Spire STL Pipeline LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for The Spire STL Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for Environmental Review, 72943-72945 [2021-27785]
Download as PDF
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5000.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–226–001.
Applicants: Avista Corporation.
Description: Tariff Amendment: First
Amendment to OATT revisions for EIM
Entry, Att M to be effective 2/1/2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5199.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–333–001.
Applicants: Southwest Power Pool,
Inc.
Description: Tariff Amendment:
NorthWestern (South Dakota)
Amendment to Formula Rate Tariff
filing to be effective 1/3/2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5232.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–667–000.
Applicants: Mulligan 3 Wind LLC.
Description: Petiton for Limited
Waiver of Mulligan 3 Wind LLC.
Filed Date: 12/15/21.
Accession Number: 20211215–5308.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 12/27/21.
Docket Numbers: ER22–673–000.
Applicants: San Diego Gas & Electric
Company.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2022
TACBAA Update to be effective 1/1/
2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5001.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–674–000.
Applicants: San Diego Gas & Electric
Company.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2022
RS Filing to be effective 1/1/2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5002.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–675–000.
Applicants: New York State
Reliability Counsel, L.L.C.
Description: New York State
Reliability Council submits Revised
Install Capacity Requirement for the
New York Control Area for the period
Beginning May 1, 2021 ending April 30,
2022.
Filed Date: 12/16/21.
Accession Number: 20211216–5247.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/6/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–676–000.
Applicants: PJM Interconnection,
L.L.C.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Original SA No. 6261, Dynamic
Schedule Agreement between PJM and
NIPSCO to be effective 12/1/2021.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5060.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:50 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 256001
Docket Numbers: ER22–677–000.
Applicants: Tri-State Generation and
Transmission Association, Inc.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Initial Filing of Rate Schedule No. 338
to be effective 11/17/2021.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5170.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–678–000.
Applicants: Tri-State Generation and
Transmission Association, Inc.
Description: Tariff Amendment:
Notice of Cancellation of Rate Schedule
No. 81 to be effective 11/17/2021.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5171.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–680–000.
Applicants: Southern California
Edison Company.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
WDAT Enhancements 2021 to be
effective 2/16/2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5222.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–681–000.
Applicants: Exelon Generation
Company, LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Filing of Letter Agreement to be
effective 1/25/2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5292.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
Docket Numbers: ER22–682–000.
Applicants: Duke Energy Progress,
LLC.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
DEP–NCEMPA—Revisions to Rate
Schedule No. 200 to be effective 3/1/
2022.
Filed Date: 12/17/21.
Accession Number: 20211217–5303.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 1/7/22.
The filings are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system (https://
elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/
fercgensearch.asp) by querying the
docket number.
Any person desiring to intervene or
protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s
Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date.
Protests may be considered, but
intervention is necessary to become a
party to the proceeding.
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings
can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
other information, call (866) 208–3676
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72943
Dated: December 17, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–27871 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP17–40–006]
Spire STL Pipeline LLC; Notice of
Intent To Prepare a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for
The Spire STL Pipeline 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 a
supplemental environmental impact
statement (EIS) that will discuss the
environmental impacts related to the
continued operation of the Spire STL
Pipeline Project facilities by Spire STL
Pipeline LLC (Spire) in Scott, Greene,
and Jersey Counties, Illinois and St.
Charles and St. Louis Counties,
Missouri. By way of background, on
June 22, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit
issued an opinion vacating and
remanding the Commission’s August 3,
2018 Order Issuing Certificate (2018
Order) that approved the Spire STL
Pipeline Project.1 On September 14,
2021, and December 3, 2021, the
Commission issued temporary
certificates of public convenience and
necessity to Spire to continue to operate
the facilities constructed under the
earlier terms, conditions, and
authorizations, including Spire’s tariff.
On remand, the Commission will
evaluate Spire’s pending certificate
application,2 and consider whether to
grant a certificate of public convenience
and necessity to Spire to continue
operation of the Spire STL Pipeline
Project in Illinois and Missouri.
The Commission must determine
whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity under the
Natural Gas Act, taking into
consideration the factors discussed in
the Court’s decision. The supplemental
EIS will tier off Commission staff’s
1 Environmental Defense Fund v. FERC, 2 F.4th
953 (D.C. Cir. 2021).
2 Following the D.C. Circuit’s vacatur and remand
of the Commission’s 2018 Order, Spire’s January 26,
2017 application for a certificate of public
convenience and necessity to construct and operate
the Spire STL Pipeline Project is again pending
before the Commission.
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
72944
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
analysis and conclusions as
documented in staff’s environmental
assessment (EA) for the project issued
on September 29, 2017,3 as well as the
environmental discussion contained in
the 2018 Order. The Commission will
use this supplemental EIS in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the Spire STL Pipeline Project
is in the public convenience and
necessity in light of the Court’s vacatur
and remand. The schedule for
preparation of the supplemental EIS is
discussed in the Schedule for
Environmental Review section of this
notice.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process the Commission
will use to gather input from the public
and interested agencies regarding the
project. 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
from its action whenever it considers
the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. This
gathering of public input is referred to
as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the
scoping process is to focus the analysis
in the supplemental EIS on the
important environmental issues.
Additional information about the
Commission’s NEPA process is
described below in the NEPA Process
and the Supplemental EIS section of
this notice.
By this notice, the Commission
requests public comments on the scope
of issues to address in the supplemental
EIS, including comments on potential
alternatives and impacts related
specifically to the continued operation
of the Spire STL Pipeline Project. 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
January 14, 2022. Further details on
how to submit comments are provided
in the Public Participation section of
this notice.
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
3 The
EA is filed in FERC’s eLibrary system in
Docket Nos. CP17–40–000 and CP17–40–001 under
Accession No. 20170929–3022.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:50 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 256001
that your comments are properly
recorded.
(1) You can file your comments
electronically using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
under the link to FERC Online. Using
eComment is an easy method for
submitting brief, text-only comments on
a project;
(2) You can file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
under the link to FERC Online. With
eFiling, you can provide comments in a
variety of formats by attaching them as
a file with your submission. New
eFiling users must first create an
account by clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ You
will be asked to select the type of filing
you are making; a comment on a
particular project is considered a
‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your
comments by mailing them to the
Commission. Be sure to reference the
project docket number (CP17–40–006)
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 Project Facilities
The Spire STL Pipeline Project
consists of the following facilities:
• 59.2 miles of 24-inch-diameter
pipeline (the Mainline);
• 6.0 miles of 24-inch-diameter
pipeline (designated as the North
County Extension);
• three new meter and regulator
stations (meter stations);
• three new mainline valves; and
• installation of three pig 4 launcher/
receivers.
The project currently transports up to
400 million standard cubic feet per day
of firm natural gas transportation service
to the St. Louis metropolitan area,
4 A pipeline ‘‘pig’’ is a device to clean or inspect
the pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an
aboveground facility where pigs are inserted or
retrieved from the pipeline.
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
eastern Missouri, and southwestern
Illinois. According to Spire, the Spire
STL Pipeline Project was developed as
a new source of supply that would
provide its customers with supply
diversity and greater reliability.
The general location of the project is
shown in appendix 1.5
The NEPA Process and the
Supplemental EIS
The supplemental EIS will discuss
environmental impacts that could occur
as a result of the continued operation of
the Spire STL Pipeline Project. As a
result, the supplemental EIS will
include a reevaluation of the operational
impacts previously analyzed in the EA,
including environmental justice, air
emissions, and noise levels.
Additionally, Commission staff will
evaluate reasonable alternatives (further
discussed below) and 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 supplemental EIS will present
Commission staff’s independent
analysis of the issues. Staff will prepare
a draft supplemental EIS which will be
issued for public comment. Commission
staff will consider all timely comments
received during the comment period on
the draft supplemental EIS and revise
the document, as necessary, before
issuing a final supplemental EIS. Any
draft and final supplemental EIS will be
available in electronic format in the
public record through eLibrary 6 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 supplemental EIS will evaluate
reasonable alternatives that are
technically and economically feasible
and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action involving the
continued operation of the Spire STL
5 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 https://
www.ferc.gov using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or
from the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
6 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer
to the last page of this notice.
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices
Pipeline Project.7 Alternatives currently
under consideration include the noaction alternative (i.e., the project would
no longer be authorized to continue
operating after the expiration of its
current temporary certificate). Potential
actions that will be analyzed as part of
the no-action alternative also include:
• Pipeline and aboveground facility
abandonment by removal;
• pipeline and aboveground facility
abandonment in place; and
• system alternatives (e.g., Natural
Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC;
MoGas Pipeline, LLC; and Spire
Missouri Inc. systems, as identified in
Spire’s filing of November 12, 2021).
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Schedule for Environmental Review
This notice identifies the Commission
staff’s planned schedule for completion
of the final supplemental EIS for the
project, which is based on an issuance
of the draft supplemental EIS in June
2022.
Issuance of Notice of Availability of the
final supplemental EIS: October 7,
2022
If a schedule change becomes
necessary for the final supplemental
EIS, an additional notice will be
provided so that the relevant agencies
are kept informed of the project’s
progress.
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; 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) for the
original Spire STL Pipeline Project and
anyone who submits comments on the
present case. 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 project.
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 CP17–40 in your
7 40
CFR 1508.1(z).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:50 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 256001
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., CP17–40). 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.
Dated: December 15, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–27785 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. AD20–23–000]
Notice of Availability of Final
Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects:
Chapter 18—Level 2 Risk Analysis
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a final
‘‘Chapter 18—Level 2 Risk Analysis’’ of
its Engineering Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects
(Guidelines). This chapter is one of four
new chapters of the Guidelines intended
to provide additional guidance related
to 18 CFR part 12, Safety of Water
Power Projects and Project Works,
Docket No. RM20–9–000, Order No 880,
issued by the Commission on December
16, 2021.
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72945
On July 16, 2020, the Commission
issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NOPR) to revise its part 12 regulations.
On the same day, the Commission
solicited public review and comment on
four new draft chapters of its
Guidelines. Draft Chapter 18 was part of
that issuance.
The Commission received nine
comment letters in response to draft
Chapter 18. Most of the comments were
submitted by licensees and individuals
through trade associations, including
National Hydropower Association, Dam
Safety Interest Group of CEATI
International, and US Society on Dams,
as well as the US Army Corps of
Engineers. Comments were also
received from individual licensees,
corporations, and individuals, including
McMillen Jacobs Associates, David L.
Mathews, City of North Little Rock
Electric, Central Nebraska Public Power
and Irrigation District, and Upper
Peninsular Power Company.
In all, the nine comment letters
consisted of over 250 discrete
comments. The comments received
were varied and ranged from requesting
clarification of the overall need and
approach to a risk analysis process to
questions regarding implementation and
execution of the risk analysis process.
Commenters requested clarification of
procedural aspects of performing a risk
analysis and recommended
improvements to the risk analysis
process and methodology. Commenters
asked the Commission to:
• Consider that there is a limited
availability of qualified individuals and
consultants with the requisite
experience and training to perform a
semi-quantitative risk analysis;
• Consider that the risk analysis
process will increase the cost of
conducting a Part 12D report;
• Provide additional guidance on
conducting hydrologic hazard analyses
and consequence estimates;
• Clarify whether training will be
available from FERC or others for risk
analysis facilitators and others
conducting risk analyses; and
• Provide additional guidance on the
screening of potential failure modes
prior to conducting the risk analysis.
Commission staff has considered all
comments in finalizing Chapter 18 of
the Engineering Guidelines. Based on
the comments received, Chapter 18 has
been revised to:
• Clarify the qualifications and role of
the risk analysis facilitator(s) and team
members;
• Clarify the identification and
screening of potential failure modes;
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72943-72945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27785]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP17-40-006]
Spire STL Pipeline LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for The Spire STL Pipeline
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 a supplemental environmental impact statement
(EIS) that will discuss the environmental impacts related to the
continued operation of the Spire STL Pipeline Project facilities by
Spire STL Pipeline LLC (Spire) in Scott, Greene, and Jersey Counties,
Illinois and St. Charles and St. Louis Counties, Missouri. By way of
background, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion vacating and remanding
the Commission's August 3, 2018 Order Issuing Certificate (2018 Order)
that approved the Spire STL Pipeline Project.\1\ On September 14, 2021,
and December 3, 2021, the Commission issued temporary certificates of
public convenience and necessity to Spire to continue to operate the
facilities constructed under the earlier terms, conditions, and
authorizations, including Spire's tariff. On remand, the Commission
will evaluate Spire's pending certificate application,\2\ and consider
whether to grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity to
Spire to continue operation of the Spire STL Pipeline Project in
Illinois and Missouri.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Environmental Defense Fund v. FERC, 2 F.4th 953 (D.C. Cir.
2021).
\2\ Following the D.C. Circuit's vacatur and remand of the
Commission's 2018 Order, Spire's January 26, 2017 application for a
certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and
operate the Spire STL Pipeline Project is again pending before the
Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission must determine whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity under the Natural Gas Act, taking into
consideration the factors discussed in the Court's decision. The
supplemental EIS will tier off Commission staff's
[[Page 72944]]
analysis and conclusions as documented in staff's environmental
assessment (EA) for the project issued on September 29, 2017,\3\ as
well as the environmental discussion contained in the 2018 Order. The
Commission will use this supplemental EIS in its decision-making
process to determine whether the Spire STL Pipeline Project is in the
public convenience and necessity in light of the Court's vacatur and
remand. The schedule for preparation of the supplemental EIS is
discussed in the Schedule for Environmental Review section of this
notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The EA is filed in FERC's eLibrary system in Docket Nos.
CP17-40-000 and CP17-40-001 under Accession No. 20170929-3022.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies regarding the project. 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 from its action whenever it considers the
issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This
gathering of public input is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal
of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the supplemental EIS
on the important environmental issues. Additional information about the
Commission's NEPA process is described below in the NEPA Process and
the Supplemental EIS section of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the supplemental EIS, including comments
on potential alternatives and impacts related specifically to the
continued operation of the Spire STL Pipeline Project. 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 January 14, 2022. Further details on
how to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section
of this notice.
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 located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov)
under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking
on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment
on a Filing''; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP17-
40-006) 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 Project Facilities
The Spire STL Pipeline Project consists of the following
facilities:
59.2 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline (the Mainline);
6.0 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline (designated as the
North County Extension);
three new meter and regulator stations (meter stations);
three new mainline valves; and
installation of three pig \4\ launcher/receivers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device to clean or inspect the
pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an aboveground facility where
pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The project currently transports up to 400 million standard cubic
feet per day of firm natural gas transportation service to the St.
Louis metropolitan area, eastern Missouri, and southwestern Illinois.
According to Spire, the Spire STL Pipeline Project was developed as a
new source of supply that would provide its customers with supply
diversity and greater reliability.
The general location of the project is shown in appendix 1.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ 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 https://www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington,
DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NEPA Process and the Supplemental EIS
The supplemental EIS will discuss environmental impacts that could
occur as a result of the continued operation of the Spire STL Pipeline
Project. As a result, the supplemental EIS will include a reevaluation
of the operational impacts previously analyzed in the EA, including
environmental justice, air emissions, and noise levels. Additionally,
Commission staff will evaluate reasonable alternatives (further
discussed below) and 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 supplemental EIS will present Commission staff's independent
analysis of the issues. Staff will prepare a draft supplemental EIS
which will be issued for public comment. Commission staff will consider
all timely comments received during the comment period on the draft
supplemental EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing
a final supplemental EIS. Any draft and final supplemental EIS will be
available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary
\6\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternatives Under Consideration
The supplemental EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are
technically and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for
the proposed action involving the continued operation of the Spire STL
[[Page 72945]]
Pipeline Project.\7\ Alternatives currently under consideration include
the no-action alternative (i.e., the project would no longer be
authorized to continue operating after the expiration of its current
temporary certificate). Potential actions that will be analyzed as part
of the no-action alternative also include:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ 40 CFR 1508.1(z).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pipeline and aboveground facility abandonment by removal;
pipeline and aboveground facility abandonment in place;
and
system alternatives (e.g., Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America, LLC; MoGas Pipeline, LLC; and Spire Missouri Inc. systems, as
identified in Spire's filing of November 12, 2021).
Schedule for Environmental Review
This notice identifies the Commission staff's planned schedule for
completion of the final supplemental EIS for the project, which is
based on an issuance of the draft supplemental EIS in June 2022.
Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final supplemental EIS:
October 7, 2022
If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final supplemental
EIS, an additional notice will be provided so that the relevant
agencies are kept informed of the project's progress.
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; 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) for the original Spire STL Pipeline Project and anyone who
submits comments on the present case. 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 project.
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 CP17-40 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., CP17-40). 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: December 15, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-27785 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P