Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Pelto Area Abandonment Project, 40796-40799 [2023-13207]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40796-40799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13207]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-200-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Northern Natural Gas 
Company; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental 
Issues for the Proposed Pelto Area Abandonment Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental document, that will discuss 
the environmental impacts of the Pelto Area Abandonment Project 
(Project), involving the abandonment of facilities operated by 
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) and Northern 
Natural Gas Company (Northern) (the Companies), in Louisiana state 
waters offshore of Terrebonne Parish and within the Pelto and Ship 
Shoal Blocks of federal offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The 
Commission will use this environmental document in its decision-making 
process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience 
and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies 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 an authorizing Order. This gathering of public input is 
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to 
focus the analysis in the environmental document on the important 
environmental issues. Additional information about the Commission's 
NEPA process is described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental 
Document section of this notice.
    By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. 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 July 14, 2023. Further details on how 
to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section of 
this notice.
    Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, 
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what 
issues they need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission 
staff will consider all written comments during the preparation of the 
environmental document.
    If you submitted comments on this Project to the Commission before 
the opening of this docket on April 20, 2023, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP23-200-000 to ensure they are considered 
as part of this proceeding.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this Project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed 
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

Public Participation

    There are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the 
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your 
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected].
    (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 (CP23-
200-000) 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.
    Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and 
submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These 
instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification 
and provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of 
time you spend researching proceedings. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].

Summary of the Proposed Project

    The Companies seek to abandon six pipeline segments with different 
ownership interests that total about 32.1 miles. These segments are 
listed below.
    Pipeline Facilities Owned by Transco
     Pipeline Segment Numbers (PSN) 1536 and PSN1534, 8-inch-
diameter pipelines located from Valve LE 2739 to the PL-11 Platform. 
PSN 1536 and PSN 1534 total approximately 18.2 miles in length. 
Approximately 12.6 miles of these segments are within federal waters 
and 5.6 miles are within state waters.
     PSN 4778, a 12-inch-diameter pipeline totaling 0.9-mile in 
length and located from Valve LE 1593 and Valve LE 1597 to Valve LE 
195, entirely within federal waters.
     PSN 5136, a 16-inch-diameter pipeline totaling 0.9 mile in 
length and located from the PL-10 Platform to Valve LE 1694, entirely 
within federal waters.
    Pipeline Facilities Owned by Transco and Northern \1\
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    \1\ A third company, Kinetica Midstream Energy, LLC (Kinetica), 
owns the remaining 6.98 percent of both PSN 5135 and PSN 5137. 
Kinetica has previously abandoned services to these assets and, as 
such, is not a party listed as an applicant to this application.
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     PSN 5135, a 12-inch-diameter pipeline totaling 1.3 miles 
in length and located from the Ship Shoal 70 Platform (SS-70 Platform) 
to Valve LE 1596,

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entirely within federal waters. Transco owns 82.94 percent, and 
Northern owns 10.08 percent of this segment.
     PSN 5137, a 20-inch-diameter pipeline totaling 10.8 miles 
in length and located from the SS-70 Platform to Valve LE 1694, 
entirely within federal waters. Transco owns 82.94 percent and Northern 
owns 10.08 percent of this segment.
    Additionally, Transco proposes to abandon risers in place from the 
PL-10 and PL-11 Platforms, abandon risers by removal from the SS-70 
Platform, and remove metering and associated equipment from the PL-10, 
PL-11, and SS-91 Platforms in federal waters.
    Project pipelines in federal waters are within a Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management (BOEM) identified Significant Sediment Resource Area 
and are required by BOEM to be removed upon abandonment. Similarly, the 
Louisiana Office of State Lands requires removal of abandoned pipelines 
within state waters. Therefore, all Project pipelines would be 
abandoned by removal, with the exception of 40- to 80-foot-long 
sections located at 27 active foreign pipeline crossings (resulting in 
approximately 0.2 to 0.4 mile of pipeline abandoned in place).
    The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
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    \2\ 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. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY 
(202) 502-8659.
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Land Requirements for Abandonment

    A total of about 1,156.1 acres would be temporarily impacted by the 
Project. Following the completion of Project activities, all temporary 
workspaces within federal and state waters would be restored to 
approximate pre-construction contours through normal tidal and wave 
action.

NEPA Process and the Environmental Document

    Any environmental document issued by the Commission will discuss 
impacts that could occur as a result of the abandonment activities, 
under the relevant general resource areas:
     geology and sediments;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     environmental justice;
     air quality and noise; and
     reliability and safety.
    Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the 
proposed Project or portions of the Project and make recommendations on 
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your 
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues 
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially 
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental 
document.
    Following this scoping period, Commission staff will determine 
whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present Commission 
staff's independent analysis of the issues. If Commission staff 
prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may be issued for an 
allotted public comment period. The Commission would consider timely 
comments on the EA before making its decision regarding the proposed 
project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued, which will open up an 
additional comment period. Staff will then 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 EA 
or draft and final EIS will be available in electronic format in the 
public record through eLibrary \3\ 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.
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    \3\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
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    With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with 
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate in the 
preparation of the environmental document.\4\ Agencies that would like 
to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for 
filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this 
notice.
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    \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, section 1501.8.
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, and 
to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, 
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential 
effects on historic properties.\5\ The environmental document for this 
project will document findings on the impacts on historic properties 
and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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    \5\ 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.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list federal, state, and local government 
representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; and other interested parties. 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.
    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 CP23-200-000 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

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eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' 
and enter the docket number in the ``Docket Number'' field. 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: June 14, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.

Appendix 1

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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Appendix 2
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22JN23.002

[FR Doc. 2023-13207 Filed 6-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-C