Notice2023-24259
WBI Energy Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the South Spearfish 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
November 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 212 (Friday, November 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 75577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24259]
[[Page 75577]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP23-535-000]
WBI Energy Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the South Spearfish
Project
On August 28, 2023, WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. (WBI Energy)
filed an application in Docket No. CP23-535-000 requesting a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section
7(c) and Authorization pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act
to construct, operate, and abandon certain natural gas pipeline
facilities. The proposed project is known as the South Spearfish
Project (Project) and would allow for incremental firm transportation
capacity from WBI Energy's existing Line Section 15 in western South
Dakota to the community of Spearfish, South Dakota for Montana-Dakota
Utilities, Company.
On September 11, 2023, 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--February 26, 2024
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--May 26, 2024
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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.
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
WBI Energy proposes the following in Lawrence County, South Dakota:
<bullet> modify the Deadwood-Central City Lateral Takeoff Valve
Setting adjacent to the Deadwood Mainline Transfer Station on WBI
Energy's Line Section 15;
<bullet> increase the maximum allowable operating pressure of the
8-inch-diameter Deadwood-Central City Lateral from the Deadwood
Mainline Transfer Station to the proposed South Spearfish Town Border
Station;
<bullet> install two pig launcher/receivers,\3\ one at each end of
the uprated Deadwood-Central City Lateral;
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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. A pig launcher/
receiver are facilities where pigs are inserted/retrieved from the
pipeline.
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<bullet> construct the new South Spearfish Town Border Station
adjacent to the existing South Spearfish Lateral Takeoff Valve Setting.
The new station would contain the relocated South Spearfish Town Border
Station and the new Deadwood Lateral Transfer Station;
<bullet> relocate approximately 500 feet of the South Spearfish
Lateral adjacent to the South Spearfish Town Border Station and the
existing South Spearfish Lateral Takeoff Valve Setting; and
<bullet> abandon by sale the existing 5.5-mile-long 4-inch-diameter
South Spearfish Lateral and certain town border station equipment, at
the existing South Spearfish Town Border Station to Montana-Dakota
Utilities, Company upon the commissioning of the new South Spearfish
Town Border Station.
Background
On October 13, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed
South Spearfish 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.
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.
The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6f9e6e6f6d0d3c4d598d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eea1bebeae888b9c8dc0898198">[email protected]</span></a>.
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'' excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP23-535), 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#b9fffcebfaf6d7d5d0d7dceaccc9c9d6cbcdf9dfdccbda97ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="54121106171b3a383d3a31072124243b262014323126377a333b22">[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: October 27, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-24259 Filed 11-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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