Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 8000 Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 60981-60983 [2017-27729]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices 60981 Number of respondents New or Modifications to Existing Agreements (Reporting). New or Modifications to Existing Agreements (Record Keeping). Total ................... Annual number of responses per respondent Total number of responses Average burden hours & cost per response ($) (rounded) Total annual burden hours & total annual cost ($) (rounded) Cost per respondent ($) (rounded) (1) FERC–725F (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) *(5) ÷ (1) 60 nuclear plants + 120 transmission entities 11. 60 nuclear plants + 120 transmission entities. 2 Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Dated: December 19, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–27732 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–13–000] Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 8000 Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an indicates that wages are 69.6% and benefits are 30.4% of total salary (https://www.bls.gov/ news.release/ecec.nr0.htm).) The estimated hourly cost (for wages plus benefits) for reporting requirements is $84.23/hour, based on the average for an electrical engineer (occupation code 17–2071, $68.12/hour), legal (occupation code 23–0000, $143.68/hour), and office and administrative staff (occupation code 43– 000, $40.89/hour). VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Dec 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 66.67 hrs.; $5,616 .... 24,001 hrs.; $2,021,621. 2 .................................. 360 360 6.67 hrs.; $218 ......... 2,401 hrs.; $78,615 .. ........................ 12 360 .................................. 26,402 hrs.; 13 $2,100,236. $11,231 $437 ........................ environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Line 8000 Replacement Project involving the abandonment, construction, and operation of facilities by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in Mineral County, West Virginia and Allegany County, Maryland. 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 18, 2018. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on November 3, 2017, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18–13–000 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. Columbia 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). The estimated hourly cost (wages plus benefits) for record keeping is $32.74/hour for a file clerk (occupation code 43–4071). 11 This figure of 120 transmission entities is based on the assumption that each agreement will be between 1 nuclear plant and 2 transmission entities (60 × 2 = 120). However, there is some double counting in this figure because some transmission entities may be party to multiple agreements with multiple nuclear plants. The double counting does not affect the burden estimate, and the correct number of unique respondents will be reported to OMB. 12 The 180 respondents affected by the reporting requirements are also affected by the recordkeeping requirements. 13 The reporting requirements have not changed. The decrease in the number of respondents is due to: (a) Normal fluctuations in industry (e.g., companies merging and splitting, and coming into and going out of business), and (b) no new agreements being issued due to the lack of new nuclear plants being developed. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1 60982 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 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 (CP18–13– 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 Columbia has developed a multi-year, comprehensive modernization program to address its aging infrastructure. As part of its modernization program, Columbia proposes to abandon and replace about 14 miles of pipeline along Line 8000 and four laterals 1 and abandon or modify associated minor aboveground facilities in Mineral County, West Virginia and Allegany County, Maryland. The Line 8000 Replacement Project would not increase capacity and would continue to serve the Maryland distribution markets. According to Columbia, by abandoning and replacing portions of the existing aging, bare steel pipeline, its project would increase system reliability, thereby greatly reducing the risk of interruptions to Columbia’s customers. The Line 8000 Replacement Project would consist of: • Replacement of a total of approximately 13.25 miles of existing 12-inch-diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 13.54 miles of new, coated 12-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline in five sections and four modification points along Line 8000 and Lateral Line 8006; 1 A lateral is a segment of a pipeline that branches off the main or transmission line to transport the product to a termination point, such as a tank farm or a metering station. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Dec 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 • replacement of a total of approximately 0.55 miles of existing 4inch-diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 0.78 miles of new coated 4-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline along three laterals (Lateral Lines 8225, 8244, and 18012); • installation of two new pig 2 launcher and receiver sites and four new mainline valves associated with pipeline facilities; • modifications/abandonment of four existing mainline valves and three existing side tap valve sites and modification of tie-ins at two regulator stations; and • abandonment of 13 active residential taps and 109 inactive taps. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.3 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 288 acres of land for the pipelines and minor aboveground facilities. Following construction, Columbia would maintain about 71 acres for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. Approximately 85 percent of the new Line 8000 pipeline would be co-located within the right-of-way of the existing Line 8000 pipeline (to be abandoned). Approximately 15 percent of the new Line 8000 pipeline would be located within a new right-of-way due to construction constraints that prevents co-location with the pipeline to be abandoned. 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 4 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 2A 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. 3 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. 4 We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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; • 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 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.5 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 5 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project’s potential effects on historic properties.6 We will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES 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 6 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Dec 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 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., CP18–13). 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 19, 2017. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2017–27729 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order Docket Nos. Franklin Energy Storage One, LLC, Franklin Energy Storage Two, LLC, Franklin Energy Storage Three, LLC, Franklin Energy Storage Four, LLC. Franklin Energy Storage One, LLC. Franklin Energy Storage Two, LLC. PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 EL18–50–000 QF17–581–001 QF17–582–002 Sfmt 4703 60983 Docket Nos. Franklin Energy Storage Three, LLC. Franklin Energy Storage Four, LLC. QF17–583–003 QF17–584–004 Take notice that on December 14, 2017, pursuant to Rule 207 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission) Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.207, Franklin Energy Storage One, LLC, Franklin Energy Storage Two, LLC, Franklin Energy Storage Three, LLC, and Franklin Energy Storage Four, LLC filed a petition for declaratory order finding that certain orders of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission are inconsistent with the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies act of 1978, all as more fully explained in the petition. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in this proceeding must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Petitioner. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at https:// www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 5 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The filings in the above proceeding are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available for review in the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the website that enables subscribers to receive email notification when a document is added E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60981-60983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27729]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-13-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 8000 Replacement 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 Line 8000 Replacement Project 
involving the abandonment, construction, and operation of facilities by 
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in Mineral County, West 
Virginia and Allegany County, Maryland. 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 18, 2018.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on November 3, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-13-000 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.
    Columbia 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

[[Page 60982]]

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 
(CP18-13-000) 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

    Columbia has developed a multi-year, comprehensive modernization 
program to address its aging infrastructure. As part of its 
modernization program, Columbia proposes to abandon and replace about 
14 miles of pipeline along Line 8000 and four laterals \1\ and abandon 
or modify associated minor aboveground facilities in Mineral County, 
West Virginia and Allegany County, Maryland. The Line 8000 Replacement 
Project would not increase capacity and would continue to serve the 
Maryland distribution markets. According to Columbia, by abandoning and 
replacing portions of the existing aging, bare steel pipeline, its 
project would increase system reliability, thereby greatly reducing the 
risk of interruptions to Columbia's customers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A lateral is a segment of a pipeline that branches off the 
main or transmission line to transport the product to a termination 
point, such as a tank farm or a metering station.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Line 8000 Replacement Project would consist of:
     Replacement of a total of approximately 13.25 miles of 
existing 12-inch-diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 13.54 
miles of new, coated 12-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline 
in five sections and four modification points along Line 8000 and 
Lateral Line 8006;
     replacement of a total of approximately 0.55 miles of 
existing 4-inch-diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 0.78 
miles of new coated 4-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline 
along three laterals (Lateral Lines 8225, 8244, and 18012);
     installation of two new pig \2\ launcher and receiver 
sites and four new mainline valves associated with pipeline facilities;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

     modifications/abandonment of four existing mainline valves 
and three existing side tap valve sites and modification of tie-ins at 
two regulator stations; and
     abandonment of 13 active residential taps and 109 inactive 
taps.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 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 288 
acres of land for the pipelines and minor aboveground facilities. 
Following construction, Columbia would maintain about 71 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses. Approximately 85 percent 
of the new Line 8000 pipeline would be co-located within the right-of-
way of the existing Line 8000 pipeline (to be abandoned). Approximately 
15 percent of the new Line 8000 pipeline would be located within a new 
right-of-way due to construction constraints that prevents co-location 
with the pipeline to be abandoned.

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 
\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 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;
     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 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.\5\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with the applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to 
solicit their views and those of other government

[[Page 60983]]

agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's 
potential effects on historic properties.\6\ We will define the 
project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with 
the SHPOs as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, 
the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground 
disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/
pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for 
this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic 
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 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; 
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 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-
13). 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 19, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-27729 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.