Mississippi Hub, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the MS Hub Capacity Expansion Project, 45652 [2024-11377]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 45652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11377]



[[Page 45652]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP24-80-000]


Mississippi Hub, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of 
an Environmental Assessment for the MS Hub Capacity Expansion Project

    On March 5, 2024, Mississippi Hub, LLC (MS Hub) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP24-80-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain facilities related to 
natural gas storage and compression. The proposed project is known as 
the MS Hub Capacity Expansion Project (Project) and would add up to 0.7 
billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of injection capacity and up to 1.0 
Bcf per day of delivery capacity to MS Hub's existing MS Hub Storage 
Facility infrastructure, as well as perform related modifications 
within Simpson, Covington, and Jefferson Davis Counties, Mississippi.
    On March 18, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
environmental document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule 
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\
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    \1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA August 16, 2024
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ November 14, 2024
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    \2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other 
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally 
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal 
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed 
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the 
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a 
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.

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

Project Description

    Within Simpson County, MS Hub would construct: (a) three new gas 
storage caverns and expand the capacity of two existing gas storage 
caverns, thereby increasing the certificated working gas capacity at 
its MS Hub Storage Facility by approximately 33.9 Bcf; (b) 
approximately 14,000 horsepower (hp) of electric motor-driven 
compression and 16,500 hp of gas-fired compression and ancillary 
equipment at its existing Gas Handling Facility; (c) additional 
solution mining equipment at its existing Leaching Facility; (d) a 
filter separator and skid at the existing Southern Natural Gas 
(``SONAT'') Meter Station site; and (e) four raw water wells and three 
saltwater disposal wells. Within Covington County, MS Hub would 
construct: (a) meter skids, flow control skids, and filter separators 
on the existing Transcontinental Pipeline (``Transco'') and Southeast 
Supply Header (``SESH'') Meter Station sites; and (b) one booster 
compressor station (``MS Hub Booster Station''), including gas-fired 
compressor units totaling 40,458 hp, approximately 2 miles northwest of 
the existing Transco Meter Station. Within Jefferson Davis County, MS 
Hub would construct two saltwater disposal wells.

Background

    On April 10, 2024, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed MS Hub 
Capacity Expansion Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of Scoping 
was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government 
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; 
Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries 
and newspapers. In response to the Notice of Scoping, the Commission 
received comments from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, 
and Parks; Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; Southern 
Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.; Mississippi Department of Archives and 
History; and Mississippi Hub, LLC. The primary issues raised by the 
commenters are the need to perform a Mississippi Natural Heritage 
Program review, and corrections to the Project description within the 
Notice of Scoping. All substantive comments will be addressed in the 
EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 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.
    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].
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP24-80), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to 
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at [email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by 
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: May 17, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-11377 Filed 5-22-24; 8:45 am]
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