[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37192-37195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13649]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP16-361-000]
Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gulf Xpress Project,
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public
Scoping Meeting
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Gulf XPress Project (GXP)
involving construction and operation of facilities by Columbia Gulf
Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gulf) in Kentucky, Tennessee, and
Mississippi. The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making
process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience
and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. You can make a difference by providing us with
your specific comments or concerns about the project. Your comments
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts.
Your input will help the Commission staff
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determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EIS. To ensure that
your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your
comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC, on or
before July 5, 2016.
If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on April 29, 2016, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. CP16-361-000 to ensure they are considered as
part of this proceeding.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
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 proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses
a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent
domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.
Public Participation
For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided verbally. The Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258
or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these instructions so that
your comments are properly recorded.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This 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 on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. 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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project,
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number
(CP16-361-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426.
(4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the
Commission invites you to attend the public scoping meeting its staff
will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows: FERC Public
Scoping Meeting, Gulf Xpress Project, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 6:00
p.m., Cane Ridge High School, 12848 Old Hickory Boulevard, Antioch, TN
37013.
The doors will open at 5 p.m. at which time we will begin our sign
up of speakers for the meetings. For the hour prior to the start of the
meeting, Columbia Gulf representatives will be present with maps
depicting the project area and to answer questions.
The scoping meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a description of our
environmental review process by Commission staff, after which speakers
will be called. The meeting will end once all speakers have provided
their comments or at 10 p.m., whichever comes first. Please note that
depending on the number of people signed up to speak, there may be a
time limit of 3 minutes to present comments, and speakers should
structure their comments accordingly. If time limits are implemented,
they will be strictly enforced to ensure that as many individuals as
possible are given an opportunity to comment. The meeting will be
recorded by a court reporter to ensure comments are accurately
recorded. The transcript of the meeting will be entered into the formal
record of the Commission proceeding.
Please note this is not your only opportunity to provide public
input; refer to the review process flow chart in appendix 1.\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'' or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the ``Additional Information''
section of this notice.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
The GXP would increase the existing transportation capacity of
Columbia Gulf's system by about 860,000 dekatherms per day of natural
gas. According to Columbia Gulf, its project is necessary to provide
additional pipeline capacity to meet contracted-for firm transportation
demand. The proposed facilities would enable shippers the opportunity
to transport natural gas to Gulf Coast high-demand markets, markets in
Mississippi and Louisiana that are accessible through delivery points
along Columbia Gulf's system, and markets accessible through other
interstate pipeline connected to Columbia Gulf's system. Columbia Gulf
has entered into binding precedent agreements for 100 percent of the
GXP capacity.
For the GXP, Columbia Gulf proposes to construct, operate, and
maintain seven new natural gas-fired turbine-driven compressor
stations:
The Morehead Compressor Station, a 44,800-horsepower (hp)
compressor station in Rowan County, Kentucky;
the Paint Lick Compressor Station, a 41,000-hp compressor
station in Garrard County, Kentucky;
the Goodluck Compressor Station, a 31,8000-hp compressor
station in Metcalfe County, Kentucky;
the Cane Ridge Compressor Station, a 41,000-hp compressor
station in Davidson County, Tennessee;
the Clifton Junction Compressor Station, a 31,800-hp
compressor station in Wayne County, Tennessee;
the New Albany Compressor Station, a 31,800-hp compressor
station in Union County, Mississippi; and
the Holcomb Compressor Station, a 31,800-hp compressor
station in Grenada County, Mississippi.
The GXP would also involve:
Installation of an additional 15,900 hp of compression at
the anticipated Grayson Compressor Station \2\ in Carter County,
Kentucky; and
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\2\ The Grayson Compressor Station is proposed for construction
in Docket No. CP15-539-000 as part of Columbia Gulf's Rayne XPress
Certificated Capacity Increase Project. On April 6, 2016, FERC staff
issued the Draft EIS for the Columbia Gas Transmission Leach XPress
Pipeline Project and the Columbia Gulf Transmission Rayne XPress
Expansion Project, which includes the proposed Grayson Compressor
Station. As of this date, the Commission has not authorized
construction of these facilities.
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demolition and construction of a new flow control building
to upgrade
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flow control capabilities at the existing Leach C Meter Station in Boyd
County, Kentucky.
All new compressor stations would include a building to house the
compressors; filter/separator and gas cooling equipment; suction and
discharge piping; and appurtenant facilities. All stations would be
fenced and include a permanent access road.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
2.
Land Requirements for Construction
The GXP would temporarily disturb about 198 acres during
construction with approximately 82 acres converted to permanent use for
station operations. At the Grayson Compressor Station site, no
additional land would be disturbed during construction beyond that used
for the original facility. At the Leach C Meter Station, approximately
1.4 acres of land outside the existing station fence line would be
temporarily disturbed during construction. All permanent modifications
at the Leach C Meter Station would occur within the existing facility
resulting in no new permanent impacts from station operations.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\3\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This process is referred to as scoping. The main goal of the
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. We will
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.
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\3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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In the EIS, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
endangered and threatened species;
cultural resources;
socioeconomics;
land use;
air quality and noise;
public safety; and
cumulative impacts.
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have
the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning
on page 2.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues
related to this project to formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EIS.\4\ Agencies that would like to request
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this
notice.
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\4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on
historic properties.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) as the project
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor
stations, and access roads). Our EIS for this project will document our
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status
of consultations under section 106.
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\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Columbia Gulf. This
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our
analysis.
air quality and noise impacts;
wildlife impacts;
alternative compressor station locations; and
health and safety of nearby residences during the
operation of the proposed facilities.
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 who own homes within certain distances of the compressor
and meter station facilities and anyone who submits comments on the
project. We will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis
proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to this
environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and government
entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed
project.
Copies of the completed draft EIS will be sent to the environmental
mailing list for public review and comment. If you would prefer to
receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD version or would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the
attached Information Request (appendix 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
You may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official
party to the Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal
role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings,
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. Motions to intervene are more fully
described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.
Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less
Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's
Web site.
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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 Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP16-
361-000). 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 formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription, which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Dated: June 2, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-13649 Filed 6-8-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P