minnesota, to provide for approximately 76,000 dekatherms per day to serve increased markets for industrial, commercial, and residential uses. The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project includes the following facilities: • Approximately 2 miles of 8-inchdiameter pipeline loop 1 in Sherburne County; • approximately 2.8 miles of 12-inchdiameter pipeline loop in Isanti County; and • an additional 15,900-horsepower compression unit at Northern’s existing Faribault Compressor Station in Rice County. The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. In addition, the EA is available for public viewing on the FERC’s Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public inspection at: 1 A pipeline ‘‘loop’’ is a segment of pipe installed adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to the existing pipeline at both ends. Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM 17NON1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 81092 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 222 / Thursday, November 17, 2016 / Notices Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502–8371. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that the Commission has the opportunity to consider your comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important that we receive your comments in Washington, DC on or before on or before Friday, December 9, 2016. For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the project docket number (CP16–472–000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or efiling@ferc.gov. (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 also file your comments electronically 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.’’ You must select the type of filing you are making. If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).2 Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission’s decision. The Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor 2 See the previous discussion on the methods for filing comments. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:24 Nov 16, 2016 Jkt 241001 status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Additional information about the proposed 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., CP16– 472). 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. Dated: November 9, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–27614 Filed 11–16–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2335–039–ME] Brookfield White Pine Hydro LLC; Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission) regulations, 18 CFR part 380 (Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897), the Office of Energy Projects has reviewed the application for a new license for the Williams Hydroelectric Project, located on the Kennebec River in Somerset County, Maine, and has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA). The PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 project does not occupy any federal land. The EA contains the staff’s analysis of the potential impacts of the project and concludes that licensing the project, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. A copy of the EA is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number field, to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov, at (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). You may also register online at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this project or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. Any comments should be filed within 30 days from the date of this notice. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments using the Commission’s eFiling system at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support. In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include docket number P–2335–039. For further information, contact Amy Chang at (202) 502–8250 or amy.chang@ ferc.gov. Dated: November 9, 2016. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–27617 Filed 11–16–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM 17NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81091-81092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27614]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-472-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Lights 2017 
Expansion Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the 
Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project, proposed by Northern Natural 
Gas Company (Northern) in the above-referenced docket. Northern 
requests authorization to construct, operate, and maintain new natural 
gas facilities in Sherburne, Isanti, and Rice counties, Minnesota, to 
provide for approximately 76,000 dekatherms per day to serve increased 
markets for industrial, commercial, and residential uses.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Northern Lights 2017 Expansion 
Project in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The FERC staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The Northern Lights 2017 Expansion Project includes the following 
facilities:
     Approximately 2 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline loop \1\ 
in Sherburne County;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe installed adjacent 
to an existing pipeline and connected to the existing pipeline at 
both ends.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     approximately 2.8 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline loop 
in Isanti County; and
     an additional 15,900-horsepower compression unit at 
Northern's existing Faribault Compressor Station in Rice County.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA to federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; 
potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and 
groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. In addition, 
the EA is available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site 
(www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies of 
the EA are available for distribution and public inspection at:

[[Page 81092]]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First 
Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments 
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. 
The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To 
ensure that the Commission has the opportunity to consider your 
comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important 
that we receive your comments in Washington, DC on or before on or 
before Friday, December 9, 2016.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
project docket number (CP16-472-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert 
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.
    (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 also file your comments electronically 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.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If 
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select 
``Comment on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).\2\ Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The Commission 
grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns 
intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a 
clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can 
adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not 
give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to 
have your comments considered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional information about the proposed 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., CP16-
472). 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.

    Dated: November 9, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-27614 Filed 11-16-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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