Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Northern Lights 2023 Expansion Project, 63771-63772 [2022-22776]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 202 / Thursday, October 20, 2022 / Notices long, 12-foot-diameter steel penstocks conveying flow from the surge tanks to the powerhouse; (9) a masonry powerhouse containing two identical vertical units, each with a 7,600-kW capacity; (10) two 600-foot-long, 11.5-kV parallel generator leads; and (11) appurtenant facilities. Rumford Falls Hydro LLC operates the project in a run-of-river mode and does not propose any changes to project facilities or operation. The project would continue to generate an estimated average of 270,800 megawatt-hours annually. l. Location of the Application: In addition to publishing the full text of this notice in the Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this notice, as well as other documents in the proceeding (e.g., license application) 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 (P–2333). For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). m. You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. n. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according to the following preliminary Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate. Milestone Target date Issue Deficiency Letter (if necessary) ....................................................................................................................................... Issue Additional Information Request (if necessary) ................................................................................................................. Notice of Acceptance/Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis .......................................................................................... Filing of recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and fishway prescriptions ....................................................... o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice of ready for environmental analysis. Dated: October 13, 2022. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2022–22771 Filed 10–19–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP22–138–000] lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Northern Lights 2023 Expansion Project The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Northern Lights 2023 Expansion Project (Project), proposed by Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in the above-referenced docket. Northern requests a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and authorization to abandon, construct, operate, and maintain certain natural gas transmission pipeline facilities in Freeborn, Washington, Scott, Sherburne, and Stearns Counties, Minnesota and Monroe County, Wisconsin. The Project purpose is to provide incremental winter firm service of 44,222 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to Northern’s residential, commercial, and VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Oct 19, 2022 Jkt 259001 industrial customer market and 6,667 Dth/d of additional firm service that will allow a shipper enhanced reliability and flexibility in natural gas transportation capacity for electric generation. The draft EIS 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). FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed Project, with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, would result in some adverse environmental impacts; however, with the exception of potential impacts on climate change, we conclude that impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels. Regarding climate change impacts, the EIS is not characterizing the Project’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as significant or not significant because the Commission is conducting a generic proceeding to determine whether and how the Commission will conduct significance determinations going forward.1 Special construction methods in proximity to residences are shown on Northern’s Site-Specific Residential Construction Plans (see appendix N of the draft EIS), which we have reviewed and found acceptable; however, we encourage affected landowners to review these site-specific drawings and provide comments, as warranted. The draft EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction, abandonment, and 1 Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Natural Gas Infrastructure Project Reviews, 178 FERC ¶ 61,108 (2022); 178 FERC ¶ 61,197 (2022). PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 63771 Sfmt 4703 October 2022. November 2022. March 2023. May 2023. operation of the following Project facilities: • Ventura North E-line Extension (Ventura Extension)—2.8 miles of 36inch-diameter pipeline extension of the Ventura North E-Line in Freeborn County, Minnesota; • Elk River 3rd Branch Line Loop 2 (Elk River Loop)—1.1 miles of 30-inchdiameter pipeline loop in Washington County, Minnesota; • Willmar D Branch Line Extension (Willmar Extension)—1.1 miles of 24inch-diameter pipeline extension in Scott County, Minnesota; • Princeton Tie-Over Loop Extension (Princeton Extension)—2.5 miles of 8inch-diameter pipeline loop extension in Sherburne County, Minnesota; • Paynesville 2nd Branch Line Loop (Paynesville Loop)—2.0 miles of 4-inchdiameter pipeline loop in Stearns County, Minnesota; and • Tomah Branch Line Loop Extension (Tomah Extension)—0.3 mile of 8-inchdiameter pipeline extension in Monroe County, Wisconsin. • The aboveground facilities proposed for this Project would include one new pig 3 launcher, four new valve settings, replacement of valves and piping inside four facilities, and installation of two rupture-mitigation valves (RMV), associated piping, and buildings. • Abandonment and removal of two valve settings and associated piping. 2 A loop is a segment of pipeline parallel to a mainline that connects to it at both ends and allows more gas to flow through that segment. 3 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes. E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 63772 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 202 / Thursday, October 20, 2022 / Notices The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability of the draft EIS 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 draft EIS 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/industriesdata/natural-gas/environment/ environmental-documents). In addition, the draft EIS 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., CP22–138). 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 draft EIS 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 draft EIS may do so. Your comments should focus on draft EIS’s disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts, and the completeness of the submitted alternatives, information and analyses. To ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that the Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 5, 2022. For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form or provided verbally. 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 on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. This is an easy method for VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Oct 19, 2022 Jkt 259001 submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature 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.’’ If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the filing type; 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 (CP22–138–000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR part 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/ferconline/ferc-online/how-guides. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission’s decision. The Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Questions? 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. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. Dated: October 14, 2022. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2022–22776 Filed 10–19–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 7186–054] Missisquoi, LLC; Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Soliciting Additional Study Requests and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Relicensing and a Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: New Major License. b. Project No.: 7186–054. c. Date Filed: September 30, 2022. d. Applicant: Missisquoi, LLC. e. Name of Project: Sheldon Springs Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: On the Missisquoi River in Franklin County, Vermont. The project does not occupy any federal land. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Kevin Webb, Licensing Manager, Missisquoi, LLC, 670 N Commercial St., Suite 204, Manchester, NH 03101; Phone at (978) 935–6039, or email at kwebb@ centralriverspower.com. i. FERC Contact: John Baummer at (202) 502–6837, or john.baummer@ ferc.gov. j. Cooperating Agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such requests described in item l below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission’s policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001). E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 202 (Thursday, October 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63771-63772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22776]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP22-138-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Northern Lights 2023 
Expansion Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the Northern Lights 2023 Expansion Project (Project), proposed by 
Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in the above-referenced docket. 
Northern requests a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and 
authorization to abandon, construct, operate, and maintain certain 
natural gas transmission pipeline facilities in Freeborn, Washington, 
Scott, Sherburne, and Stearns Counties, Minnesota and Monroe County, 
Wisconsin. The Project purpose is to provide incremental winter firm 
service of 44,222 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to Northern's residential, 
commercial, and industrial customer market and 6,667 Dth/d of 
additional firm service that will allow a shipper enhanced reliability 
and flexibility in natural gas transportation capacity for electric 
generation.
    The draft EIS 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). FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the proposed Project, with the 
mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, would result in some 
adverse environmental impacts; however, with the exception of potential 
impacts on climate change, we conclude that impacts would be reduced to 
less than significant levels. Regarding climate change impacts, the EIS 
is not characterizing the Project's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as 
significant or not significant because the Commission is conducting a 
generic proceeding to determine whether and how the Commission will 
conduct significance determinations going forward.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Natural Gas 
Infrastructure Project Reviews, 178 FERC ] 61,108 (2022); 178 FERC ] 
61,197 (2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Special construction methods in proximity to residences are shown 
on Northern's Site-Specific Residential Construction Plans (see 
appendix N of the draft EIS), which we have reviewed and found 
acceptable; however, we encourage affected landowners to review these 
site-specific drawings and provide comments, as warranted. The draft 
EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction, 
abandonment, and operation of the following Project facilities:

     Ventura North E-line Extension (Ventura Extension)--2.8 
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline extension of the Ventura North E-
Line in Freeborn County, Minnesota;
     Elk River 3rd Branch Line Loop \2\ (Elk River Loop)--1.1 
miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Washington County, 
Minnesota;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline parallel to a mainline that 
connects to it at both ends and allows more gas to flow through that 
segment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Willmar D Branch Line Extension (Willmar Extension)--1.1 
miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline extension in Scott County, 
Minnesota;
     Princeton Tie-Over Loop Extension (Princeton Extension)--
2.5 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline loop extension in Sherburne 
County, Minnesota;
     Paynesville 2nd Branch Line Loop (Paynesville Loop)--2.0 
miles of 4-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Stearns County, Minnesota; 
and
     Tomah Branch Line Loop Extension (Tomah Extension)--0.3 
mile of 8-inch-diameter pipeline extension in Monroe County, Wisconsin.
     The aboveground facilities proposed for this Project would 
include one new pig \3\ launcher, four new valve settings, replacement 
of valves and piping inside four facilities, and installation of two 
rupture-mitigation valves (RMV), associated piping, and buildings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Abandonment and removal of two valve settings and 
associated piping.

[[Page 63772]]

    The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability of the 
draft EIS 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 draft EIS 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/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents). In 
addition, the draft EIS 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., CP22-138). Be sure you have selected an appropriate 
date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659.
    The draft EIS 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 draft EIS may do so. 
Your comments should focus on draft EIS's disclosure and discussion of 
potential environmental effects, measures to avoid or lessen 
environmental impacts, and the completeness of the submitted 
alternatives, information and analyses. To ensure consideration of your 
comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that the 
Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 
December 5, 2022.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. 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 on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
FERC Online. This 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 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.'' If you 
are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ``Comment 
on a Filing'' as the filing type; 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 (CP22-
138-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR part 385.214). Motions to intervene are 
more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/ferc-online/how-guides. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or 
judicial review of the Commission's decision. The Commission grants 
affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor 
status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and 
direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately 
represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you 
intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your 
comments considered.

Questions?

    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. The eLibrary link 
also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and 
submittals in specific dockets. 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.

    Dated: October 14, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-22776 Filed 10-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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