[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5562-5563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00927]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-28-000]


National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Proposed Line QP, Line Q, and Queen Storage 
Project

    On December 3, 2015, National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (National 
Fuel) filed an application in Docket No. CP16-28-000 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 Line QP, Line Q, and Queen Storage Project (Project) located

[[Page 5563]]

in Forest and Warren Counties, Pennsylvania.
    On December 16, 2015, 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: April 13, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: July 12, 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

    National Fuel seeks authorization to abandon by sale all of its 
facilities comprising its Queen Storage Field, including the base gas 
in the field, its Queen Compressor Station, and a segment of its Line 
Q, approximately 5.5 miles in length, beginning at the Queen Compressor 
Station and traversing northwest to a location just south of the 
Allegheny River (the ``Line Q Segment''). Also, National Fuel seeks 
authorization to construct and operate approximately 5 miles of new 4-
inch-diameter plastic pipeline (``Line QP'') beginning at a point just 
north of the Allegheny River, and traversing southeast along or 
adjacent to the existing Line Q right-of-way, to a point approximately 
2,000 feet west of the Queen Compressor Station.

Background

    On January 20, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line QP, Line Q, 
and Queen Storage Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues (NOI). The NOI 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 United States Army Corps of 
Engineers, Pittsburgh District (USACE). The USACE stated concern 
regarding the proposed Project's impact on federally listed species 
within the Wild and Scenic River portion of the Allegheny River. The 
U.S. Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest office; USACE; and the 
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are cooperating agencies 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., 
CP16-28), 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: January 10, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00927 Filed 1-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P