[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3404-3405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01116]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-38-000; PF15-21-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Application

    Take notice that on December 30, 2015, Columbia Gas Transmission, 
LLC (Columbia), 5151 San Felipe, Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77056, filed 
an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) 
and Part 157 of the Commission's Regulations requesting authority to 
construct and operate its WB Xpress Project which would include: (i) 
The construction of approximately 29.2 miles of various diameter 
pipeline, (ii) modifications to seven existing compressor stations, 
(iii) construction of two new compressor stations, and (iv) uprating 
the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) on various segments of 
Columbia's existing Line WB and Line VB natural gas transmission 
systems. The WB Xpress Project facilities are designed to expand the 
capacity of Columbia's existing system to transport up to approximately 
1.3 million dekatherms per day (MMDth/d) of natural gas. Facilities to 
be constructed or uprated are located in Clay, Kanawha, Grant, Upshur, 
Randolph, Pendleton, Braxton, and Hardy Counties, West Virginia and in 
Clark, Fauquier, Fairfax, Loudoun, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties, 
Virginia. The cost to construct the project facilities is approximately 
780 million dollars.
    The filing may be viewed on the 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, (886) 208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.
    Any questions concerning this application should be directed to 
Michael D. Walker, Manager, FERC Certificates, Columbia Gas 
Transmission, LLC, P.O. Box 1273 Charleston, West Virginia 25325, 
phone: (304) 357-2443, Fax: (304) 357-2770, or email [email protected] 
or Brittany Carns, Community Relations & Stakeholder Outreach Manager 
at the

[[Page 3405]]

same address or via phone: (304) 359-2771 or email: 
[email protected].
    On April 16, 2015 the Commission granted Columbia's request to 
utilize the Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF15-21-000 to 
staff activities involved in the WB Xpress Project. Now, as of the 
filing of the December 30 application, the Pre-Filing Process for this 
Project has ended. From this time forward, this proceeding will be 
conducted in Docket No. CP16-38-000 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 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 5 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a 
copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. 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 commenters 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 commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed 
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters 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: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on February 4, 2016.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-01116 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P