Notice2022-07807
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Ogden to Ventura A-Line Abandonment and Capacity Replacement Project
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
April 12, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21647-21648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07807]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP22-42-000]
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Ogden to Ventura A-
Line Abandonment and Capacity Replacement Project
On January 21, 2022, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed
an application in Docket No. CP22-42-000 requesting a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Sections 7(b) and 7(c) of
the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, and abandon certain natural
gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the Ogden To
Ventura A-Line Abandonment and Capacity Replacement Project (Project).
Northern proposes to abandon in-place two segments of its A-line
system, totaling 82.7 miles, in Boone, Webster, Wright, and Hancock
Counties, Iowa and replace the abandoned capacity by extending the D-
line in Wright County, Iowa. Northern states the Project would not
result in a loss of service to its customers and would have no impact
on Northern's ability to serve markets on its system.
On February 4, 2022, 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 document for the Project.
This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\
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\1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020)
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Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA July 15, 2022.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ October 13,
2022.
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\2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.
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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
Northern proposes to abandon in-place 82.7 miles of 20-inch-
diameter pipeline and appurtenances on its IAM60601 A-line system
(referred to as the A-Line) from Ogden to Ventura, Iowa. Ground
disturbances would be required at three locations to expose and to cut
and cap the pipeline prior to abandonment. Additionally, Northern
proposes to install temporary compression at three mainline valve
locations to allow for the evacuation of
[[Page 21648]]
gas in the A-line to other existing mainlines on Northern's system.
Northern also proposes to construct and operate a 6.04-mile-long
extension of its 30-inch-diameter Ogden to Ventura IAM60604 D-line
(referred to as the D-Line) and appurtenances to replace the capacity
associated with the abandoned A-line. According to Northern, its
Project would enhance the safety, reliability, security, and
operational efficiency of its pipeline system.
The Project would consist of the following facilities:
<bullet> Disconnecting the 20-inch-diameter A-Line near the Ogden
Compressor Station in Boone County, Iowa;
<bullet> disconnecting the 20-inch-diameter A-Line at the Eagle
Grove branch line take-off in Wright County, Iowa;
<bullet> installing temporary compression at three discrete
locations (one 300 horsepower unit within Boone, Webster, and Hancock
Counties) to evacuate gas from the A-Line to the IAM60602 B-line;
<bullet> disconnecting the 20-inch-diameter A-Line at the Ventura
Compressor Station in Hancock County, Iowa; and
<bullet> installing a pipeline extension of the D-Line consisting
of 6.04 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline and an associated
aboveground pig receiver \3\ in Wright County, Iowa.
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\3\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline,
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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Background
On March 4, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Ogden to
Ventura A-Line Abandonment and Capacity Replacement Project (Notice of
Scoping). The Notice of Scoping 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 Notice of Scoping, the Commission received comments from six
landowners. The primary issues raised by the commenters are impacts on
agricultural land; final disposition of the pipeline; and an objection
to the Project pending the applicant provide additional information to
identify affected properties. 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 formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the
Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service
provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets,
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a> to register for eSubscription.
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, select
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date
range and ``Docket Number'' (i.e., CP22-42), 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
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#efa9aabdaca0818386818abc9a9f9f809d9baf898a9d8cc1888099"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="13555641505c7d7f7a7d76406663637c616753757661703d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>. 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: April 6, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-07807 Filed 4-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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