Document ID: FERC-2016-0619-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Access Northeast Project
Posted Date: 2016-05-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27429-27432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10667]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF16-1-000]

Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Access Northeast 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meetings

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
the planned Access Northeast Project (ANE Project). This EIS will 
discuss the potential impacts on the environment resulting from 
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC's (Algonquin) construction and 
operation of interstate natural gas transmission and storage facilities 
in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 
The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to 
determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and 
necessity.
    This notice, which is being sent to the Commission's current 
environmental mailing list describes the process the Commission will 
use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the ANE 
Project. The Review Process flow chart in Appendix 1 also illustrates 
public input opportunities.\1\ State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned 
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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    \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'' or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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    Comments on the ANE Project may be submitted in written form or 
verbally. The Public Participation section of this notice describes how 
to submit written comments. To ensure that written comments are 
properly recorded and that staff has sufficient time to consider them, 
please send these comments so that the Commission receives them in 
Washington, DC on or before May 30, 2016. The Commission's staff will 
also consider comments received after this date, but we encourage you 
to file your comments within the identified comment period. Verbal 
comments can be given at the public scoping meetings described in the 
Public Participation section below.
    If you sent comments on the ANE Project to the Commission before 
November 17, 2015, you will need to resend those comments, attention 
Docket No. PF16-1-000, to ensure they are considered as part of this 
proceeding.
    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 planned facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement and the Project is approved, the pipeline company 
could initiate condemnation proceedings where compensation would be 
determined in accordance with state law.
    To help potentially affected landowners and other interested 
parties better understand the Commission and its environmental review 
process, the ``For Citizens'' section of the FERC Web site 
(www.ferc.gov) provides information about getting involved in FERC 
jurisdictional projects, and a citizens' guide entitled ``An Interstate 
Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need to Know?'' This guide 
addresses a number of frequently asked questions, including the use of 
eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.

Public Participation

    Submitting comments can make a difference. Your comments should 
focus on potential environmental impacts, measures to avoid or lessen 
these impacts, and reasonable alternatives. These comments will help 
the Commission's staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in 
the EIS and focus the analysis in the EIS on the important 
environmental issues.
    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. In all instances, please reference the Project 
docket number (PF16-1-000) 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 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 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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping meetings its 
staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows.

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             Date and time                           Location
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Monday, May 16, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Eastern  Southbury Fire Department, 461
 Time.                                    Main Street South, Southbury,
                                          CT 06488.
Monday, May 16, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Eastern  Mansfield Middle School, 205
 Time.                                    Spring Hill Road, Storrs, CT
                                          06268.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 6:30 p.m.         Sleepy Hollow High School, 210
 Eastern Time.                            North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow,
                                          NY 10591.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 6:30 p.m.       Stacey Middle School, 66 School
 Eastern Time *.                          Street, Milford, MA 01757.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 6:30 p.m.       Ford Middle School, 708 Middle
 Eastern Time.                            Road, Acushnet, MA 02743.

[[Page 27430]]

 
Thursday, May 19, 2016, 6:30 p.m.        Abigail Adams Middle School, 89
 Eastern Time.                            Weymouth Street, East
                                          Weymouth, MA 02189.
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* Due to venue availability, the Stacy Middle School in Milford,
  Massachusetts will not be accessible until 6:00 p.m. Please plan
  accordingly. Meeting attendees will be asked to wait outside.

    The purpose of these meetings is to provide the public an 
opportunity to learn more about the Commission's environmental review 
process and to verbally comment on the ANE Project. Affected landowners 
and other interested parties concerned about the ANE Project are 
encouraged to attend these meetings and to give their comments on the 
issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Individuals wishing 
to provide comments on Algonquin's Incremental Market and Atlantic 
Bridge Projects should file their comments in the respective FERC 
administrative records (CP14-96-000 and CP16-9-000).
    Individuals wishing to comment at a meeting may begin registering 
to speak one hour prior to each meeting.\2\ Representatives from 
Algonquin will also be present before each meeting to answer questions 
about the ANE Project. The meetings will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. To 
ensure everyone has a chance to be heard, the time allotted for 
speakers may be limited to three minutes. If a time limit is 
implemented, it will be strictly enforced. Commenters should prepare 
their remarks accordingly. All comments will be transcribed and entered 
into the Commission's administrative record. Due to potential large 
turnouts in Acushnet and Weymouth, Massachusetts, two court reporters 
will be present at each meeting to transcribe comments. One court 
reporter will be present in the main room and another will be present 
in an adjacent room for those who wish to speak and not attend the 
entire meeting. The meetings will end once all speakers have provided 
their comments or at 10 p.m., whichever comes first.
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    \2\ Due to venue availability, the Stacy Middle School in 
Milford, Massachusetts will not be accessible until 6:00 p.m. 
Speaker registration will begin at that time. Please plan 
accordingly.
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Summary of the Planned Project

    Over the past several years Algonquin has expanded its existing 
natural gas transmission system in the Northeastern United States to 
meet demand as it arises in the region. In response to growing demand 
and interest from shippers, Algonquin plans to modify its existing 
system in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and 
Massachusetts. If constructed, the ANE Project would be capable of 
providing up to 925 million cubic feet per day of natural gas at 
various delivery points on the existing Algonquin pipeline system. The 
planned ANE Project facilities are described below. The general 
locations of the Project facilities are shown in Appendix 2.
Pipeline Facilities
     Replacement of approximately 45.0 miles of existing 26-
inch-diameter pipeline with 42-inch-diameter pipeline as follows:
    [cir] 1.2 miles in Rockland County, New York (Hanover Take-up and 
Relay \3\);
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    \3\ Take-up and relay refers to a construction method by which 
an existing pipeline is removed and replaced with a new pipeline.
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    [cir] 12.7 miles in Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York 
(Stony Point Take-up and Relay);
    [cir] 17.6 miles in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut 
(Southeast Take-up and Relay; and
    [cir] 13.5 miles in New Haven and Hartford Counties, Connecticut 
(Oxford Take-up and Relay.
     Extensions of existing pipeline loops; \4\ approximately 
22.7 miles of additional 36-inch-diameter pipeline and 25.9 miles of 
additional 30-inch-diameter pipeline as follows:
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    \4\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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    [cir] 13.3 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Hartford, 
Middlesex, and Tolland Counties, Connecticut (Cromwell Loop);
    [cir] 9.4 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Windham County, 
Connecticut (Chaplin Loop);
    [cir] 21.7 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Norfolk County, 
Massachusetts (Q-1 Loop); and
    [cir] 4.2 miles of 30-inch-pipeline in Norfolk County, 
Massachusetts (I-8 Loop).
     Installation of approximately 26.8 miles of new 16-inch-
diameter lateral pipeline in Norfolk and Worcester Counties, 
Massachusetts.
     Installation of approximately 2.9 miles of new 24-inch-
diameter lateral pipeline in Bristol County, Massachusetts.
    Algonquin would also need to construct pig \5\ launcher and 
receiver facilities and new mainline valves.
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    \5\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushed through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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Compressor Stations and Other Pipeline-Related Aboveground Facilities

    Algonquin plans to modify six existing compressor stations, expand 
one currently proposed compressor station, construct one new compressor 
station, modify seven existing metering and regulating (M&R) stations, 
and construct two new M&R stations. The modifications to the six 
existing compressor stations would be located in Rockland and Putnam 
Counties, New York, New Haven, Middlesex, and Windham Counties 
Connecticut, and Providence County, Rhode Island. The expansion of the 
currently proposed compressor station would be located in Norfolk 
County, Massachusetts and the new compressor station would be located 
in Bristol County, Massachusetts. These eight compressor stations would 
add a total of 165,560 horsepower to Algonquin's pipeline system.
    The modifications to the seven existing Algonquin M&R stations 
would occur in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts to 
accept the new gas flows associated with the Project. The new M&R 
stations would be constructed in Bristol and Worcester Counties 
Massachusetts.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage Facility

    The planned LNG Storage Facility would be located on a 210-acre 
site in Acushnet, Massachusetts adjacent to an existing LNG peak-
shaving facility (the existing facility would not be affected). The 
facility would include; two full containment LNG storage tanks with a 
total combined capacity of 6.8 billion standard cubic feet (84.6 
million gallons), feed gas pretreatment systems, liquefaction and 
regasification capabilities, a new permanent access road, a flare or 
other venting system yet to be determined, electrical service 
facilities, and a refrigerant compressor driver with appropriate noise 
suppression and emission controls. This facility would be connected to 
Algonquin's existing natural gas transmission system by a new 
approximately 2.86 mile pipeline.

[[Page 27431]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 1,866 
acres of land including forested, open, agricultural, industrial/
commercial, and residential lands. Of the lands affected, about 1,590 
acres for the pipeline facilities, 118 acres for the compressor 
stations, 150 acres for the LNG Facility, and 8 acres for the M&R 
stations. About 1,100 acres of land that would be affected by pipeline 
construction activities has already been disturbed by existing 
pipelines or other utilities. Similarly, about 95 acres of land that 
would be affected by the compressor stations has already been 
disturbed. Following construction, Algonquin would retain about 494 
acres of new, permanent easement outside of its current operating 
footprint. This amount includes approximately 327 acres of permanent 
easement for the new pipeline right-of-way, 20 acres for the new 
compressor station, 150 acres for the LNG Facility, and a total of 2 
acres for the M&R stations.

The EIS Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under Section 7 of the 
Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us \6\ to discover and address 
concerns the public may have about proposals. This discovery process is 
commonly referred to as ``scoping''. The main goal of the scoping 
process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important 
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public 
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. All comments 
received will be considered during the preparation of the EIS, and 
addressed as appropriate.
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    \6\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction, operation, and maintenance of the planned Project 
under these general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     threatened and endangered species;
     public safety and reliability; and
     cumulative impacts.
    Staff, in cooperation with other federal agencies, has already 
begun an evaluation of alternatives to the ANE Project, including 
pipeline route alternatives, compressor station equipment and 
locations, and LNG Storage Facility sites. This alternatives analysis 
will be included in the EIS along with any recommendations we may have 
on how to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate impacts on the various 
resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before 
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we 
have contacted federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement 
in the scoping process and the preparation of the EIS.
    The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We 
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the 
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the 
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have 
the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section of this 
notice.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues 
related to this Project to formally cooperate with us in the 
preparation of the EIS.\7\ 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.
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    \7\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations 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, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to 
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested 
federally recognized Indian tribes, and the public on the Project's 
potential effects on historic properties.\8\ We will define the 
Project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with 
the SHPOs as the Project develops. On natural gas facility projects, 
the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground 
disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/
pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EIS for 
this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic 
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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    \8\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    Based on our preliminary review of the project; information 
provided by Algonquin; and public comments filed in the Commission's 
administrative record and submitted to staff at the applicant-sponsored 
open houses, we have identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention. This preliminary list of issues may change based on your 
comments and our ongoing environmental analysis. These issues are:
     Project reliability, pipeline and LNG storage tank 
integrity;
     public safety;
     impacts on property values;
     environmental justice;
     compressor station emissions and noise;
     impacts on land use; and
     impacts on groundwater.

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes 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 construction 
workspaces, and anyone who submits comments on the Project. We will 
update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to 
ensure that we send the information related to this environmental 
review to all individuals, organizations, and government entities 
interested in and/or potentially affected by the planned Project.
    When we publish and distribute the EIS, copies will be sent to the 
environmental mailing list for public

[[Page 27432]]

review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the 
document instead of the CD version or would like to remove your name 
from the mailing list, please return the attached Information Request 
(Appendix 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, once 
Algonquin files its application with the Commission, you may want to 
become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the 
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard 
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. 
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a 
request to intervene. Motions to intervene are more fully described at 
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions 
for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention 
Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site. 
Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor 
status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a 
formal application for the Project, which is currently anticipated to 
be sometime in November 2016.

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 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., PF16-
1). 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.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: April 29, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-10667 Filed 5-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P