Cheniere Midstream Holdings, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Midcontinent Supply Header Interstate Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions, 9064-9067 [2017-02223]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
9064
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 21 / Thursday, February 2, 2017 / Notices
Docket Numbers: ER17–858–000.
Applicants: 67RK 8me LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: CoTenancy Agreement to be effective 1/27/
2017.
Filed Date: 1/26/17.
Accession Number: 20170126–5167.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/16/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–859–000.
Applicants: 65HK 8me LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: CoTenancy Agreement to be effective 1/27/
2017.
Filed Date: 1/26/17.
Accession Number: 20170126–5168.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/16/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–860–000.
Applicants: 87RL 8me LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: CoTenancy Agreement to be effective 1/27/
2017.
Filed Date: 1/26/17.
Accession Number: 20170126–5169.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/16/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–861–000.
Applicants: Midcontinent
Independent System Operator, Inc.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
2017–01–27_Schedule 31 Annual
Update Filing to be effective 4/1/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5029.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–862–000.
Applicants: Bethel Wind Farm LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Amendment of Bethel Wind Farm MBR
Tariff to be effective 1/28/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5031.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–863–000.
Applicants: Commonwealth Edison
Company, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Commonwealth Edison Company
Submits PBOP Filing to be effective 3/
27/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5034.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following public utility
holding company filings:
Docket Numbers: PH17–7–000.
Applicants: Oaktree Capital Group,
LLC.
Description: Oaktree Capital Group,
LLC FERC 65–B Waiver Notification.
Filed Date: 1/26/17.
Accession Number: 20170126–5211.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/16/17.
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:31 Feb 01, 2017
Jkt 241001
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: January 27, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–02225 Filed 2–1–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF17–3–000]
Cheniere Midstream Holdings, Inc.;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Planned Midcontinent Supply
Header Interstate Pipeline Project,
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Notice of
Public Scoping Sessions
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
that will discuss the environmental
impacts of the Midcontinent Supply
Header Interstate Pipeline Project
(MIDSHIP Project) involving
construction and operation of facilities
by Cheniere Midstream Holdings, Inc.
(Cheniere Midstream) in Kingfisher,
Canadian, Grady, Garvin, Stephens,
Carter, Johnston, and Bryan Counties,
Oklahoma and leased capacity on
existing pipeline infrastructure in
Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. The
Commission will use this EIS 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
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
lessen environmental impacts. Your
input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues they need to
evaluate in the EIS. 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 February
27, 2017.
If you sent comments on this project
to the Commission before the opening of
this docket on November 9, 2016, you
will need to file those comments in
Docket No. PF17–3–000 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 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 four
methods you can use to submit your
comments to the Commission. The
Commission will provide equal
consideration to all comments received,
whether filed in written form or
provided verbally. 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
E:\FR\FM\02FEN1.SGM
02FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 21 / Thursday, February 2, 2017 / Notices
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 (PF17–3–000)
Date and time
Monday, February 13,
to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 14,
to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 16,
to 8:00 p.m.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
with your submission: Kimberly D.
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
(4) In lieu of sending written or
electronic comments, the Commission
invites you to attend one of the public
scoping session(s) its staff will conduct
in the project area, scheduled as
follows:
Location
2017, 4:00
Donald W. Reynolds Community Center, 323 West Beech Street, Durant, OK 74701, (580) 924–3486.
2017, 4:00
Ardmore Convention Center, 2401 North Rockford Road, Ardmore, OK 73401, (580) 226–2862.
15, 2017,
Elmore City Community Center, 104 S Main Street, Elmore City, OK 73433, (580) 788–2345.
2017, 4:00
Redlands Community College, 1300 South Country Club Road, El Reno, OK 73036, (405) 262–2552.
The primary goal of these scoping
sessions is to have you identify the
specific environmental issues and
concerns that should be considered in
the EIS to be prepared for this project.
Individual verbal comments will be
taken on a one-on-one basis with a court
reporter. This format is designed to
receive the maximum amount of verbal
comments, in a convenient way during
the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled
from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central
Standard Time. You may arrive at any
time after 4:00 p.m. There will not be a
formal presentation by Commission staff
when the session opens. If you wish to
speak, the Commission staff will hand
out numbers in the order of your arrival;
distribution of numbers will be
discontinued at 7:00 p.m. Please see
appendix 1 for additional information
on the session format and conduct.1
Your scoping comments will be
recorded by the court reporter (with
FERC staff or a representative present)
and become part of the public record for
this proceeding. Transcripts will be
publicly available on FERC’s eLibrary
system (see below for instructions on
using eLibrary). If a significant number
of people are interested in providing
verbal comments in the one-on-one
settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may
be implemented for each commentor.
It is important to note that verbal
comments hold the same weight as
written or electronically submitted
1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
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 by calling
(202) 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
9065
16:31 Feb 01, 2017
Jkt 241001
comments. Although there will not be a
formal presentation, Commission staff
will be available throughout the
comment session to answer your
questions about the environmental
review process. Representatives from
Cheniere Midstream will also be present
to answer project-specific questions.
Please note this is not your only
public input opportunity; please refer to
the review process flow chart in
appendix 2.
Summary of the Planned Project
Cheniere Midstream plans to
construct and operate about 218.4 miles
of mainline and lateral natural gas
pipeline and appurtenant facilities from
Okarche to Bennington, Oklahoma, and
to lease approximately 353.0 miles of
existing pipeline capacity.
Zone 1 of the MIDSHIP Project would
consist of the following facilities in
Oklahoma:
• Approximately 198.1 miles of new
36-inch-diameter mainline pipeline in
Kingfisher, Canadian, Grady, Garvin,
Stephens, Carter, Johnston, and Bryan
Counties;
• approximately 20.3 miles of new
24-inch-diameter lateral pipeline
(referred to as the ‘‘Chisholm Lateral’’)
in Kingfisher County;
• three new compressor stations,
totaling 124,710 horsepower, in
Canadian, Garvin, and Bryan Counties;
• nine receipt and two delivery meter
stations in Kingfisher, Canadian, Grady,
Garvin, and Bryan Counties; and
• other appurtenant facilities.
Zone 2 of the MIDSHIP Project would
involve 353.0 miles of existing pipeline
capacity leased from the Midcontinent
Express Pipeline LLC, and/or Gulf
Crossing Pipeline Company LLC
pipelines, operated by Kinder Morgan
and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP,
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
respectively.2 The planned leased
capacity would begin at Bennington,
Oklahoma, and end at interconnects in
the Perryville Hub area near Tallulah,
Louisiana.
According to Cheniere Midstream, the
two-zone system would provide about
1.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per
day from the South Central Oklahoma
Oil Province (SCOOP) and Sooner
Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and
Kingfisher (STACK) plays in Oklahoma
to growing Gulf Coast markets via
deliveries to existing market hubs near
Atlanta, Texas and Perryville,
Louisiana. The general location of the
planned project facilities is shown in
appendix 3.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities
would disturb about 3,003 acres of land
for the new mainline, Chisholm Lateral,
and aboveground facilities. Cheniere
Midstream would maintain about 1,431
acres for permanent operation of the
MIDSHIP Project’s facilities following
construction; the remaining acreage
would be restored and revert to former
uses. About 66 percent of the planned
mainline route and about 93 percent of
the Chisholm Lateral route parallel
existing pipeline or utility rights-of-way.
Cheniere Midstream would not
construct any new facilities or facility
expansions as part of Zone 2.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action
2 Cheniere Midstream will determine the system
or systems on which pipeline capacity would be
leased prior to submission of a certificate
application.
E:\FR\FM\02FEN1.SGM
02FEN1
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
9066
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 21 / Thursday, February 2, 2017 / Notices
whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity. NEPA also requires us 3 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 EIS on the
important environmental issues. By this
notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to
address in the EIS. We will consider all
filed comments during the preparation
of the EIS.
In the EIS 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;
• water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• vegetation and wildlife;
• endangered and threatened species;
• socioeconomics;
• land use;
• cultural resources;
• air quality and noise;
• 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
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 EIS.
The EIS will present our independent
analysis of the issues. We will publish
and distribute the draft EIS for public
comment. After the comment period, we
will consider all timely comments and
revise the document, as necessary,
before issuing a final EIS. 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
3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:31 Feb 01, 2017
Jkt 241001
project to formally cooperate with us in
the preparation of the EIS.4 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
Offices (SHPO), and to solicit their
views and those of other government
agencies, interested Native American
tribes, and the public on the project’s
potential effects on historic properties.5
We will define the project-specific Area
of Potential Effects (APE) in
consultation with the SHPOs 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 EIS for this
project will document our findings on
the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations
under section 106.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
planned facilities, the environmental
information provided by Cheniere
Midstream, and comments received at
the project open houses. This
preliminary list of issues may change
based on your comments and our
analysis:
• Impacts on water wells;
• threatened and endangered species;
• geological hazards; and
• pipeline route alternatives.
Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list
includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; elected officials;
4 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
5 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 planned project.
Copies of the completed draft EIS 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
4).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Cheniere Midstream 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., PF17–
3). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
E:\FR\FM\02FEN1.SGM
02FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 21 / Thursday, February 2, 2017 / Notices
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.
Public sessions or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related
information.
Finally, Cheniere Midstream has
established toll-free telephone numbers
((888) 214–7275 for general inquiries or
(800) 305–2466 for landowner inquiries)
and an email support address
(midship@cheniere.com) so that parties
can contact them directly with
questions about the project. You may
also refer to Cheniere Midstream’s
project Web site for additional
information at https://
www.cheniere.com/pipelines/midship/.
Dated: January 27, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–02223 Filed 2–1–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Combined Notice of Filings #2
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric rate
filings:
Docket Numbers: ER15–697–002.
Applicants: Tonopah Solar Energy,
LLC.
Description: Notification of Change in
Facts of Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5132.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER16–2297–003;
ER16–2506–001.
Applicants: Osborn Wind Energy,
LLC, Oliver Wind III, LLC.
Description: Notice of Non-material
Change in Status of Osborn Wind
Energy, LLC, et al.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5149.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:31 Feb 01, 2017
Jkt 241001
Docket Numbers: ER16–453–005.
Applicants: Northeast Transmission
Development, LLC, PJM
Interconnection, L.L.C.
Description: Compliance filing: NTD
submits revisions to Att. H–27A re:
Settlement Agreement on Nov 17, 2016
to be effective 2/1/2016.
Filed Date: 12/14/16.
Accession Number: 20161214–5228.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/6/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–864–000.
Applicants: Bayshore Solar A, LLC.
Description: Baseline eTariff Filing:
Bayshore Solar A, LLC Co-Tenancy
Agreement to be effective 1/28/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5128.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–865–000.
Applicants: Bayshore Solar B, LLC.
Description: Baseline eTariff Filing:
Bayshore Solar B, LLC Co-Tenancy
Agreement to be effective 1/28/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5134.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–866–000.
Applicants: Bayshore Solar C, LLC.
Description: Baseline eTariff Filing:
Bayshore Solar C, LLC Co-Tenancy
Agreement to be effective 1/28/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5137.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–868–000.
Applicants: California Independent
System Operator Corporation.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
2017–01–27 EIM Implementation
Agreement for City of Seattle to be
effective 4/1/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5179.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–869–000.
Applicants: Essential Power Rock
Springs, LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
2017–01–27 EIM Implementation
Agreement for City of Seattle to be
effective 4/1/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5183.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–870–000.
Applicants: Essential Power OPP,
LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
2017–01–27 EIM Implementation
Agreement for City of Seattle to be
effective 4/1/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5191.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
Docket Numbers: ER17–871–000.
Applicants: Wisconsin Public Service
Corporation.
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9067
Description: Tariff Cancellation:
Cancellation of WPSC—Alger Delta
Agreement to be effective 1/27/2017.
Filed Date: 1/27/17.
Accession Number: 20170127–5192.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 2/17/17.
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: January 27, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–02226 Filed 2–1–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP17–19–000]
Valley Crossing Pipeline, LLC; Notice
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Border
Crossing 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 impacts of constructing and
operating Valley Crossing Pipeline,
LLC’s (Valley Crossing) proposed Border
Crossing Project located in Texas state
waters approximately 30 miles east of
Brownsville, Texas. The Commission
will use this EA in its decision-making
process to determine whether the
project is consistent with the public
interest.
This notice announces the opening of
a public comment period also known as
a scoping period. During this period, the
Commission will gather input from the
public and interested agencies on the
project. You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
E:\FR\FM\02FEN1.SGM
02FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 21 (Thursday, February 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9064-9067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02223]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF17-3-000]
Cheniere Midstream Holdings, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Midcontinent Supply
Header Interstate Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Midcontinent Supply
Header Interstate Pipeline Project (MIDSHIP Project) involving
construction and operation of facilities by Cheniere Midstream
Holdings, Inc. (Cheniere Midstream) in Kingfisher, Canadian, Grady,
Garvin, Stephens, Carter, Johnston, and Bryan Counties, Oklahoma and
leased capacity on existing pipeline infrastructure in Oklahoma, Texas,
and Louisiana. The Commission will use this EIS 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 EIS. 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 February 27, 2017.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on November 9, 2016, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. PF17-3-000 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 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 four methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided verbally. 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
[[Page 9065]]
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
(PF17-3-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426.
(4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the
Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping session(s)
its staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date and time Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, February 13, 2017, 4:00 to Donald W. Reynolds Community Center,
8:00 p.m. 323 West Beech Street, Durant, OK
74701, (580) 924-3486.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 4:00 Ardmore Convention Center, 2401
to 8:00 p.m. North Rockford Road, Ardmore, OK
73401, (580) 226-2862.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 4:00 Elmore City Community Center, 104 S
to 8:00 p.m. Main Street, Elmore City, OK 73433,
(580) 788-2345.
Thursday, February 16, 2017, 4:00 Redlands Community College, 1300
to 8:00 p.m. South Country Club Road, El Reno,
OK 73036, (405) 262-2552.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be
considered in the EIS to be prepared for this project. Individual
verbal comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court
reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of
verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Central Standard Time. You may arrive at any time after 4:00 p.m. There
will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session
opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers
in the order of your arrival; distribution of numbers will be
discontinued at 7:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the 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 by calling (202) 502-8371. For instructions
on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter (with
FERC staff or a representative present) and become part of the public
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on
FERC's eLibrary system (see below for instructions on using eLibrary).
If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal
comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may be
implemented for each commentor.
It is important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight
as written or electronically submitted comments. Although there will
not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available
throughout the comment session to answer your questions about the
environmental review process. Representatives from Cheniere Midstream
will also be present to answer project-specific questions.
Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; please
refer to the review process flow chart in appendix 2.
Summary of the Planned Project
Cheniere Midstream plans to construct and operate about 218.4 miles
of mainline and lateral natural gas pipeline and appurtenant facilities
from Okarche to Bennington, Oklahoma, and to lease approximately 353.0
miles of existing pipeline capacity.
Zone 1 of the MIDSHIP Project would consist of the following
facilities in Oklahoma:
Approximately 198.1 miles of new 36-inch-diameter mainline
pipeline in Kingfisher, Canadian, Grady, Garvin, Stephens, Carter,
Johnston, and Bryan Counties;
approximately 20.3 miles of new 24-inch-diameter lateral
pipeline (referred to as the ``Chisholm Lateral'') in Kingfisher
County;
three new compressor stations, totaling 124,710
horsepower, in Canadian, Garvin, and Bryan Counties;
nine receipt and two delivery meter stations in
Kingfisher, Canadian, Grady, Garvin, and Bryan Counties; and
other appurtenant facilities.
Zone 2 of the MIDSHIP Project would involve 353.0 miles of existing
pipeline capacity leased from the Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC,
and/or Gulf Crossing Pipeline Company LLC pipelines, operated by Kinder
Morgan and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, respectively.\2\ The
planned leased capacity would begin at Bennington, Oklahoma, and end at
interconnects in the Perryville Hub area near Tallulah, Louisiana.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Cheniere Midstream will determine the system or systems on
which pipeline capacity would be leased prior to submission of a
certificate application.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to Cheniere Midstream, the two-zone system would provide
about 1.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the South
Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP) and Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin
Canadian and Kingfisher (STACK) plays in Oklahoma to growing Gulf Coast
markets via deliveries to existing market hubs near Atlanta, Texas and
Perryville, Louisiana. The general location of the planned project
facilities is shown in appendix 3.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 3,003
acres of land for the new mainline, Chisholm Lateral, and aboveground
facilities. Cheniere Midstream would maintain about 1,431 acres for
permanent operation of the MIDSHIP Project's facilities following
construction; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to
former uses. About 66 percent of the planned mainline route and about
93 percent of the Chisholm Lateral route parallel existing pipeline or
utility rights-of-way. Cheniere Midstream would not construct any new
facilities or facility expansions as part of Zone 2.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action
[[Page 9066]]
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us \3\ 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 EIS on the important environmental issues. By
this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of
the issues to address in the EIS. We will consider all filed comments
during the preparation of the EIS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the EIS 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;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
endangered and threatened species;
socioeconomics;
land use;
cultural resources;
air quality and noise;
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
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 EIS.
The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. 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 EIS.\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 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 Offices (SHPO), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Native American tribes, and the public on the project's potential
effects on historic properties.\5\ We will define the project-specific
Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs 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 EIS for this project will
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities, the
environmental information provided by Cheniere Midstream, and comments
received at the project open houses. This preliminary list of issues
may change based on your comments and our analysis:
Impacts on water wells;
threatened and endangered species;
geological hazards; and
pipeline route alternatives.
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
planned project.
Copies of the completed draft EIS 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 4).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Cheniere Midstream 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., PF17-
3). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
[[Page 9067]]
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.
Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Finally, Cheniere Midstream has established toll-free telephone
numbers ((888) 214-7275 for general inquiries or (800) 305-2466 for
landowner inquiries) and an email support address
(midship@cheniere.com) so that parties can contact them directly with
questions about the project. You may also refer to Cheniere Midstream's
project Web site for additional information at https://www.cheniere.com/pipelines/midship/.
Dated: January 27, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-02223 Filed 2-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
