Document ID: FERC-2017-0323-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Texas Eastern Transmission, LP, Idle Line 1 Abandonment Project
Posted Date: 2017-03-13T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04879]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-6-000]

Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P.; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Idle Line 1 Abandonment Project

    On October 28, 2016, Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P. (Texas 
Eastern) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-6-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Idle Line 1 
Abandonment Project (Project), and would involve abandonment of 
approximately 165 miles of pipeline and appurtenant facilities located 
in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania that have been previously 
removed from service.
    On November 9, 2016, 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 April 21, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline July 20, 2017

    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

    The facilities to be abandoned under Section 7 (b) include: (1) 
Approximately 165 miles of existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 pipeline in 
the states of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania; (2) approximately 
0.5 mile of 8-inch-diameter Line 10-M pipeline in Marshall County, West 
Virginia; (3) 0.07 mile of Line 10-L pipeline in Greene County, 
Pennsylvania; (4) removal of two meter and regulation stations, in 
Marshall County and Greene County; and (5) removal of aboveground 
facilities associated with these pipeline segments and laterals 
including launcher/receiver barrels, mainline valves, and other 
appurtenant facilities. Most abandonment would be in place; however, 
Texas Eastern proposes to abandon aboveground facilities associated 
with the pipeline segments by removal, as indicated above. Pipe 
segments would also be removed in certain locations; primarily under 
waterbodies where the pipeline has become exposed.

Background

    On December 28, 2016, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Idle Line 1 
Abandonment Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and 
local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; and other interested parties.
    In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, and 
three landowners. The primary issues raised by the commentors are 
impacts on waterbodies during pipeline removal; the potential effect on 
Indiana bats, freshwater mussels, and other listed species; and 
pipeline removal activities on State of Ohio parkland. The three 
landowners requested further information about how the work would 
affect their properties; however, no project-related abandonment 
activities are being proposed for these properties. 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., CP17-6), 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: March 7, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-04879 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P