[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 59372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23986]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP19-500-000]
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review of the Palmyra to South Sioux City A-Line
Abandonment Project
On August 15, 2019, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) filed
an application in Docket No. CP19-500-000 requesting a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Sections 7(b) and Section
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon, construct, and operate certain
natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the
Palmyra to South Sioux City A-Line Abandonment Project (Project) and
would ensure safe and efficient operation of Northern's existing
pipeline system.
On August 29, 2019, 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 Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the
EA for the Project.
Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--December 13, 2019
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--March 12, 2020
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 involves the abandonment in place of a total of
approximately 118 miles of 20-inch-diameter and 16-inch-diameter
pipeline on its A-Line pipeline system in Otoe, Lancaster, Saunders,
Dodge, Burt, Thurston, and Dakota Counties, Nebraska. In addition,
Northern would construct and operate approximately 4.2 miles of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline loop \1\ and associated appurtenances in Otoe
and Dodge Counties, Nebraska. Northern states that after Commission
approval of the Project, the abandoned pipeline would be purchased and
removed by a third-party salvage company.
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\1\ A loop is a pipeline that is constructed adjacent to another
pipeline for the purpose of increasing capacity in this portion of
the system.
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Background
On September 18, 2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Palmyra to South
Sioux City A-Line Abandonment Project and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI 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 NOI, the Commission received comments from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe,
the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Lower Platte South
Natural Resources District, and one landowner. The primary issues
raised by the commentors are cultural resources; surface waters and
wetlands; land use; and floodplains. 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 all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets,
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can
reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by
automatically providing you with notification of these filings,
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
Additional information about the Project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the
FERC website (www.ferc.gov). 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.,
CP19-500), 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 [email protected]. 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 28, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-23986 Filed 11-1-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P