[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62075-62076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19403]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-507-000]


Equitrans, L.P.; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of An 
Environmental Assessment for the Swarts And Hunters Cave Well 
Replacement Project

    On June 30, 2023, Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans) filed an application 
in Docket No. CP23-507-000 requesting a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 7(c) and Authorization 
pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, 
and abandon certain natural gas pipeline facilities in Greene County, 
Pennsylvania. The proposed project is known as the Swarts and Hunters 
Cave Well Replacement Project (Project) and would: abandon a series of 
wells by sale, abandon well lines in place and any associated 
appurtenant facilities; construct and operate two horizontal storage 
wells; acquire pipelines and related equipment to serve as well lines 
and auxiliary facilities for the Swarts Horizontal Storage Well; and 
sell base gas from the Swarts Complex.
    On July 18, 2023, 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 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\
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    \1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA December 8, 2023
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ March 7, 2024
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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

    Equitrans proposes to abandon, construct, and operate certain 
facilities within the Swarts Complex and Hunters Cave Storage Fields in 
Greene County, Pennsylvania. According to Equitrans, the Swarts and 
Hunters Cave Well Replacement Project is necessary because of planned 
mining activity from CONSOL Pennsylvania Coal Company LLC (CONSOL). 
According to Pennsylvania state law, any active storage well within 
2,000 feet of mining activities would need to be plugged or upgraded to 
current mining standards. The Swarts and Hunters Cave Well Replacement 
Project would consist of the following:
    <bullet> abandonment by-sale of a series of 19 injection/withdrawal 
wells at Equitrans' Hunters Cave Storage Field, abandonment in-place of 
the associated well pipelines and any associated facilities;
    <bullet> construction and operation of a new horizontal well, 
associated pipelines, and ancillary facilities at the Hunters Cave 
Storage Field;
    <bullet> construction and operation of a new horizontal well, 
associated pipelines, and ancillary facilities at the Swarts Complex;
    <bullet> expansions of the existing Morris Interconnect and Pierce 
Gates Valve Yards at the Hunters Cave Storage Field;
    <bullet> acquisition of non-jurisdictional gathering assets from 
EQM Gathering Opco, LLC (pipelines and related equipment) for operation 
of the new Swarts Horizontal Storage Well; and
    <bullet> the sale of 580 million cubic feet of base gas from the 
Swarts Complex.

Background

    On August 2, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Swarts and 
Hunters Cave Well Replacement 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 one comment from the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region III. The U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Region III provided general guidance and recommendations for 
consideration in the development of the NEPA document. The Commission 
also received a comment from the Delaware Nation requesting further 
information on project specifics, cultural resources, and the Section 
106 process. All substantive comments received 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 https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview 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, 
environmental justice communities, 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#86c9d6d6c6e0e3f4e5a8e1e9f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eaa5babaaa8c8f9889c48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.

[[Page 62076]]

    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., 
CP23-507), 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#b4f2f1e6f7fbdad8dddad1e7c1c4c4dbc6c0f4d2d1c6d79ad3dbc2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="88cecddacbc7e6e4e1e6eddbfdf8f8e7fafcc8eeedfaeba6efe7fe">[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: September 1, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-19403 Filed 9-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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