[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28821-28822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10105]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP22-26-000]


Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Des Moines A-Line 
Replacement Project

    On December 3, 2021, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed 
an application in Docket No. CP22-26-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(b) and 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act to abandon, remove, and construct certain natural 
gas pipeline facilities in Boone, Dallas and Polk Counties, Iowa. The 
proposed project is known as the Des Moines A-Line Replacement Project 
(Project). Northern proposes to abandon its existing 16-inch-diameter 
Des Moines A-Line, originally authorized in 1943, and replace its 
capacity through the installation of new 20-inch-diameter pipeline as 
an extension of its Des Moines C-Line. The C-Line extension would not 
increase the capacity of the system; but rather restore the 340 million 
cubic feet per day (MMcf/day) of natural gas lost with abandonment of 
the A-line. The Project would result in no loss of service to 
Northern's customers and would have no impact on Northern's ability to 
serve markets on its system.
    On December 17, 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 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: November 4, 2022.
    90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: \2\ February 2, 
2023.
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    \2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other 
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally 
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal 
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed 
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the 
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a 
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.
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    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 proposes to abandon about 29.6 miles of its existing 16-
inch-diameter Des Moines IAB65001 A-Line in Boone, Dallas and Polk 
Counties, Iowa. The abandonment would begin at its existing Ogden 
Compressor Station at A-Line milepost (MP) 0.0 in Boone County. It 
would terminate at an existing A-Line Third Launcher, at A-Line MP 
29.63, in Polk County. The A-Line would remain in-service downstream of 
the launcher; which would be renamed the Des Moines Pigging and 
Regulator Facility. Most of the existing A-Line would be abandoned-in-
place; however, Northern proposes to remove about 0.06 mile of the A-
Line. Northern also proposes to install a total of about 9.1 miles of 
new 20-inch-diameter pipeline as an extension of its existing C-Line in 
Boone, Dallas, and Polk Counties, Iowa.

Background

    On February 8, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Des 
Moines A-Line Replacement Project. The scoping period closed March 11, 
2022. The Notice of Scoping was sent to affected landowners; federal, 
state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental 
and public interest groups; potentially interested Indian tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to 
the Notice of Scoping, the Commission received a comment from the 
Teamsters National Pipeline Labor Management Cooperation Trust, stating 
that they support the building of the Project if union labor is 
utilized in construction. A landowner stated that the Project was 
rerouted to avoid their property, and referenced a past incident of 
pipeline failure on their property. A second landowner expressed 
concerns that the Project would negatively impact the impending sale of 
their property. All substantive environmental 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 formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the 
Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This

[[Page 28822]]

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 (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., 
CP22-26), 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: May 5, 2022.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-10105 Filed 5-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P