[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 132 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44855-44856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16235]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP15-88-000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review of the Abandonment and Capacity Restoration
Project
On February 13, 2015, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.
(Tennessee) filed an application in Docket No. CP15-88-000 pursuant to
sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act, requesting a certificate
of public convenience and necessity to construct, operate, and maintain
certain natural gas pipeline facilities, and authorization to abandon
certain facilities, collectively known as the Abandonment and Capacity
Restoration Project (Project). The Project purpose is to disconnect and
abandon segments of the Tennessee pipeline system, which would be
removed from interstate natural gas service. Tennessee further proposes
as part of the Project to construct and operate new natural gas
infrastructure to maintain the service and capacity of the remaining
existing natural gas system at its current level.
On March 2, 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project.
The notice alerted agencies responsible for issuing federal
authorizations of the requirement to complete necessary reviews and
reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization within
90 days of the date of issuance of the Environmental Assessment (EA)
prepared by Commission staff. This Notice of Schedule identifies the
Commission staff's planned schedule for the completion of the EA for
the Project.
Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--September 2, 2016
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--December 1, 2016
If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be
provided so the relevant agencies are kept informed of the Project's
progress.
Project Description
Tennessee proposes to abandon in place and remove from service
approximately 964 miles of Tennessee's existing pipelines that run from
Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, through Tennessee and Kentucky, to
Columbiana County, Ohio. Tennessee currently operates six parallel
pipelines that transport natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico region to
the Northeast markets. The proposed Project would occur on Tennessee's
existing 100 and 200 Lines. In order to replace capacity that would be
lost due to the abandonment, Tennessee would modify and construct
certain facilities along the existing pipelines not proposed for
abandonment including four new mid-point compressor stations in Ohio, a
new 7.7-mile-long pipeline loop \1\ in Kentucky, and modifications to
existing compressor stations in Kentucky. The Project would also
require the removal of certain crossovers, taps, valves and
miscellaneous pipe, and the relocation and/or installation of new taps
to complete the physical separation of the abandoned line from
Tennessee's retained pipelines.
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\1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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Background
On April 17, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Abandonment and
Capacity Restoration Project and Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues (NOI). The NOI was sent to affected landowners; federal, state,
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other
[[Page 44856]]
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to
Tennessee's application and the NOI, the Commission received comments
from affected landowners, interested individuals and organizations,
elected officials, and federal, state, and local agencies.
The primary issues raised by the commentors included concerns about
increasing pressure in older pipelines, exposed pipelines, and
corrosion; concerns about repurposing existing pipelines for transport
of natural gas liquids; air quality and noise impacts; karst topography
and cumulative impacts.
Additional Information
In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets,
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can
reduce the amount of time spent researching proceedings by
automatically providing notification of these filings, document
summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
The FERC's eLibrary system can also be used to search formal
issuances and submittals from the public docket. To use, select the
``eLibrary'' link, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu
located at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, enter the selected
date range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP15-88), 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
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.
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).
Dated: June 30, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16235 Filed 7-8-16; 8:45 am]
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