Notice2025-04480
Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage, Inc.; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Capital Area Project
Primary source
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Published
March 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 12721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04480]
[[Page 12721]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP25-29-000]
Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage, Inc.; Notice of Schedule
for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Capital Area
Project
On December 11, 2024, Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage, Inc.
(EGTS), filed an application in Docket No. CP25-29-000 requesting an
authorization pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and the
regulations under part 157 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) to construct, operate and maintain certain interstate
natural gas pipeline facilities located in Clinton, Centre and Franklin
Counties, Pennsylvania; and Loudoun County, Virginia. The proposed
project is known as the Capital Area Project (Project) and would enable
EGTS to deliver an additional 67,500 dekatherms per day of natural gas
from an existing upstream pipeline interconnect in Clinton County,
Pennsylvania, for delivery to local natural gas utilities in Frederick
County, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia.
On December 23, 2024, the Commission 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\ The EA will be
issued for a 30-day comment period.
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\1\ For tracking purposes under the National Environmental
Policy Act, the unique identification number for documents relating
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1741616931.
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Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--August 8, 2025
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--November 6, 2025
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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
The Project would increase natural gas capacity on EGTS' existing
PL-1 pipeline system through the addition of compression and facility
modifications at its existing Finnefrock, Centre, and Chambersburg
Compressor Stations in Pennsylvania and Leesburg Compressor Station in
Virginia. Specifically, the Project would add one 6,130 horsepower (hp)
gas-fired turbine compressor unit and ancillary facilities at Centre
Compressor Station in Centre County, Pennsylvania; add one 11,110 hp
gas-fired turbine compressor unit and ancillary facilities at
Chambersburg Compressor Station in Franklin County, Pennsylvania; add
one 5,000 hp electric-driven compressor unit and ancillary facilities
at Leesburg Compressor Station in Loudoun County, Virginia; and replace
gas coolers and headers and cold recycle piping, and install new check
valves, at Finnefrock Compressor Station in Clinton County,
Pennsylvania.
Background
On February 4, 2025, the Commission issued a ``Notice of Scoping
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed
Capital Area 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.
In response to the Notice of Scoping, the Commission received 27
comments. Twenty of these comments were in favor of the Project
emphasizing its critical importance in meeting the growing energy needs
of residents and business in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality suggested that that
consideration should be given for the possibility of preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this Project, since it
requires more stringent public participation requirements than an EA.
Piedmont Environmental Council and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation also
requested that a full EIS be completed. The Virginia Department of
Wildlife Resources searched its Biotics Data System and confirmed that
no natural heritage resources have been documented within the Project
boundary including a 100-foot buffer. One landowner near the Leesburg
Compressor Station noted air quality concerns with the station and the
proposed expansion. The Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management
suggested that EGTS conduct a community meeting for nearby residents.
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,
community organizations, 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#3e716e6e7e585b4c5d10595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a150a0a1a3c3f2839743d352c">[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.,
CP25-29-000), 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#41070413020e2f2d282f24123431312e333501272433226f262e37"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d6b687f6e6243414443487e585d5d425f596d4b485f4e034a425b">[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: March 12, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-04480 Filed 3-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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