Document ID: FERC-2017-0940-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Valley Expansion Project
Posted Date: 2017-08-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 148 (Thursday, August 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36131-36132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16347]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-257-000]

WBI Energy Transmission Inc.; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Valley Expansion Project

    On April 26, 2017, WBI Energy Transmission Inc. (WBI Energy) filed 
an application in Docket No. CP17-257-000 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 Valley Expansion 
Project (Project), and would provide an additional 40 million cubic 
feet per day of firm transportation on its system.
    On May 9, 2017, 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--September 20, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--December 19, 2017.

[[Page 36132]]

    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

    WBI Energy proposes to construct a new 2,600-horsepower electric-
driven compressor station in Cass County, North Dakota; 38 miles of new 
16-inch-diameter pipeline between Mapleton, North Dakota and Felton, 
Minnesota; and farm taps, valve settings, and ancillary facilities. 
Additionally, WBI Energy proposes to replace two existing town border 
station delivery points and construct one regulator station in 
Burleigh, Stutsman, and Barnes Counties, North Dakota, respectively, to 
increase the operating pressure of a portion of its Line Section 24.

Background

    On November 23, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Valley Expansion 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI 
was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project in Docket No. 
PF16-10 and was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; Native American tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to 
the NOI, commenters raised concerns regarding: watershed and waterbody 
crossings; stormwater discharge; groundwater impacts; flood zone 
impacts; reseeding and species review requirements; Section 106 
consultation; cultural resources and land valuation impacts; route 
variations; project impacts on the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion 
Project; and fugitive dust emissions and noise impacts.

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., CP17-257), 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: July 28, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-16347 Filed 8-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P