Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Regional Energy Access Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Virtual Scoping Sessions, 45869-45872 [2020-16518]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 147 / Thursday, July 30, 2020 / Notices
Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as to the
number, position, range, or arc of
visibility of lights or shapes, as well as
to the disposition and characteristics of
sound-signaling appliances, shall not
apply to a vessel or class of vessels of
the Navy where the Secretary of the
Navy shall find and certify that, by
reason of special construction or
purpose, it is not possible for such
vessel(s) to comply fully with the
provisions without interfering with the
special function of the vessel(s). Notice
of issuance of a Certificate of Alternate
Compliance must be made in the
Federal Register.
In accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1605,
the DAJAG (Admiralty and Maritime
Law), under authority delegated by the
Secretary of the Navy, hereby finds and
certifies that USS MINNEAPOLIS ST.
PAUL (LCS 21) is a vessel of special
construction or purpose, and that, with
respect to the position of the following
navigational lights, it is not possible to
comply fully with the requirements of
the provisions enumerated in the 72
COLREGS without interfering with the
special function of the vessel:
Annex I, paragraph 2(a)(i), pertaining
to the vertical position of the forward
masthead light; Annex I, paragraph 3(a),
pertaining to the horizontal position of
the forward masthead light; and Annex
I, paragraph 3(a), pertaining to the
horizontal separation between the
forward and aft masthead lights.
The DAJAG (Admiralty and Maritime
Law) further finds and certifies that
these navigational lights are in closest
possible compliance with the applicable
provision of the 72 COLREGS.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1605(c), E.O. 11964.
Approved: July 22, 2020.
D.J. Antenucci,
Commander, Judge Advocate General’s Corps,
U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–16470 Filed 7–29–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Certificate of Alternate Compliance for
USS MOBILE (LCS 26)
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice of Issuance of Certificate
of Alternate Compliance.
AGENCY:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
ACTION:
The U.S. Navy hereby
announces that a Certificate of Alternate
Compliance has been issued for USS
MOBILE (LCS 26). Due to the special
construction and purpose of this vessel,
the Deputy Assistant Judge Advocate
General (DAJAG)(Admiralty and
SUMMARY:
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Maritime Law) has determined it is a
vessel of the Navy which, due to its
special construction and purpose,
cannot comply fully with the navigation
lights provisions of the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at
Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without
interfering with its special function as a
naval ship. The intended effect of this
notice is to warn mariners in waters
where 72 COLREGS apply.
DATES: This Certificate of Alternate
Compliance is effective July 30, 2020
and is applicable beginning July 22,
2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Commander Tom Bright,
JAGC, U.S. Navy, Admiralty Attorney,
Office of the Judge Advocate General,
Admiralty and Maritime Law Division
(Code 11), 1322 Patterson Ave. SE, Suite
3000, Washington Navy Yard, DC
20374–5066, 202–685–5040, or
admiralty@navy.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
Executive Order 11964 of January 19,
1977 and 33 U.S.C. 1605 provide that
the requirements of the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at
Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), as to the
number, position, range, or arc of
visibility of lights or shapes, as well as
to the disposition and characteristics of
sound-signaling appliances, shall not
apply to a vessel or class of vessels of
the Navy where the Secretary of the
Navy shall find and certify that, by
reason of special construction or
purpose, it is not possible for such
vessel(s) to comply fully with the
provisions without interfering with the
special function of the vessel(s). Notice
of issuance of a Certificate of Alternate
Compliance must be made in the
Federal Register.
In accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1605,
the DAJAG (Admiralty and Maritime
Law), under authority delegated by the
Secretary of the Navy, hereby finds and
certifies that USS MOBILE (LCS 26) is
a vessel of special construction or
purpose, and that, with respect to the
position of the following navigational
lights, it is not possible to comply fully
with the requirements of the provisions
enumerated in the 72 COLREGS without
interfering with the special function of
the vessel:
Annex I, paragraph 2(a)(i), pertaining
to the vertical position of the forward
masthead light; Annex I, paragraph 3(a),
pertaining to the horizontal position of
the forward masthead light; Rule 21(a)
and Annex I, paragraph 2(f)(i),
pertaining to masthead light
obstructions; and Annex I, paragraph
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45869
3(a), pertaining to the horizontal
separation between the forward and aft
masthead lights.
The DAJAG (Admiralty and Maritime
Law) further finds and certifies that
these navigational lights are in closest
possible compliance with the applicable
provision of the 72 COLREGS.
(Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1605(c), E.O. 11964)
Approved: July 22, 2020.
D.J. Antenucci,
Commander, Judge Advocate General’s Corps,
U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–16471 Filed 7–29–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF20–3–000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Planned Regional Energy
Access Expansion Project, Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues,
and Notice of Public Virtual Scoping
Sessions
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 Regional Energy Access Expansion
Project involving construction and
operation of facilities by
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC (Transco) in Bucks,
Chester, Delaware, Luzerne, Monroe,
Northampton, Wyoming, and York
Counties, Pennsylvania; and Burlington,
Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon,
Mercer, Somerset, and Warren Counties,
New Jersey; and Baltimore County,
Maryland. The Commission will use
this EA in its decision-making process
to determine whether the project is in
the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process the Commission
will use to gather input from the public
and interested agencies 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 147 / Thursday, July 30, 2020 / Notices
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 24, 2020.
Comments may be submitted in written
or oral form. Further details on how to
submit comments are provided in the
Public Participation section of this
notice.
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 written or oral
comments during the preparation of the
EA.
If you sent comments on this project
to the Commission before the opening of
this docket on June 18, 2020, you will
need to file those comments in Docket
No. PF20–3–000 to ensure they are
considered.
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, the Natural Gas Act conveys
the right of eminent domain to the
company. 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.
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/overview to
register for eSubscription.
For your convenience, there are four
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;
(3) You can file a paper copy of your
comments by mailing them to the
Commission. Be sure to reference the
project docket number (PF20–3–000) on
your letter. Submissions sent via the
U.S. Postal Service must be addressed
to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426. Submissions sent via any
other carrier must be addressed to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225
Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland
20852; or
(4) In lieu of sending written
comments, the Commission invites you
to attend one of the virtual public
scoping sessions its staff will conduct
by telephone, scheduled as follows:
DATE AND TIME
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Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 6:00–8:00 p.m. EDT, Call in number: 888–455–9739, Participant passcode: 4753713.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 6:00–8:00 p.m. EDT, Call in number: 888–455–9739, Participant passcode: 4753713.
Thursday, August 20, 2020, 6:00–8:00 p.m. EDT, Call in number: 888–455–9739, Participant passcode: 4753713.
The primary goal of these scoping
sessions is to have you identify the
specific environmental issues and
concerns that should be considered in
the EA. Individual oral comments will
be taken on a one-on-one basis with a
court reporter present on the line. This
format is designed to receive the
maximum amount of oral comments, in
a convenient way during the timeframe
allotted and is in response to the
ongoing COVID–19 pandemic.
Each scoping session is scheduled
from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
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Daylight Time. You may call at any time
after 6:00 p.m. at which time you will
be placed on mute and hold. Calls will
be answered in the order they are
received. Once answered, you will have
the opportunity to provide your
comment directly to a court reporter
with FERC staff or representative
present on the line. A time limit of three
minutes will be implemented for each
commentor.
Transcripts of all comments received
during the scoping sessions will be
publicly available on FERC’s eLibrary
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system (see the last page of this notice
for instructions on using eLibrary).
It is important to note that the
Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received,
whether filed in written form or
provided orally at a virtual scoping
session.
There will not be a formal
presentation provided by Commission
staff. However, information about
FERC’s environmental review process
can be found on the FERC website
(www.ferc.gov) under the natural gas
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 147 / Thursday, July 30, 2020 / Notices
Landowner Topics link. In addition,
Transco has created a project-specific
website with additional information at
https://www.williams.com/expansionproject/regional-energy-access/.
Please note this is not your only
public input opportunity; please refer to
the review process flow chart in
appendix 1.1
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Summary of the Planned Project
Transco plans to construct and
operate approximately 35.8 miles of
pipeline loop 2 and one new compressor
station, as well as modify existing
compressor stations and facilities in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The
project would provide about 760 million
standard cubic feet of natural gas per
day to multiple delivery points along
Transco’s existing system in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
Maryland. According to Transco, its
project would provide its customers
with enhanced access to Marcellus and
Utica Shale natural gas supplies.
The project would consist of the
following facilities:
• Installation of 22 miles of 30-inchdiameter pipeline loop in Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania (Regional Energy
Lateral);
• installation of 13.8 miles of 42-inchdiameter pipeline loop in Monroe
County, Pennsylvania (Effort Loop);
• installation of the new Compressor
Station 201 (up to 11,500 horsepower
[hp]) in Gloucester County, New Jersey);
• installation of a gas turbine or
electric motor-driven compressor unit
(up to 16,000 hp) at existing Compressor
Station 505 in Somerset County, New
Jersey;
• installation of a gas turbine
compressor unit (up to an additional
31,871 hp) and modifications to three
existing compressors at existing
Compressor Station 515 in Luzerne
County, Pennsylvania;
• modifications at existing
compressor stations, meter stations,
interconnects, and ancillary facilities in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
Maryland; and
• installation of ancillary facilities
such as mainline valves,
communication facilities, and pig 3
launchers and receivers.
1 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.
2 A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed
parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
3 A pig is a tool that the pipeline company inserts
into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning
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The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities
would disturb about 814 acres 4 of land
for the aboveground facilities and the
pipeline loops. Following construction,
Transco would maintain about 232 acres
for permanent operation of the project’s
facilities; the remaining acreage would
be restored and revert to former uses.
The majority of the planned pipeline
loops parallel Transco’s existing
pipeline 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;
• land use and visual impacts;
• socioeconomics;
• 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.
Although no formal application has
been filed, Commission staff have
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 5 and the
Commission’s natural gas
environmental documents web page
(https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/
natural-gas/environment/
the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or
other purposes.
4 Transco is evaluating workspace requirements at
three of the planned aboveground facilities to
determine whether additional land requirements
will be necessary.
5 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer
to the last page of this notice.
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45871
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 have the
opportunity to consider and address
your comments, please carefully follow
the instructions in the Public
Participation section, beginning on page
2.
With this notice, 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.6 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
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.7
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
6 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
7 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 147 / Thursday, July 30, 2020 / Notices
within certain distances of aboveground
facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project and includes a
mailing address with their comments.
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 3).
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Becoming an Intervenor
Once Transco 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/ferc-online/ferconline/how-guides. 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.,
PF20–3). 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
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16:38 Jul 29, 2020
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documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and
rulemakings.
Public virtual scoping sessions or site
visits will be posted on the
Commission’s calendar located at
https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/
events along with other related
information.
Dated: July 24, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–16518 Filed 7–29–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER20–2493–000]
OTCF, II LLC; Supplemental Notice
That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing
Includes Request for Blanket Section
204 Authorization
This is a supplemental notice in the
above-referenced proceeding of OTCF,
LLC’s application for market-based rate
authority, with an accompanying rate
tariff, noting that such application
includes a request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest should file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426,
in accordance with Rules 211 and 214
of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214). Anyone filing a motion to
intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Applicant.
Notice is hereby given that the
deadline for filing protests with regard
to the applicant’s request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability, is August 13,
2020.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
Persons unable to file electronically
may mail similar pleadings to the
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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC
20426. Hand delivered submissions in
docketed proceedings should be
delivered to Health and Human
Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, Maryland 20852.
In addition to publishing the full text
of this document in the Federal
Register, the Commission provides all
interested persons an opportunity to
view and/or print the contents of this
document via the internet through the
Commission’s Home Page (https://
ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Enter
the docket number excluding the last
three digits in the docket number field
to access the document. At this time, the
Commission has suspended access to
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room, due to the proclamation
declaring a National Emergency
concerning the Novel Coronavirus
Disease (COVID–19), issued by the
President on March 13, 2020. For
assistance, contact the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202)
502–8659.
Dated: July 24, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–16517 Filed 7–29–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP20–479–000]
Northern Natural Gas; Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed 2021
Auburn A-Line Abandonment and
Capacity Replacement Project and
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
the 2021 Auburn A-line Abandonment
and Capacity Replacement Project
involving construction, operation, and
abandonment of facilities by Northern
Natural Gas (Northern) in Lancaster,
Otoe, Johnson, and Nemaha counties,
Nebraska. 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
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 147 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45869-45872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16518]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF20-3-000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Regional Energy
Access Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues,
and Notice of Public Virtual Scoping Sessions
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 Regional Energy Access
Expansion Project involving construction and operation of facilities by
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) in Bucks,
Chester, Delaware, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Wyoming, and York
Counties, Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon,
Mercer, Somerset, and Warren Counties, New Jersey; and Baltimore
County, Maryland. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-
making process to determine whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies 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
[[Page 45870]]
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
24, 2020. Comments may be submitted in written or oral form. Further
details on how to submit comments are provided in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
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 written or oral comments during the preparation
of the EA.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on June 18, 2020, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. PF20-3-000 to ensure they are considered.
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, the Natural Gas Act conveys the right of eminent
domain to the company. 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. 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/overview to register for eSubscription.
For your convenience, there are four 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;
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (PF20-3-
000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must
be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly
D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852; or
(4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you
to attend one of the virtual public scoping sessions its staff will
conduct by telephone, scheduled as follows:
Date and Time
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Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT, Call in number: 888-455-
9739, Participant passcode: 4753713.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT, Call in number: 888-455-
9739, Participant passcode: 4753713.
Thursday, August 20, 2020, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT, Call in number: 888-455-
9739, Participant passcode: 4753713.
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The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be
considered in the EA. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-
on-one basis with a court reporter present on the line. This format is
designed to receive the maximum amount of oral comments, in a
convenient way during the timeframe allotted and is in response to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time. You may call at any time after 6:00 p.m. at
which time you will be placed on mute and hold. Calls will be answered
in the order they are received. Once answered, you will have the
opportunity to provide your comment directly to a court reporter with
FERC staff or representative present on the line. A time limit of three
minutes will be implemented for each commentor.
Transcripts of all comments received during the scoping sessions
will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page
of this notice for instructions on using eLibrary).
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided orally at a virtual scoping session.
There will not be a formal presentation provided by Commission
staff. However, information about FERC's environmental review process
can be found on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under the natural gas
[[Page 45871]]
Landowner Topics link. In addition, Transco has created a project-
specific website with additional information at https://www.williams.com/expansion-project/regional-energy-access/.
Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; please
refer to the review process flow chart in appendix 1.\1\
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\1\ 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.
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Summary of the Planned Project
Transco plans to construct and operate approximately 35.8 miles of
pipeline loop \2\ and one new compressor station, as well as modify
existing compressor stations and facilities in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. The project would provide about 760 million standard cubic feet
of natural gas per day to multiple delivery points along Transco's
existing system in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. According to
Transco, its project would provide its customers with enhanced access
to Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas supplies.
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\2\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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The project would consist of the following facilities:
Installation of 22 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop
in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (Regional Energy Lateral);
installation of 13.8 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline
loop in Monroe County, Pennsylvania (Effort Loop);
installation of the new Compressor Station 201 (up to
11,500 horsepower [hp]) in Gloucester County, New Jersey);
installation of a gas turbine or electric motor-driven
compressor unit (up to 16,000 hp) at existing Compressor Station 505 in
Somerset County, New Jersey;
installation of a gas turbine compressor unit (up to an
additional 31,871 hp) and modifications to three existing compressors
at existing Compressor Station 515 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania;
modifications at existing compressor stations, meter
stations, interconnects, and ancillary facilities in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, and Maryland; and
installation of ancillary facilities such as mainline
valves, communication facilities, and pig \3\ launchers and receivers.
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\3\ 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.
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The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 814
acres \4\ of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline
loops. Following construction, Transco would maintain about 232 acres
for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining
acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. The majority of
the planned pipeline loops parallel Transco's existing pipeline rights-
of-way.
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\4\ Transco is evaluating workspace requirements at three of the
planned aboveground facilities to determine whether additional land
requirements will be necessary.
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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;
land use and visual impacts;
socioeconomics;
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.
Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff
have 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 \5\ 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 have the opportunity to
consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the
instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
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\5\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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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.\6\ 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.
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\6\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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.\7\ The EA for this project will
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\7\ 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.
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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
[[Page 45872]]
within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who
submits comments on the project and includes a mailing address with
their comments. 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 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Transco 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/ferc-online/ferc-online/how-guides.
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-
3). 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 virtual scoping sessions or site visits will be posted on
the Commission's calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events along with other related information.
Dated: July 24, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-16518 Filed 7-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
