Northern Natural Gas Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Bushton to Clifton A-Line Abandonment Project, 61611-61613 [2019-24629]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 13, 2019 / Notices Description: Tariff Cancellation: Notice of Cancellation of WMPA/SA No. 4382; Queue No. AB1–045 to be effective 11/12/2019. Filed Date: 11/6/19. Accession Number: 20191106–5106. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/27/19. Take notice that the Commission received the following public utility holding company filings: Docket Numbers: PH20–3–000. Applicants: Ontario Power Generation Inc. Description: Ontario Power Generation Inc. submits FERC 65–B Waiver Notification under PH20–3. Filed Date: 11/6/19. Accession Number: 20191106–5104. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/27/19. 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: November 6, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–24634 Filed 11–12–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP19–479–000] Northern Natural Gas Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Bushton to Clifton ALine Abandonment Project On July 15, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued in Docket No. CP19–479–000 a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Bushton to Clifton Aline Abandonment Project (NOI). In its application, Northern Natural Gas VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Nov 12, 2019 Jkt 250001 Company (Northern) filed a proposal to abandon in-place Northern’s A-line facilities consisting of approximately 92.76 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline, 15.74 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline, and other appurtenant facilities in Clay, Cloud, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Ottowa and Rice Counties, Kansas. The proposed Bushton to Clifton A-line Abandonment Project (Project) also involves construction and operation of compression facilities by Northern in Ottawa County, Kansas. Following Northern’s proposed abandonment activities, including the restoration of disturbed land, Northern indicates that the abandoned pipeline will be purchased and removed by a third-party salvage company. As indicated in the previous NOI, the FERC staff will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to address the environmental impacts of the Project. The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making process to determine whether to authorize the Project. We prepared this supplemental NOI to notify property owners along the proposed A-line abandonment whose land could be involved in the planned salvage operation who were inadvertently excluded from the July 15, 2019 NOI environmental mailing list. This Supplemental NOI opens a new 30day scoping period for interested parties to file comments on environmental issues specific to the proposed action. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues to address in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00pm Eastern Time on December 6, 2019. 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. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61611 will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA. 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. Northern 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 how to participate in the Commission’s proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/ resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf. Public Participation The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and submittals regarding the dockets/ projects to which you subscribe. These instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification and provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings. To sign up go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp. 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 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 E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1 61612 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 13, 2019 / Notices the project docket number (CP19–479– 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 Northern is proposing to abandon inplace the A-line facilities consisting of approximately 92.76 miles of 26-inchdiameter pipeline on Northern’s M640A and M630A and 15.74 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline on its M640J pipeline systems and other appurtenant facilities. The Project would consist of the following pipelines and facilities: • The M640A and M630A-Lines The M640 A-line in Kansas consists of abandonment of approximately 45.64 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline beginning at Northern’s Bushton Compressor Station located in Ellsworth County, Kansas, and ending near the Tescott Compressor Station in Ottawa County, Kansas. The M630 A-line in Kansas consists of abandonment of approximately 47.12 miles of 26-inchdiameter pipeline beginning at the Tescott Compressor Station in, Ottawa County, Kansas, and ending at Northern’s Clifton Compressor Station located in Clay County, Kansas. • The M640 J-Line The M640 J-line in Kansas consists of abandonment of approximately 15.74 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline beginning at Block Valve JBJ04 located in Ellsworth County, Kansas, and ending near Block Valve JXA07 located in Ottawa County, Kansas. • Tescott Compressor Station Northern proposes to construct and operate an additional natural gas-driven ISO rated 11,152 horsepower Solar Mars turbine unit (Unit No. 6) at the existing Tescott Compressor Station located in Ottawa County, Kansas. The unit will tie into station piping that is connected to Northern’s existing mainlines. Approximately 85 feet of 24-inchdiameter station piping, approximately 40 feet of 36-inch-diameter station piping, and approximately 80 feet of 8inch-diameter station piping will be removed to accommodate tie-ins. After abandonment, Northern states that the abandoned pipeline will be purchased and removed by a third-party salvage company. Northern will continue to operate the other pipelines in its right-of-way and maintain its pipeline easements with the exception of a segment of J-line that will be abandoned in place. The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Nov 12, 2019 Jkt 250001 Land Requirements for Construction Construction disturbance associated with discrete locations to disconnect the abandoned pipelines and at the proposed compressor station upgrade would disturb about 55.4 acres, including 54.5 acres of land for temporary work space and about 0.9 acre for access roads. Two of the pipeline disconnect locations are located inside existing compressor station facilities which is owned by Northern, and the remaining disconnect locations are located along the A-line which is collocated with other Northern pipelines. No new land would be obtained or required for the Project. The EA Process The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the abandonment, construction, and operation of the proposed Project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • water resources and wetlands; • vegetation and wildlife; • threatened and endangered species; • cultural resources; • land use; • air quality and noise; • 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 will present Commission staffs’ independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary 1 and the Commission’s website (https:// www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/ eis.asp). If eSubscribed, you will receive instant email notification when the EA is issued. The EA may be issued for an allotted public comment period. Commission staff will consider all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the Commission. 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.2 Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 1 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. 2 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 using this notice to initiate consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office, 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.3 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 potential right-of-way grantors along Northern’s existing pipeline system, 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 Commission notices related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed Project. If the Commission issues the EA for an allotted public comment period, a Notice of Availability of the EA will be sent to the environmental mailing list and will provide instructions to access the electronic document on the FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov). 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 3 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\13NON1.SGM 13NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 13, 2019 / Notices 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., CP19–479–000. 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. Dated: November 6, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–24629 Filed 11–12–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP20–8–000] Notice of Application; ANR Pipeline Company Take notice that on October 28, 2019, ANR Pipeline Company (ANR), 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77002–2700, filed an abbreviated application under sections 7(c) and 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157, Subpart A, of the Commission’s regulations, requesting authorization to construct, own, and operate the Grand Chenier XPress Project (Project). Specifically, ANR’s Project consist of: (i) Modifications to the existing Eunice and Grand Chenier Compressor Stations, (ii) construction and operation of a new compressor station (Mermentau Compressor Station), (iii) modifications to ANR’s Mermentau River GCX Meter Station,1 and (iv) installation of various appurtenant and auxiliary facilities. The Project will provide open access firm transportation service on 400,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of incremental capacity from ANR’s Southeast Head station to the Mermentau River GCX Meter Station, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. The filing is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission’s website at https:// www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number 1 ANR states that the Mermentau River GCX Meter Station will be installed pursuant to the automatic provisions of its blanket certificate. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:23 Nov 12, 2019 Jkt 250001 field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659. Any questions regarding this application may be directed to Dave Hammel, Director, Commercial and Regulatory Law, ANR Pipeline Company, 700 Louisiana Street Suite 700, Houston, Texas 77002–2700, by telephone at (832) 320–5583, or by email at daniel_humble@tcenergy.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 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 EA. There are two ways to become involved in the Commission’s review of 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 3 copies of filings made with the Commission and must provide a copy to the applicant and to every other party. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 61613 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 commentors will be placed on the Commission’s environmental mailing list, and will be notified of any meetings associated with the Commission’s environmental review process. Environmental commentors will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commentors will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission’s final order. As of the February 27, 2018 date of the Commission’s order in Docket No. CP16–4–001, the Commission will apply its revised practice concerning out-of-time motions to intervene in any new Natural Gas Act section 3 or section 7 proceeding.2 Persons desiring to become a party to a certificate proceeding are to intervene in a timely manner. If seeking to intervene out-oftime, the movant is required to show good cause why the time limitation should be waived, and should provide justification by reference to factors set forth in Rule 214(d)(1) of the Commission’s Rules and Regulations.3 The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests, and interventions in lieu of paper using the eFiling link at https://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 3 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 27, 2019. Dated: November 6, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–24633 Filed 11–12–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 2 Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C., 162 FERC 61,167 at 50 (2018). 3 18 CFR 385.214(d)(1). E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61611-61613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24629]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP19-479-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Bushton to Clifton 
A-Line Abandonment Project

    On July 15, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) issued in Docket No. CP19-479-000 a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Bushton to Clifton 
A-line Abandonment Project (NOI). In its application, Northern Natural 
Gas Company (Northern) filed a proposal to abandon in-place Northern's 
A-line facilities consisting of approximately 92.76 miles of 26-inch-
diameter pipeline, 15.74 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline, and other 
appurtenant facilities in Clay, Cloud, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Ottowa and 
Rice Counties, Kansas. The proposed Bushton to Clifton A-line 
Abandonment Project (Project) also involves construction and operation 
of compression facilities by Northern in Ottawa County, Kansas. 
Following Northern's proposed abandonment activities, including the 
restoration of disturbed land, Northern indicates that the abandoned 
pipeline will be purchased and removed by a third-party salvage 
company.
    As indicated in the previous NOI, the FERC staff will prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) to address the environmental impacts of 
the Project. The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making 
process to determine whether to authorize the Project. We prepared this 
supplemental NOI to notify property owners along the proposed A-line 
abandonment whose land could be involved in the planned salvage 
operation who were inadvertently excluded from the July 15, 2019 NOI 
environmental mailing list. This Supplemental NOI opens a new 30-day 
scoping period for interested parties to file comments on environmental 
issues specific to the proposed action. By this notice, the Commission 
requests public comments on the scope of issues to address in the EA. 
To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please 
submit your comments so that the Commission receives them in 
Washington, DC on or before 5:00pm Eastern Time on December 6, 2019.
    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. 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.
    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.
    Northern 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 how to participate in the Commission's 
proceedings. It is also available for viewing on the FERC website 
(www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf.

Public Participation

    The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which 
makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and submittals 
regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These instant 
email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification and 
provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of 
time you spend researching proceedings. To sign up go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    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

[[Page 61612]]

the project docket number (CP19-479-000) 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

    Northern is proposing to abandon in-place the A-line facilities 
consisting of approximately 92.76 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline on 
Northern's M640A and M630A and 15.74 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
on its M640J pipeline systems and other appurtenant facilities. The 
Project would consist of the following pipelines and facilities:

 The M640A and M630A-Lines

    The M640 A-line in Kansas consists of abandonment of approximately 
45.64 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline beginning at Northern's 
Bushton Compressor Station located in Ellsworth County, Kansas, and 
ending near the Tescott Compressor Station in Ottawa County, Kansas. 
The M630 A-line in Kansas consists of abandonment of approximately 
47.12 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline beginning at the Tescott 
Compressor Station in, Ottawa County, Kansas, and ending at Northern's 
Clifton Compressor Station located in Clay County, Kansas.

 The M640 J-Line

    The M640 J-line in Kansas consists of abandonment of approximately 
15.74 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline beginning at Block Valve JBJ04 
located in Ellsworth County, Kansas, and ending near Block Valve JXA07 
located in Ottawa County, Kansas.

 Tescott Compressor Station

    Northern proposes to construct and operate an additional natural 
gas-driven ISO rated 11,152 horsepower Solar Mars turbine unit (Unit 
No. 6) at the existing Tescott Compressor Station located in Ottawa 
County, Kansas. The unit will tie into station piping that is connected 
to Northern's existing mainlines. Approximately 85 feet of 24-inch-
diameter station piping, approximately 40 feet of 36-inch-diameter 
station piping, and approximately 80 feet of 8-inch-diameter station 
piping will be removed to accommodate tie-ins.
    After abandonment, Northern states that the abandoned pipeline will 
be purchased and removed by a third-party salvage company. Northern 
will continue to operate the other pipelines in its right-of-way and 
maintain its pipeline easements with the exception of a segment of J-
line that will be abandoned in place. The general location of the 
Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction disturbance associated with discrete locations to 
disconnect the abandoned pipelines and at the proposed compressor 
station upgrade would disturb about 55.4 acres, including 54.5 acres of 
land for temporary work space and about 0.9 acre for access roads. Two 
of the pipeline disconnect locations are located inside existing 
compressor station facilities which is owned by Northern, and the 
remaining disconnect locations are located along the A-line which is 
collocated with other Northern pipelines. No new land would be obtained 
or required for the Project.

The EA Process

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
abandonment, construction, and operation of the proposed Project under 
these general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     air quality and noise;
     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 will present Commission staffs' independent analysis of the 
issues. The EA will be available in electronic format in the public 
record through eLibrary \1\ and the Commission's website (https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). If eSubscribed, you will 
receive instant email notification when the EA is issued. The EA may be 
issued for an allotted public comment period. Commission staff will 
consider all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the 
Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 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.\2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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 using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office, 
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.\3\ The EA for this project will 
document findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize 
the status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 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 along Northern's 
existing pipeline system, 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 Commission notices related to this 
environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed Project. If the Commission issues the EA for an allotted 
public comment period, a Notice of Availability of the EA will be sent 
to the environmental mailing list and will provide instructions to 
access the electronic document on the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov).

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

[[Page 61613]]

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., CP19-479-000. 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.

    Dated: November 6, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-24629 Filed 11-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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