Document ID: FERC-2018-0438-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Questar Southern Trail Pipeline Co., Navajo Tribal Utility Authority; Southern Trail Pipeline Abandonment Project
Posted Date: 2018-04-09T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 68 (Monday, April 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 15139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07134]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-39-000; CP18-40-000]

Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Questar 
Southern Trail Pipeline Company Southern Trail Pipeline Abandonment 
Project; Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

    On December 22, 2017, Questar Southern Trail Pipeline Company 
(Questar) filed an application in Docket No. CP18-39-000 requesting 
permission pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon 
all of its certificated facilities, part by sale to Navajo Tribal 
Utility Authority and part in place. The proposed Southern Trail 
Pipeline Abandonment Project (Project) includes the abandonment of 
about 488 miles of natural gas pipeline and related facilities located 
in California, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
    On December 22, 2017, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority filed a 
related application in Docket No. CP18-40-000 requesting a service area 
determination pursuant to section 7(f) of the Natural Gas Act to 
utilize those acquired facilities to provide to its own service.
    On January 3, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Applications for the 
proposals. 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 25, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--July 24, 2018

    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

    Questar proposes to abandon about 488 miles of natural gas pipeline 
and related facilities located in California, Arizona, Utah, and New 
Mexico. About 220 miles proposed for abandoned in place are in San 
Bernardino County, California and Mohave, Yavapai, Coconino and Apache 
Counties, Arizona. About 268 miles would be abandoned by sale are in 
Coconino, Navajo and Apache Counties, Arizona; San Yuan County, New 
Mexico and San Yuan County, Utah.

Background

    On February 8, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southern Trail 
Pipeline Abandonment Project (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; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to 
the NOI, the Commission received comments from the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency and one landowner (Atkinson Trading Company). The 
primary issues raised by the commentors are purpose and need; water 
resources; fish and wildlife; cultural resources and tribal 
consultation; air quality and noise; impacts on landowners, including 
eminent domain; cumulative impacts; and alternatives.

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 website (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., CP18-39 and CP18-40), 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 
[email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: April 3, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-07134 Filed 4-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P