Document ID: FERC-2016-0617-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline, LLC, Atlantic Bridge Project
Posted Date: 2016-05-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27428-27429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10674]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-9-000]

Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, 
LLC; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed Atlantic Bridge Project Replacement Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the 
Atlantic Bridge Project proposed by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC 
(Algonquin) and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, LLC (Maritimes), 
collectively referred to as the Applicants, in the above-referenced 
docket. The Applicants request authorization to expand existing 
pipeline systems to deliver up to 132,705 dekatherms per day of natural 
gas transportation service to the New England and Maritimes provinces 
of Canada markets.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Atlantic Bridge Project in accordance 
with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The 
FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with 
appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a cooperating agency 
assisting us in the preparation of this EA because they have special 
expertise with respect to environmental impacts associated with the 
Applicants' proposals.
    The proposed Atlantic Bridge Project includes the following 
facilities:
     4.0 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline to replace existing 
26-inch diameter pipeline in Westchester County, New York;
     2.3 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline to replace existing 
26-inch diameter pipeline in Fairfield County, Connecticut;
     a new 7,700 horsepower compressor station (Weymouth 
Compressor Station) in Norfolk County, Massachusetts;
     a new meter and regulating station in New London County, 
Connecticut;
     modifications to three existing compressor stations in 
Rockland County, New York and Windham and New Haven Counties, 
Connecticut;
     modifications to five existing meter and regulating 
stations and one regulator station in New York, Connecticut, 
Massachusetts, and Maine; and
     ancillary facilities associated with the new pipeline 
including mainline valves and pig launcher/receiver facilities.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA to federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; 
potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and 
groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. In addition, 
the EA is available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site 
(www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies of 
the EA are available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street 
NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments 
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. 
The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To 
ensure that the Commission has the opportunity to consider your 
comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important 
that we receive your comments in Washington, DC on or before June 1, 
2016.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file 
your comments with the Commission. In all instances please reference 
the project docket number (CP16-9-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert 
staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature located on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the 
link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting 
brief, text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can also file your comments electronically using the 
eFiling feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the 
link to Documents and Filings. 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 must select the type of filing you are making. If 
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select 
``Comment on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (Title 18 Code of Federal Regulations Part 
385.214).\1\ Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the 
Commission's decision. The Commission grants affected landowners and 
others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good 
cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this 
proceeding that no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing 
environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do 
not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
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    \1\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments.
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    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. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search,'' and enter the docket number 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP16-
9). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription, which 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 www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

[[Page 27429]]

    Dated: May 2, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-10674 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P