[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8192-8193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03323]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the White Oak 
Mainline Expansion Project and System Reliability Project

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                                                   Docket Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company......  CP15-18-000
                                         CP15-18-001
                                         CP15-498-000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On November 21, 2014, Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (Eastern 
Shore) filed an application in Docket No. CP15-18-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural 
gas pipeline facilities as part of the White Oak Mainline Expansion 
Project (White Oak Project) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and New 
Castle County, Delaware. On November 18, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an 
amendment to its application in Docket No. CP15-18-001 to construct the 
Kemblesville Loop Alternative 2 along Eastern Shore's existing right-
of-way. Also, on May 22, 2015, Eastern Shore filed an application in 
Docket No. CP15-498-000 requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience 
and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to 
construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline facilities as part 
of the System Reliability Project in Kent, New Castle, and Sussex 
Counties, Delaware.
    On December 8, 2014 and June 8, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its respective Notice of 
Application for the White Oak Project and the System Reliability 
Project. On November 25, 2015, the Commission issued its Notice of 
Amendment to Application for the White Oak Project. Among other things, 
these notices 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 projects. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff's 
planned schedule for the completion of the EA for the White Oak and 
System Reliability Projects. Staff is preparing a single EA for the two 
projects because of the proximity of the projects to each other and 
because the System Reliability Project assumes the prior completion of 
the White Oak Project, as stated in Eastern Shore's amended 
application.

                    Schedule for Environmental Review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issuance of EA.........................  April 12, 2016.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision    July 11, 2016.
 Deadline.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
projects' progress.

Project Descriptions

    The White Oak Project consists of 3.3 miles of 16-inch-diameter 
looping pipeline (the Daleville Loop) and 2.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter 
looping pipeline (Kemblesville Loop) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 
and 3,550 horsepower of additional compression at Eastern Shore's 
existing Delaware City Compressor Station in New Castle County, 
Delaware. The White Oak Project would result in incremental expansion 
capacity sufficient to support Eastern Shore's agreement to provide 
45,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service to Calpine 
Energy Services, L.P.'s Garrison Energy Center.
    The System Reliability Project consists of 2.5 miles of 16-inch-
diameter looping pipeline in New Castle County; about 7.6 miles of 16-
inch-diameter looping pipeline in Kent County; installation of various 
appurtenant underground and aboveground facilities; and an additional 
1,775 horsepower of compression at Eastern Shore's existing Bridgeville 
Compressor Station in Sussex County, all in Delaware. According to 
Eastern Shore, the System Reliability Project would increase the 
reliability of natural gas to Eastern Shore's existing customers during 
high demand winter months.

Background

    On January 22, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed White Oak Mainline 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(White Oak NOI). On July 9, 2015, the Commission issued a Supplemental 
White Oak NOI and opened a supplemental scoping period for the 
Kemblesville Loop Alternative 2 route. On September 4, 2015, the 
Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed System Reliability Project and Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues (System Reliability NOI). The notices 
were sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government 
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; 
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In 
response to the White Oak NOI, the Commission received environmental 
comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Delaware Nation, 
the Franklin Township Historical Commission, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, the Franklin 
Township, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural 
Resources, the Chester County Water Resources Authority, and private 
landowners. The primary concerns raised were regarding wetland and 
waterbody impacts; impacts due to forest clearing; impacts on the White 
Clay Creek National Wild and Scenic River; impacts on watersheds within 
the project area; impacts on the Kemblesville Village Historic 
District; impacts on bog turtle habitat; cultural resources; 
alternative routes, including the Kemblesville Loop Alternative Route 
2; old growth forested areas along the pipeline routes; pipeline 
safety; and pipeline installation within proximity to residences. In 
response to the System Reliability NOI, the Commission received 
comments from the National Park Service and landowners. The National 
Park Service noted potential impacts on the Bridgeville Playground, 
which was funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant. 
Landowners submitted comments about public safety; effects on private 
property; wetlands; the 100-year floodplain; noise; vibration from 
trains; property values; less expensive alternatives to the project; 
and whether the Porter Road Loop would be necessary for system 
reliability.

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.

[[Page 8193]]

    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., 
CP15-18 or CP15-498), 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.
    Additional information about the White Oak and System Reliability 
Projects can be obtained by contacting the environmental project 
manager, Gertrude Johnson, by telephone at (202) 502-6692 or by 
electronic mail at [email protected].

    Dated: February 10, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-03323 Filed 2-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P