Document ID: FERC-2016-0919-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Reviews; Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity: Orion Project; Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC
Posted Date: 2016-07-08T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44607-44608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16168]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-4-000]

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Orion Project

    On October 9, 2015, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. 
(Tennessee) filed an application in Docket No. CP16-4-000 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 Orion 
Project (Project), and would deliver an additional 135,000 dekatherms 
per day of natural gas to meet needs of three contracted shippers in 
the northeast United States.
    On October 26, 2015, 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

[[Page 44608]]

planned schedule for the completion of the EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

    Issuance of EA--August 23, 2016.

    90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--November 21, 2016.

    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

    Tennessee proposes to construct and operate pipeline facilities, 
modify existing aboveground facilities, and add new tie-in facilities 
in Wayne and Pike Counties, Pennsylvania.
    The Project would consist of the following facilities:
     Approximately 12.9 miles of new 36-inch-diameter looping 
\1\ pipeline in Wayne and Pike Counties, Pennsylvania;
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    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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     a new internal pipeline inspection (``pig'') \2\ launcher, 
crossover, and connecting facilities at the beginning of the proposed 
pipeline loop in Wayne County;
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    \2\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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     a new pig receiver, crossover, and connecting facilities 
at the end of the proposed pipeline loop in Pike County; and
     modifications at Tennessee's existing Compressor Station 
323, including rewheeling/restaging of an existing compressor and other 
piping and appurtenant modifications.

Background

    On November 23, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Orion Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). On December 3, 
2015, the Commission issued a supplemental NOI extending the scoping 
period for the Project. The NOI and supplemental NOI were 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. In response to the NOIs, the Commission received comments 
from the National Park Service and several individuals. The comments 
primarily concerned impacts on water resources, land use, recreation, 
air quality, and reliability and safety.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 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 Web site (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., 
CP16-4), 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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued 
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: June 30, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16168 Filed 7-7-16; 8:45 am]
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