[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 217 (Thursday, November 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55883-55886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24449]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-548-000]


Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Del-Mar Energy Pathway 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, Notice of Public 
Scoping Session, and Notice of Onsite Review

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Eastern Shore 
Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore) in Kent and Sussex Counties, 
Delaware, and Wicomico and Somerset Counties, Maryland. The Commission 
will use this EA in its decision-making process to determine whether 
the project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies about issues regarding the project. The National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the 
environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it 
considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and 
Necessity. NEPA also requires the Commission to discover concerns the 
public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as 
``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the 
analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this 
notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the 
issues to address in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely 
and properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the 
Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 pm Eastern 
Time on December 3, 2018.
    You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or 
concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on the potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid 
or lessen environmental impacts. Your input will help the Commission 
staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Commission 
staff will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the 
EA.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on September 14, 2018, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP18-548-000 to ensure they are considered 
as part of this proceeding.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You 
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission 
approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of 
eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an 
easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be 
determined by a judge in accordance with state law.
    Eastern Shore provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the 
FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do 
I Need

[[Page 55884]]

To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked 
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate 
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on 
the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf.

Public Participation

    The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which 
makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and submittals 
regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These instant 
email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification and 
provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of 
time you spend researching proceedings. To sign up go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these 
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment is an easy 
method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide 
comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your 
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking 
on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment 
on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(CP18-548-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    (4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you 
to attend the public scoping session its staff will conduct in the 
project area, scheduled as follows:

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             Date and time                           Location
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Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 4:00-7:30  Millsboro Town Office Building,
 p.m.                                     322 Wilson Highway, Millsboro,
                                          DE 19966, (302) 934-8171.
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    The primary goal of this scoping session is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be 
considered in the EA. Individual verbal comments will be taken on a 
one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is designed to 
receive the maximum amount of verbal comments, in a convenient way 
during the timeframe allotted.
    The scoping session is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
Eastern Time. You may arrive at any time after 4:00 p.m. There will not 
be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session opens. If 
you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers in the 
order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 7:30 p.m. However, 
if no additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who 
wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may 
conclude the session at 7:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional 
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20426, or call (202) 502- 8371. For instructions on connecting to 
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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    Your scoping comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with 
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public 
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on 
FERC's eLibrary system (see below for instructions on using eLibrary). 
If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal 
comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may be 
implemented for each commenter.
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a 
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the 
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review 
process. Representatives from Eastern Shore will also be present to 
answer project-specific questions.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Eastern Shore proposes to construct and operate new natural gas 
pipelines and meter and delivery stations in Kent and Sussex Counties, 
Delaware and Wicomico and Somerset Counties, Maryland. The Del-Mar 
Energy Project would provide about 11.8 million cubic feet per day of 
additional natural gas firm transportation and 2.5 million cubic feet 
per day of off-peak transportation service to three local distribution 
companies and one industrial shipper.
    The Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project would consist of the 
construction of the following facilities:
    Woodside Loop \2\: Kent County, Delaware
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    \2\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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     4.9 miles of new 16-inch-diameter pipeline looping the 
existing Hockessin Line, Canterbury Loop.
    East Sussex Extension: Sussex County, Delaware
     7.39 miles of new 8-inch-diameter mainline extension to 
the existing Milford Line;
     one aboveground pig launcher and one receiver,\3\ and 
aboveground mainline valve; and
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    \3\ 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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     one new delivery metering and regulation (M&R) station at 
the East Sussex Extension terminus.
    Millsboro Pressure Control Station Upgrade: Millsboro, Sussex 
County, Delaware
     0.35 mile of 10-inch-diameter pipeline extension between 
the existing Millsboro Pressure Control Station and the existing 
Milford Line; and
     a dual run pressure control addition to the existing 
Millsboro pressure control station with modifications to the existing 
piping, valves, and associated electronic transmitters.
    Somerset Extension: Wicomico and Somerset Counties, Maryland
     6.83 miles of new 10-inch-diameter pipeline extension to 
the existing Parkesburg Line;

[[Page 55885]]

     one aboveground pig launcher and one receiver, and 
aboveground mainline valve; and
     one new delivery M&R station at the Somerset Extension 
terminus. The general location of the project facilities is shown in 
appendix 2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 223.6 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Of this, 
Eastern Shore would maintain about 29 acres for permanent operation of 
the project's facilities following construction. The remaining acreage 
would be restored and revert to former uses. About 89.6 percent of the 
proposed pipeline routes parallel existing pipeline, utility, or road 
rights-of-way.

The EA Process

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     air quality and noise;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the 
proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations 
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    The EA will present Commission staffs' independent analysis of the 
issues. The EA will be available in electronic format in the public 
record through eLibrary \4\ and the Commission's website (https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). If eSubscribed, you will 
receive instant email notification when the EA is issued. The EA may be 
issued for an allotted public comment period. Commission staff will 
consider all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the 
Commission. To ensure Commission staff have the opportunity to address 
your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public 
Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with 
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate in the 
preparation of the EA.\4\ Agencies that would like to request 
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this 
notice.
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    \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, the Commission is are using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Offices 
(SHPO), and to solicit their views and those of other government 
agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's 
potential effects on historic properties.\5\ Commission staff will 
define the project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in 
consultation with the SHPOs as the project develops. On natural gas 
facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject 
to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, 
contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). 
The EA for this project will document findings on the impacts on 
historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under 
section 106.
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    \5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes: Federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project. Commission staff will update the environmental 
mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices 
related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the proposed project.
    If the Commission issues the EA for an allotted public comment 
period, a Notice of Availability of the EA will be sent to the 
environmental mailing list and will provide instructions to access the 
electronic document on the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov). If you need 
to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove 
your name from the mailing list, please return the attached ``Mailing 
List Update Form'' (appendix 3).

Onsite Environmental Review

    On November 14 and 15, 2018, the Office of Energy Projects staff 
will gather data related to the environmental analysis of the proposed 
Del-Mar Energy Pathway Project. Staff will review the proposed pipeline 
routes and associated facilities locations. This will assist staff in 
completing its comparative evaluation of environmental impacts of the 
proposed project. Viewing of this area is anticipated to be from public 
access points and Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company right-of-way.
    All interested parties planning to attend must provide their own 
transportation. Those attending should meet at the following location:

East Sussex Extension

     November 14, 2018, 1:30 p.m., Fire Marshal Office, 22705 
Park Ave, Georgetown, DE 19947.

Somerset Extension & Woodside Loop

     November 15, 2018, 9:30 a.m., Wicomico Public Library, 122 
S Division St., Salisbury, MD 21801.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number 
in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP18-548). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 
502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all 
formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and 
rulemakings.
    Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 
with other related information.


[[Page 55886]]


    Dated: November 2, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-24449 Filed 11-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P