Notice2023-25707
Northern Border Pipeline Company; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Bison Xpress Project
Primary source
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Published
November 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81077-81078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25707]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP23-544-000]
Northern Border Pipeline Company; Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Bison Xpress Project
On September 15, 2023, Northern Border Pipeline Company (Northern
Border) filed an application in Docket No. CP23-544-000 requesting
authorization and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
under sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the
Commission's regulations to construct and operate certain natural gas
pipeline facilities located in McKenzie, Dunn, and Morton Counties,
North Dakota. The proposed project is known as the Bison XPress Project
(Project) and would create 300,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of
incremental mainline capacity to Northern Border's interconnection with
Bison Pipeline, LLC. Northern Border would abandon the capacity by
lease to Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC.
On October 2, 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 April 8, 2024
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ July 7, 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
Northern Border's proposed Bison XPress Project consists of the
replacement and expansion of compression facilities at Northern
Border's existing compressor stations including Arnegard (No. 4) in
McKenzie County, North Dakota; Manning (No. 5) in Dunn County, North
Dakota; and Glen Ullin (No. 6) in Morton County, North Dakota. Upon
completion, the Bison XPress Project would (a) replace and expand
existing compressor facilities with new, more modern and efficient
compression facilities; (b) create 300,000 Dth/d of incremental
mainline natural gas capacity from receipt points between Northern
Border's Culbertson Compressor Station and Glen Ullin Compressor
Station to its interconnection with Bison Pipeline, LLC in Morton
County, North Dakota (Kurtz Delivery Point); and (c) introduce standby
horsepower on Northern Border's system. Northern Border plans to
abandon 100 percent of the capacity by lease to Wyoming Interstate
Company, LLC. Applications by Bison Pipeline, LLC (Docket No. CP23-543-
000) and Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC and Fort Union Gas Gathering,
LLC (Docket No. CP23-545-000) are associated projects being evaluated
under the applicable Commission regulations.
Background
On October 30, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed
Bison Express 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. The Commission has currently received 23 comments from
environmental organizations, two Dunn County representatives, two North
Dakota State Senators, the North Dakota Petroleum Council, the North
Dakota Chamber of Commerce, North Dakota Board of Commissioners for
Mackenzie, Morton, and Dunn Counties, North Dakota Industrial
Commission, the Western Dakota Energy Association, community
[[Page 81078]]
organizations, local business owners, a healthcare center, the Northern
Border Shipper Group (collectively, Tenaska Marketing Ventures and Twin
Eagle Resource Management, LLC), the Indicated Shippers (collectively,
bp Energy Company, ConocoPhillips Company, and Shell Energy North
America, L.P), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP).
The majority of comments (20) were in support of the Project. The
primary issues filed by the Indicated Shippers, the Northern Border
Shipper Group, and CAPP raised concerns with the treatment of the
rates, costs, and proposed capacity leases associated with the Project
and the related applications filed by Bison Pipeline, LLC (Docket No.
CP23-543-000) and Wyoming Interstate Company, LLC and Fort Union Gas
Gathering, LLC (Docket No. CP23-545-000). All substantive environmental
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#6d223d3d2d0b081f0e430a021b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a051a1a0a2c2f3829642d253c">[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.,
CP23-544), 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#377172657478595b5e595264424747584543775152455419505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8fefdeafbf7d6d4d1d6ddebcdc8c8d7caccf8deddcadb96dfd7ce">[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: November 15, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-25707 Filed 11-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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