[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.
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Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company...... CP15-18-000
CP15-18-001
CP15-498-000
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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
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Issuance of EA......................... April 12, 2016.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision July 11, 2016.
Deadline.
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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]
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