[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8072-8073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03715]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP17-463-000]
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Okeechobee
Lateral Pipeline Project Florida Southeast Connection, LLC
On August 22, 2017, Florida Southeast Connection, LLC (FSC) filed
an application to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline
facilities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is
considering this application in Docket No. CP17-463-000 for a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). The proposed project is known as the
Okeechobee Lateral Pipeline Project (Project), and would connect FSC's
mainline system with the Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL)
Okeechobee Clean Energy Center (OCEC). The Project would be capable of
transporting up to 400 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to the
OCEC.
This Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review indicates the
anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of an
environmental assessment (EA) for this proposal. The issuance of a
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify
federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all
necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal
authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission
staff's EA.
Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--March 16, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 14, 2018
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
FSC requests authorization to construct and operate approximately
5.2 miles of 20-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline and
associated facilities including an inspection tool launcher and a
receiver and a meter station in Okeechobee County, Florida. As
described above, this lateral pipeline would connect FSC's mainline
system with FPL's OCEC. FSC anticipates construction would require four
to five months.
Background
On October 24, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Okeechobee Lateral
Pipeline 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 Treasure Coast Democratic Environmental
Caucus, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Sierra Club, and the Economic
Council of Okeechobee County. The primary issues raised by the
commentors concern air quality, cumulative impacts, potential future
projects and connected actions, cultural resources, purpose and need,
alternatives, and greenhouse gas and upstream emissions.
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
[[Page 8073]]
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., CP17-463), 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: February 16, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-03715 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P