[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 70196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28770]



[[Page 70196]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC CP16-9-000 Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. PF15-12-000]


Notice of Application

    Take notice that on October 22, 2015, Algonquin Gas Transmission, 
LLC (Algonquin) and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) 
(together, the Applicants), 5400 Westheimer Court, Houston, Texas 
77056-5310, jointly filed in the above referenced docket an application 
pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and Part 157 of 
the Commission's regulations requesting authorization to construct and 
operate the Atlantic Bridge Project, all as more fully set forth in the 
application which is on file with the Commission and open to public 
inspection. The filing is available for review at the Commission in the 
Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site web 
at http://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. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676 or TYY, 
(202) 502-8659.
    Any questions concerning this application may be directed to Berk 
Donaldson, General Manager, Rates and Certificates, Algonquin Gas 
Transmission, LLC and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., P.O. Box 
1642, Houston, Texas 77251-1642 at (713) 627-4488.
    Specifically the applicants propose to: (i) Construct 6.3 miles 
pipeline facilities and related facilities in New York and Connecticut; 
(ii) modify three existing compressor stations in Connecticut resulting 
in the addition of 18,800 horsepower (hp) of compression; (iii) 
construct and operate a new compressor station in Massachusetts 
resulting in the addition of 7,700 hp of compression; (iv) modify six 
existing metering, and regulator stations (M&R) and construct a new M&R 
Station; and (v) to abandon certain existing facilities. The Atlantic 
Bridge Project will allow both Algonquin and Maritimes to provide 
additional firm transportation. The applicants request authorization to 
charge an initial incremental Atlantic Bridge Project recourse rate and 
related incremental fuel, and also requested a pre-determination of 
rolled-in rates treatment for the Project. The cost of the project will 
be approximately $449.8 million.
    On February 20, 2015 the Commission staff granted Columbia's 
request to utilize the Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF15-
12-000 to staff activities involved in the Project. Now, as of the 
filing of the October 22, 2015 application, the Pre-Filing Process for 
this project has ended. From this time forward, this proceeding will be 
conducted in Docket No. CP16-9-000, as noted in the caption of this 
Notice.
    Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission's rules (18 CFR 157.9), 
within 90 days of this Notice, the Commission staff will either: 
complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the 
Commission's public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a 
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other 
milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of 
the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or EA for this 
proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission's public record for 
this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of 
the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the 
subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days 
of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's FEIS or EA.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or 
before the comment date stated below file with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, a 
motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 
385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person 
obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by 
the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must 
submit seven copies of filings made in the proceeding with the 
Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other 
party. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of 
Commission orders in the proceeding.
    However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have 
comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with 
the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and 
two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. 
The Commission will consider these comments in determining the 
appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will 
not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's 
rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project 
provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly 
involved in the protest.
    Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of 
this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments 
to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commentors will be 
placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive 
copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Environmental commentors will not be required to serve copies of filed 
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commentors will 
not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by 
the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents 
issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court 
review of the Commission's final order.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, 
protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the ``eFiling'' link 
at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should 
submit an original and 7 copies of the protest or intervention to the 
Federal Energy regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426.
    Comment Date: November 27, 2015.

    Dated: November 5, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-28770 Filed 11-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P