Notice2023-26762
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Texas-Louisiana Expansion Project
Primary source
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Published
December 6, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84812-84814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26762]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP24-8-000]
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC; Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed
Texas-Louisiana Expansion 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 Texas-Louisiana Expansion Project
(Project) involving installation and operation of facilities by Natural
Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC (Natural) in Montgomery and
Liberty Counties, Texas. 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 January 2, 2024. Comments may be
submitted in written form. Further details on how to submit 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
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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 October 18, 2023, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. CP24-8-000 to ensure they are considered
as part of this proceeding.
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 proposed
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
Natural 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?'' which addresses typically asked questions, including
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, Landowner
Topics link.
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#2e684b5c4d61404247404b7d5b5e5e415c5a6e484b5c4d00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9bddfee9f8d4f5f7f2f5fec8eeebebf4e9efdbfdfee9f8b5fcf4ed">[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 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 (CP24-8-
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 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.
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#6a253a3a2a0c0f1809440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="216e717161474453420f464e57">[email protected]</span></a>.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Natural proposes the construction, installation, modification,
operation, and maintenance of facilities at two existing compressor
stations in Liberty and Montgomery Counties, Texas. Through
installation of the proposed facilities, Natural would add an
incremental 300,000 dekatherms/day (Dth/day) of firm gas capacity in
Segment 25 of its Louisiana Line 10. When combined with the
unsubscribed capacity Natural has reserved for the Project, this would
allow Natural to provide up to 467,000 Dth/day of firm transportation
service to the Project shippers. Natural states the Project would not
result in the termination or reduction in firm service to any of its
existing customers.
The Project would consist of the following facilities and
activities:
Modifications and Installations at Compressor Station 302 (CS 302) in
Montgomery County, Texas
<bullet> Uprate the horsepower (hp) of existing compressor controls
to increase the horsepower of existing compressor Units 7 and 8 by
1,600 hp each, for a total of 3,200 hp;
<bullet> Re-wheel existing compressor Units 7, 8 and 9; and
<bullet> Install one new electric motor driven (EMD) compressor
unit with a rating of 18,340 hp.
Modification at Compressor Station 343 (CS 343) in Liberty County,
Texas
<bullet> Re-wheel existing EMD compressor Units 9 and 10.
In addition, Natural has identified in its application certain
appurtenant facilities that it intends to construct/install under
section 2.55(a) of the Commission's regulations.
The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
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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. For
assistance, contact FERC at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9fffcebfaf6d7d5d0d7dceaccc9c9d6cbcdf9dfdccbda97ded6cf">[email protected]</a> or call toll
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Land Requirements for Construction
About 21.5 acres of land would be affected during construction at
CS 302 in Montgomery County, Texas. Land affected during operation of
new facilities installed at CS 302 would total 1.6 acres. All acreage
would be within the existing CS 302 fenceline. About 10.9 acres of land
would be affected during construction at CS 343 in Liberty County,
Texas. Operational use would be limited to less than 0.2 acre of
affected land. Of the 10.9 acres used at CS 343 during construction,
less than 9.1 acres would be within the existing fenceline and about
1.9 acres would be outside the fenceline on previously disturbed
property that Natural currently owns.
No offsite staging areas or yards are proposed as part of the
Project. Natural would use existing public and private roads for
temporary construction access to Project workspaces. Following Project
activities, Natural would restore all but the required 1.8 acre of
operational-use land to its former state. Natural proposes to begin
construction around July 1, 2025.
NEPA Process and the Environmental Document
Any environmental document 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;
[[Page 84814]]
<bullet> threatened and endangered species;
<bullet> cultural resources;
<bullet> land use;
<bullet> environmental justice;
<bullet> air quality and noise; and
<bullet> reliability and safety.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
proposed 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.
Following this scoping period, Commission staff will 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 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 decision regarding the proposed
Project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued, which will open up an
additional comment period. Staff would then prepare a draft EIS which
would 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 \2\ 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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\2\ 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 of this project to formally cooperate in the
preparation of the environmental document.\3\ 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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\3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Section 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 potential
effects on historic properties.\4\ The environmental document for this
project will document findings on the impacts on historic properties
and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\4\ 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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Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 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.
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#6423051734160b0e01071025000016011717270c050a030124020116074a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c3b1d0f2c0e1316191f083d18180e190f0f3f141d121b193c1a190e1f521b130a">[email protected]</span></a> stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP24-8-000 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. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d690b3a4b599b8babfb8b385a3a6a6b9a4a296b0b3a4b5f8b1b9a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b3d1e091834151712151e280e0b0b14090f3b1d1e0918551c140d">[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 would 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: November 30, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-26762 Filed 12-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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