Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Buckeye Xpress Project; Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Sessions, 49012-49015 [2017-22917]

Download as PDF 49012 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 203 / Monday, October 23, 2017 / Notices On June 16, 2017, the Commission issued its Notice of Application for the Majorsville Compressor Station Amendment, now being considered in Docket No. CP17–464–000. Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff’s planned schedule for the completion of the EA for the project. Schedule for Environmental Review Issuance of EA—November 1, 2017. 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline—January 30, 2018. If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the project’s progress. ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Project Description Rover proposes to install a third 3,550 horsepower natural gas compressor unit at the Majorsville Compressor Station 1 and a new equipment run at the Majorsville Meter Station in Marshall County, West Virginia. The new unit would bring the Majorsville Compressor Station to a total of 10,650 horsepower. The proposal would increase the point capacity of the Majorsville Compressor Station and the Majorsville Meter Station from 300 MMcf/d to 400 MMcf/ d. Rover would house the new unit (and the previously approved units) by expanding the length of the currently under construction compressor building. Rover has not proposed to expand the station boundary beyond the previously approved limits. Background On August 4, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Majorsville Compressor Station Amendment and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI was sent to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; environmental and public interest groups; and other interested parties. It was also sent to all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission’s regulations) who are within 0.5 mile of the Majorsville Compressor Station. In 1 The Majorsville Compressor Station was approved by the Commission on February 2, 2017, in Docket No. CP15–93–000 as a component of the Rover Pipeline Project and is currently under construction. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:08 Oct 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The primary issues raised by the EPA are purpose and need, alternatives, and air quality and noise. The EPA is currently participating as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA. Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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. 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, select General Search from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and Docket Number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP17–464), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. Dated: October 17, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–22921 Filed 10–20–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF17–6–000] Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Buckeye Xpress 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 assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the planned Buckeye Xpress Project PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (Buckeye Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, and Lawrence Counties, Ohio. 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 November 16, 2017. If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on August 1, 2017, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. PF17–6–000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. This notice is being sent to the Commission’s current environmental mailing list for this project. State and local government representatives should notify their constituents of this planned Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with state law. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know? is available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission’s proceedings. E:\FR\FM\23OCN1.SGM 23OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 203 / Monday, October 23, 2017 / Notices 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 FercOnlineSupport@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 Date and time ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in the EA 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 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. You may arrive at any time after 4:30 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. Comments will be taken until 6:30 p.m. However, if no additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may conclude the session 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 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 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 call (202) 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. 20:08 Oct 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 comment on a particular project, please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the filing type; (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 (PF17–6–000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426; or (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping sessions its staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows: Location Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 4:30–7:30 p.m ........................ Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 4:30–7:30 p.m ................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 49013 Ironton High School, 1701 South 7th Street, Ironton, Ohio 45638, 740–532–3911. Jackson High School, 500 Vaughn Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640, 740–286–7575. 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 Columbia will also be present to answer project-specific questions. Summary of the Planned Project Columbia plans to replace Columbia’s aging system with newer and more reliable pipeline facilities in Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, and Lawrence Counties, Ohio. The Project would provide about 275,000 dekatherms per day of additional firm natural gas transportation capacity. According to Columbia, its project would ensure reliability and flexibility for its firm storage and storage transportation services on a system-wide basis. The Buckeye Project would consist of the following facilities: • Install 65.7 miles of new, 36-inchdiameter natural gas pipeline and various associated facilities including two tie-ins, four new MLVs, suction and discharge lines to the Oak Hill Compressor Station, and installation of over-pressure protection at five locations (planned R–801 system); • abandon 58.8 miles of existing 20inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and associated facilities (R–501 system); and • abandon 2.0 miles of existing 20inch-diameter and 24-inch-diameter PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 natural gas pipeline and associated facilities (R–500 system). The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 2. Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the planned R–801 facilities would disturb about 1,220 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Abandonment of the existing R–500 and R–501 systems would affect about 979 acres. Following construction, Columbia would maintain about 402 acres for permanent operation of the project’s new R–801 facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 80 percent of the planned pipeline route would parallel existing pipeline, utility, or road rightsof-way. 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. E:\FR\FM\23OCN1.SGM 23OCN1 ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 49014 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 203 / Monday, October 23, 2017 / Notices In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the planned project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • land use; • water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • cultural resources; • vegetation and wildlife; • air quality and noise; • endangered and threatened species; • public safety; and • cumulative impacts. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Although no formal application has been filed, we have already initiated our NEPA review under the Commission’s pre-filing process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA. The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2. With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/ or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues related to this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA.3 Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has expressed its intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation 3 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:08 Oct 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 of the EA to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this project. 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 Ohio 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. Currently Identified Environmental Issues We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and the environmental information provided by Columbia. This preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our analysis and includes: • Agriculture and prime farmland; • water resources; • crossing of the Wayne National Forest; • endangered species; and • steep terrain. 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 4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the planned project. If we publish and distribute the EA, copies of the EA will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached Information Request (appendix 3). Becoming an Intervenor Once Columbia 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– 6). 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 E:\FR\FM\23OCN1.SGM 23OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 203 / Monday, October 23, 2017 / Notices 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 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. Dated: October 16, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–22917 Filed 10–20–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2337–077] ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES PacifiCorp; Notice of Availability of Draft 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, the Office of Energy Projects has reviewed the application for new license for the Prospect No. 3 Hydroelectric Project, located on the South Fork of the Rogue River in Jackson County, Oregon, and has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the project. The project currently occupies 32.4 acres of federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Rogue RiverSiskiyou National Forest. The DEA contains the staff’s analysis of the potential environmental impacts of continued operation and maintenance of the project and concludes that relicensing 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 DEA 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, (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). You may also register online at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:08 Oct 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 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. Any comments should be filed within 45 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–2337–077. For further information, contact Dianne Rodman at (202) 502–6077. Dated: October 17, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–22920 Filed 10–20–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Combined Notice of Filings #1 Take notice that the Commission received the following electric corporate filings: Docket Numbers: EC17–86–001. Applicants: Green Mountain Power Corporation. Description: Notice of Non-Material Change in Circumstances of Green Mountain Power Corporation. Filed Date: 10/13/17. Accession Number: 20171013–5187. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/3/17. Docket Numbers: EC17–109–000. Applicants: ALLETE, Inc., ALLETE Clean Energy, Inc. Description: Response of ALLETE, Inc., et al. to September 15, 2017 letter requesting additional information. Filed Date: 10/13/17. Accession Number: 20171013–5184. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/3/17. Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER12–1923–003; ER10–2334–004; ER12–1924–003; PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 49015 ER11–3406–004; ER11–3407–004; ER10–2897–006; ER12–1865–005; ER12–1925–003. Applicants: Big Savage, LLC, Big Sky Wind, LLC, EverPower Commercial Services LLC, Highland North LLC, Howard Wind LLC, Krayn Wind LLC, Mustang Hills, LLC, Patton Wind Farm, LLC. Description: Supplement to June 30, 2017 Triennial Market Power Update for the Northeast Region of the EverPower Companies. Filed Date: 10/12/17. Accession Number: 20171012–5153. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/2/17. Docket Numbers: ER15–1456–004; ER11–4634–004; ER17–436–002; ER17– 437–004; ER15–1457–004. Applicants: Beaver Falls, L.L.C., Hazleton Generation LLC, Marcus Hook Energy, L.P., Marcus Hook 50, L.P., Syracuse, L.L.C. Description: Supplement to June 30, 2017 Triennial Market Power Update for the Northeast Region of Beaver Falls, L.L.C., et al. Filed Date: 10/12/17. Accession Number: 20171012–5161. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/2/17. 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: October 16, 2017. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–22888 Filed 10–20–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P E:\FR\FM\23OCN1.SGM 23OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 203 (Monday, October 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49012-49015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22917]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF17-6-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned Buckeye Xpress 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 assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the planned Buckeye Xpress Project 
(Buckeye Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, 
and Lawrence Counties, Ohio. 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 November 16, 2017.
    If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on August 1, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. PF17-6-000 to ensure they are considered as part 
of this proceeding. This notice is being sent to the Commission's 
current environmental mailing list for this project. State and local 
government representatives should notify their constituents of this 
planned Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with 
state law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know? is available for 
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses 
a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent 
domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.

[[Page 49013]]

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 [email protected]. 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;
    (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 
(PF17-6-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426; or
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping sessions its 
staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date and time                           Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 4:30-7:30     Ironton High School, 1701 South
 p.m.                                     7th Street, Ironton, Ohio
                                          45638, 740-532-3911.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 4:30-7:30   Jackson High School, 500 Vaughn
 p.m.                                     Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640,
                                          740-286-7575.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be 
considered in the EA 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 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
Eastern time. You may arrive at any time after 4:30 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. Comments will be taken until 6:30 p.m. However, 
if no additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who 
wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may 
conclude the session at 7:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional 
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \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 call (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 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 Columbia will also 
be present to answer project-specific questions.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Columbia plans to replace Columbia's aging system with newer and 
more reliable pipeline facilities in Vinton, Jackson, Gallia, and 
Lawrence Counties, Ohio. The Project would provide about 275,000 
dekatherms per day of additional firm natural gas transportation 
capacity. According to Columbia, its project would ensure reliability 
and flexibility for its firm storage and storage transportation 
services on a system-wide basis.
    The Buckeye Project would consist of the following facilities:
     Install 65.7 miles of new, 36-inch-diameter natural gas 
pipeline and various associated facilities including two tie-ins, four 
new MLVs, suction and discharge lines to the Oak Hill Compressor 
Station, and installation of over-pressure protection at five locations 
(planned R-801 system);
     abandon 58.8 miles of existing 20-inch-diameter natural 
gas pipeline and associated facilities (R-501 system); and
     abandon 2.0 miles of existing 20-inch-diameter and 24-
inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and associated facilities (R-500 
system).
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned R-801 facilities would disturb about 
1,220 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Abandonment of the existing R-500 and R-501 systems would affect about 
979 acres. Following construction, Columbia would maintain about 402 
acres for permanent operation of the project's new R-801 facilities; 
the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. 
About 80 percent of the planned pipeline route would parallel existing 
pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way.

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.
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    \2\ We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the 
Commission's Office of Energy Projects.

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[[Page 49014]]

    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned Project 
or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before 
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we 
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their 
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA 
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on 
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish 
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We 
will consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations 
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and 
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the 
Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues 
related to this project to formally cooperate with us in the 
preparation of the EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request 
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this 
notice. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has expressed its 
intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of 
the EA to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this project.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with the Ohio 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.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Columbia. This preliminary 
list of issues may change based on your comments and our analysis and 
includes:
     Agriculture and prime farmland;
     water resources;
     crossing of the Wayne National Forest;
     endangered species; and
     steep terrain.

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.
    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 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Columbia 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-
6). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] 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

[[Page 49015]]

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 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.

    Dated: October 16, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-22917 Filed 10-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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