Notice2022-04130
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Virginia Reliability Project and Commonwealth Energy Connector Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Session
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 28, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11062-11065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04130]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF22-3-000; Docket No. PF22-4-000]
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Company, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on
Environmental Issues for the Planned Virginia Reliability Project and
Commonwealth Energy Connector Project, and Notice of Public Scoping
Session
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the Virginia Reliability Project and
Commonwealth Energy Connector Project involving construction and
operation of facilities by Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia)
and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco),
respectively. Columbia's project would be located in Greensville,
Prince George, Sussex, Surry, Southampton, and Isle of Wight Counties,
Virginia and in the cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake, Virginia.
Transco's project would be located in Mecklenburg, Brunswick, and
Greensville Counties, Virginia. Because of planned operational
connections between the Virginia Reliability Project and the
Commonwealth Energy Connector Project, the Commission will prepare a
single environmental document as part of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) review process. The Commission will use this
environmental document in its decision-making process to determine
whether the projects are 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 regarding the projects. As part of the NEPA review process,
the Commission takes into account concerns the public may have about
proposals and the environmental impacts that could result from its
action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred
to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the
analysis in the environmental document on the important environmental
issues. Additional information about the Commission's NEPA process is
described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental Document section
of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. To ensure
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your
comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or
before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 24, 2022. Comments may be
submitted in written or oral form. Further details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this
notice.
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 determine what
issues they need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission
staff will consider all written or oral comments during the preparation
of the environmental document.
If you submitted comments on either of these projects to the
Commission before the opening of the dockets on December 1, 2021, you
will need to file those comments in Docket Nos. PF22-3-000 (Virginia
Reliability Project) or PF22-4-000 (Commonwealth Energy Connector
Project) to ensure they are considered.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for these projects. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of these planned
projects and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a representative from
Columbia or Transco may contact you about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities.
The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement
agreement. You are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the project, the Natural Gas Act conveys the
right of eminent domain to the company. Therefore, if you and the
company do not reach an easement agreement, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings in court. In such instances,
compensation would be determined by a judge in accordance with state
law. The Commission does not subsequently grant, exercise, or oversee
the exercise of that eminent domain authority. The courts have
exclusive authority to handle eminent domain cases; the Commission has
no jurisdiction over these matters.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' addresses typically
asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings. This fact sheet along with
other landowner topics of interest are available for viewing on the
FERC website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) under the links to Natural Gas Questions or
Landowner Topics.
Public Participation
There are four methods you can use to submit your comments to the
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70361502133f1e1c191e15230500001f020430161502135e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d6b485f4e6243414443487e585d5d425f596d4b485f4e034a425b">[email protected]</span></a>.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment 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, which is located on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>)
under the link to FERC Online. 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.'' You
[[Page 11063]]
will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; a comment on
a particular project is considered a ``Comment on a Filing,'' or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (PF22-3-
000 for Virginia Reliability Project or PF22-4-000 for Commonwealth
Energy Connector Project) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S.
Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be
addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
(4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you
to attend the virtual public scoping session its staff will conduct by
telephone, scheduled as follows:
Date and Time
Tuesday, March 15, 2022, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Call in number: 800-
779-8625, Passcode: 3472916
Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff
will be available to answer questions you may have about the
environmental review process. The primary goal of this scoping session
is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns
that should be considered in the environmental document. Individual
oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter
present on the line. This format is designed to receive the maximum
amount of oral comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe
allotted, and is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The scoping session is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
eastern time. You may call at any time after 5:00 p.m. at which time
you will be placed on mute and hold. Calls will be answered in the
order they are received. Once answered, you will have the opportunity
to provide your comment directly to a court reporter with FERC staff or
representative present on the line. A time limit of three minutes will
be implemented for each commentor.
Transcripts of all comments received during the scoping session
will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page
of this notice for instructions on using eLibrary).
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided orally at a virtual scoping session.
Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription, which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances
and submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe.
These instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive
notification and provide a link to the document files which can reduce
the amount of time you spend researching proceedings. Go to <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a> to register for eSubscription.
Summary of the Planned Projects
Virginia Reliability Project
Columbia plans to replace and expand existing facilities associated
with its VM-107 and VM-108 pipelines in southeast Virginia. The
Virginia Reliability Project would increase the capability of
Columbia's existing pipeline facilities to provide incremental firm
transportation service of 100,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d), while
increasing the reliability of Columbia's system by replacing 1950s
vintage pipeline. According to Columbia, its project would meet the
increasing market demand of residential, commercial, and industrial
consumers in southeast Virginia.
The Virginia Reliability Project would consist of the following:
<bullet> Replacement of approximately 47.7 miles of existing, 1950s
vintage 12-inch-diameter VM-107 and VM-108 pipelines with 24-inch-
diameter pipeline mostly within Columbia's existing right-of-way, in
the Counties of Sussex, Surry, Southampton, and Isle of Wight, as well
as the cities of Suffolk and Chesapeake, Virginia;
<bullet> installation of one new 5,500 horsepower (HP) electric-
drive compressor unit at the existing Emporia Compressor Station in
Greensville County, Virginia;
<bullet> a facility upgrade involving additional gas cooling and an
increase of 2,700 HP at the existing Petersburg Compressor Station in
Prince George County, Virginia;
<bullet> expansion of the Emporia Point of Receipt in Greensville
County, Virginia; RS-7423 Regulator Station in Prince George County,
Virginia; and the MS-831010 Point of Delivery in the City of
Chesapeake, Virginia; and
<bullet> eight mainline valve replacements, five new launcher/
receiver installations, and other minor appurtenant facilities.
The general location of the project facilities is shown 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
<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a> using the link called ``eLibrary.'' For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. At
this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's
Public Reference Room due to the proclamation declaring a National
Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19),
issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact
FERC at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6f0f3e4f5f9d8dadfd8d3e5c3c6c6d9c4c2f6d0d3c4d598d1d9c0">[email protected]</a> or call toll free, (886) 208-3676
or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Commonwealth Energy Connector Project
Transco plans to expand its existing natural gas transmission
system to provide 105,000 Dth/d of incremental firm transportation
capacity from its Compressor Station 165 in Pittsylvania County,
Virginia to the existing Emporia delivery point in Greensville County,
Virginia on the existing South Virginia Lateral B-Line Pipeline.
The Commonwealth Energy Connector Project would consist of the
following:
<bullet> Construction of a 6.35-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter
pipeline loop \2\ (referred to as the Commonwealth Loop), including
valve and launcher/receiver facilities, in Brunswick and Greensville
Counties, Virginia;
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\2\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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<bullet> installation of a 30,500 HP electric motor-drive
compressor unit at the existing Compressor Station 168 in Mecklenburg
County, Virginia; and
<bullet> expansion of the existing Emporia Metering and Regulator
Station in Greensville County, Virginia.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.
Land Requirements for Construction
Virginia Reliability Project
As a preliminary estimate, construction of the planned facilities
for the Virginia Reliability Project would disturb about 814 acres of
land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following
construction, Columbia would maintain about 195 acres for permanent
operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be
restored. These acreages are subject to change pending further pipeline
route refinement. All of the planned pipeline route parallels
Columbia's existing VM-107 and VM-108 pipelines.
Commonwealth Energy Connector Project
Construction of the planned facilities for the Commonwealth Energy
Connector would disturb about 168 acres of land for the compressor
station modifications and the pipeline. An additional amount, as yet to
be quantified, would be disturbed for
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aboveground facilities. Following construction, Transco would maintain
about 2.8 acres of new pipeline right-of-way for permanent operation of
the project's facilities; the remaining acreage is either part of its
existing permanent right-of-way or would be restored. The acreage that
would be permanently affected by aboveground facilities outside of
Transco's existing facilities has yet to be quantified. All of the
planned pipeline route parallels Transco's existing South Virginia
Lateral A-Line.
NEPA Process and the Environmental Document
Any environmental document issued by Commission staff will discuss
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation
of the planned projects under the relevant general resource areas:
<bullet> Geology and soils;
<bullet> water resources and wetlands;
<bullet> vegetation and wildlife;
<bullet> threatened and endangered species;
<bullet> cultural resources;
<bullet> socioeconomics and environmental justice;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> air quality and noise;
<bullet> climate change; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff have already identified several issues that
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned
facilities and the environmental information provided by Columbia and
Transco for their respective projects. This preliminary list of issues
may change based on your comments and our analysis:
<bullet> Lands administered by the Great Dismal Swamp National
Wildlife Refuge;
<bullet> the Sunray Historic District in the city of Chesapeake,
Virginia; and
<bullet> residential, commercial, and industrial areas;
<bullet> agricultural lands;
<bullet> wetlands and waterbodies; and
<bullet> forested areas.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
planned projects or portions of the projects and make recommendations
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental
document.
Although no formal application has been filed for either project,
Commission staff have already initiated a NEPA review under the
Commission's pre-filing process. The purpose of the pre-filing process
is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to
identify and resolve issues before the Commission receives an
application. As part of the pre-filing review, Commission staff will
contact federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the
scoping process and the preparation of the environmental document.
If formal applications are filed, Commission staff will then
determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present
Commission staff's independent analysis of the environmental issues. If
Commission staff prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may
be issued for an allotted public comment period. The Commission would
consider timely comments on the EA before making its determination on
the proposed projects. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of
Intent to Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued once the
applications are filed, which will open an additional public comment
period. Staff will then prepare a draft EIS that will be issued for
public comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments
received during the comment period on the draft EIS, and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any EA or draft and
final EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record
through eLibrary \3\ and the Commission's natural gas environmental
documents web page (<a href="https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents">https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents</a>). If eSubscribed, you will receive
instant email notification when the environmental document is issued.
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\3\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues related to these projects to formally cooperate in
the preparation of the environmental document.\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 1501.8.
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Consultation 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, the Commission is using this notice to initiate
consultation with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and to
solicit its views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the projects' potential effects on
historic properties.\5\ The environmental document for these projects
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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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; and
other interested parties. This list also includes all affected
landowners (as defined in the Commission's regulations) who are
potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily
for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of
aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the projects
and includes a mailing address with their comments. Commission staff
will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to
ensure that Commission notices related to this environmental review are
sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities
interested in and/or potentially affected by the planned projects.
If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of
the following steps:
(1) Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a7e0c6d4f7d5c8cdc2c4d3e6c3c3d5c2d4d4e4cfc6c9c0c2e7c1c2d5c489c0c8d1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d295b3a182a0bdb8b7b1a693b6b6a0b7a1a191bab3bcb5b792b4b7a0b1fcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number PF22-03-000 for Virginia
Reliability Project or PF22-04-000 for Commonwealth Energy Connector
Project in your request. If you are requesting a change to your
address, please be sure to include your name and the correct address.
If you are requesting to delete your address from the mailing
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list, please include your name and address as it appeared on this
notice. This email address is unable to accept comments.
OR
(2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Columbia and Transco file their applications with the
Commission, you may want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an
official party to the Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision 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 pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more
fully described at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to.asp">https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to.asp</a>.
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor
status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives formal
applications for the projects, after which the Commission will issue a
public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.
Additional Information
Additional information about the projects is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number
in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6e0c3d4c5e9c8cacfc8c3f5d3d6d6c9d4d2e6c0c3d4c588c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bef8dbccddf1d0d2d7d0dbedcbceced1cccafed8dbccdd90d9d1c8">[email protected]</span></a> or toll free at (866) 208-3676,
or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides
access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events">https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events</a> along with
other related information.
Dated: February 22, 2022.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-04130 Filed 2-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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