```

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106472-106473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31338]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP23-516-000; CP23-516-001]

East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Availability of the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ridgeline 
Expansion Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Ridgeline Expansion Project (Project), proposed by East 
Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) in the above-referenced 
docket. East Tennessee requests authorization to construct and operate 
122.2 miles of 30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and associated 
facilities in Trousdale, Smith, Jackson, Putnam, Overton, Fentress, 
Morgan, and Roane Counties, Tennessee. The purpose of the Project is to 
provide about 300,000 dekatherms per day of new firm natural gas 
transportation capacity and up to 95,000 dekatherms of customized 
delivery service (i.e., peaking service) from multiple providers to the 
site of Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant.
    The final EIS 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 proposed Project would have some 
limited adverse environmental effects; however, with implementation of 
East Tennessee's impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation 
measures, as well as adherence to the mitigation measures recommended 
in the EIS, these effects would be avoided, mitigated, or reduced to 
less-than-significant levels.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National 
Park Service participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of 
the EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special 
expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the 
proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. The USACE will adopt and 
use the EIS to consider the issuance of an Individual Permit under 
section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Although the USACE provided input 
to the conclusions and recommendations presented in the final EIS, the 
USACE will present its own conclusions and recommendations in its 
Record of Decision for the Project.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following Project facilities, all in 
the State of Tennessee:
     122.2 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Trousdale, 
Smith, Jackson, Putnam, Overton, Fentress, Morgan, and Roane Counties, 
including 4.0 miles of header pipeline and 118.2 miles of mainline 
pipeline (collectively referred to as the Mainline);
     a new 14,600-horsepower, electric-driven compressor 
station (Hartsville Compressor Station) and an associated solar array 
to partially power the facility in Trousdale County;
     a new meter and regulating station to receive gas from 
Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC in Trousdale County;
     modifications to two existing meter and regulating 
stations to receive gas from Texas Eastern Transmission, LP and 
Midwestern Gas Transmission Company in Trousdale County;

[[Page 106473]]

     a new delivery meter station to measure gas delivered to 
the Kingston Fossil Plant in Roane County; and
     related appurtenances.
    East Tennessee also proposes to remove approximately 24 miles of 
previously abandoned-in-place pipe segments along East Tennessee's 
existing 22-inch-diameter Line 3100-1 associated with various prior 
pipeline replacement projects. East Tennessee would relay the new 30-
inch-diameter Mainline pipe into the same trench.
    The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to 
Federal and State resources agencies, elected officials, environmental 
groups and non-governmental organizations, Native American Tribes, 
potentially affected landowners, local libraries and newspapers, and 
other stakeholders. The final EIS is only available in electronic 
format. It may be viewed and downloaded from 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 final EIS may be accessed by 
using the eLibrary link on 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, excluding 
the last three digits (i.e. CP23-516). Be sure you have selected an 
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, 
or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
    The final EIS 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. 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. 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 [email protected].
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription that 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: December 20, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-31338 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
```