[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 62 (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17868-17869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06672]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP20-49-000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule
for Environmental Review of a Proposed Amendment of the Northeast
Supply Enhancement Project
On January 31, 2020, Transcontinental Pipe Line Company, LLC
(Transco) filed an application in Docket No. CP20-49-000 requesting to
amend the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity granted by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) for the
Northeast Supply Enhancement Project on May 3, 2019, in Docket No.
CP17-101-000. Transco's proposed amendment involves utilizing an
alternative road for permanent access to Compressor Station 206 in
Somerset County, New Jersey, rather than constructing the previously
approved access road to the site.
On February 5, 2020, the Commission issued its Notice of
Application for the proposed amendment. 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 instant notice identifies the FERC staff's planned
schedule for the completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the
proposed amendment.
Schedule for Environmental Review
Issuance of EA--May 15, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--August 13, 2020
If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of project
progress.
Project Description
Transco proposes to amend the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project
to utilize an alternative permanent access road to Compressor Station
206 (referred to as the Higgins Farm Access Road) that would involve
the use and extension of an existing road rather than construction of
the previously approved access road across property owned by Trap Rock
Industries (referred to as the Trap Rock Access Road). Transco states
the proposal would enable it to comply with requirements from the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
[[Page 17869]]
and reduce wetland impacts. The existing road crosses the Higgins Farm
Superfund Site for approximately 1,819 feet, terminating at an enclosed
groundwater remediation system operated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Transco would not modify the existing road, but
would extend the road approximately 1,213 feet to the compressor
station site. Approximately 331 feet of the extension would occur on
the Higgins Farm Superfund Site and the remaining 882 feet would occur
on land owned by Transco.
Background
On February 19, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to
Prepare an Environmental Document for a Proposed Amendment of the
Northeast Supply Enhancement 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 one comment letter related to the
Higgins Farm Access Road from the Eastern Environmental Law Center. 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., CP20-49), 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: March 25, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-06672 Filed 3-30-20; 8:45 am]
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