Notice2022-11244
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Southeast Energy Connector Project
Primary source
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Published
May 25, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31867-31869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11244]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF22-6-000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned
Southeast Energy Connector 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 Southeast Energy Connector Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by Transcontinental
Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco) in Coosa and Chilton Counties,
Alabama. 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. 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 June 20, 2022. Comments may be
submitted in written. Further details on how to submit written 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 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 February 22, 2022, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. PF22-6-000 to ensure they are considered.
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 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 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 staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c482a1b6a78baaa8adaaa197b1b4b4abb6b084a2a1b6a7eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e9af8c9b8aa6878580878cba9c9999869b9da98f8c9b8ac78e869f">[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 also 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 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 (PF22-6-
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, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received.
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.
[[Page 31868]]
Summary of the Planned Project
Transco plans to install a new compressor unit and modify
compressor units at Transco's existing Compressor Station 105 located
in Coosa County, Alabama and construct the 1.83 mile 42-inch-diameter
Chilton Loop pipeline in Coosa and Chilton Counties, Alabama. The
general location of the planned project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\ Specifically, the Southeast Energy Connector Project would
consist of the following facilities:
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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="377172657478595b5e595264424747584543775152455419505841">[email protected]</a> or call toll free, (886) 208-3676
or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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<bullet> Installation of a 11,110 horsepower Solar Taurus 70 gas-
fired turbine in a new building with associated appurtenant facilities
at Transco's existing Compressor Station 105 in Coosa County, Alabama;
<bullet> Modification of compressor units 1-3 at Compressor Station
105;
<bullet> Construction of 1.83 miles of new 42-inch-diameter `E'
mainline loop \2\ pipeline from Mileposts (MP) 909.63 to 911.46 in
Chilton and Coosa Counties, Alabama; and
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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> Remove the existing pigging \3\ traps at MPs 909.63 and
911.43 on Transco's existing `E' mainline and tie-in the planned 42-
inch-diameter Chilton Loop.
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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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The Southeast Energy Connector Project would enable Transco to
construct and operate the project facilities to provide an incremental
150,000 dekatherms per day of year-round firm transportation capacity
from existing supply points in Mississippi and Alabama to the existing
Gaston delivery meter station located adjacent to the existing
Compressor Station 105 in Coosa County, Alabama. The purpose of the
planned project is to provide natural gas solely to the Gaston Steam
Plant for the conversion of existing 895-megawatt (MW) Unit 5 to
natural gas. The Gaston Steam Plant is a 2,015-MW capacity power
station in Shelby County, near Wilsonville, Alabama, currently powering
its Unit 5 on coal.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction and modification of the planned facilities would
disturb about 129 acres of land, which includes temporary construction
workspace, permanent easement, and permanent access roads. Following
construction, Transco would maintain 13 acres for permanent operation
of the project's facilities and the remaining acreage would be restored
to pre-construction conditions.
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> water resources and wetlands;
<bullet> vegetation and wildlife;
<bullet> threatened and endangered species;
<bullet> cultural resources;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> socioeconomics;
<bullet> environmental justice;
<bullet> air quality and noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Community groups, schools, churches, and businesses within these
environmental justice communities, along with known environmental
justice organizations, have been included on the Commission's
environmental mailing list for the project, as further explained in the
Environmental Mailing List section of this notice.
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, 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 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
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 planned 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 \4\ 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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\4\ 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 this project to formally cooperate in
the preparation of the environmental document.\5\ 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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\5\ 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 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
[[Page 31869]]
potential effects on historic properties.\6\ The environmental document
for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\6\ 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 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 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#da9dbba98aa8b5b0bfb9ae9bbebea8bfa9a999b2bbb4bdbf9abcbfa8b9f4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e496f7d5e7c61646b6d7a4f6a6a7c6b7d7d4d666f60696b4e686b7c6d20696178">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number PF22-6-000 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 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 Transco 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
in the ``Docket Number'' field (i.e., PF22-6). Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC
Online Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cb8daeb9a884a5a7a2a5ae98bebbbba4b9bf8badaeb9a8e5aca4bd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a3c1f081935141613141f290f0a0a15080e3a1c1f0819541d150c">[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: May 19, 2022.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-11244 Filed 5-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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