[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85190-85191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24809]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP24-514-000]


National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Tioga Pathway 
Project

    On August, 21, 2024, National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation filed an 
application in Docket No. CP24-514-000 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 and operate and abandon certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Tioga Pathway Project 
(Project), and would provide 190,000 dekatherms per day of firm 
transportation service from the Tioga County, Pennsylvania natural gas 
production area to downstream delivery points with other interstate 
pipelines, which reach various end-use markets and demand centers in 
the United States and Canada, and modernize a portion of National 
Fuel's existing Line Z20 pipeline system.
    On August 30, 2024, 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\ The EA will be 
issued for a 30-day comment period.
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    \1\ In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations, the unique identification number for documents relating 
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1728990440. 40 CFR 
1501.5(c)(4) (2024).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--February 13, 2025
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--May 14, 2025
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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

    The Tioga Pathway would consist of the following facilities:
    <bullet> Line Z20: Replace approximately 3.8 miles of 12-inch-
diameter 1936-vintage bare steel pipeline with new 20-inch-diameter 
coated steel pipeline and perform modifications to an existing valve 
setting on Line Z20 in National

[[Page 85191]]

Fuel's existing right-of-way in Potter County, Pennsylvania;
    <bullet> Line YM59: Install approximately 19.5 miles of new 20-
inch-diameter coated steel pipeline beginning at the east end of the 
3.8-mile Z20 Pipeline replacement, traversing Potter and Tioga 
Counties, Pennsylvania, and ending at the NFG Midstream Covington, LLC 
(Midstream) Lee Hill Interconnect;
    <bullet> McCutcheon Hill OPP Station: Construct a new over-pressure 
protection (OPP) station at the interconnection between the eastern 
terminus of the Z20 Pipeline replacement and the western terminus of 
the YM59 Pipeline in Potter County;
    <bullet> Measurement equipment at Midstream's Lee Hill 
Interconnect: <SUP>3 4</SUP> The Lee Hill Interconnect is a proposed 
producer interconnect with Midstream at the terminus of the proposed 
YM59 Pipeline in Tioga County;
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    \3\ This interconnect would be designed, installed, owned, 
operated, and maintained by Midstream, except for the interconnect's 
gas measurement, gas quality, over pressure protection devices and a 
pig launcher, which would be owned, operated, and maintained by 
National Fuel.
    \4\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or 
other purposes.
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    <bullet> Perform minor modifications at National Fuel's existing 
Ellisburg Compressor Station,\5\ in Potter County, including replacing/
installing measurement, OPP devices, flow control, and other associated 
appurtenances; and
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    \5\ National Fuel does not propose any changes to compressor 
units or to the certificated capacity at the Ellisburg Compressor 
Station.
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    <bullet> Construct one new remote-control valve setting and install 
a new cathodic protection ground bed along the Line YM59 Pipeline in 
Tioga County.

Background

    On October 4, 2024, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Tioga Pathway Project and Notice of Public Scoping Session (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. 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 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#39766969795f5c4b5a175e564f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="054a555545636077662b626a73">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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., 
CP24-514-000), 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#b0f6f5e2f3ffdedcd9ded5e3c5c0c0dfc2c4f0d6d5c2d39ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="70363522333f1e1c191e15230500001f020430161502135e171f06">[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: October 18, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-24809 Filed 10-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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