[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 40507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17542]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP18-332-000]
El Paso Natural Gas Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review of the South Mainline Expansion Project
On April 26, 2018, El Paso Natural Gas Company L.L.C. (El Paso)
filed an application in Docket No. CP18-332-000 requesting a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural
gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the South
Mainline Expansion Project (Project), and would increase the design
capacity on El Paso's South Mainline system by 321,000 dekatherms of
natural gas per day to Arizona and California delivery points.
On May 9, 2018, 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--November 14, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 12, 2019
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
EPNG has requested authorization to construct two new natural gas
compressor stations on its existing South Mainline pipeline system in
Luna County, New Mexico and Cochise County, Arizona; as well as a 17-
mile-long, 30-inch-diameter loop line in El Paso and Hudspeth Counties,
Texas.
Background
On June 7, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed South Mainline
Expansion 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 interested parties; and
local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, the Commission
received comments from the El Paso Water Company, White Mountain Apache
Tribe, and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tribal Council. The primary issues
raised by the commenters are the avoidance of impacts on public water
system facilities and the need for consultation should any human
remains or artifacts be unearthed during Project construction. All
substantive 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 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 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.,
CP18-332), 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: August 9, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-17542 Filed 8-14-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P