RH energytrans, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Risberg Line Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 56599-56604 [2017-25722]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–6–000] pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 RH energytrans, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Risberg Line Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Risberg Line Project involving construction, modification, and operation of facilities by RH energytrans, LLC (RH) in Crawford and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County, 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 December 21, 2017. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on October 16, 2017, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18–6–000 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 proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Nov 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 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. RH provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know? This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission’s proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). Public Participation For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or 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 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 (CP18–6– 000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. In addition, the FERC environmental staff plans on attending RH-sponsored open houses in Conneaut, Ohio on December 5, 2017 and in Edinboro, Pennsylvania on December 6, 2017 to explain the Commission’s environmental review process. If you are interested in attending, RH has requested that you RSVP at PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56599 www.rhenergytrans.com/rsvp or by calling (844) 315–0857. Summary of the Proposed Project RH proposes to construct, modify, operate, and maintain a new interstate natural gas pipeline system located in Crawford and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County, Ohio. The Risberg Line Project would provide about 55 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to Dominion Energy Ohio and other prospective customers in the vicinity of the project. The Risberg Line Project would consist of the following actions in Pennsylvania: • Minor modifications at the existing County Line Compressor Station in Erie County; • installation of compression (approximately 1,600 horsepower, natural gas-fired), receipt metering, and appurtenant facilities at the existing (currently vacant) Meadville Compressor Station site in Crawford County; • re-certification and use of an existing 12-inch-diameter pipeline extending 26.6 miles from the Meadville Compressor Station north to an existing valve set in Washington Township, Erie County, including construction of a new launcher/receiver; • next to the Meadville Compressor Station, construction of a 650-foot lateral within the existing 12-inchdiameter pipeline right-of-way to move gas from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC system to the existing pipeline; and • re-certification and use of a portion of an existing 8-inch-diameter pipeline extending from the 12-inch valve set west about 5.0 miles to a point in Elk Creek Township, Erie County (Line 10257), including construction of two new launcher/receivers. In Pennsylvania and Ohio, the project would include: • Construction of 28.3 miles of new 12-inch-diameter pipeline from the west end of the recertified 8-inch-diameter pipeline to connect with Dominion Energy Ohio facilities located in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio (Risberg Pipeline). The pipeline would be constructed in new right-of-way and include launcher/receiver facilities and mainline valves; and • construction of a new meter station at the terminus of the new pipeline in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM Continued 29NON1 56600 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 242 acres of land for the aboveground facilities, access roads, and the pipeline. Following construction, RH would maintain about 171 acres for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. Approximately 30 percent of the proposed new pipeline route parallels existing roads and railroads. The EA Process pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 2 to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • land use; • socioeconomics; • water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • cultural resources; • vegetation and wildlife; • endangered and threatened species; • air quality and noise; • public safety; and • cumulative impacts. We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish and distribute the EA appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov using the link called eLibrary or from the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. 2 We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Nov 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 to the public for an allotted comment period. We will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2. With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/ or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA.3 Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (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(s) as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/ pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. Environmental Mailing List The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes 3 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. 4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission’s regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached Information Request (appendix 2). Becoming an Intervenor In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want to become an intervenor which is an official party to the Commission’s proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission’s final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the Document-less Intervention Guide under the e-filing link on the Commission’s Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/ resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Additional Information Additional information about the project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web site at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on General Search and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP18– 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 allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices 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: November 21, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 BILLING CODE 6717–01–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Nov 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56601 E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1 56602 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Nov 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1 EN29NO17.005</GPH> pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 Appendix 1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices 56603 Appendix 2 INFORMATION REQUEST Risberg Line Project Name_______________________________________ Agency______________________________________ Address _____________________________________ City________________State,_ _ _ Zip Code,_____ D Please send me a paper copy of the published NEPA document D Please remove my name from the mailing list FROM_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ (Docket No. CP18-6-000 Risberg Line Project) Staple or Tape Here VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Nov 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1 EN29NO17.006</GPH> pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 ATTN: OEP- Gas 2, PJ- 11.2 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street NE Washington, DC 20426 56604 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2017 / Notices [FR Doc. 2017–25722 Filed 11–28–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–C DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [30Day–18–0214] Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a ‘‘Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations’’ notice on August 21, 2017. CDC received eight comments related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments. CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and (e) Assess information collection costs. To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639–7570 or send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395–5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication. Proposed Project National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (OMB Control Number 0920– 0214, Expiration Date 12/31/2019)— Revision—National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Background and Brief Description Section 306 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C.), as amended, authorizes that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through NCHS, shall collect statistics on the extent and nature of illness and disability of the population of the United States. The annual National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a major source of general statistics on the health of the U.S. population and has been in the field continuously since 1957. This voluntary and confidential householdbased survey collects demographic and health-related information from a nationally-representative sample of households and noninstitutionalized, civilian persons throughout the country. NHIS data have long been used by government, academic, and private researchers to evaluate both general health and specific issues, such as smoking, diabetes, health care coverage, and access to health care. The survey is also a leading source of data for the Congressionally-mandated ‘‘Health US’’ and related publications, as well as the single most important source of statistics to track progress toward Departmental health objectives. The 2018 NHIS questionnaire remains largely unchanged from its 2017 version, with the exception of new supplements that are being added on asthma and cancer control. These supplements replace those from 2017 on receipt of culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services, diabetes, epilepsy, cognitive disability, complementary health, hepatitis B/C screening, vision, and heart disease and stroke prevention. Continuing from 2017 are supplemental questions about access to and utilization of care and barriers to care, disability and functioning, family food security, ABCS of heart disease and stroke prevention, immunizations, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes, and children’s mental health. In addition, in the last quarter of 2018, a portion of the regular 2018 NHIS sample will be used to carry out a dress rehearsal and systems test of the redesigned NHIS questionnaire that is scheduled for launch in January 2019. The redesigned questionnaire revises the NHIS both in terms of content and structure in order to (1) improve the measurement of covered health topics, (2) reduce respondent burden by shortening the length of the questionnaire and seamlessly integrating supplements, (3) harmonize overlapping content with other federal health surveys, (4) establish a long-term structure of ongoing and periodic topics, and (5) incorporate advances in survey methodology and measurement. As in past years, and in accordance with the 1995 initiative to increase the integration of surveys within the DHHS, respondents to the 2018 NHIS will serve as the sampling frame for the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. In addition, a subsample of NHIS respondents and/ or members of commercial survey panels may be identified to participate in cognitive testing and methodological projects, using web and/or mail survey tools, that will inform the development of new rotating and supplemental content. There is no cost to the respondents other than their time. Clearance is sought for three years, to collect data for 2018–2020, with an estimated annualized burden of 47,735 hours. pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS Number of respondents Type of respondents Form name Adult Household Member ............................... Main Household Composition and Family Core. Main Adult Core ............................................. Main Child Core ............................................. Sample Adult ................................................... Adult Family Member ...................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:19 Nov 28, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Number of responses per respondent Average burden per response (in hours) 39,375 1 23/60 31,500 12,250 1 1 15/60 10/60 E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56599-56604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25722]



[[Page 56599]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-6-000]


RH energytrans, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Risberg Line Project, and Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Risberg Line Project involving 
construction, modification, and operation of facilities by RH 
energytrans, LLC (RH) in Crawford and Erie Counties, Pennsylvania and 
Ashtabula County, 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 December 21, 2017.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on October 16, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-6-000 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 proposed 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with 
state law.
    RH provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC 
entitled An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need 
To Know? This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked 
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate 
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on 
the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at 
(202) 502-8258 or 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 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 
(CP18-6-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    In addition, the FERC environmental staff plans on attending RH-
sponsored open houses in Conneaut, Ohio on December 5, 2017 and in 
Edinboro, Pennsylvania on December 6, 2017 to explain the Commission's 
environmental review process. If you are interested in attending, RH 
has requested that you RSVP at www.rhenergytrans.com/rsvp or by calling 
(844) 315-0857.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    RH proposes to construct, modify, operate, and maintain a new 
interstate natural gas pipeline system located in Crawford and Erie 
Counties, Pennsylvania and Ashtabula County, Ohio. The Risberg Line 
Project would provide about 55 million standard cubic feet of natural 
gas per day to Dominion Energy Ohio and other prospective customers in 
the vicinity of the project.
    The Risberg Line Project would consist of the following actions in 
Pennsylvania:
     Minor modifications at the existing County Line Compressor 
Station in Erie County;
     installation of compression (approximately 1,600 
horsepower, natural gas-fired), receipt metering, and appurtenant 
facilities at the existing (currently vacant) Meadville Compressor 
Station site in Crawford County;
     re-certification and use of an existing 12-inch-diameter 
pipeline extending 26.6 miles from the Meadville Compressor Station 
north to an existing valve set in Washington Township, Erie County, 
including construction of a new launcher/receiver;
     next to the Meadville Compressor Station, construction of 
a 650-foot lateral within the existing 12-inch-diameter pipeline right-
of-way to move gas from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC system 
to the existing pipeline; and
     re-certification and use of a portion of an existing 8-
inch-diameter pipeline extending from the 12-inch valve set west about 
5.0 miles to a point in Elk Creek Township, Erie County (Line 10257), 
including construction of two new launcher/receivers.
    In Pennsylvania and Ohio, the project would include:
     Construction of 28.3 miles of new 12-inch-diameter 
pipeline from the west end of the recertified 8-inch-diameter pipeline 
to connect with Dominion Energy Ohio facilities located in North 
Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio (Risberg Pipeline). The pipeline 
would be constructed in new right-of-way and include launcher/receiver 
facilities and mainline valves; and
     construction of a new meter station at the terminus of the 
new pipeline in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those 
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov 
using the link called eLibrary or from the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call 
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to 
the last page of this notice.

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[[Page 56600]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 242 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities, access roads, and the 
pipeline. Following construction, RH would maintain about 171 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses. Approximately 30 percent 
of the proposed new pipeline route parallels existing roads and 
railroads.

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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    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     land use;
     socioeconomics;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     endangered and threatened species;
     air quality and noise;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to 
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA 
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on 
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish 
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We 
will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations 
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and 
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the 
Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of 
this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the 
EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status 
should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the 
Public Participation section of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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 applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (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(s) as the project 
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum 
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include 
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor 
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our 
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status 
of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related 
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the 
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would 
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an intervenor which is an official party to the Commission's 
proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are 
able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if 
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the Document-
less Intervention Guide under the e-filing link on the Commission's Web 
site. Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC Web site at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on General Search and enter the docket number, 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP18-
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 allows you to keep track of all formal issuances 
and submittals in specific

[[Page 56601]]

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: November 21, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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[FR Doc. 2017-25722 Filed 11-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-C
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