Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project, 63107-63108 [2020-22034]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 6, 2020 / Notices khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Storage of Elemental Mercury Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/ EIS–0423–SA–01; SA). The December 6, 2019, ROD announced DOE’s decision to designate existing buildings at WCS near Andrews, Texas, as a DOE facility for the purpose of long-term management and storage of up to 6,800 metric tons (7,480 tons) of elemental mercury generated within the United States pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–414), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, (Pub. L. 114–182) (MEBA) (42 U.S.C. 6939f(a)(1)). DOE has decided to withdraw the designation of WCS as a DOE facility for the long-term management and storage of elemental mercury generated within the United States pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of MEBA. Therefore, as of the date of this AROD, DOE has not designated a DOE facility for the management and storage of elemental mercury generated within the United States pursuant to MEBA Section 5(a)(1). DOE is presently unable to accept elemental mercury from generators at a facility of the Department of Energy for long-term management and storage. See MEBA Sections 5(a)(1) and 5(b)(1)(A). DOE acknowledges that MEBA’s temporary storage provisions remain in effect until such time as DOE designates a facility or facilities of the Department of Energy for long-term management and storage of elemental mercury, and is able to accept elemental mercury shipments at such facility or facilities.2 At the appropriate time and consistent with the relevant factors set forth in MEBA, DOE will designate a facility or facilities of the Department of Energy for the purpose of long-term management and storage of elemental mercury generated within the United States pursuant to MEBA Section 5(a)(1). Based on consideration of the analyses in the EIS, Final SEIS, and SA, DOE has decided to store elemental mercury to which DOE accepts the conveyance of title pursuant to a legal settlement or proceeding at WCS pursuant to MEBA Section 5(b)(1)(C). As noted in the Background section, in December 2019, DOE entered into a 2 Specifically, pursuant to MEBA Section 5(g), elemental mercury stored consistent with MEBA Sections 5(g)(2)(B) or (D) shall not be subject to the storage prohibition of section 3004(j) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6924(j)) until such time as DOE (1) designates a facility or facilities of the Department of Energy for long-term management and storage of elemental mercury under MEBA Section 5(a)(1); and (2) is able to accept elemental mercury shipments at such facility or facilities. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:52 Oct 05, 2020 Jkt 253001 lease and services agreement with WCS to store up to 1,206 MT of elemental mercury in leased potions of the Container Storage Building and Bin Storage Unit 1 at the WCS site. Also in December 2019, the TCEQ approved an application for a modification to the WCS hazardous waste permit that added DOE as co-operator for compartments 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Container Storage Building for the storage of elemental mercury. On September 17, 2020, TCEQ approved a permit modification to the WCS hazardous waste permit that authorizes the storage of elemental mercury to which DOE accepts the conveyance of title pursuant to a legal settlement or proceeding. Signing Authority This document of the Department of Energy was signed on September 30, 2020, by William I. White, Senior Advisor for Environmental Management to the Under Secretary for Science, Office of Environmental Management, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register. Signed at Washington DC, on October 1, 2020. Treena V. Garrett, Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy. [FR Doc. 2020–22020 Filed 10–5–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP20–503–000] Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project On July 31, 2020, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed an application in Docket No. CP20–503– 000 requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act to construct, modify, replace, and operate certain PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63107 natural gas pipeline facilities in Minnesota. The proposed project is known as the Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project (Project) and would provide 45,693 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) of incremental winter peak day firm service for residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Northern’s Market Area. On August 12, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff’s planned schedule for the completion of the EA for the Project. Schedule for Environmental Review Issuance of EA—December 15, 2020 90-day Federal Authorization Decision—Deadline March 15, 2021 If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the Project’s progress. Project Description The Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project would consist of the following facilities in Minnesota: • The Willmar D Branch Line Extension (about 0.8 mile of 24-inchdiameter pipeline) in Dakota and Scott counties; • the Carlton Interconnect Loop (about 0.7 mile of 24-inch-diameter pipeline) in Carlton County; • replacement of 425 feet of 8-inchdiameter pipeline on the Viking Interconnect Branch Line with a 12inch-diameter branch line of the same length, in Morrison County; • a new greenfield natural gas-fired Hinckley Compressor Station in Pine County, which would include one 11,153-horsepower natural gas-fired turbine, one gas heating skid, and one natural gas-fired backup electric generator; • modification of the Pierz Compressor Station in Morrison County, including a 1,100 horsepower electric motor-driven compressor unit; and • appurtenant facilities including one new pig 1 receiver and one new pig 1 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. E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM 06OCN1 63108 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 6, 2020 / Notices Dated: September 30, 2020. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. launcher, and associated piping and valves. Background [FR Doc. 2020–22034 Filed 10–5–20; 8:45 am] On July 9, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project in Docket No. PF20–1–000 and was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, City of Hinckley, International Union of Operating Engineers, and two landowners. The primary issues raised by the commentors include compressor station noise and vibration, tree clearing, roadway crossings, water resources and wetlands, farmland, and socioeconomic impacts. All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription. 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, select General Search from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and Docket Number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP20–503), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:52 Oct 05, 2020 Jkt 253001 BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. Cp20–48–000] Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Availability of The Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Enhancement by Compression Project The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Enhancement by Compression Project (Project), proposed by Iroquois Gas Transmission, L.P. (Iroquois) in the above-referenced docket. Iroquois requests authorization to construct and operate natural gas transmission facilities in New York and Connecticut. The Project is designed to provide a total of 125,000 Dekatherms per day 1 of incremental firm transportation service to two existing customers of Iroquois, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. and KeySpan Gas East Corporation doing business as National Grid. The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed Project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The proposed Project includes the following facilities: • Athens Compressor Station— installation of one new 12,000 horsepower (hp) turbine (Unit A2) in a new building with associated cooling, filter separators, and other appurtenant facilities, within the existing fenced boundary (Greene County, New York). • Dover Compressor Station— installation of one new 12,000 hp turbine (Unit A2) in a new building with associated cooling, filter separators, appurtenant facilities, and expansion of the existing fenceline within the property boundary (Dutchess County, New York). 11 PO 00000 dekatherm is approximately 1,000 cubic feet. Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Brookfield Compressor Station— construction of a control/office building, and addition of two new 12,000 hp turbines (Unit B1 and Unit B2) in a new building with associated cooling, filter separators, and other appurtenant facilities. Additionally, Iroquois would install incremental cooling at Plant 2–A to allow natural gas to be cooled, prior to being compressed at the proposed downstream compressors (Units B1 and B2). Iroquois would also replace turbine stacks on the existing compressor units (Unit-A1 and Unit-A2) and add other noise reduction measures (e.g., louvers, seals) to minimize existing noise at the site. Modifications at this site would require expansion of the existing fenceline within the property boundary (Fairfield County, Connecticut). • Milford Compressor Station— addition of gas cooling to existing compressor units and associated piping, within the existing fenced boundary (New Haven County, Connecticut). The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the Project area. The EA is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov), on the natural gas environmental documents page (https:// www.ferc.gov/industries-data/naturalgas/environment/environmentaldocuments). In addition, the EA may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC’s website. Click on the eLibrary link (https://elibrary.ferc.gov/ eLibrary/search), select General Search and enter the docket number in the Docket Number field, excluding the last three digits (i.e. CP20–48). 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 EA is not a decision document. It presents Commission staff’s independent analysis of the environmental issues for the Commission to consider when addressing the merits of all issues in this proceeding. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the EA’s disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that the E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM 06OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63107-63108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22034]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP20-503-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project

    On July 31, 2020, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP20-503-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity and authorization pursuant to Section 
7 of the Natural Gas Act to construct, modify, replace, and operate 
certain natural gas pipeline facilities in Minnesota. The proposed 
project is known as the Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project 
(Project) and would provide 45,693 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) of 
incremental winter peak day firm service for residential, commercial, 
and industrial customers in Northern's Market Area.
    On August 12, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--December 15, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision--Deadline March 15, 2021

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    The Northern Lights 2021 Expansion Project would consist of the 
following facilities in Minnesota:
     The Willmar D Branch Line Extension (about 0.8 mile of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline) in Dakota and Scott counties;
     the Carlton Interconnect Loop (about 0.7 mile of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline) in Carlton County;
     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, in Morrison County;
     a new greenfield natural gas-fired Hinckley Compressor 
Station in Pine County, which would include one 11,153-horsepower 
natural gas-fired turbine, one gas heating skid, and one natural gas-
fired backup electric generator;
     modification of the Pierz Compressor Station in Morrison 
County, including a 1,100 horsepower electric motor-driven compressor 
unit; and
     appurtenant facilities including one new pig \1\ receiver 
and one new pig

[[Page 63108]]

launcher, and associated piping and valves.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Background

    On July 9, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Northern Lights 
2021 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project 
in Docket No. PF20-1-000 and was sent to affected landowners; federal, 
state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental 
and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, 
the Commission received comments from the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota 
Pollution Control Agency, City of Hinckley, International Union of 
Operating Engineers, and two landowners. The primary issues raised by 
the commentors include compressor station noise and vibration, tree 
clearing, roadway crossings, water resources and wetlands, farmland, 
and socioeconomic impacts. All substantive comments will be addressed 
in the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can 
reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by 
automatically providing you with notification of these filings, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    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, select General 
Search from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and Docket 
Number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP20-503), and follow the 
instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can 
be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at 
[email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: September 30, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-22034 Filed 10-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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