[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31869-31870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11240]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP22-162-000, CP18-549-001]


Equitrans, L.P.; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment for the Swarts Complex Abandonment Project 
Amendment

    On April 12, 2022, Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans) filed an application 
in Docket Nos. CP22-162-000 and CP18-549-001 requesting a limited 
amendment to the existing abandonment authorization issued by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) on March 20, 
2019. The proposed project is known as the Swarts Complex Abandonment 
Project Amendment (Project) and would change Equitrans' abandonment 
method for five injection and withdrawal (I/W) wells in the Swarts 
Complex. Equitrans previously proposed abandonment-by-sale and 
currently proposes to plug-and-abandon the five wells to comply with 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) 
regulations.
    On April 15, 2022, the Commission 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--September 2, 2022.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--December 1, 2022.
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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.

    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

    The Commission authorization issued on March 20, 2019 in Docket No. 
CP18-549-000 authorized Equitrans to abandon eighteen I/W wells in the 
Swarts Complex by sale, abandon the associated well lines in place, and 
abandon any associated appurtenant facilities. Since the issuance of 
the Abandonment Authorization, Equitrans has abandoned four of the 
originally authorized eighteen I/W wells by sale to CONSOL Pennsylvania 
Coal Company LLC, CONSOL Mining Company LLC,

[[Page 31870]]

and CNX Gas Company LLC (collectively, CONSOL). The PADEP's setback 
regulation requires wells within 2,000 feet of coal mining activities 
to be plugged/abandoned or reconditioned. Equitrans, to comply with the 
PADEP's regulations, now proposes to perform the plugging and 
abandonment of five of the remaining fourteen wells itself rather than 
transferring those responsibilities to CONSOL. Specifically, Equitrans 
now proposes to plug and abandon I/W wells 603791, 603792, 603793, 
603795, and 603797, and abandon in place the pipelines associated with 
the five wells. Equitrans also proposes to disconnect and remove 
aboveground appurtenances along with a portion of the well lines that 
are within each well site workspace.

Background

    On April 19, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Swarts 
Complex Abandonment Project Amendment (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 has not received any comments to date. Any substantive 
comment filed in response to the Notice of Scoping 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 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., 
CP22-162 or CP18-549), 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 19, 2022.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-11240 Filed 5-24-22; 8:45 am]
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