[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54777-54778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22914]



[[Page 54777]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP14-554-000; CP15-16-000; CP15-17-000]


Florida Southeast Connection, LLC; Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Company, LLC; Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC

Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Southeast Market Pipelines Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Hillabee Expansion, Sabal Trail, and Florida Southeast 
Connection (FSC) Projects as proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Company, LLC (Transco), Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC (Sabal Trail), 
and Florida Southeast Connection, LLC (FSC), respectively, in the 
above-referenced dockets. These are separate, but connected, natural 
gas transmission pipeline projects collectively referred to as the 
Southeast Market Pipelines (SMP) Project. The applicants request 
authorization to construct and operate a total of about 685.5 miles of 
natural gas transmission pipeline and associated facilities, six new 
natural gas-fired compressor stations, and modify existing compressor 
stations in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The SMP Project would 
provide about 1.1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to meet 
growing demands by the electric generation, distribution, and end use 
markets in Florida and the southeast United States.
    The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the SMP Project in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the SMP Project would have some 
adverse environmental impacts; however, these impacts would be reduced 
to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of the 
applicants' proposed mitigation and the additional measures recommended 
in the draft EIS.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) participated as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the draft EIS. The USACE has 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposals and is participating in the NEPA 
analysis. The USACE has jurisdictional authority pursuant to section 
404 of the Clean Water Act, which governs the discharge of dredged or 
fill material into waters of the United States; section 10 of the 
Rivers and Harbors Act, which regulates any work or structures that 
potentially affect the navigable capacity of navigable waters of the 
United States; and section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act which 
regulates the temporary occupation of water-related structures 
constructed by the United States. The USACE may adopt and use the EIS 
to support its review of the SMP Project. Although the cooperating 
agency provides input to the conclusions and recommendations presented 
in the draft EIS, the agency will present its own conclusions and 
recommendations in its Record of Decision for the project. A copy of 
the USACE's public notice of its receipt of applications from Transco, 
Sabal Trail, and FSC is enclosed with our draft EIS.
    The draft EIS of the SMP Project addresses the potential 
environmental effects of the construction and operation of the 
following project facilities:
    The Hillabee Expansion Project would include:
     Approximately 43.5 miles of new 42- and 48-inch-diameter 
natural gas pipeline loop \1\ in Alabama;
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    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipe that is installed adjacent to an 
existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. A loop generally 
allows more gas to move through the system.
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     one new compressor station in Choctaw County, Alabama and 
modifications to three existing compressor stations in Dallas, Chilton, 
and Coosa Counties, Alabama; and
     installation of pig \2\ launchers/receivers and mainline 
valves (MLVs).
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    \2\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry 
a pipeline and/or to inspect it for damage or corrosion.
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    The Sabal Trail Project would include:
     Approximately 515.5 miles of new natural gas pipeline in 
Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, including:
    [cir] 480.9 miles of 36-inch-diameter mainline pipeline in Alabama, 
Georgia, and Florida;
    [cir] the 21.5-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter Citrus County Line in 
Florida; and
    [cir] the 13.1-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter Hunters Creek Line in 
Florida;
     five new compressor stations in Tallapoosa County, 
Alabama; Dougherty County, Georgia; and Suwannee, Marion, and Osceola 
Counties, Florida;
     subsequent modifications to two of the new compressor 
stations in Dougherty County, Georgia and Suwannee County, Florida; and
     installation of pig launchers/receivers, MLVs, and meter 
and regulating stations.
    The FSC Project would include:
     Approximately 126.4 miles of new 30- and 36-inch-diameter 
natural gas pipeline in Florida; and
     installation of pig launchers/receivers, MLVs, and meter 
and regulating stations.
    The FERC staff mailed copies 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; newspapers and libraries in the project area; and parties to 
this proceeding. Paper copy versions of this draft EIS were mailed to 
those specifically requesting them; all others received a CD version. 
In addition, the draft EIS is available for public viewing on the 
FERC's Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited 
number of copies are available for distribution and public inspection 
at:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First 
Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.

    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. To ensure 
consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is 
important that the Commission receive your comments by October 26, 
2015.
    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
appropriate docket numbers (CP14-554-000 for the FSC Project; CP15-16-
000 for the Hillabee Expansion Project; or CP15-17-000 for the Sabal 
Trail Project) with your submission. The Commission encourages 
electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist 
you at (202) 502-8258 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 Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. 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 Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a 
variety of formats by attaching them as a file

[[Page 54778]]

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 following address. Be sure to reference the project docket numbers 
(CP14-554-000, CP15-16-000, and CP15-17-000) with your submission:

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend one of the public meetings its staff 
will conduct in the SMP Project area to receive comments on the draft 
EIS. We encourage interested groups and individuals to attend and 
present oral comments on the draft EIS. The meetings are scheduled as 
follows:

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        Date and time                           Location
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Monday, September 28, 2015,    Albany Civic Center--Meeting Room, 100
 6:00-8:00 p.m. Eastern         West Oglethorpe, Albany, GA 31701.
 Daylight Time (EDT).
Tuesday, September 29, 2015,   Colquitt County High School (Old High
 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT.            School), Withers Auditorium, 1800 Park
                                Avenue, Moultrie, GA 31776.
Wednesday, September 30,       Holiday Inn Valdosta, Conference Center,
 2015, 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT.      Magnolia Ballroom, 1805 West Hill Ave.,
                                Valdosta, GA 31601.
Thursday, October 1, 2015,     Columbia High School--Auditorium, 469 SE
 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT.            Fighting Tiger Drive, Lake City, FL
                                32025.
Monday, October 5, 2015, 6:00- Central Alabama Community College, Betty
 8:00 p.m. Central Daylight     Carol Graham Technology Center--Multi
 Time (CDT).                    Purpose Room, 1675 Cherokee Road,
                                Alexander City, AL 35010.
Monday, October 5, 2015, 6:00- Indian River State College, Williamson
 8:00 p.m. EDT.                 Conference Center Auditorium, 2229
                                Northwest 9th Avenue, Okeechobee, FL
                                34972.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015,      South Girard School Auditorium, 521
 6:00-8:00 p.m. CDT.            Fontaine Road, Phenix City, AL 36869.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015,      Dunnellon Middle School Auditorium, 21005
 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT.            Chestnut Street, Dunnellon, FL 34431.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015,    Davenport School of the Arts Cafeteria,
 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT.            4751 County Road 547, (Lee Jackson
                                Highway), Davenport, FL 33837.
Thursday, October 8, 2015,     Bell High School Auditorium, 930 South
 6:00-8:00 p.m. EDT.            Main Street, Bell, FL 32619.
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    We will begin our sign up of speakers at 5:30 p.m. The comment 
meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a presentation by Commission 
staff on our environmental review process, after which speakers will be 
called. The meeting will end once all speakers have provided their 
comments or at 8:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Please note that there 
may be a time limit of 3 minutes to present comments, and speakers 
should structure their comments accordingly. If time limits are 
implemented, they will be strictly enforced to ensure that as many 
individuals as possible are given an opportunity to comment. The 
meetings are recorded by a stenographer to ensure comments are 
accurately recorded. Transcripts will be entered into the formal record 
of the Commission proceeding. It is important to note that verbal 
comments hold the same weight as written or electronically submitted 
comments.
    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).\3\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing 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.
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    \3\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments.
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Questions?

    Additional information about the SMP Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search,'' and enter the docket number 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP14-
554, CP15-16, and CP15-17). 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; for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of 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 www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

    Dated: September 4, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-22914 Filed 9-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P