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                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
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###### Department of Energy

###### Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

          - [Docket No. CP10-493-000]

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Tioga County Extension Project proposed by Empire Pipeline, Inc. (Empire) in the above-referenced docket. Empire requests authorization to construct and replace pipeline facilities to provide an additional 350,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas capacity from new producer interconnections in Pennsylvania to new interconnections on its pipeline system and on Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company's system in New York.

The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Tioga County Extension Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EA. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal and generally participate in the NEPA analysis.

The proposed Tioga County Extension Project includes the following facilities:
    - Construction of approximately 14.9 miles of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Tioga County, Pennsylvania and Steuben County, New York;
    - Replacement of approximately 1.4 miles of existing 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Ontario County, New York;
    - Construction of a new interconnect with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company in Ontario County, New York; and
    - Construction of miscellaneous pipeline modifications and appurtenant facilities at the existing Oakfield Compressor Station in Genessee County, New York.

                    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site at                     *http://www.ferc.gov*                     using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8371.                

                    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; newspapers and libraries in the project area; and parties to this proceeding.                          ( print page 73071)    

Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are properly recorded and considered prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is important that the FERC receives your comments in Washington, DC, on or before December 20, 2010.

                    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the project docket number (CP10-493-000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or                     *efiling@ferc.gov.*

                    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at                     *http://www.ferc.gov*                     under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments on a project;                

                    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at                     *http://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 may file a paper copy of your comments at the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

                    Although your comments will be considered by the Commission, simply filing comments will not serve to make the commenter a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).[1]                                          Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.                

Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.

                    Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC or on the FERC Web site (                    *http://www.ferc.gov*) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (                    *i.e.,*                     CP10-493). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at                     *FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov*                     or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.                

                    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. 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                     *http://www.ferc.gov/​esubscribenow.htm.*

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             Interventions may also be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper.                         *See*                         the previous discussion on filing comments electronically.                    
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. 2010-29837 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P