Blue Mountain Midstream, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Blue Mountain Delivery Line Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 60597-60599 [2017-27494]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2017 / Notices Filed Date: 12/14/17. Accession Number: 20171214–5155. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/4/18. Docket Numbers: ER18–455–000. Applicants: ISO New England Inc., New England Power Pool Participants Committee. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: ISO– NE and NEPOOL Filing Re: CSO Transfer Improvements to be effective 3/1/2018. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5054. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Docket Numbers: ER18–456–000. Applicants: PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. Description: Tariff Cancellation: Notice of Cancellation of 1st Rev. Service Agreement No. 2195, Queue No. X1–074 to be effective 1/13/2018. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5061. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. Docket Numbers: ER18–457–000. Applicants: Gainesville Renewable Energy Center, LLC. Description: Tariff Cancellation: Cancellation of MBR Tariff to be effective 12/18/2017. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5069. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. 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: December 15, 2017. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–27492 Filed 12–20–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:57 Dec 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 Dated: December 15, 2017. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FR Doc. 2017–27493 Filed 12–20–17; 8:45 am] Combined Notice of Filings #2 Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings: Docket Numbers: ER17–1138–002. Applicants: PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. Description: Compliance filing: Compliance Filing Pursuant to the Nov. 17, 2017 Order in Docket No. ER17– 1138 to be effective 5/9/2017. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5111. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. Docket Numbers: ER17–1864–001. Applicants: Bayshore Solar A, LLC. Description: Compliance filing: Bayshore Solar A LLC MBR Tariff to be effective 8/19/2017. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5073. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. Docket Numbers: ER17–1909–001. Applicants: Bayshore Solar C, LLC. Description: Compliance filing: Bayshore Solar C LLC MBR Tariff to be effective 8/26/2017. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5072. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. Docket Numbers: ER18–458–000. Applicants: Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., Ameren Illinois Company. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2017–12–15_SA 2880 Attachment A Project Specs No. 2 (Ameren-Wabash Valley UCA) to be effective 11/30/2017. Filed Date: 12/15/17. Accession Number: 20171215–5103. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/5/18. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60597 BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–14–000] Blue Mountain Midstream, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Blue Mountain Delivery 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 Blue Mountain Delivery Line Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Blue Mountain Midstream, LLC (Blue Mountain) in Grady County, Oklahoma. 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 January 16, 2018. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on November 9, 2017, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18–14–000 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 E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1 60598 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2017 / Notices daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 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. Blue Mountain 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 website (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 website (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 website (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 (CP18–14– 000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Summary of the Proposed Project Blue Mountain proposes to construct and operate two natural gas pipelines VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:57 Dec 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 totaling 9.57 miles and a metering and pigging facility in Grady County, Oklahoma.1 The Blue Mountain Deliver Line would provide about 225 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to markets in Oklahoma and neighboring states. According to Blue Mountain, its project would accommodate natural gas development in Grady County, Oklahoma. The Blue Mountain Delivery Line Project would consist of the following facilities: • Two natural gas pipelines, the Enable Discharge Line #127 (Line 127) (4.4 miles) and Enable Discharge Line #128 (Line 128) (5.2 miles); and • a metering and pigging facility. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.2 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 80.7 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipelines. Following construction, Blue Mountain would maintain about 37.9 acres for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. The EA Process The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 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 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 1 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes. 2 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. 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 proposed project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • vegetation and wildlife; • endangered and threatened species; • cultural resources; • land use; • 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.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 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.5 We will define the 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’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. E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2017 / Notices 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. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Environmental Mailing List The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native American Tribes; 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 website. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:57 Dec 20, 2017 Jkt 244001 Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC website 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., CP18–14). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/esubscription.asp. Finally, public 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: December 15, 2017. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–27494 Filed 12–20–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OPP–2017–0011; FRL–9970–95] Registration Review; Neonicotinoid Risk Assessments; Neonicotinoid Benefits Assessments; Notice of Availability Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice announces the availability of EPA’s (or Agency) draft ecological non-pollinator risk assessment for the registration review of imidacloprid, along with draft human health and non-pollinator ecological risk assessments for the registration review of clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and dinotefuran, and opens a public comment period on these assessments. This notice also announces the availability of assessments of benefits of neonicotinoid insecticide use in cotton and citrus. While EPA typically releases benefits assessments along with the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60599 proposed interim decisions, EPA is releasing and obtaining public comment on these two benefits assessments at an earlier stage of the registration review process. These benefits assessments will help EPA evaluate the impacts of potential measures to reduce certain risks to pollinators identified in previously issued preliminary pollinator risk assessments. EPA is not proposing any mitigation at this stage, and anticipates that early input and information from the public on the benefits of these compounds will be helpful as EPA evaluates and considers the risks and the benefits of the neonicotinoid insecticides. Finally, EPA is releasing a response to public comments on the Agency’s 2014 assessment of the benefits of neonicotinoid seed treatments to soybean production. This assessment and associated comments are available in docket EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0737. Copies of all of the benefits assessments will be placed in the individual chemical dockets for each of the four neonicotinoid insecticides listed in Table 1 of Unit III. DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 20, 2018. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the docket identification (ID) number for the specific pesticide of interest provided in Table 1 of Unit III, by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. • Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/ DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001. • Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the instructions at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html. Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along with more information about dockets generally, is available at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For pesticide specific information contact: The Chemical Review Manager for the pesticide of interest identified in Table 1 of Unit III. For general questions on the registration review program, contact: Dana Friedman, Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division (7508P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60597-60599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27494]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-14-000]


Blue Mountain Midstream, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Blue Mountain Delivery 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 Blue Mountain Delivery Line 
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Blue 
Mountain Midstream, LLC (Blue Mountain) in Grady County, Oklahoma. 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 January 16, 2018.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on November 9, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-14-000 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

[[Page 60598]]

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.
    Blue Mountain 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 website (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 [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 website (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 website (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 
(CP18-14-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Blue Mountain proposes to construct and operate two natural gas 
pipelines totaling 9.57 miles and a metering and pigging facility in 
Grady County, Oklahoma.\1\ The Blue Mountain Deliver Line would provide 
about 225 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to markets in 
Oklahoma and neighboring states. According to Blue Mountain, its 
project would accommodate natural gas development in Grady County, 
Oklahoma.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Blue Mountain Delivery Line Project would consist of the 
following facilities:
     Two natural gas pipelines, the Enable Discharge Line #127 
(Line 127) (4.4 miles) and Enable Discharge Line #128 (Line 128) (5.2 
miles); and
     a metering and pigging facility.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 80.7 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipelines. 
Following construction, Blue Mountain would maintain about 37.9 acres 
for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining 
acreage would be restored and revert to former uses.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 
\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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     endangered and threatened species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     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.\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 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.\5\ We will define the

[[Page 60599]]

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native 
American Tribes; 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 website. 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 website 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-
14). 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 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: December 15, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-27494 Filed 12-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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