Document ID: FERC-2018-1071-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Empire Pipeline, Inc., Empire North Project
Posted Date: 2018-08-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43668-43669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18421]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-89-000]

Empire Pipeline, Inc.; Notice of Schedule for Environmental 
Review of the Empire North Project

    On February 19, 2018, Empire Pipeline, Inc. (Empire) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP18-89-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Empire North Project 
(Project), and would provide about 205 million cubic feet per day of

[[Page 43669]]

incremental firm transportation capacity.
    On March 5, 2018, 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 Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--November 20, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--February 18, 2019

    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

    Empire proposes to construct and operate gas compression facilities 
in Tioga County, Pennsylvania and Ontario, New York. The Empire North 
Project would consist of the following facilities:
     A new 21,000 horsepower compressor station in Jackson 
Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania;
     a new 32,000 horsepower compressor station in the Town of 
Farmington, Ontario County, New York;
     modifications of the existing regulator valves and station 
piping and installation of metering facilities at the existing New 
Victor Regulator Station in Ontario County, New York;
     minor modifications to the existing Jackson Meter and 
Regulator Station in Jackson Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; and
     upgrading the maximum allowable operating pressure of the 
Empire Connector Pipeline from 1,290 pounds per square inch gauge 
(psig) to 1,440 psig.

Background

    On April 10, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Empire North 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI 
was sent to federal, state, and local government representatives and 
agencies; elected officials; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the NOI, 
the Commission received comments from the New York State Thruway 
Authority and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The primary 
issues raised by the commentors are alternatives, accessing the site, 
the location of a construction staging area near a driveway, cumulative 
impacts analysis, climate change, air quality, safety, and 
environmental justice. All substantive comments will be addressed in 
the EA.
    The U.S. Department of Transportation is a cooperating agency in 
the preparation of the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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 
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    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., CP18-89), 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 
[email protected]. 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: August 17, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-18421 Filed 8-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P