[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 40507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17542]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-332-000]


El Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the South Mainline Expansion Project

    On April 26, 2018, El Paso Natural Gas Company L.L.C. (El Paso) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP18-332-000 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 South 
Mainline Expansion Project (Project), and would increase the design 
capacity on El Paso's South Mainline system by 321,000 dekatherms of 
natural gas per day to Arizona and California delivery points.
    On May 9, 2018, 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 14, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 12, 2019

    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

    EPNG has requested authorization to construct two new natural gas 
compressor stations on its existing South Mainline pipeline system in 
Luna County, New Mexico and Cochise County, Arizona; as well as a 17-
mile-long, 30-inch-diameter loop line in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties, 
Texas.

Background

    On June 7, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed South Mainline 
Expansion 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 El Paso Water Company, White Mountain Apache 
Tribe, and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tribal Council. The primary issues 
raised by the commenters are the avoidance of impacts on public water 
system facilities and the need for consultation should any human 
remains or artifacts be unearthed during Project construction. All 
substantive comments will be addressed in 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 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., 
CP18-332), 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: August 9, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-17542 Filed 8-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P