[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 95131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31094]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. Cp16-498-000; Pf16-4-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the B-System Project

    On September 9, 2016, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP16-498-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Sections 
7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon, construct, and operate 
certain natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known 
as the B-System Project (Project), and would modernize and upgrade 
Columbia's B-System pipelines by replacing and abandoning old pipeline 
as well as constructing new pipeline and appurtenant facilities in 
Fairfield and Franklin Counties, Ohio.
    On September 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--March 13, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 11, 2017

    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

    Columbia would abandon in place approximately 17.5 miles of its 
Line B-105; replace 14.0 miles of its Line B-111; replace 0.1 mile of 
its Line B-121; replace 0.5 mile of its Line B-130; construct 7.6 miles 
of new pipeline Line K-270 and appurtenant facilities; and modify 
various point of delivery and point of receipt customer interconnects 
in Fairfield and Franklin Counties, Ohio.

Background

    On May 6, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed B-System Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI was issued 
during the pre-filing review of the Project in Docket No. PF16-4-000 
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 one U.S. representative, three Ohio state 
representatives, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Miami Tribe of 
Oklahoma, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbia Gas of 
Ohio, Inc., and four landowners. The primary issues raised by the 
commentors are pipeline route alternatives, pollinator habitat, 
endangered species, migratory birds, and methods of pipe abandonment.
    The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is a cooperating agency in 
the preparation of the EA.

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., 
CP16-498), 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.

    Dated: December 20, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-31094 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P