[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04879]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP17-6-000]
Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P.; Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review of the Idle Line 1 Abandonment Project
On October 28, 2016, Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P. (Texas
Eastern) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-6-000 requesting a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon certain natural gas pipeline
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Idle Line 1
Abandonment Project (Project), and would involve abandonment of
approximately 165 miles of pipeline and appurtenant facilities located
in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania that have been previously
removed from service.
On November 9, 2016, 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 Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the
EA for the Project.
Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA April 21, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline July 20, 2017
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 facilities to be abandoned under Section 7 (b) include: (1)
Approximately 165 miles of existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 pipeline in
the states of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania; (2) approximately
0.5 mile of 8-inch-diameter Line 10-M pipeline in Marshall County, West
Virginia; (3) 0.07 mile of Line 10-L pipeline in Greene County,
Pennsylvania; (4) removal of two meter and regulation stations, in
Marshall County and Greene County; and (5) removal of aboveground
facilities associated with these pipeline segments and laterals
including launcher/receiver barrels, mainline valves, and other
appurtenant facilities. Most abandonment would be in place; however,
Texas Eastern proposes to abandon aboveground facilities associated
with the pipeline segments by removal, as indicated above. Pipe
segments would also be removed in certain locations; primarily under
waterbodies where the pipeline has become exposed.
Background
On December 28, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Idle Line 1
Abandonment 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; and other interested parties.
In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and
three landowners. The primary issues raised by the commentors are
impacts on waterbodies during pipeline removal; the potential effect on
Indiana bats, freshwater mussels, and other listed species; and
pipeline removal activities on State of Ohio parkland. The three
landowners requested further information about how the work would
affect their properties; however, no project-related abandonment
activities are being proposed for these properties. The U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers is a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA.
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 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. 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, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary
menu, enter the selected date range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the
last three digits (i.e., CP17-6), 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.
Dated: March 7, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-04879 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P