[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 241 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78216-78217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31609]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-150-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC ; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Proposed Line WB2VA Integrity Project

    On April 2, 2015, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) filed 
an application in Docket No. CP15-150-000, requesting authorization and 
a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 
7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, to abandon, modify, and install 
certain natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known 
as the Line WB2VA Integrity Project. The purpose of the project is to 
allow the use of modern inline inspection devices and upgrade pipeline 
segments in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation safety 
standards.
    On April 15, 2015, 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 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--January 28, 2016.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--April 27, 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

    The Line WB2VA Integrity Project would include modifications to 
Columbia's existing facilities at 17 sites in Hardy County, West 
Virginia, and Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham, and Greene Counties, 
Virginia. Proposed modifications include installation of pig launchers 
and receivers; replacement of short sections of existing pipeline, 
mainline valves, and other appurtenant facilities; and abandonment of 
two existing 20-inch-diameter pipelines beneath the South Fork of the 
Shenandoah River that would be replaced with a new 24-inch-diameter 
pipeline.

Background

    On May 14, 2015, we issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed WB2VA Integrity Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI was 
published in the Federal Register and was mailed to 163 interested 
parties, including federal, state, and local government representatives 
and agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and 
public interest groups; potentially interested Native American tribes; 
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers.
    In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from non-
government organizations, and federal and state agencies. The primary 
environmental issues raised by the commentors include: air quality, 
steep slopes and slope-prone soils, recreation, public lands, karst 
topography, threatened and endangered species,

[[Page 78217]]

wetlands and waterbodies, cumulative impacts, and alternatives.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, West Virginia Department of 
Natural Resources, and West Virginia Department of Environmental 
Protection are cooperating agencies for preparation of the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals, 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 menu, enter the selected date range and 
``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP15-150), and 
follow the instructions. For assistance with 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: December 10, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-31609 Filed 12-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P