Notice2022-14921
Equitrans, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ohio Valley Connector Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for Environmental Review
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Published
July 13, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41703-41706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14921]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP22-44-000]
Equitrans, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Proposed Ohio Valley Connector Expansion
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for
Environmental Review
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Ohio Valley Connector
Expansion Project (Project) involving construction and operation of
facilities by Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans) in Greene County,
Pennsylvania, Wetzel County, West Virginia, and Monroe County, Ohio.
The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to
determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and
necessity. The schedule for preparation of the EIS is discussed in the
Schedule for Environmental Review section of this notice.
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
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred
to as ``scoping.'' By notice issued on May 23, 2022, in Docket No.
CP22-44-000, the Commission opened a scoping period to solicit
comments. Commission staff intends to prepare an EIS that will address
the concerns raised during the scoping process and comments received in
response to this notice.
As mentioned above, the Commission opened a scoping period which
expired on June 22, 2022; however, Commission staff continued to accept
comments after the comment period closed. All substantive written and
oral comments provided will be addressed in the EIS. Therefore, if you
submitted comments on this Project to the Commission during the
previous scoping period, you do not need to file those comments again.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the EIS, including comments on potential
alternatives and impacts, and any relevant information, studies, or
analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the
human environment. 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 August 8,
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.
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 proposed 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 grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of eminent domain
authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle eminent domain
cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these matters.
Equitrans provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the
FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do
I Need To Know?''
[[Page 41704]]
which 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 Natural Gas
Questions or Landowner Topics link.
Public Participation
There are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the
Commission. 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#0c4a697e6f4362606562695f797c7c637e784c6a697e6f226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="20664552436f4e4c494e45735550504f525460464552430e474f56">[email protected]</span></a>. Please carefully follow these instructions
so that your comments are properly recorded.
(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 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 (CP22-
44-000) 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, MD 20852.
Additionally, 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.
Project Purpose and Need, Summary of Facilities, and Expected Impacts
According to Equitrans, its Project would expand Equitrans'
existing Ohio Valley Connector assets to deliver approximately 350,000
dekatherms per day of incremental firm natural gas transportation to
mid-continent and Gulf Coast markets along the Rockies Express and
Rover pipeline systems.
Equitrans proposes to acquire and operate the existing non-
jurisdictional Cygrymus Compressor Station, located in Greene County,
Pennsylvania, and install two new turbines. Equitrans would also
install one additional compressor unit each at the existing Corona
Compressor Station Wetzel County, West Virginia and at the existing
Plasma Compressor Station in Monroe County, Ohio. Equitrans would also
construct approximately 5.5 miles of pipeline and ancillary facilities
in different locations related to the compressor stations.
Specifically, the Project would consist of the following facilities in:
Greene County, Pennsylvania
<bullet> addition of two Taurus 70 turbines at the existing
Cygrymus Compressor Station;
<bullet> approximately 0.5 mile of 16-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline (H-327);
<bullet> approximately 0.5-mile of 12-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline (H-328);
<bullet> a deep anode groundbed and rectifier; and
<bullet> ancillary facilities, such as a valve yard, taps, and
internal inspection device (e.g., pig \1\) launchers and receivers.
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\1\ 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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Wetzel County, West Virginia
<bullet> addition of one Mars 100 compressor at the existing Corona
Compressor Station;
<bullet> approximately 3.7 miles of new 24-inch-diameter natural
gas pipeline (H-326);
<bullet> approximately 129 feet of new 8-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline (H-329);
<bullet> approximately 0.7 mile of new 16-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline (H-330);
<bullet> approximately 0.09 mile of new 16-inch-diameter natural
gas pipeline (H-330 Spur);
<bullet> approximately 160 feet of new 12-inch-diameter natural gas
pipeline (Logansport Spur); and
<bullet> ancillary facilities, such as mainline valves, valve
yards, measuring equipment, and internal inspection device (pig
launchers and receivers).
Monroe County, Ohio
<bullet> addition of one Titan 130 compressor at the existing
Plasma Compressor Station.
The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\2\
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\2\ 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="2f696a7d6c60414346414a7c5a5f5f405d5b6f494a5d4c01484059">[email protected]</a> or call toll free, (886) 208-3676
or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Based on the environmental information provided by Equitrans,
construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 117 acres
of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following
construction, Equitrans would maintain about 32 acres for operation of
the Project facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and
revert to former uses. The proposed H-326, H-330, and H-330 spur
pipelines would be collocated with existing pipelines for approximately
58.8 percent, 76.8 percent, and 88.9 percent of the proposed
alignments, respectively, and the H-327 and H-328 pipelines are
parallel and would be located within a shared pipeline construction
right-of-way.
Based on an initial review of Equitrans' proposal and public
comments received during scoping, Commission staff have identified
several expected impacts that deserve attention in the EIS. The Project
would impact 13 waterbodies and about 0.4 acre of wetland habitat.
Operation of the Project would result in emissions estimated at 6.77
million metric tonnes per year of carbon dioxide (CO<INF>2</INF>) from
the end use of the natural gas. Construction of the Project would also
have impacts on noise, traffic, and road conditions. In response to the
Notice of Scoping, the Commission received comments from the Teamsters
National Pipeline Labor Management Cooperation Trust (Teamsters);
Center for Coalfield Justice (Coalfield Justice); the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS). The Teamsters comments were supportive of the Project.
Primary issues raised by the Coalfield Justice include potential
Project impacts on environmental
[[Page 41705]]
justice communities; especially in Greene County, Pennsylvania; and
climate change and air quality concerns. The EPA stated that the
environmental document should discuss project need and alternatives;
potential impacts on water quality and wetlands; air quality, climate
change, and greenhouse gas emissions; community, social, and economic
impacts, including environmental justice communities; noise impacts;
and potential spread of noxious weeds. The USFWS comments included
potential Project impacts on federally listed species, including
Indiana and northern long-eared bats, clubshell and snuffbox mussels,
migratory birds, and bald and golden eagles.
The NEPA Process and the EIS
The EIS issued by the Commission will discuss impacts that could
occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed
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 and visual impacts;
<bullet> socioeconomics and environmental justice;
<bullet> air quality and climate change;
<bullet> noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also make recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas, and will review
alternatives as discussed further below. Your comments will help
Commission staff focus its analysis on the issues that may have a
significant effect on the human environment.
The EIS will present Commission staff's independent analysis of the
issues. Staff will prepare a draft EIS which 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 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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Alternatives Under Consideration
The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically
and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action.\4\ Alternatives currently under consideration include:
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\4\ 40 CFR 1508.1(z).
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<bullet> the no-action alternative, meaning the Project is not
implemented;
<bullet> one route alternative for the H-327 and H-328 Pipelines
and two route alternatives for the H-326 Pipeline; and
<bullet> electric motor-driven compression.
With this notice, the Commission requests specific comments
regarding any additional potential alternatives to the proposed action
or segments of the proposed action. Please focus your comments on
reasonable alternatives (including alternative facility sites and
pipeline routes) that meet the Project objectives, are technically and
economically feasible, and avoid or lessen environmental impact.
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 other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public
to solicit their views and concerns regarding the Project's potential
effects on historic properties.\5\ The Project EIS will document
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's 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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Schedule for Environmental Review
On February 11, 2022, the Commission issued its Notice of
Application for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted
other agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to
complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the
request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of
issuance of the Commission staff's final EIS for the Project. This
notice identifies the Commission staff's planned schedule for
completion of the final EIS for the Project, which is based on an
issuance of the draft EIS in September 2022.
Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--January 20, 2023
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \6\--April 20, 2023
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\6\ 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.
If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an
additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are
kept informed of the Project's progress.
Permits and Authorizations
The table below lists the anticipated permits and authorizations
for the Project required under federal law. This list may not be all-
inclusive and does not preclude any permit or authorization if it is
not listed here. Agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special
expertise may formally cooperate in the preparation of the Commission's
EIS and may adopt the EIS to satisfy their NEPA responsibilities
related to this Project. 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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Agency Permit
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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission... Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Pennsylvania (PA) State
Pittsburgh District. Programmatic General Permit--
6.
USACE Huntington West Virginia (WV) Nationwide Permit 12/Individual
District. Permit.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Endangered Species Act (ESA)
PA Field Office. Consultation; Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act
Coordination; Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (MBTA)
Coordination; Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)
Consultation.
USFWS--WV Field Office................. ESA Consultation, and MBTA and
BGEPA Coordination.
[[Page 41706]]
USFWS--Ohio (OH) Field Office.......... ESA Consultation, and MBTA and
BGEPA Coordination.
PA Department of Environmental Section 401 Water Quality
Protection--Regional Permitting Certificate.
Coordination Office.
PA State Historic Preservation Office National Historic Preservation
(SHPO). Act (NHPA), Section 106
Consultation.
WV Department of Environmental Section 401 Water Quality
Protection Division of Water and Waste Certificate.
Management.
WV SHPO................................ NHPA, Section 106 Consultation.
OH Environmental Protection Agency..... Clean Water Act, Section 401.
OH SHPO................................ NHPA, Section 106 Consultation.
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Environmental Mailing List
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for the Project which includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; 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 proposed Project. State and local government representatives should
notify their constituents of this proposed Project and encourage them
to comment on their areas of concern.
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#7f381e0c2f0d10151a1c0b3e1b1b0d1a0c0c3c171e11181a3f191a0d1c51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2f5d3c1e2c0ddd8d7d1c6f3d6d6c0d7c1c1f1dad3dcd5d7f2d4d7c0d19cd5ddc4">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP22-44-000 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).
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 at <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, excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP22-44). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d395b6a1b09cbdbfbabdb680a6a3a3bca1a793b5b6a1b0fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e8ae8d9a8ba7868481868dbb9d9898879a9ca88e8d9a8bc68f879e">[email protected]</span></a> or (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: July 7, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-14921 Filed 7-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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