[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8706-8709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04318]
[[Page 8706]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. PF17-10-000 and PF19-1-000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the
Planned FM100 Project and Leidy South Project, Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session: National
Fuel Gas Supply Company and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC
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 FM100 Project involving
construction, operation, and abandonment of facilities by National Fuel
Gas Supply Corporation (National Fuel) in Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton,
Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties, Pennsylvania; and the Leidy South
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco), in Clinton,
Columbia, Lycoming, Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Wyoming Counties,
Pennsylvania. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making
process to determine whether the FM100 Project and Leidy South Project
(collectively referred to as ``the projects'') are 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 projects. 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
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 p.m.
Eastern Time on April 4, 2019.
You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or
concerns about the projects. 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 these projects to the Commission before the
opening of their respective dockets (i.e., September 14, 2017, for the
FM100 Project and November 5, 2018, for the Leidy South Project), you
will need to file those comments in Docket Nos. PF17-10-000 for the
FM100 Project or PF19-1-000 for the Leidy South Project to ensure they
are considered as part of this proceeding.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for these projects. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of these planned
projects 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 planned facilities, or to abandon
existing 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 projects, 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.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know? is available for
viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf. 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.
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 projects docket numbers
(PF17-10-000 for the FM100 Project; PF19-1-000 for the Leidy South
Project) 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 one of the public scoping sessions its staff will conduct in
the projects' area, scheduled as follows:
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Date and time Location
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Monday, March 18, 2019, 5:00-7:30 p.m Dallas Middle School, 2020
Conyngham Avenue, Dallas, PA
18612, 570-674-7222.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 5:00-7:30 Tri-Valley High School, 155 East
p.m. Main Street, Heggins, PA 17938,
570-682-3125.
[[Page 8707]]
Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 5:00-7:30 Port Allegany High School, 20 Oak
p.m. Street, Port Allegany, PA 16743,
814-642-2544.
Thursday, March 21, 2019, 5:00-7:30 Bucktail Area High School, 1300
p.m. Bucktail Avenue, Renovo, PA
17764, 570-923-1166.
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The primary goal of these scoping sessions 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.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
eastern daylight time. You may arrive at any time after 5:00 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 the last page of this notice 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 3 minutes may be implemented for each commentor.
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 Transco and National Fuel will also be
present to answer project-specific questions.
Summary of the Planned Projects
National Fuel and Transco are planning to construct and operate
interdependent natural gas infrastructure projects. The FM100 Project
would modernize a portion of National Fuel's existing pipeline system
and create 330,000 Dth/day of incremental transportation capacity. This
additional transportation capacity is fully subscribed to Transco under
a proposed capacity lease which would provide gas supply from the
Marcellus and Utica Shale production areas of Pennsylvania to Transco's
Leidy South Project. The Leidy South Project would provide 582,400 Dth/
d of incremental firm transportation capacity to Transco's River Road
regulating station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The FM100 Project would consist of the following facilities, all in
Pennsylvania:
Installation of 29.5 miles of new 20-inch-diameter
pipeline (Line YM58) in McKean and Potter Counties;
installation of approximately 1.4 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline loop \2\ (YM224 Loop) in Potter County;
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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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installation of 0.4 mile of 12-inch-diameter pipeline
(Line KL Extension) in McKean County;
installation of the new Marvindale Compressor Station (up
to 15,165 horsepower [hp]) in McKean County;
installation of the new Tamarack Compressor Station (up to
22,220 hp) in Clinton County;
abandonment in place of approximately 50.0 miles of 12-
inch-diameter pipeline (Line FM100) and appurtenances in Clearfield,
Elk, and Potter Counties;
abandonment by removal of the existing Costello Compressor
Station in Potter County;
abandonment by removal of the existing Station WHP-MS-
4317X in Potter County;
installation of the Marvindale Interconnect in McKean
County;
installation of the Carpenter Hollow over-pressurization
protection Station in Potter County; and
installation of associated facilities such as mainline
valves and other appurtenant facilities.
The Leidy South Project would consist of the following facilities,
all in Pennsylvania:
Installation of approximately 3.6 miles of 42-inch-
diameter pipeline loop (Benton Loop) in Lycoming County;
installation of approximately 2.5 miles of 36-inch-
diameter pipeline loop (Hilltop Loop) in Clinton County;
replacement of approximately 6.1 miles of existing 23.375-
inch-diameter pipeline with 36-inch-diameter pipeline (Hensel
Replacement) in Clinton County;
installation of a new Compressor Station 607 (up to 46,930
hp) in Luzerne County;
installation of a new Compressor Station 620 (up to 31,871
hp) in Schuylkill County;
uprate of two electric motor-driven compressors (up to an
additional 12,000 hp total) at the existing Compressor Station 605 in
Wyoming County;
installation of one new gas turbine driven compressor unit
(up to 31,871 hp) and cooling unit, and the uprating and re-wheeling of
two existing electric motor driven compressors (up to an additional
2,000 hp total) at the existing Compressor Station 610 in Columbia
County; and
installation of associated facilities such as mainline
valves, communication facilities, and pig \3\ launchers and receivers.
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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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The general locations of the projects' facilities are shown in
appendix 2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned FM100 Project facilities would disturb
approximately 540.0 acres of land for the aboveground facilities,
construction of the pipelines, and the abandonment of Line FM100 and
aboveground facilities. Following construction, National Fuel would
maintain approximately 300.0 acres for permanent operation of the
project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and
revert to former uses. The majority of the planned pipeline routes
parallel existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way.
Construction of the planned Leidy South Project facilities would
disturb about 459.0 acres of land for construction of the aboveground
and pipeline facilities. Following construction, Transco would maintain
[[Page 8708]]
about 75.4 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities;
the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. The
majority of the planned 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 planned projects under these general
headings:
Geology and soils;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
threatened and endangered species;
cultural resources;
land use;
socioeconomics;
air quality and noise;
public safety; and
cumulative impacts.
Commission staff will also evaluate possible alternatives to the
planned projects or portions of the projects, and make recommendations
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Although no formal applications have been filed, Commission staff
has already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the
preparation of the EA.
The EA will present Commission staff's 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 has the opportunity to consider
and address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in
the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
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\4\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues related to these projects to formally cooperate in
the preparation of the EA.\5\ 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. Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has expressed their intention to
participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to
satisfy their NEPA responsibilities related to these projects.
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\5\ 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 using this notice to initiate
consultation with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office,
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the projects' potential
effects on historic properties.\6\ The EA for the planned projects will
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\6\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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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Currently Identified Environmental Issues
Commission staff has already identified several issues that deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and
the environmental information provided by Transco and National Fuel.
This preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and
our analysis.
Water resources and wetlands;
construction in areas of steep slopes;
forested land;
residences;
agricultural land;
air quality;
alternative new compressor station sites and
configurations; and
noise.
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, who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, or landowners who are
affected by abandonments, and anyone who submits comments on the
projects. 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 planned projects.
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).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once National Fuel and Transco file their applications with the
Commission, you may want to become an intervenor, which is an official
party to the Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right
to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard by the
courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An
intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request
to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully
described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor
status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a
formal application for the projects, after which the Commission will
issue a public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.
[[Page 8709]]
Additional Information
Additional information about the projects are 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. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on General Search and enter the docket number(s)
in the Docket Number field, excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
PF17-10 for the FM100 Project; PF19-1 for the Leidy South Project). Be
sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or
toll free at (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.
Dated: March 5, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-04318 Filed 3-8-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P