[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47500-47501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22001]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-409-000]


DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Birdsboro Pipeline Project

    On May 1, 2017, DTE Midstream Appalachia, LLC (DTE) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP17-409-000 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 Birdsboro Pipeline 
Project (Project), and would provide approximately 79 million cubic 
feet per day of firm transportation service from an interconnect with 
the Texas Eastern Transmission Company pipeline system to the Birdsboro 
Power Facility in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.
    On May 9, 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--November 15, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 13, 2018

    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

    DTE is seeking to construct and operate approximately 13.2 miles of 
12-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline in Berks County, 
Pennsylvania. The Project would also involve construction of a new 
meter station and appurtenant facilities. The Project would deliver 
firm transportation service from an interconnect with the Texas Eastern 
Transmission Company pipeline system in Rockland Township to the 
Birdsboro Power Facility in the Borough of Birdsboro.

Background

    On January 18, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Birdsboro Pipeline 
Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice 
of Public Scoping Session (NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-
filing review of the Project in Docket No. PF17-1-000 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. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Stockbridge Munsee Tribal Historic Preservation 
Officer, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the 
Pennsylvania Game Commission, Berks County, and multiple non-
governmental organizations and members of the public. The primary 
issues raised by the commentors are cultural and historic resources, 
including the Oley Township Historic District; construction of the non-
jurisdictional Birdsboro Power Plant; geologic concerns, including 
karst terrain and blasting at an existing quarry; and impacts on 
streams, wetlands, and wildlife habitat.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency 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

[[Page 47501]]

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., CP17-409), 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: October 5, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-22001 Filed 10-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P