ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for The Proposed Wisconsin Access Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for Environmental Review, 49011-49013 [2021-18898]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices
proceedings must file in accordance
with Rules 211 and 214 of the
Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR
385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00
p.m. Eastern time on the specified
comment date. Protests may be
considered, but intervention is
necessary to become a party to the
proceeding.
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings
can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
other information, call (866) 208–3676
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
Dated: August 26, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–18900 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP21–78–000]
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for The Proposed
Wisconsin Access Project, Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues,
and Schedule for Environmental
Review
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
that will discuss the environmental
impacts of the Wisconsin Access Project
(Project) involving construction and
operation of facilities by ANR Pipeline
Company (ANR) in Oconto, Oneida,
Manitowoc, and Marathon Counties,
Wisconsin. The Commission will use
this EIS in its decision-making process
to determine whether the Project is in
the public convenience and necessity.
The schedule for preparation of the EIS
is discussed in the Schedule for
Environmental Review section of this
notice.
As part of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the
Commission takes into account
concerns the public may have about
proposals and the environmental
impacts that could result whenever it
considers the issuance of a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity. This
gathering of public input is referred to
as ‘‘scoping.’’ By notice issued on April
23, 2021, in Docket No. CP21–78–000,
the Commission opened a scoping
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:09 Aug 31, 2021
Jkt 253001
period; and staff intends to prepare an
EIS that will address the concerns raised
during that scoping period as well as
comments received in response to this
notice. Therefore, the Commission
requests comments on potential
alternatives and impacts, and any
relevant information, studies, or
analyses of any kind concerning impacts
affecting the quality of the human
environment. 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 September 25, 2021.
Further details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
As mentioned above, the Commission
previously opened a scoping period
which expired on May 24, 2021. All
substantive written and oral comments
provided during scoping will be
addressed in the EIS. Therefore, if you
submitted comments on this Project to
the Commission during the previous
scoping process, you do not need to file
those comments again.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
proposed facilities. The company would
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
easement agreement. You are not
required to enter into an agreement.
However, if the Commission approves
the Project, 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. The
Commission does not grant, exercise, or
oversee the exercise of eminent domain
authority. The courts have exclusive
authority to handle eminent domain
cases; the Commission has no
jurisdiction over these matters.
ANR provided landowners with a fact
sheet prepared by the FERC entitled
‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On
My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’
which addresses typically asked
questions, including the use of eminent
domain and how to participate in the
Commission’s proceedings. This fact
sheet along with other landowner topics
of interest are available for viewing on
the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under
the Natural Gas Questions or
Landowner Topics link.
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
49011
Public Participation
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 also 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
Commission. Be sure to reference the
Project docket number (CP21–78–000)
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, MD 20852.
Additionally, the Commission offers a
free service called eSubscription. This
service provides automatic notification
of filings made to subscribed dockets,
document summaries, and direct links
to the documents. Go to https://
www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to
register for eSubscription.
Summary of the Proposed Project, the
Project Purpose and Need, and
Expected Impacts
ANR proposes to facilitate an increase
in the firm capacity on its natural gas
pipeline by approximately 50,707
dekatherms per day into Wisconsin,
through software modifications and
minor modifications to its existing
Coleman, Lena, Meeme, Mosinee,
Rhinelander, Suring, and Two Rivers
Meter Stations. The modifications
E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM
01SEN1
49012
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices
include the replacement of some
metering and filtering equipment,
installation of additional metering
equipment, and replacement of two
meter station buildings.
The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
Construction of the proposed facilities
would disturb about 4.1 acres of land,
2.4 acres of which are within the
existing facility fencelines. Following
construction, ANR would convert less
than 0.1 acre of the area outside the
existing facilities for permanent
operation of the project’s facilities; the
remaining acreage would be restored
and revert to former uses.
Based on an initial review of ANR’s
proposal, Commission staff have
identified a couple of expected impacts
that deserve attention in the EIS. These
include noise impacts and an increase
in greenhouse gas emissions.
The NEPA Process and the EIS
The EIS issued by the Commission
will discuss impacts that could occur as
a result of the construction and
operation of the proposed Project under
the relevant general resource areas:
• Geology and soils;
• water resources and wetlands;
• vegetation and wildlife;
• threatened and endangered species;
• cultural resources;
• land use;
• socioeconomics and environmental
justice;
• air quality and noise; and
• reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas. Your comments will help
Commission staff focus its analysis on
the issues that may have a significant
effect on the human environment.
The EIS will present Commission
staff’s independent analysis of the
issues. Staff will prepare a draft EIS
which will be issued for public
comment. Commission staff will
consider all timely comments received
during the comment period on the draft
EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS.
Any draft and final EIS will be available
in electronic format in the public record
through eLibrary 2 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
environmental document is issued.
Alternatives Under Consideration
The EIS will evaluate reasonable
alternatives that are technically and
economically feasible and meet the
purpose and need for the proposed
action.3 Alternatives currently under
consideration include:
• The no-action alternative, meaning
the Project is not implemented.
With this notice, the Commission
requests specific comments regarding
any additional potential alternatives to
the proposed action or segments of the
proposed action. Please focus your
comments on reasonable alternatives
(including alternative facility sites and
pipeline routes) that meet the Project
objectives, are technically and
economically feasible, and avoid or
lessen environmental impact.
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
initiated section 106 consultation for the
Project in the notice issued on April 23,
2021, with the applicable State Historic
Preservation Officer(s), and other
government agencies, interested Indian
tribes, and the public to solicit their
views and concerns regarding the
Project’s potential effects on historic
properties.4 This notice is a
continuation of section 106 consultation
for the Project. The Project EIS will
document findings on the impacts on
historic properties and summarize the
status of consultations under section
106.
Schedule for Environmental Review
On March 25, 2021, the Commission
issued its Notice of Application for the
Project. Among other things, that notice
alerted other agencies issuing federal
authorizations of the requirement to
complete all necessary reviews and to
reach a final decision on the request for
a federal authorization within 90 days of
the date of issuance of the Commission
staff’s final EIS for the Project. This
notice identifies the Commission staff’s
planned schedule for completion of the
final EIS for the Project, which is based
on an issuance of the draft EIS in
December 2021.
Issuance of Notice of Availability of
the final EIS: March 18, 2022
90-day Federal Authorization
Decision Deadline: June 16, 2022
If a schedule change becomes
necessary for the final EIS, an additional
notice will be provided so that the
relevant agencies are kept informed of
the Project’s progress.
Permits and Authorizations
The table below lists the anticipated
permits and authorizations for the
Project required under federal law. This
list may not be all-inclusive and does
not preclude any permit or
authorization if it is not listed here.
Agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
or special expertise may formally
cooperate in the preparation of the
Commission’s EIS and may adopt the
EIS to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities
related to this Project. 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.
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS, APPROVALS, AND CONSULTATIONS
Agency
Permit/approval/consultation
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ........
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act.
Endangered Species Act—Section 7 Consultation, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle
Protection Act.
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’’. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this
notice. At this time, the Commission has suspended
access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:09 Aug 31, 2021
Jkt 253001
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 FERC at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll free, (886)
208–3676 or TTY (202) 502–8659.
2 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer
to the last page of this notice.
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3 40
CFR 1508.1(z).
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
district, site, building, structure, or object included
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
of Historic Places.
4 The
E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM
01SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices
49013
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS, APPROVALS, AND CONSULTATIONS—Continued
Agency
Permit/approval/consultation
Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Environmental Mailing List
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for the Project which
includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest
groups; federally recognized Indian
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-ofway 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 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 proposed
Project. State and local government
representatives should notify their
constituents of this proposed project
and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
If you need to make changes to your
name/address, or if you would like to
remove your name from the mailing list,
please complete one of the following
steps:
(1) Send an email to
GasProjectAddressChange@ferc.gov
stating your request. You must include
the docket number CP21–78–000 in
your request. If you are requesting a
change to your address, please be sure
to include your name and the correct
address. If you are requesting to delete
your address from the mailing list,
please include your name and address
as it appeared on this notice. This email
address is unable to accept comments.
Or
(2) Return the attached ‘‘Mailing List
Update Form’’ (appendix 2).
Additional Information
Additional information about the
Project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:09 Aug 31, 2021
Jkt 253001
website at www.ferc.gov using the
eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link,
click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the
docket number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’
field (i.e., CP21–78). Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also
provides access to the texts of all formal
documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and
rulemakings.
Public sessions or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at https://www.ferc.gov/newsevents/events along with other related
information.
to the applicant’s request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability, is September
15, 2021.
Dated: August 26, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
Persons unable to file electronically
may mail similar pleadings to the
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.
[FR Doc. 2021–18898 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER21–2767–000]
Skipjack Solar Center, 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 Skipjack
Solar Center, 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
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
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://
www.ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. 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: August 26, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–18906 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM
01SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49011-49013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18898]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP21-78-000]
ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for The Proposed Wisconsin Access
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for
Environmental Review
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Wisconsin Access Project
(Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by ANR
Pipeline Company (ANR) in Oconto, Oneida, Manitowoc, and Marathon
Counties, Wisconsin. The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-
making process to determine whether the Project is in the public
convenience and necessity. The schedule for preparation of the EIS is
discussed in the Schedule for Environmental Review section of this
notice.
As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review
process, the Commission takes into account concerns the public may have
about proposals and the environmental impacts that could result
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred
to as ``scoping.'' By notice issued on April 23, 2021, in Docket No.
CP21-78-000, the Commission opened a scoping period; and staff intends
to prepare an EIS that will address the concerns raised during that
scoping period as well as comments received in response to this notice.
Therefore, the Commission requests comments on potential alternatives
and impacts, and any relevant information, studies, or analyses of any
kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.
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 September 25,
2021. Further details on how to submit comments are provided in the
Public Participation section of this notice.
As mentioned above, the Commission previously opened a scoping
period which expired on May 24, 2021. All substantive written and oral
comments provided during scoping will be addressed in the EIS.
Therefore, if you submitted comments on this Project to the Commission
during the previous scoping process, you do not need to file those
comments again.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission
approves the Project, 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. The Commission does
not grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of eminent domain
authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle eminent domain
cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these matters.
ANR provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I
Need To Know?'' which addresses typically asked questions, including
the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's
proceedings. This fact sheet along with other landowner topics of
interest are available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov)
under the Natural Gas Questions or Landowner Topics link.
Public Participation
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 also 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 Commission. Be sure to reference the Project docket number (CP21-
78-000) 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, MD 20852.
Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription. This service provides automatic notification of filings
made to subscribed dockets, document summaries, and direct links to the
documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register
for eSubscription.
Summary of the Proposed Project, the Project Purpose and Need, and
Expected Impacts
ANR proposes to facilitate an increase in the firm capacity on its
natural gas pipeline by approximately 50,707 dekatherms per day into
Wisconsin, through software modifications and minor modifications to
its existing Coleman, Lena, Meeme, Mosinee, Rhinelander, Suring, and
Two Rivers Meter Stations. The modifications
[[Page 49012]]
include the replacement of some metering and filtering equipment,
installation of additional metering equipment, and replacement of two
meter station buildings.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of 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''. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. 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
FERC at [email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676
or TTY (202) 502-8659.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 4.1
acres of land, 2.4 acres of which are within the existing facility
fencelines. Following construction, ANR would convert less than 0.1
acre of the area outside the existing facilities for permanent
operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be
restored and revert to former uses.
Based on an initial review of ANR's proposal, Commission staff have
identified a couple of expected impacts that deserve attention in the
EIS. These include noise impacts and an increase in greenhouse gas
emissions.
The NEPA Process and the EIS
The EIS issued by the Commission will discuss impacts that could
occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed
Project under the relevant general resource areas:
Geology and soils;
water resources and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
threatened and endangered species;
cultural resources;
land use;
socioeconomics and environmental justice;
air quality and noise; and
reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also make recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your comments will help
Commission staff focus its analysis on the issues that may have a
significant effect on the human environment.
The EIS will present Commission staff's independent analysis of the
issues. Staff will prepare a draft EIS which will be issued for public
comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments received
during the comment period on the draft EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any draft and final EIS will be
available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary
\2\ 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 environmental document is issued.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternatives Under Consideration
The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically
and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action.\3\ Alternatives currently under consideration include:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 40 CFR 1508.1(z).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The no-action alternative, meaning the Project is not
implemented.
With this notice, the Commission requests specific comments
regarding any additional potential alternatives to the proposed action
or segments of the proposed action. Please focus your comments on
reasonable alternatives (including alternative facility sites and
pipeline routes) that meet the Project objectives, are technically and
economically feasible, and avoid or lessen environmental impact.
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 initiated section 106 consultation for
the Project in the notice issued on April 23, 2021, with the applicable
State Historic Preservation Officer(s), and other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public to solicit their views and
concerns regarding the Project's potential effects on historic
properties.\4\ This notice is a continuation of section 106
consultation for the Project. The Project EIS will document findings on
the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of
consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule for Environmental Review
On March 25, 2021, the Commission issued its Notice of Application
for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted other agencies
issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all
necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the request for a
federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the
Commission staff's final EIS for the Project. This notice identifies
the Commission staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS
for the Project, which is based on an issuance of the draft EIS in
December 2021.
Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS: March 18, 2022
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: June 16, 2022
If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an
additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are
kept informed of the Project's progress.
Permits and Authorizations
The table below lists the anticipated permits and authorizations
for the Project required under federal law. This list may not be all-
inclusive and does not preclude any permit or authorization if it is
not listed here. Agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special
expertise may formally cooperate in the preparation of the Commission's
EIS and may adopt the EIS to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related
to this Project. 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.
Environmental Permits, Approvals, and Consultations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency Permit/approval/consultation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Energy Regulatory Certificate of Public Convenience
Commission. and Necessity under Section 7(c) of
the Natural Gas Act.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.... Endangered Species Act--Section 7
Consultation, Migratory Bird Treaty
Act, Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle
Protection Act.
[[Page 49013]]
Wisconsin State Historic Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO). Preservation Act.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environmental Mailing List
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for the Project which includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; federally recognized Indian
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 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 proposed Project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of
the following steps:
(1) Send an email to [email protected] stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP21-78-000 in your
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to
accept comments.
Or
(2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2).
Additional Information
Additional information about the Project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number
in the ``Docket Number'' field (i.e., CP21-78). Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC
Online Support at [email protected] or (866) 208-3676, or for
TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to
the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as
orders, notices, and rulemakings.
Public 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: August 26, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-18898 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P