[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 62 (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17868-17869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06672]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP20-49-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of a Proposed Amendment of the Northeast 
Supply Enhancement Project

    On January 31, 2020, Transcontinental Pipe Line Company, LLC 
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP20-49-000 requesting to 
amend the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity granted by 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) for the 
Northeast Supply Enhancement Project on May 3, 2019, in Docket No. 
CP17-101-000. Transco's proposed amendment involves utilizing an 
alternative road for permanent access to Compressor Station 206 in 
Somerset County, New Jersey, rather than constructing the previously 
approved access road to the site.
    On February 5, 2020, the Commission issued its Notice of 
Application for the proposed amendment. 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 document for the 
project. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff's planned 
schedule for the completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 
proposed amendment.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--May 15, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--August 13, 2020
    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of project 
progress.

Project Description

    Transco proposes to amend the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project 
to utilize an alternative permanent access road to Compressor Station 
206 (referred to as the Higgins Farm Access Road) that would involve 
the use and extension of an existing road rather than construction of 
the previously approved access road across property owned by Trap Rock 
Industries (referred to as the Trap Rock Access Road). Transco states 
the proposal would enable it to comply with requirements from the New 
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

[[Page 17869]]

and reduce wetland impacts. The existing road crosses the Higgins Farm 
Superfund Site for approximately 1,819 feet, terminating at an enclosed 
groundwater remediation system operated by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency. Transco would not modify the existing road, but 
would extend the road approximately 1,213 feet to the compressor 
station site. Approximately 331 feet of the extension would occur on 
the Higgins Farm Superfund Site and the remaining 882 feet would occur 
on land owned by Transco.

Background

    On February 19, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Document for a Proposed Amendment of the 
Northeast Supply Enhancement 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 one comment letter related to the 
Higgins Farm Access Road from the Eastern Environmental Law Center. 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., CP20-49), 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: March 25, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-06672 Filed 3-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P