
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51433-51434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18491]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-93-000; Docket No. CP15-94-000; Docket No. CP15-96-
000]


Rover Pipeline, LLC; Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP; 
Trunkline Gas Company, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Rover Pipeline, 
Panhandle Backhaul, and Trunkline Backhaul Projects

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Rover Pipeline, Panhandle Backhaul, and Trunkline Backhaul 
Projects (Projects), proposed by Rover Pipeline, LLC (Rover), Panhandle 
Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (Panhandle), and Trunkline Gas Company, 
LLC (Trunkline), respectively, in the above-referenced dockets. Rover 
requests authorization to construct, operate, and maintain certain 
natural gas pipeline facilities to transport about 3.25 billion cubic 
feet per day (Bcf/d) of stranded natural gas from Marcellus and Utica 
production areas in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to markets in 
the United States and Canada. Panhandle requests authorization to 
modify existing facilities and install an interconnection

[[Page 51434]]

with Rover in Defiance County, Ohio to accommodate 0.75 Bcf/d of east-
to-west firm transportation service. Trunkline would modify existing 
facilities, including piping at the existing Panhandle-Trunkline 
Interconnect in Douglas County, Illinois to provide 0.75 Bcf/d of 
north-to-south firm transportation service.
    The final EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Projects in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the Projects would have some adverse 
and significant environmental impacts; however, these impacts would be 
reduced to acceptable levels with the implementation of Rover's, 
Panhandle's, and Trunkline's proposed mitigation and the additional 
measures recommended by staff in the final EIS.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers (COE), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Ohio 
Environmental Protection Agency (OHEPA), and the West Virginia 
Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) participated as 
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. Cooperating 
agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to 
resources potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the 
NEPA analysis. Although the cooperating agencies provided input to the 
conclusions and recommendations presented in the final EIS, the 
agencies will present their own conclusions and recommendations in 
their respective Records of Decision for the Projects.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following project facilities:
     510.3 miles of new 24- to 42-inch-diameter natural gas 
pipeline and appurtenant facilities that include 10 new compressor 
stations, 21 new meter stations, 6 new tie-ins, 78 mainline valves, and 
11 pig launcher and receiver facilities.\1\
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    \1\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry 
a pipeline and/or to inspect it for damage or corrosion.
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     modifications by Panhandle at four existing compressor 
stations, one interconnection, and three valve sites; and
     modifications by Trunkline at four existing compressor 
stations and one meter station.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the final EIS to federal, state, 
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; 
potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and 
groups; newspapers and libraries in the project area; and parties to 
this proceeding. Paper copy versions of this EIS were mailed to those 
specifically requesting them; all others received a CD version. In 
addition, the final EIS is available for public viewing on the FERC's 
Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of 
copies 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.

Questions?

    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., CP15-
93, CP15-94, or CP15-96). 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; 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 that 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: July 29, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-18491 Filed 8-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


