[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 38028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16623]



[[Page 38028]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP19-479-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of The Bushton to Clifton A-Line Abandonment 
Project

    On June 7, 2019, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP19-479 requesting a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(b) and 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act to abandon, construct, and operate certain natural gas 
pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the Bushton to 
Clifton A-line Abandonment Project (Project). The Project would consist 
of abandoning in-place segments of Northern's A-line and J-line 
facilities and constructing modifications at the existing Tescott 
Compressor Station. Due to the age of the pipeline, Northern has been 
operating segments of the A-line and J-line at reduced pressures to 
minimize safety risks, and the proposed abandonment will eliminate 
these safety concerns. The Project is located in Clay, Cloud, 
Ellsworth, Lincoln, Ottawa, and Rice Counties, Kansas.
    On June 16, 2019, 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 8, 2019
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 6, 2020

    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

    Northern is proposing to abandon in-place the A-line facilities 
consisting of approximately 92.76 miles of 26-inch-diameter pipeline on 
Northern's M640A and M630A and 15.74 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
on its M640J pipeline systems and other appurtenant facilities. The 
Project would consist of the following pipelines and facilities:
     The M640A and M630A-lines: Abandonment of the M640 A-line 
in Kansas consists of approximately 45.64 miles of 26-inch-diameter 
pipeline beginning at Northern's Bushton Compressor Station located in 
Ellsworth County, Kansas, and ending near the Tescott Compressor 
Station in Ottawa County, Kansas. Abandonment of the M630 A-line in 
Kansas consists of approximately 47.12 miles of 26-inch-diameter 
pipeline beginning at the Tescott Compressor Station and ending at 
Northern's Clifton Compressor Station located in Clay County, Kansas.
     The M640 J-line: Abandonment of the M640 J-line in Kansas 
consists of approximately 15.74 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
beginning at Block Valve JBJ04 located in Ellsworth County, Kansas, and 
ending near Block Valve JXA07 located in Ottawa County, Kansas.
     Tescott Compressor Station: Northern proposes to construct 
and operate an additional natural gas-driven ISO rated 11,152 
horsepower Solar Mars turbine unit (Unit No. 6) at the existing Tescott 
Compressor Station. The unit will tie into station piping that is 
connected to Northern's existing mainlines. Approximately 85 feet of 
24-inch-diameter station piping, approximately 40 feet of 36-inch-
diameter station piping, and approximately 80 feet of 8-inch-diameter 
station piping will be removed to accommodate tie-ins.
    After abandonment, Northern will continue to operate the other 
pipelines in its right-of-way and maintain its pipeline easements with 
the exception of a segment of J-line that will be abandoned in-place.

Background

    On July 16, 2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Bushton to Clifton 
A-Line Abandonment 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. To date, no comments have been received in response to the 
NOI. 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., CP19-479), 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: July 30, 2019.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-16623 Filed 8-2-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P