Document ID: FERC-2017-0628-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Eastern Shore Natural Gas Co. 2017 Expansion Project
Posted Date: 2017-05-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 96 (Friday, May 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22995-22996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10124]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-28-000]

Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 2017 Expansion Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the 2017 
Expansion Project, proposed by Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company 
(Eastern Shore) in the above-referenced docket. Eastern Shore requests 
authorization to construct and operate pipeline facilities in 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. These facilities would include 
six pipeline loop segments totaling 22.7 miles; one 16.9-mile-long 
mainline extension; upgrades to an existing meter and regulator 
station; installation of an additional 3,750 horsepower (hp) compressor 
unit at an existing compressor station; and the addition of two 
pressure control stations.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the 2017 Expansion Project in accordance 
with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 
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. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service participated as 
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EA. Cooperating agencies 
have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA 
analysis.
    The proposed 2017 Expansion Project includes constructing and 
operating the following facilities:
     Pipeline loop segments (10-, 16-, and 24-inch-diameter) 
totaling 22.7 miles in the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
Delaware;
     One 10-inch-diameter 16.9-mile-long mainline extension in 
Sussex County, Delaware;
     Upgrades to an existing meter and regulator station and 
lateral piping at the existing interconnect with Texas Eastern in 
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania;
     Installation of an additional 3,750 horsepower (hp) 
compressor unit at the existing Daleville Compressor Station in Chester 
County, Pennsylvania; and
     Addition of two pressure control stations in Sussex 
County, Delaware.
    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; 
newspapers and libraries in the project area; and potentially affected 
landowners and other interested individuals and groups.
    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

[[Page 22996]]

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 12, 2017.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
project docket number (CP17-28-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert 
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or 
FERCOnlineSupport@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 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: Kimberly D. Bose, 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 (18 CFR 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 which 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., CP17-
28). 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.

    Dated: May 12, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-10124 Filed 5-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P