[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49970-49971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18040]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-98-000; PF15-29-000]


Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Transco to Charleston Project

    On March 9, 2016, Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC 
(Dominion) filed

[[Page 49971]]

an application in Docket No. CP16-98-000 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. The proposed project is known as the Transco to Charleston 
Project (Project), and would provide firm transportation service of 
80,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/day) to local commercial, industrial, 
and power generation customers.
    On March 21, 2016, 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 September 19, 2016
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline December 18, 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

    Dominion would construct and operate 55 miles of 12-inch-diameter 
natural gas pipeline in Spartanburg, Laurens, Newberry, and Greenwood 
Counties, South Carolina; 5 miles of 4-inch-diameter natural gas 
pipeline in Dillon County, South Carolina; a new 3,600-horsepower (hp) 
compressor station in Dorchester County, South Carolina; add 2,800 hp 
of compression at an existing compressor station in Spartanburg County, 
South Carolina; modify operation at an existing compressor station in 
Aiken County, South Carolina; and construct and operate support 
facilities in Aiken, Charleston, Dillon, Dorchester, Greenwood, 
Laurens, Newberry, and Spartanburg Counties, South Carolina.

Background

    On October 30, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Transco to 
Charleston Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project 
in Docket No. PF15-29-000 and was sent to affected landowners; federal, 
state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental 
and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, 
the Commission received comments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the 
Columbia South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina 
Electric and Gas Company, the Natural Gas Supply Association, Upstate 
Forever, and 20 landowners. The primary issues raised by the commentors 
are potential crossings of private lands, wildlife species and habitat, 
and water quality, as well as general support for, and opposition to, 
the Project.

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.
    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., 
CP16-98), 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.

    Dated: July 25, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-18040 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P