[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3134-3135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01112]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-490-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of the Rivervale South to Market Project

    On August 31, 2017, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC 
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-490-000 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 entirely within New Jersey. The proposed 
project is known as the Rivervale South to Market Project (Project), 
and would enable Transco to provide an additional 190 million cubic 
feet (MMcf) per day of firm transportation service to meet supply needs 
for the 2019/2020 winter heating season.
    On September 15, 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--March 16, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 14, 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

    Transco proposes to construct, modify, upgrade, and operate various 
facilities in connection with its proposed Rivervale South to Market 
Project in Bergen, Hudson, and Union Counties, New Jersey. According to 
Transco, the Project would increase the firm delivery transportation 
capacity of its existing pipeline system by 190 MMcf per day of natural 
gas from the Rivervale interconnection to existing Compressor Station 
210 in Mercer County and the Central Manhattan meter and regulation 
station (M&R) station in Hudson County. The Compressor Station 210 
pooling point would receive 140 MMcf, and the Central Manhattan M&R 
would receive 50 MMcf.
    The Project would consist of the following facilities:
     Construct 0.61 mile of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop \1\ 
along Transco's Mainline A, from mileposts 1825.80 to 1826.41 (Bergen 
County);
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    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipe that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. 
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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     uprate 10.35 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter North 
New Jersey Extension from the Paramus M&R station (Bergen County) to 
the Orange and Rockland M&R station (Bergen County). The North New 
Jersey Extension would be uprated from a maximum allowable operating 
pressure of 650 pounds per square inch gauge (``psig'') to 812 psig;
     upgrade the existing valves, including overpressure 
protection valves, and yard piping, and related activities at the 
Paramus, Central Manhattan, Orange and Rockland, and Emerson M&R 
stations; and
     construct additional facilities, such as mainline valves, 
cathodic protection, internal inspection device (pig \2\) launchers and 
receivers, and communication equipment.
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    \2\ A pig is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and 
pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting 
internal inspections, or other purposes.
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Background

    On October 19, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Rivervale South to 
Market 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 Borough of Emerson, New Jersey; the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 
Food & Water Watch; and the New Jersey Sierra Club. Additionally, in 
response to the Notice of Application, the Commission received comments 
from the Hackensack Riverkeeper. The primary issues raised by the 
commentors are impacts on drinking water, wetlands, and wildlife; the 
necessity of the Project; pipeline safety; pollution prevention 
practices; the continued reliance on fossil fuels; long-term 
environmental impacts; improper segmentation; evaluation of cumulative, 
indirect, and secondary impacts; environmental impacts from increased 
shale gas development; evaluation of alternatives, including those 
outside FERC's jurisdiction; climate change; environmental justice; and 
the need for an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

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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 website (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., CP17-490), 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 website also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: January 17, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-01112 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P