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 Department of Energy Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP21-6-000]
 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 Clear Creek Expansion Project (Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by Spire Storage West, LLC. (Spire Storage) in Uinta County, Wyoming. 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. 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 whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred to as “scoping.” By notice issued on November 9, 2020, in Docket No. CP21-6-000, the Commission opened a scoping period; and staff intends to prepare an EIS that will address the concerns raised during that scoping period as well as comments received in response to this notice. Therefore, the Commission requests 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. Eastern Time on September 27, 2021. Further details on how to submit comments are provided in the 
                    *Public Participation*
                     section of this notice. As mentioned above, the Commission previously opened a scoping period which expired on December 9, 2020. All substantive written and oral comments provided during scoping will be addressed in the EIS. Therefore, if you submitted comments on this Project to the Commission during the previous scoping process, you do not need to file those comments again. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement 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 easement 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 
                    ( print page 49527)
                    cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these matters. Spire Storage 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 (CP21-6-000) 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, MD 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 Spire Storage proposes to expand its natural gas storage facilities at its existing Clear Creek Storage Field in Uinta County, Wyoming in order to increase the certificated gas capacities from 4.0 billion cubic feet (Bcf) to 20 Bcf, and increase the maximum daily injection and withdrawal capacities from 35 million cubic feet (MMcf) and 50 MMcf per day, to 350 MMcf and 500 MMcf per day, respectively. Spire Storage further proposes to construct pipeline connections north to the Canyon Creek Plant, south to the Kern River Gas Transmission mainline, and reconnect with the Questar Pipeline at the Clear Creek Plant. According to Spire Storage, the purpose of this project is to increase storage capacity and enhance operational capabilities to satisfy market demand for natural gas services in the Western United States. The Clear Creek Expansion Project would consist of the following facilities: Four compressor units at the Clear Creek Plant;
a tank storage and natural gas liquids fueling equipment facility on an existing pad;
11 new injection/withdrawal wells, one new water disposal well, and associated lines;
approximately 7.0 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline;
approximately 3.6 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline; and
approximately 3.5 miles of 4,160-volt powerline; and other related appurtenances. The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.[1] Based on the environmental information provided by Spire Storage, construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 249.00 acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, Spire Storage would maintain about 128.1 acres for operation of the Project facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. Based on an initial review of Spire Storage's proposal and public comments, Commission staff have identified several expected impacts that deserve attention in the EIS. The Project would impact eight waterbodies, 0.48 acre of wetland, public lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investment, and greenhouse gas emissions. The NEPA Process and the EIS The EIS issued by the Commission will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction 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;
socioeconomics and environmental justice;
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. The BLM is a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS.[2]
                    
                     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 [3]
                    
                     and the Commission's natural gas environmental documents web page (
                    *https://www.ferc.gov/​industries-data/​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 
                    ( print page 49528)
                    action.[4]
                    
                     Alternatives currently under consideration include: The no-action alternative, meaning the Project is not implemented. 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 and pipeline routes) 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 initiated section 106 consultation for the Project in the notice issued on October 22, 2021, with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer, 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.[5]
                    
                     This notice is a continuation of section 106 consultation for the Project. 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 22, 2020, 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 October of 2021. Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS—January 21, 2022 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline—April 21, 2022 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. Environmental Permits, Approvals, and Consultations
Agency
Permit/approval/consultationFederal:Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Clean Water Act 404, Nationwide Permit 12.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered Species Act—Section 7 Consultation, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Underground Injection Control Permit through the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for class II wells.U.S. Bureau of Land Management
SF-299, Right-of-Way Grant and Temporary Use Permits
                             Approval to dispose of produced water: controls disposal of produced water from federal leases. 
                             Application for permit to Drill, Deepen, or Plug Back (ADP/Sundry Process).
 Environmental Mailing List This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list for the Project which includes the BLM Kemmerer Field office; Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality; 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 CP21-6-000 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). 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.,*
                     CP21-6). 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: August 26, 2021. 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.
    
                         The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 1501.8. (2021). Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         40 CFR 1508.1(z). Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         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


[FR Doc. 2021-19100 Filed 9-2-21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P