Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 44289-44291 [2020-15262]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 141 / Wednesday, July 22, 2020 / Notices direct subsidiary of Dominion MLP Holding. DECP provides notification of a planned transaction in which Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (BHE), an Iowa corporation and a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (a Delaware corporation), will acquire indirect ownership and control of 100% of the general partnership interests of DECP, as well as 25% of DECP’s limited partnership interests. DECP states that 50% of its limited partnership interest will continue to be owned directly or indirectly by DEI. Brookfield will continue to own the remaining 25% of DECP’s limited partnership interest through Bowie Acquisitions LLC. According to DECP, BHE is acquiring these interests in DECP as part of a larger transaction, with an enterprise value of approximately $9.7 billion, involving the acquisition by BHE of a number of subsidiaries of DEI, pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of July 3, 2020. DECP states that BHE generally will have day-to-day management and control of DECP. DECP will remain the holder of the export authorizations. Additional details can be found in DECP’s Notice, posted on the DOE/FE website at: https://www.energy.gov/ sites/prod/files/2020/07/f76/DECP_ BHE_DOE_CIC_filing.pdf DOE/FE Evaluation DOE/FE will review DECP’s Notice in accordance with its Procedures for Changes in Control Affecting Applications and Authorizations to Import or Export Natural Gas (CIC Procedures).1 Consistent with the CIC Procedures, this notice addresses DECP’s authorizations to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement (non-FTA) countries, granted in DOE/FE Order Nos. 3331–A 2 (FE Docket No. 11–128–LNG) and 4508 (FE Docket No. 19–156–LNG).3 If no interested person protests the change in control and DOE takes no action on its own motion, the proposed change in control will be deemed granted 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. If one or more protests are submitted, DOE will review any motions to intervene, protests, and answers, and will issue a determination 1 79 FR 65541 (Nov. 5, 2014). Order No. 3331 was subsequently amended by DOE/FE Order Nos. 3331–B and 3331– C. 3 DECP’s Notice also applies to its existing authorizations to export LNG to FTA countries and to import natural gas from various international sources, but DOE/FE will respond to those portions of the document separately pursuant to the CIC Procedures, 79 FR 65542. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 2 DOE/FE VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Jul 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 44289 as to whether the proposed change in control has been demonstrated to render the underlying authorization inconsistent with the public interest. intervention, and comments, will also be available electronically by going to the following DOE/FE Web address: https://fossil.energy.gov/ng_regulation/. Public Comment Procedures Interested persons will be provided 15 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register in order to move to intervene, protest, and answer DECP’s Notice.4 Protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and written comments are invited in response to this notice only as to the change in control described in DECP’s Notice. All protests, comments, motions to intervene, or notices of intervention must meet the requirements specified by DOE’s regulations in 10 CFR part 590. Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods: (1) Preferred method: emailing the filing to fergas@ hq.doe.gov; (2) mailing an original and three paper copies of the filing to the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement at the address listed in ADDRESSES; or (3) hand delivering an original and three paper copies of the filing to the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement at the address listed in ADDRESSES. All filings must include a reference to the individual FE Docket Number(s) in the title line, or Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP Change in Control in the title line. Please Note: If submitting a filing via email, please include all related documents and attachments (e.g., exhibits) in the original email correspondence. Please do not include any active hyperlinks or password protection in any of the documents or attachments related to the filing. All electronic filings submitted to DOE must follow these guidelines to ensure that all documents are filed in a timely manner. Any hardcopy filing submitted greater in length than 50 pages must also include, at the time of the filing, a digital copy on disk of the entire submission. DECP’s Notice, and any filed protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and comments, are available for inspection and copying in the Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement docket room, Room 3E– 042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20585. The docket room is open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. DECP’s Notice, and any filed protests, motions to intervene, notices of Signed in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2020. Amy Sweeney, Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Oil and Natural Gas. 4 Intervention, if granted, would constitute intervention only in the change in control portion of this proceeding, as described herein. PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [FR Doc. 2020–15894 Filed 7–21–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF20–1–000] Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Lights 2021 Expansion 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 Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in Dakota, Scott, Pine, Carleton, and Morrison counties, Minnesota. 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 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 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 10, 2020. You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM 22JYN1 44290 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 141 / Wednesday, July 22, 2020 / Notices 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 December 6, 2019, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. PF20–1 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 planned 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 planned 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. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’ is available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under the natural gas Landowner Topics link (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/ natural-gas/natural-gas-projectlandownerstakeholder-topics-interest). 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. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 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. Go to https:// VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Jul 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/ overviewtoregisterforeSubscription. 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 FERC Online. 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 FERC Online. 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 (PF20–1) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Summary of the Planned Project Northern plans to construct a pipeline loop 1 and a pipeline extension totaling about 1.5 miles, replace a 425-foot-long 8-inch-diameter branch line with 12inch-diameter pipeline of the same length, construct one new compressor station, and add additional compression at one existing compressor station, all located in various counties in Minnesota. According to Northern, the planned facilities are required to serve the firm transportation requirements of its customers associated with increased energy needs. The Northern Lights 2021 Project would consist of the following facilities: • The Willmar D Branch Line Extension (about 0.8 mile of 24-inchdiameter pipeline); • the Carlton Interconnect Loop (about 0.7 mile of 24-inch-diameter pipeline); 1 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity. PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • replacement of 425 feet of 8-inchdiameter pipeline on the Viking Interconnect Branch Line with a 12inch-diameter branch line of the same length; • a new greenfield natural gas-fired Hinckley Compressor Station, which would include one 11,153-horsepower natural gas-fired turbine, one gas heating skid, and one natural gas-fired backup electric generator; • modifications of the Pierz Compressor Station consisting of adding an additional 1,100 horsepower electric motor-driven compressor unit; and, • appurtenant facilities including one new pig 2 receiver and one new pig launcher, and associated piping and valves. The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.3 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 34.8 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, Northern would maintain about 14.4 acres for permanent operation of the project facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 95 percent of the planned pipeline routes parallel existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way. The EA Process The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the planned project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • water resources and wetlands; • vegetation and wildlife; • threatened and endangered species; • cultural resources; • socioeconomics; • land use; • air quality and noise; • public safety; and • cumulative impacts. Commission staff will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project or portions of the project and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. 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. 3 The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the 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. E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM 22JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 141 / Wednesday, July 22, 2020 / Notices Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff has already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission’s pre-filing process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact Federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA. The EA will present Commission staff’s independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary 4 and the Commission’s natural gas environmental documents web page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/ natural-gas/environment/ environmental-documents). 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. To ensure Commission staff has 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, the Commission is asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues related to this project to formally cooperate 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. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES 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(s), and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project’s 4 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. 5 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, § 1501.6. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Jul 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 potential effects on historic properties.6 The EA for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. Environmental Mailing List The environmental mailing list includes Federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes 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 Commission notices related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the planned 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). If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached ‘‘Mailing List Update Form’’ (appendix 2). Becoming an Intervenor Once Northern files its application with the Commission, you may want to become an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an official party to the Commission’s proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission’s decision 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 pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/ how-to.asp. Please note that the 6 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations are at title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44291 Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for the project, after which the Commission will issue a public notice that establishes an intervention deadline. 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 (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., PF20–1). 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 all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/newsevents/eventsalong with other related information. Dated: July 9, 2020. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2020–15262 Filed 7–21–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP20–455–000] Freeport LNG Development, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Noble Gas 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 Noble Gas Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Freeport LNG Development, L.P., FLNG Liquefaction, LLC, FLNG Liquefaction 2, LLC, and FLNG Liquefaction 3, LLC (together referred to as Freeport LNG) in Brazoria County, Texas. The Commission will use this EA E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM 22JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44289-44291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15262]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF20-1-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Lights 2021 Expansion 
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 Northern Lights 2021 Expansion 
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Northern 
Natural Gas Company (Northern) in Dakota, Scott, Pine, Carleton, and 
Morrison counties, Minnesota. 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 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 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 
August 10, 2020.
    You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or

[[Page 44290]]

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 December 6, 2019, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. PF20-1 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 planned 
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 planned 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.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under the natural gas 
Landowner Topics link (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/natural-gas-project-landownerstakeholder-topics-interest). 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.

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. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overviewtoregisterforeSubscription.
    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 FERC Online. 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 FERC Online. 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 
(PF20-1) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, 
DC 20426.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Northern plans to construct a pipeline loop \1\ and a pipeline 
extension totaling about 1.5 miles, replace a 425-foot-long 8-inch-
diameter branch line with 12-inch-diameter pipeline of the same length, 
construct one new compressor station, and add additional compression at 
one existing compressor station, all located in various counties in 
Minnesota. According to Northern, the planned facilities are required 
to serve the firm transportation requirements of its customers 
associated with increased energy needs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Northern Lights 2021 Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     The Willmar D Branch Line Extension (about 0.8 mile of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline);
     the Carlton Interconnect Loop (about 0.7 mile of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline);
     replacement of 425 feet of 8-inch-diameter pipeline on the 
Viking Interconnect Branch Line with a 12-inch-diameter branch line of 
the same length;
     a new greenfield natural gas-fired Hinckley Compressor 
Station, which would include one 11,153-horsepower natural gas-fired 
turbine, one gas heating skid, and one natural gas-fired backup 
electric generator;
     modifications of the Pierz Compressor Station consisting 
of adding an additional 1,100 horsepower electric motor-driven 
compressor unit; and,
     appurtenant facilities including one new pig \2\ receiver 
and one new pig launcher, and associated piping and valves.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 the 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 planned facilities would disturb about 34.8 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, Northern would maintain about 14.4 acres for 
permanent operation of the project facilities; the remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses. About 95 percent of the 
planned pipeline routes parallel existing pipeline, utility, or road 
rights-of-way.

The EA Process

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the planned project under these general 
headings:

 Geology and soils;
 water resources and wetlands;
 vegetation and wildlife;
 threatened and endangered species;
 cultural resources;
 socioeconomics;
 land use;
 air quality and noise;
 public safety; and
 cumulative impacts.

    Commission staff will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 
planned project or portions of the project and make recommendations on 
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.

[[Page 44291]]

    Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff has 
already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing 
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early 
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve 
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the 
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact Federal and state 
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the 
preparation of the EA.
    The EA will present Commission staff's independent analysis of the 
issues. The EA will be available in electronic format in the public 
record through eLibrary \4\ and the Commission's natural gas 
environmental documents web page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents). 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. To ensure Commission staff has the opportunity to 
consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 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 related to this project to formally cooperate 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, Sec.  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(s), 
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.\6\ The 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 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 Commission notices 
related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the planned 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). If you need 
to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove 
your name from the mailing list, please return the attached ``Mailing 
List Update Form'' (appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Northern files its application with the Commission, you may 
want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision 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 pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully 
described at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to.asp. Please 
note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status 
at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal 
application for the project, after which the Commission will issue a 
public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.

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 (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., 
PF20-1). 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 all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/eventsalong with 
other related information.

    Dated: July 9, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-15262 Filed 7-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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