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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64815-64817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27296]

[[Page 64815]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF18-6-000]

Summit Permian Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Document for the Planned Double E Pipeline Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss 
the environmental impacts of the Double E Pipeline Project involving 
construction and operation of facilities by Summit Permian 
Transmission, LLC (Summit) in New Mexico and 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 about issues regarding the project. The National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to consider the environmental 
impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the 
issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA 
also requires the Commission to discover concerns the public may have 
about proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main 
goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the 
Commission's environmental document on the important environmental 
issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of the issues to address. Your input will also help the 
Commission staff determine whether the preparation of an environmental 
assessment, or an environmental impact statement, would be appropriate 
for this project. 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 
10, 2019.
    You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or 
concerns about the project. 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 
staff determine the scope of the environmental review and what issues 
need to be evaluated. Commission staff will consider all filed comments 
during the preparation of the environmental document.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on July 25, 2018, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. PF18-6-000 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 planned 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You 
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission 
approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of 
eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an 
easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be 
determined by a judge in accordance with state law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf. This fact sheet addresses a number of 
typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how 
to participate in the Commission's proceedings.

Public Participation

    The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that 
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. To sign up go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    For your convenience, three methods are available to submit your 
comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing 
of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 or 
[email protected]. Please carefully follow these instructions 
so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to Documents and Filings. 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 (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to Documents and Filings. 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 following address. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Be sure to reference the project docket number (PF18-6-000) with 
your submission.
    Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; please 
refer to the review process flow chart in appendix 1 for more 
information about opportunities to comment on this project.\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 
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371.
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Summary of the Planned Project

    The scope of facilities currently includes the following:
     Approximately 34 miles of new 30-inch-diameter trunk-line 
pipeline (Trunk-line 100 or T100) from Summit's existing Lane 
Processing Plant in Eddy County, New Mexico to a planned Poker Lake 
Compressor Station site, also in Eddy County. In addition to the trunk-
line, this portion of the project would include:

--One 30-inch pig launcher \2\ and one receipt meter located within the 
Lane Processing Plant;
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    \2\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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--two mainline block valves within a 40-foot by 50-foot gravel pad 
within the planned right-of-way; and

[[Page 64816]]

--one permanent and six temporary access roads.

     One new compressor station (Poker Lake Compressor 
Station), sited on approximately 70 acres on federal land managed by 
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, in Eddy County. The new compressor 
station would require two Taurus 70 turbine-driven compressor units, 
totaling about 22,200 horsepowers. Associated facilities would include 
one 42-inch pig launcher; one 30-inch pig receiver; and one receipt 
meter located at the Poker Lake Compressor Station site with an 
expected volume of 175 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd).
     Approximately 81.1 miles of new 42-inch-diameter trunk-
line pipeline (Trunk-line 200 or T200) from the planned Poker Lake 
Compressor Station; through Loving, Ward, and Reeves Counties, Texas 
and terminating at the Waha Pigging Station in Reeves County, Texas. In 
addition to the trunk-line, this portion of the project would include:

--Four mainline block valves within a 40-foot by 50-foot gravel pad 
within the planned right-of-way;
--one 42-inch pig receiver, located within the Waha Hub Pigging Station 
site; and six permanent and 22 temporary access roads.

     Approximately 17.3 miles of new 30-inch-diameter lateral-
line pipeline (Lateral 100 or L100) from the existing Loving Processing 
Plants to the planned trunk-line in Eddy County, New Mexico. Additional 
facilities would include:

--One 30-inch pig launcher within an approximate 300-foot by 300-foot 
site;
--one 30-inch pig receiver within an approximate 200-foot by 200-foot 
site; and
--three receipt meters with an approximate 300-foot by 300-foot site, 
including:
    [ssquf] One receipt meter to serve the new Sendero Midstream 
Partners Plant, currently under construction;
    [ssquf] one receipt meter to serve the existing Matador Resources 
Company's Plant; and
    [ssquf] one receipt meter to serve the new Lucid Energy Group Road 
Runner Plant, currently under construction.

    --one permanent and four temporary access roads.
 Approximately 1.4 miles of new 42-inch-diameter trunk-line 
(Trunk-line 300 or T300) from the planned Summit Waha Pigging Station 
site in Reeves County, Texas to the final delivery locations in the 
Waha Hub in Pecos, County, Texas. Aboveground facilities would include:

--One delivery meter to serve Kinder Morgan's Permian Highway Pipeline, 
currently under construction;
--one delivery meter to serve Kinder Morgan's existing Gulf Coast 
Express Pipeline; and
--one delivery meter to serve Energy Transfer Company's existing Trans 
Pecos Pipeline header pipeline.

     Approximately 160 acres of temporary laydown or pipeyards 
are planned for the project. In addition, fiber optic cables would be 
installed within the same trench as the pipelines, for facility 
communications and operation.
    Summit anticipates initial construction activities to begin in 
April 2020, with a planned in-service date of April 2021. The general 
location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 2.\3\
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    \3\ 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 
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to 
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 2,730 
acres of land, including the trunk-line and lateral pipelines, new 
compressor station and the aboveground facilities. Following 
construction, Summit would maintain about 976 acres for permanent 
operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreages would be 
restored and revert to their former uses. About 93 percent of the 
planned pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road 
rights-of-way.

The NEPA Process

    The environmental document will discuss impacts that could occur as 
a result of the construction and operation of the planned project under 
these general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     socioeconomics;
     air quality and noise;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    Commission staff will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 
planned project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on 
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff 
have already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing 
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early 
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve 
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the 
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state 
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the 
preparation of the environmental document.
    The environmental document will present Commission staffs' 
independent analysis of the issues, and will be available in electronic 
format in the public record through eLibrary \4\ and the Commission's 
website (https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). If 
eSubscribed, you will receive instant email notification when the 
environmental document is issued. The environmental document may be 
issued for an allotted public comment period. Commission staff will 
consider all comments on the environmental document before making 
recommendations to the Commission. To ensure Commission staff have the 
opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning 
on page 2.
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    \4\ 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 related to this project to formally cooperate in 
the preparation of the environmental document.\5\ 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. Currently, the U.S. Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), Carlsbad Field Office has expressed its 
intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of 
the environmental document to satisfy the BLM's NEPA responsibilities 
related to this project.
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    \5\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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

[[Page 64817]]

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.\6\ 
Commission staff will define the project-specific Area of Potential 
Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) as the project develops. 
On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all 
areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction 
right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and 
access roads). The environmental document for this project will 
document the Commission staff's findings on the impacts on historic 
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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    \6\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    Commission staff have already identified several issues that 
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned 
facilities and the environmental information provided by Summit. This 
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our 
analysis.
     the project crosses federal lands managed by the BLM in 
New Mexico;
     the project crosses lands managed by New Mexico State 
Lands Trust;
     one or more known cultural resources sites may be impacted 
by the project; and
     sensitive plant and animal species may be affected by the 
project.

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; 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. 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 planned project.
    When the Commission issues the environmental document for an 
allotted public comment period, a Notice of Availability of the 
environmental document will be sent to the environmental mailing list 
and will provide instructions to access the electronic document on the 
FERC's website (www.ferc.gov). If you need to make changes to your 
name/address, or if you would like to remove your name from the mailing 
list, please return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 
3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Summit files its application with the Commission, you may want 
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard by the courts if 
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully 
described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. 
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor 
status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a 
formal application for the project, after which the Commission will 
issue a public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.

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 (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number 
in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
PF18-6). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at (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 will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 
with other related information.

    Dated: December 11, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-27296 Filed 12-17-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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