Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Sabine Pass Compression Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 32114-32116 [2018-14777]

Download as PDF 32114 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–508–000] daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Application Take notice that on June 20, 2018, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia), 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77002–2700, filed in Docket No. CP18–508–000, an application under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act seeking authorization to install bi-directional launchers, receivers, mainline valves and other appurtenant facilities, all located in Madison and Fayette Counties, Kentucky, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. Columbia estimates the cost of the facilities to be $8,253,665. This filing may be viewed on the web at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, please contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886)208–3676 or TYY, (202) 502–8659. Any questions regarding this Application should be directed to Sandra Mazan, Regulatory and Commercial Law, TransCanada Corporation, 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77002–2700; by phone at 832–320–5939; or email at sandra_mazan@transcanada.com. Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: Complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the Commission’s public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff’s issuance of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or EA for this proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission’s public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff’s FEIS or EA. There are two ways to become involved in the Commission’s review of VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the comment date stated below, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 7 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the proceeding. However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. The Commission will consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission’s rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly involved in the protest. Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenter’s will be placed on the Commission’s environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission’s environmental review process. Environmental commenter’s will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commentary, will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission’s final order. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https:// PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 5 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a) (1) (iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s website under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link. Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 26, 2018. Dated: July 5, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–14814 Filed 7–10–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–487–000] Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Sabine Pass Compression 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 Sabine Pass Compression Project (Project); involving the construction and operation of facilities by Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC (Natural) in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. 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 about issues regarding the Project. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires the Commission to discover 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. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 2, 2018. You can make a difference by submitting 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. Commission staff will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on May 18, 2018, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP18–487–000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. This notice is being sent to the Commission’s current environmental mailing list for the 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 easement agreement. You are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be determined by a judge in accordance with state law. Natural 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). that your comments are properly recorded. (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature, which is located on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment 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, which is located 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.’’ You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; 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 CP18–487– 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 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Public Participation The Project is designed to provide 400,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) of natural gas on a firm basis for delivery to Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (SPL) Terminal, and provide a level of increased operational flexibility on Natural’s system. The Project would consist of the following facilities: • A new gas-fired compressor station (CS 348) with a 22,490 horsepower (hp) turbine and necessary auxiliary equipment; • new 36-inch suction and discharge pipelines and interconnections from CS 348 to the existing Louisiana Line Nos. 1 and 2 and existing Natural Lateral; and • modifications to allow for remote operation of Natural’s existing X–L8E South Valve located approximately 61 miles northeast of CS 348 along existing Louisiana Line Nos. 1 and 2 at approximate milepost (MP) 154. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 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 staff available to assist you at (866) 208–3676 or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow these instructions so 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32115 Land Requirements for Construction Constructing the proposed facilities would require the use of about 24.3 acres in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Following construction, Natural would maintain 3.3 acres for permanent operation of the Project’s facilities. Natural proposes to utilize two contractor/staging yards, requiring a total of 11 acres, during construction of the Project. Natural would restore the contractor/staging yards to pre-existing conditions following activities, resulting in no permanent impacts. To access the Project workspaces and facilities during construction and operations, Natural would utilize existing roads to the extent practicable. Natural proposes to utilize five access roads, requiring a total of 4 acres, during construction of the Project facilities. Four access roads (Access Roads 1, 2, 4, and 5) proposed to be used for the Project are located along existing gravel roads. Access Road 3 is not located along an existing road. Following the completion of construction, areas impacted by Access Road 3 would be restored to preconstruction conditions. Natural proposes to permanently expand Access Road 2 by 0.1 acre and maintain this area to accommodate access to CS 348 during operations. The EA Process The EA would 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. Commission staff 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 would present Commission staffs’ independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in the public record through eLibrary.2 Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the Commission may also publish and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. Commission 2 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1 32116 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices staff will consider all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the Commission. To ensure Commission staff have the opportunity to address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2. With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of this Project to formally cooperate 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. Consultation 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, the Commission is 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.4 Commission staff will define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/ pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). The EA for this project will document 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 all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission’s regulations) who are daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 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. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that information related to this environmental review is sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. If the Commission publishes and distributes the EA, copies of the EA will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of a CD version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached ‘‘Mailing List Update Form’’ (appendix 2). 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 in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP18–487–000). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov or (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all 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: July 3, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–14777 Filed 7–10–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Commission Staff Attendance The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) hereby gives notice that members of the Commission’s staff may attend the following meetings related to the transmission planning activities of the New York Independent System Operator, Inc. (NYISO): NYISO Business Issues Committee Meeting July 11, 2018, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (EST) The above-referenced meeting will be via web conference and teleconference. The above-referenced meeting is open to stakeholders. Further information may be found at: https://www.nyiso.com/public/ committees/documents.jsp?com= bic&directory=2018-07-11. NYISO Operating Committee Meeting July 12, 2018, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (EST) The above-referenced meeting will be via web conference and teleconference. The above-referenced meeting is open to stakeholders. Further information may be found at: https://www.nyiso.com/public/ committees/documents.jsp?com= oc&directory=2018-07-12. NYISO Electric System Planning Working Group Meeting July 19, 2018, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (EST) The above-referenced meeting will be via web conference and teleconference. The above-referenced meeting is open to stakeholders. Further information may be found at: https://www.nyiso.com/public/ committees/documents.jsp?com=bic_ espwg&directory=2018-07-19. NYISO Management Committee Meeting July 25, 2018, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (EST) The above-referenced meeting will be via web conference and teleconference. The above-referenced meeting is open to stakeholders. Further information may be found at: https://www.nyiso.com/public/ committees/documents.jsp?com= mc&directory=2018-07-25. E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32114-32116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14777]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-487-000]


Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Sabine Pass 
Compression 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 Sabine Pass Compression 
Project (Project); involving the construction and operation of 
facilities by Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC (Natural) in 
Cameron Parish, Louisiana. 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 about issues regarding the Project. The National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the 
environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it 
considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and 
Necessity. NEPA also requires the Commission to discover 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. To ensure that your comments are timely 
and properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the

[[Page 32115]]

Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. 
Eastern Time on August 2, 2018.
    You can make a difference by submitting 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. Commission 
staff will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the 
EA.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on May 18, 2018, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP18-487-000 to ensure they are considered as 
part of this proceeding.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for the 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 easement agreement. You 
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission 
approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of 
eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an 
easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be 
determined by a judge in accordance with state law.
    Natural 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 staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 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, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment 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, which is located 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.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment 
on a Filing''; 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 
CP18-487-000 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

    The Project is designed to provide 400,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/
day) of natural gas on a firm basis for delivery to Sabine Pass 
Liquefaction, LLC (SPL) Terminal, and provide a level of increased 
operational flexibility on Natural's system.
    The Project would consist of the following facilities:
     A new gas-fired compressor station (CS 348) with a 22,490 
horsepower (hp) turbine and necessary auxiliary equipment;
     new 36-inch suction and discharge pipelines and 
interconnections from CS 348 to the existing Louisiana Line Nos. 1 and 
2 and existing Natural Lateral; and
     modifications to allow for remote operation of Natural's 
existing X-L8E South Valve located approximately 61 miles northeast of 
CS 348 along existing Louisiana Line Nos. 1 and 2 at approximate 
milepost (MP) 154.
    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 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

    Constructing the proposed facilities would require the use of about 
24.3 acres in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Following construction, 
Natural would maintain 3.3 acres for permanent operation of the 
Project's facilities. Natural proposes to utilize two contractor/
staging yards, requiring a total of 11 acres, during construction of 
the Project. Natural would restore the contractor/staging yards to pre-
existing conditions following activities, resulting in no permanent 
impacts. To access the Project workspaces and facilities during 
construction and operations, Natural would utilize existing roads to 
the extent practicable. Natural proposes to utilize five access roads, 
requiring a total of 4 acres, during construction of the Project 
facilities. Four access roads (Access Roads 1, 2, 4, and 5) proposed to 
be used for the Project are located along existing gravel roads. Access 
Road 3 is not located along an existing road. Following the completion 
of construction, areas impacted by Access Road 3 would be restored to 
pre-construction conditions. Natural proposes to permanently expand 
Access Road 2 by 0.1 acre and maintain this area to accommodate access 
to CS 348 during operations.

The EA Process

    The EA would 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.
    Commission staff 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 would present Commission staffs' independent analysis of the 
issues. The EA will be available in the public record through 
eLibrary.\2\ Depending on the comments received during the scoping 
process, the Commission may also publish and distribute the EA to the 
public for an allotted comment period. Commission

[[Page 32116]]

staff will consider all comments on the EA before making 
recommendations to the Commission. To ensure Commission staff have the 
opportunity to address your comments, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with 
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental issues of this Project to formally cooperate 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultation 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, the Commission is 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.\4\ Commission staff will 
define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in 
consultation with the SHPO as the project develops. On natural gas 
facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject 
to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, 
contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). 
The EA for this project will document 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. Commission staff will update the environmental 
mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that information 
related to this environmental review is sent to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the proposed project.
    If the Commission publishes and distributes the EA, copies of the 
EA will be sent to the environmental mailing list for public review and 
comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document 
instead of a CD version or would like to remove your name from the 
mailing list, please return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' 
(appendix 2).

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 
in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP18-487-000). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 
502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all 
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: July 3, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-14777 Filed 7-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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