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###### Department of Energy

###### Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

          - [Docket No. CP23-131-000]

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the System Alignment Program Project (Project), proposed by East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) in the above-referenced docket. East Tennessee requests authorization to construct approximately 16.1 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline loop (Boyds Creek Loop) adjacent to its existing 16-inch-diameter pipeline (Line 3300-1) in Knox and Sevier Counties, Tennessee; a new 6,000-horsepower compressor station (the Talbott Compressor Station) in Jefferson County, Tennessee; a new 19,000-horsepower compressor station in Rockingham County, North Carolina (the Draper Compressor Station); and ancillary facilities in Knox County and Sevier Counties, Tennessee and Washington and Wythe Counties, Virginia. East Tennessee would also replace approximately 6.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline with new 24-inch-diameter pipeline within its existing right-of-way in Washington County, Virginia and complete a hydrotest of an approximately 1.2-mile-long segment of existing pipeline in Patrick County, Virginia.

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

                    The Commission mailed a copy of this                     *Notice of Availability*                     of the EA to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; non-governmental organizations, environmental, and public interest groups; potentially                           ( print page 82347)                        interested Indian tribes; affected landowners; and newspapers and libraries in the Project area. The EA is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC's website (                    *www.ferc.gov*), on the natural gas environmental documents page (                    *https://www.ferc.gov/​industries-data/​natural-gas/​environment/​environmental-documents*). In addition, the EA may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC's website. Click on the eLibrary link (                    *https://elibrary.ferc.gov/​eLibrary/​search*), select “General Search” and enter the docket number in the “Docket Number” field, (                    *i.e.*                     CP23-131-000). 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 EA is not a decision document. It presents Commission staff's independent analysis of the environmental issues for the Commission to consider when addressing the merits of all issues in this proceeding. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the EA's disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. The EA also includes site-specific construction plans for residences within 50 feet of Project workspaces (see appendix J); affected landowners are encouraged to review these plans and provide comments. To ensure consideration of your comments, it is important that the Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 18, 2023.

                    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use 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                     *FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov*. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.                

                    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the                     *eComment*                     feature on the Commission's website (                    *www.ferc.gov*) under the link to                     *FERC Online*. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project.                

                    (2) You can also file your comments electronically using the                     *eFiling*                     feature on the Commission's website (                    *www.ferc.gov*) under the link to                     *FERC Online*. 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 must select the type of filing you are making. If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select “Comment on a Filing”; or                

(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP23-131-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

                    Filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission's decision. At this point in this proceeding, the timeframe for filing timely intervention requests has expired. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene out-of-time pursuant to Rule 214(b)(3) and (d) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214(b)(3) and (d)) and show good cause why the time limitation should be waived. Motions to intervene are more fully described at                     *https://www.ferc.gov/​how-intervene*.                

                    Additional information about the Project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC website (                    *https://ferc.gov/​*) using the                     *eLibrary*                     link. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.                

                    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                     *OPP@ferc.gov*.                

                    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                     *https://www.ferc.gov/​ferc-online/​overview*                     to register for eSubscription.                

Dated: November 17, 2023.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2023-25968 Filed 11-22-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P