Notice2023-28754
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Worcester Resiliency Upgrade Project
Primary source
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Published
December 29, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 249 (Friday, December 29, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 249 (Friday, December 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90177-90178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28754]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP23-536-000]
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Worcester Resiliency
Upgrade Project
On August 31, 2023, Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company (Eastern
Shore), filed an application in Docket No. CP23-536-000 requesting a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural
gas pipeline facilities in Delaware and Maryland. The proposed project
is known as the Worcester Resiliency Upgrade Project (Project), and
would store approximately 475,000 gallons of liquified natural gas,
equivalent to 39,627 Dekatherms, and provide 14,000 Dekatherms per day
of corresponding peak firm natural gas transportation service, as well
as enhance the resiliency of Eastern Shore's system.
On September 15, 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 26, 2024
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--July 25, 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
Specifically, the proposed Project includes construction and
operation of five new facilities and upgrades to four existing
facilities including:
<bullet> Bishopville Facility, Worcester County, Maryland:
construct a 10.56-acre liquified natural gas storage and vaporization
facility situated within a rural 135-acre parcel that includes five
100,000 gallon horizontal storage tanks;
<bullet> Bishopville Tie-in, Worcester County, Maryland: construct
0.43 mile of 8-inch-diameter pipeline to connect the Bishopville
Facility to Eastern Shore's existing Milford pipeline;
[[Page 90178]]
<bullet> Millsboro Controller Upgrade, Sussex County, Delaware:
upgrade an existing station to install two new control valve runs to
provide pressure and directional control;
<bullet> Millsboro Tie-in, Sussex County, Delaware: construct 0.35
mile of 10-inch-diameter pipeline extension to connect the upgraded
Millsboro Controller to the Eastern Shore's existing Milford pipeline;
<bullet> Berlin Meter and Regulating Station Upgrade, Worcester
County, Maryland: replace approximately 350 feet of existing
belowground 3-inch tie-in with a new 4-inch tie-in;
<bullet> Thompson Meter and Regulating Station Upgrade, Somerset
County, Maryland: replace existing station meters;
<bullet> Selbyville Meter and Regulating Station Upgrade, Sussex
County, Delaware: replace existing meter and regulator facilities;
<bullet> Delmar Receiver, Wicomico County, Maryland: install new
aboveground Rupture Mitigation Valve and In-line Inspection Receiver
and an access road located at the new connection between the Delmar
Loop and the Parkesburg Line at the southern end of the Delmar Loop
collocated east of U.S. Route 13; and
<bullet> Delmar Loop, Wicomico County, Maryland and Sussex County,
Delaware: construct 1.14 miles of 10-inch-diameter looping natural gas
pipeline collocated with an existing Eastern Shore pipeline and U.S.
Route 13.
Background
On October 11, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed
Worcester Resiliency Upgrade Project (Notice of Scoping), and on
November 22, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Public Scoping
Session. Both the Notice of Scoping and the Notice of Public Scoping
Session were 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. In response to the Notice of Scoping,
the Commission received comments from State Delegate Wayne Hartman,
Commissioner Chip Bertino, Senator Mary Beth Carozzi, and Director of
Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs, Robert Mitchell.
As stated in the Notice of Public Scoping Session, Commission staff
held a public meeting for the Project on December 13, 2023. Comments
were in support of the proposed Project, with no environmental concerns
raised by the commenters. All substantive comments will be addressed in
the EA.
There are currently no cooperating agencies in the preparation of
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#db948b8b9bbdbea9b8f5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="89c6d9d9c9efecfbeaa7eee6ff">[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.,
CP23-536), 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#da9c9f889995b4b6b3b4bf89afaaaab5a8ae9abcbfa8b9f4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbfdfee9f8f4d5d7d2d5dee8cecbcbd4c9cffbdddec9d895dcd4cd">[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.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-28754 Filed 12-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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