[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81077-81078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25707]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-544-000]


Northern Border Pipeline Company; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Bison Xpress Project

    On September 15, 2023, Northern Border Pipeline Company (Northern 
Border) filed an application in Docket No. CP23-544-000 requesting 
authorization and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity 
under sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations to construct and operate certain natural gas 
pipeline facilities located in McKenzie, Dunn, and Morton Counties, 
North Dakota. The proposed project is known as the Bison XPress Project 
(Project) and would create 300,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of 
incremental mainline capacity to Northern Border's interconnection with 
Bison Pipeline, LLC. Northern Border would abandon the capacity by 
lease to Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC.
    On October 2, 2023, 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 April 8, 2024
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ July 7, 2024
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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

    Northern Border's proposed Bison XPress Project consists of the 
replacement and expansion of compression facilities at Northern 
Border's existing compressor stations including Arnegard (No. 4) in 
McKenzie County, North Dakota; Manning (No. 5) in Dunn County, North 
Dakota; and Glen Ullin (No. 6) in Morton County, North Dakota. Upon 
completion, the Bison XPress Project would (a) replace and expand 
existing compressor facilities with new, more modern and efficient 
compression facilities; (b) create 300,000 Dth/d of incremental 
mainline natural gas capacity from receipt points between Northern 
Border's Culbertson Compressor Station and Glen Ullin Compressor 
Station to its interconnection with Bison Pipeline, LLC in Morton 
County, North Dakota (Kurtz Delivery Point); and (c) introduce standby 
horsepower on Northern Border's system. Northern Border plans to 
abandon 100 percent of the capacity by lease to Wyoming Interstate 
Company, LLC. Applications by Bison Pipeline, LLC (Docket No. CP23-543-
000) and Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC and Fort Union Gas Gathering, 
LLC (Docket No. CP23-545-000) are associated projects being evaluated 
under the applicable Commission regulations.

Background

    On October 30, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Bison Express 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. The Commission has currently received 23 comments from 
environmental organizations, two Dunn County representatives, two North 
Dakota State Senators, the North Dakota Petroleum Council, the North 
Dakota Chamber of Commerce, North Dakota Board of Commissioners for 
Mackenzie, Morton, and Dunn Counties, North Dakota Industrial 
Commission, the Western Dakota Energy Association, community

[[Page 81078]]

organizations, local business owners, a healthcare center, the Northern 
Border Shipper Group (collectively, Tenaska Marketing Ventures and Twin 
Eagle Resource Management, LLC), the Indicated Shippers (collectively, 
bp Energy Company, ConocoPhillips Company, and Shell Energy North 
America, L.P), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). 
The majority of comments (20) were in support of the Project. The 
primary issues filed by the Indicated Shippers, the Northern Border 
Shipper Group, and CAPP raised concerns with the treatment of the 
rates, costs, and proposed capacity leases associated with the Project 
and the related applications filed by Bison Pipeline, LLC (Docket No. 
CP23-543-000) and Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC and Fort Union Gas 
Gathering, LLC (Docket No. CP23-545-000). 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 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.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
    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., 
CP23-544), 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: November 15, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-25707 Filed 11-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P