[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75091-75092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30398]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-148-000]


Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Susquehanna West Project

    On April 2, 2015, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (TGP) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP15-148-000 requesting 
authorization pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to 
construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline facilities. The 
proposed project is known as the Susquehanna West Project (Project), 
and would deliver an additional 145,000 dekatherms per day of natural 
gas. According to TGP, its project would meet market needs in the 
northeast U.S., which have been capacity constrained.
    On April 13, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application

[[Page 75092]]

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 Assessment (EA) for the Project. This 
instant notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the 
completion of the EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA, February 23, 2016
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline, May 23, 2016

    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

    TGP is proposing to construct 8.1 miles of new 36-inch-diameter 
looping \1\ pipeline in two segments in Tioga County, Pennsylvania; 
relocation of an existing 16,000 horsepower compressor unit from 
Compressor Station 319 to Compressor Station 317, both located in 
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, resulting in an increase of 16,000 
horsepower at Compressor Station 317; replacement of an existing 
compressor unit at Compressor Station 319 with a new 20,500 horsepower 
compressor unit, resulting in an increase of 4,500 horsepower at 
Compressor Station 319; and certain piping and equipment modifications 
associated with the pipeline loops at Compressor Stations 315, 317, and 
319.
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    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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Background

    On June 10, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Susquehanna West 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI 
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 NOI, the Commission received 
comments from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; 
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; 
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal 
Historic Preservation Office; and the Allegheny Defense Project. The 
primary environmental issues raised during scoping relate to impacts on 
wetlands and waterbodies, fish, wildlife, cultural resources, air 
quality, and impacts associated with road crossings.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    Additional information about the 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, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP15-148), 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 
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued 
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: November 24, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-30398 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P