[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80354-80355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32402]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Southeast 
Market Pipelines Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or

[[Page 80355]]

Commission) has prepared a final 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 686.0 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 final 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 final EIS.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) participated as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the final EIS. The USACE has 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposals and participate in the NEPA 
analysis. The USACE may adopt and use the EIS as it 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. Although the cooperating 
agency provides input to the conclusions and recommendations presented 
in the final EIS, the agency will present its own conclusions and 
recommendations in its Record of Decision for the project.
    The final 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;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Sabal Trail Project would include:
     approximately 516.2 miles of new natural gas pipeline in 
Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, including:
    [cir] 481.6 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 126.3 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 final 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 the final EIS were mailed to 
those specifically requesting them; all others received a CD version. 
In addition, the final 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.
    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: December 18, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-32402 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P