[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32254-32255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12774]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP21-57-000]


Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Amendment 
to the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Mountain 
Valley Pipeline Project

    On February 19, 2021, Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (Mountain 
Valley) filed an application in Docket No. CP21-057-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act amending Mountain Valley's certificate of 
public convenience and necessity for the Mountain Valley Pipeline 
Project (Amendment to the Certificate of Public Convenience and 
Necessity for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project or Amendment 
Project) to grant Mountain Valley the ability to change the crossing 
method for specific wetlands and waterbodies yet to be crossed by the 
project from the open-cut crossings to one of several trenchless 
methods. The Amendment Project would affect certain natural gas 
pipeline facilities in Wetzel, Lewis, Webster, Nicholas, Greenbrier, 
Summers, and Monroe Counties, West Virginia and Giles, Montgomery, 
Roanoke, Franklin, and Pittsylvania Counties, Virginia. Mountain Valley 
also proposes two minor route adjustments to avoid crossing wetlands 
and waterbodies.
    On March 1, 2021, 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 document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Amendment Project and the planned 
schedule for the completion of the environmental review.\1\
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    \1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--August 13, 2021
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--November 11, 2021

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, an additional notice will 
be

[[Page 32255]]

provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    On October 13, 2017, the FERC issued a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity for the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project 
under Docket CP16-010-000. The Mountain Valley Pipeline Project 
consists of approximately 303.5 miles of new natural gas pipeline and 
multiple aboveground facilities located in West Virginia and Virginia.
    The Amendment Project would change 120 crossings of 182 waterbodies 
and wetlands from open-cut crossings to trenchless crossings (this 
includes 117 conventional bore crossings, 1 Direct Pipe crossing, and 2 
guided conventional bore crossings). It also includes a minor route 
adjustment near milepost 230.8 to avoid the need to cross a waterbody; 
and a minor alignment shift and workspace adjustment near milepost 0.7 
to avoid the need to cross a wetland.

Background

    On March 16, 2021, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
and Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Amendment to the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for 
the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of 
Scoping 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 Notice of Scoping, 
the Commission received comments from the Environmental Protection 
Agency, the Monacan Indian Nation, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Roanoke 
County, Franklin County Board of Supervisors, the Lewis County 
Commission, multiple non-government agencies, and multiple individuals 
and landowners. The primary issues, among others, raised by the 
commenters are the need for the Amendment Project, requests for 
additional environmental reviews, and concerns with permits, the 
geology in the Project area, groundwater and drinking water, 
environmental compliance, environmental justice and outreach, 
greenhouse gas and climate change, safety and feasibility, and cultural 
resources. All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a cooperating agency in the 
preparation of the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the 
Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service 
provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    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. 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.

    Dated: June 11, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-12774 Filed 6-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P