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 Department of Energy Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP22-2-000]
 The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the GTN XPress Project (Project) involving the modification and operation of existing compression facilities by Gas Transmission Northwest LLC (GTN) in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity. The schedule for preparation of the EIS is discussed in the 
                    *Schedule for Environmental Review*
                     section of this notice. This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies regarding the project. As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission takes into account concerns the public may have about proposals and the environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred to as “scoping.” The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the environmental document on the important environmental issues. Additional information about the Commission's NEPA process is described below in the 
                    *NEPA Process and the EIS*
                     section of this notice. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues to address in the environmental document, including comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and any relevant information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment. 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. 
                    ( print page 4579)
                    Eastern Time on February 22, 2022. Further details on how to submit comments are provided in the 
                    *Public Participation*
                     section of this notice. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a GTN representative may contact you about the acquisition of workspace needed to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable acquisition agreement. You are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission approves the Project, the Natural Gas Act conveys the right of eminent domain to the company. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an acquisition 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. The Commission does not grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of eminent domain authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle eminent domain cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these matters. GTN provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?” which addresses typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. This fact sheet along with other landowner topics of interest are available for viewing on the FERC website (
                    *www.ferc.gov*) under the Natural Gas Questions or Landowner Topics link. Public Participation 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, which is located on the Commission's website (
                    *www.ferc.gov*) under the link to FERC Online. 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 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 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 Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP22-2-000) 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. Additionally, 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. Summary of the Proposed Project, the Project Purpose and Need, and Expected Impacts GTN proposes to modify and operate three existing compressor stations in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The Project would increase the capacity of GTN's existing natural gas transmission system by about 150,000 dekatherms per day between its Kingsgate Meter Station in Idaho and its Malin Meter Station in Oregon. According to GTN, its Project would increase its ability to meet growing market demand, benefiting local communities, and providing operational flexibility. The Project would consist of the following: Uprating, by means of a software upgrade only, three existing Solar Turbine Titan 130 gas-fired, turbine compressors from 14,300 horsepower (HP) to 23,470 HP at the existing Athol Compressor Station in Kootenai County, Idaho, at the existing Starbuck Compressor Station in Walla Walla County, Washington; and at the existing Kent Compressor Station in Sherman County, Oregon;
Installing a new 23,470 HP Solar Turbine Titan 130 gas-fired turbine compressor and associated piping, and 3 new gas cooling bays and associated piping; at the Starbuck Compressor Station; and
expanding the compressor station and installing 4 new gas cooling bays and associated piping at the Kent Compressor Station. The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.[1] Based on the environmental information provided by GTN, modifications to the existing compressor stations would require the disturbance of about 46.9 acres of land. GTN would maintain about 1.2 acres of land for operation of the Project facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored. Based on an initial review of GTN's proposal, Commission staff has identified several expected impacts that deserve attention in the EIS. For example, the Project would generate additional air emissions that could impact air quality and the Project would increase noise levels. The NEPA Process and the EIS The EIS issued by the Commission will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the modification and operation of the proposed Project under the relevant general resource areas: Geology and soils;
water resources and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
threatened and endangered species;
cultural resources;
land use;
air quality and noise; and
reliability and safety. Commission staff will also make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your comments will help Commission staff focus its analysis on the issues that may have a significant effect on the human environment. The EIS will present Commission staff's independent analysis of the issues. Staff will prepare a draft EIS which will be issued for public comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments received during the comment period on the draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any draft and final EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary [2]
                    
                     and the Commission's natural gas environmental documents web page (
                    *https://www.ferc.gov/​industries-data/​
                        ( print page 4580)
                        natural-gas/​environment/​environmental-documents*). If eSubscribed, you will receive instant email notification when the environmental document is issued. Alternatives Under Consideration The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the proposed action.[3]
                    
                     Alternatives that will be evaluated to determine if they are feasible and meet the purpose and need for the Project include the no-action alternative, meaning the Project is not implemented; system alternatives; natural gas compression alternatives; pipeline alternatives; and aboveground facility site layout alternatives. With this notice, the Commission requests specific comments regarding any additional potential alternatives to the proposed action or segments of the proposed action. Please focus your comments on reasonable alternatives (including alternative facility sites) that meet the Project objectives, are technically and economically feasible, and avoid or lessen environmental impact. 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 using this notice to initiate section 106 consultation for the Project with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), and other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public to solicit their views and concerns regarding the Project's potential effects on historic properties.[4]
                    
                     The Project EIS will document findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. Schedule for Environmental Review On October 19, 2021, the Commission issued its Notice of Application for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted other agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's final EIS for the Project. This notice identifies the Commission staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS for the Project, which is based on an issuance of the draft EIS in June 2022. Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS: October 14, 2022 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: [5]
                    
                     January 12, 2023 If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the Project's progress. Permits and Authorizations The table below lists the anticipated permits and authorizations for the Project required under federal law. This list may not be all-inclusive and does not preclude any permit or authorization if it is not listed here. Agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise may formally cooperate in the preparation of the Commission's EIS and may adopt the EIS to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this Project. 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. Table of Federal and Federally Delegated Permits
Permit
AgencyCertificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
FERC.Endangered Species Act Consultation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald Eagle Consultation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.National Historic Preservation Act
ID, WA, OR Historic Preservation Offices, and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
 Environmental Mailing List This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list for the Project which 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 and includes a mailing address with their comments. 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 proposed Project. State and local government representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. *If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of the following steps:* (1) Send an email to 
                    *GasProjectAddressChange@ferc.gov*
                     stating your request. You must include the docket number CP22-2-000 in your request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to accept comments. *OR* (2) Return the attached “Mailing List Update Form” (Appendix 2).
                    ( print page 4581) 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 at 
                    *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.,*
                     CP22-2-000). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
                    *FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov*
                     or (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 
                    *https://www.ferc.gov/​news-events/​events*
                     along with other related information. Dated: January 21, 2022. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary.


# Footnotes

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”. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference Room due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at 
                        *FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov*
                         or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659. Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         40 CFR 1508.1(z). Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 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. Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         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. Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2022-01680 Filed 1-27-22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P