[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83403-83405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26243]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-536-000]


Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Public Scoping 
Session for the Proposed Worcester Resiliency Upgrade Project

    On October 11, 2023, the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC or Commission) issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments On Environmental Issues for the Worcester 
Resiliency Upgrade Project. With that notice, the Commission requested 
public comments on the scope of issues to address in the environmental 
document that the FERC staff will prepare to discuss the environmental 
impacts of the Worcester Resiliency Upgrade (Project). The Project 
involves construction and operation of facilities by Eastern Shore 
Natural Gas Company (Eastern Shore) in Worcester, Wicomico, and 
Somerset Counties, Maryland and Sussex County, Delaware (appendix 1). 
The Commission will use this environmental document in its decision-
making process to determine whether the Project is in the public 
convenience and necessity.
    The October 11, 2023 notice announced the opening of the scoping 
process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and 
interested agencies regarding the Project. This notice announces the 
scoping session dates, locations, and times (see Public Participation 
section of this notice). As part of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission considers concerns the public 
may have about proposals and the environmental impacts that could 
result from its action whenever it considers the issuance of a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of 
public input is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the 
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the environmental document 
on the important environmental issues.
    This notice was sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this Project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned 
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You 
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission 
approves the Project, the Natural Gas Act conveys the right of eminent 
domain to the company. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach 
an easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be 
determined by a judge in accordance with state law. The Commission does 
not subsequently grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of that 
eminent domain authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle 
eminent domain cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these 
matters.
    A fact sheet prepared by FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas 
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' addresses typically 
asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to 
participate in the Commission's proceedings. This fact

[[Page 83404]]

sheet along with other landowner topics of interest are available for 
viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under the links to Natural 
Gas Questions or Landowner Topics.

Public Participation

    There are four methods you can use to submit your comments to the 
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your 
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected].
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment is an easy method for 
submitting brief, text-only comments on a project.
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments 
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your 
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking 
on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment 
on a Filing''.
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the Commission. Be sure to reference the Project docket number (CP23-
536-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    (4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you 
to attend the public scoping session its staff will conduct in the 
project area, scheduled as follows:

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               Date and time                          Location
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Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 5:00 to 7:00  Bishopville Volunteer Fire
 p.m. EDT.                                   Department, 10709
                                             Bishopville Road,
                                             Bishopville, MD 21813,
                                             (410) 352-5778.
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    The primary goal of this scoping session is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be 
considered in the environmental document. Individual oral comments will 
be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is 
designed to receive the maximum number of oral comments in a convenient 
way during the timeframe allotted.
    You may arrive at any time after the start times listed above. 
There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the 
session opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out 
numbers in the order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until the 
end times listed above. However, if no additional numbers have been 
handed out and all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an 
opportunity to do so, staff may conclude the session up to an hour 
before the end times listed above. Please see appendix 2 for additional 
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary''. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. At 
this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's 
Public Reference Room due to the proclamation declaring a National 
Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), 
issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact 
FERC at [email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 
or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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    Your scoping comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with 
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public 
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on 
FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page of this notice for 
instructions on using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are 
interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a 
time limit of 5 minutes may be implemented for each commentor. Although 
there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be 
available throughout the scoping session to answer your questions about 
the environmental review process. Representatives from Eastern Shore 
will also be present to answer project-specific questions.
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided orally at a scoping session.
    Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription, which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances 
and submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. 
These instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive 
notification and provide a link to the document files which can reduce 
the amount of time you spend researching proceedings. 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].

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the Project and includes a mailing address with their 
comments. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to 
this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, 
and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by 
the planned Project.
    If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would 
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of 
the following steps:
    (1) Send an email to [email protected] stating your 
request. You must include the docket number CP23-536-000 in your 
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure 
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to 
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and 
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to 
accept comments.

OR


[[Page 83405]]


    (2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Eastern Shore has filed its application with the Commission and you 
may want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard by the courts if 
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully 
described at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to.asp. Please 
note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status 
at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal 
application for the Project, after which the Commission will issue a 
public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.

Additional Information

    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. https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search. 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 toll free at (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.
    Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events along with 
other related information.

    Dated: November 22, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-26243 Filed 11-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P