[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38901-38902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17263]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-74-000]


National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Line YM28 & Line FM120 Modernization 
Project

    On March 10, 2017, National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (National 
Fuel) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-74-000 requesting an 
authorization and 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 YM28 & Line FM120 Modernization 
Project (Project).
    On March 24, 2017, 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 29, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline December 28, 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 proposes to construct, operate, and abandon various 
facilities in Cameron, Elk, and McKean Counties, Pennsylvania. 
According to National Fuel, the Project would enhance the reliability 
and safety of the National Fuel system, allow for continued 
transportation services performed by the abandoned facilities, and 
offer better connectivity for storage and transportation services to 
National Fuel's backbone transmission pipeline (Line K).
    The Project would consist of the following:
     Approximately 14.4 miles of new 12-inch-diameter pipeline 
installed within existing rights-of-way in McKean County (designated 
Line KL);

[[Page 38902]]

     approximately 5.8 miles of new 6-inch-diameter pipeline 
installed via insertion into the existing 12-inch-diameter FM120 
pipeline in McKean and Elk Counties;
     abandonment in place of approximately 7.7 miles of the 
existing Line YM28 in McKean County;
     approximately 12.5 miles of Line FM120 removed from 
service in McKean, Elk, and Cameron Counties;
     removal and relocation of a meter set to the proposed Line 
KL; and
     new ancillary facilities including an interconnect in 
McKean County and miscellaneous valve and piping modifications.

Background

    On May 16, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line YM28 & Line 
FM120 Modernization 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 Alleghany Defense Project and 
William Belitskus. The primary issues raised by the commenters are 
improper segmentation of the Project from the Northern Access 2016 
Project, cumulative impacts, and impacts from increased shale gas 
development.

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., 
CP17-74), 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: August 9, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-17263 Filed 8-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P