Notice2022-04964
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC ; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Cumberland Project
Primary source
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Published
March 9, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13286-13288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04964]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF22-2-000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC ; Notice of Scoping Period
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Cumberland
Project
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the Cumberland Project involving
construction and operation of facilities by Tennessee Gas Pipeline
Company, LLC (TGP) in Dickson, Houston, and Steward counties,
Tennessee. The Commission will use this environmental document in its
decision-making process to determine whether the project is 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 project. As part of the National Environmental
Policy Act (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. The
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 April 4, 2022. Comments may be
submitted in written 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 comments during the preparation of the
environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before
the opening of this docket on November 5, 2021, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. PF22-2-000 to ensure they are considered
as part of this proceeding.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative 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 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. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an
agreement between you and the company, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings in court where compensation would be
determined 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?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>). This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent
domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.
Public Participation
There are three 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 expert staff available to assist you at
(866) 208-3676 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a7c5f485975545653545f694f4a4a55484e7a5c5f4859145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="084e6d7a6b47666461666d5b7d7878677a7c486e6d7a6b266f677e">[email protected]</span></a>.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>) under the link to
FERC Online (left side of screen). 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 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
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 (PF22-2-
000) 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,
[[Page 13287]]
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, MD 20858.
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 Project
TGP plans to construct and operate approximately 32 miles of new
30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline (Cumberland Pipeline) from its
existing Lines 100-3 and 100-4 to the Tennessee Valley Authority's
(TVA) Cumberland Fossil Plant. TVA is evaluating options to replace
capacity following the proposed retirement of its existing coal-fired
Cumberland Fossil Plant. The Cumberland Pipeline would be in Dickson,
Houston, and Steward counties, Tennessee; and it would provide about
245,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas per day to TVA.
The Cumberland Project would consist of the following facilities:
<bullet> Approximately 32 miles of new 30-inch-diameter natural gas
lateral pipeline, as described above.
<bullet> New Pressure Regulation Station comprised of bi-
directional back pressure regulation facilities (including a new
Mainline valve [MLV] on each of TGP's Lines 100-3 and 100-4 at the
origin of the newly planned Cumberland Pipeline in Dickson County,
Tennessee.
<bullet> New Cumberland Meter Station at the terminus of the
planned Cumberland Pipeline within TVA's newly proposed power plant in
Steward County, Tennessee.
<bullet> New in-line inspection traps at each end of the planned
Cumberland Pipeline.
<bullet> New MLV located at an intermediate location along the
planned Cumberland Pipeline.
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'' or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington,
DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 494
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, TGP would maintain about 192 acres for
permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage
would be restored and revert to former uses. About 85 percent of the
planned pipeline route parallels an existing TVA overhead electric
transmission line right-of-way.
The 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 project under the relevant general resource areas:
<bullet> Geology and soils;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
<bullet> cultural resources;
<bullet> vegetation and wildlife;
<bullet> air quality and noise;
<bullet> endangered and threatened species;
<bullet> socioeconomics;
<bullet> environmental justice, and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
planned project or portions of the project 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, we have already
initiated our 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 FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review,
will contact federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in
the scoping process and the preparation of the environmental document.
If a formal application is 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
our 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
project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued once an application is
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
\2\ 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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\2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues
related to this project to formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the environmental document.\3\ 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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\3\ 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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Consultations 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 applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s),
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential
effects on historic properties.\4\ The environmental document for this
project will document our findings on the impacts on historic
properties and
[[Page 13288]]
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\4\ 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; local
community groups, schools, churches, and businesses; other interested
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. 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 project (and includes a mailing address with their comment).
Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list as the
analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related to
this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
planned project.
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#a2e5c3d1f2d0cdc8c7c1d6e3c6c6d0c7d1d1e1cac3ccc5c7e2c4c7d0c18cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98dff9ebc8eaf7f2fdfbecd9fcfceafdebebdbf0f9f6fffdd8fefdeafbb6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number PF22-2-000 in your request.
If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure to
include your name and updated address. If you are requesting to delete
your address from the mailing 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 TGP files its application 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 a formal
application for the project, after which the Commission will issue a
public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project 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,
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF22-
2). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fabc9f8899b5949693949fa98f8a8a95888eba9c9f8899d49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95d3f0e7f6dafbf9fcfbf0c6e0e5e5fae7e1d5f3f0e7f6bbf2fae3">[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 formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
Public meetings 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.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-04964 Filed 3-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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