
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39992-39993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17847]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP17-26-000; CP15-499-000; CP15-499-001]


Pomelo Connector, LLC, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of 
Schedule for Environmental Review of the Pomelo Connector Pipeline and 
South Texas Expansion Projects

    On May 22, 2015 and December 30, 2016 Texas Eastern Transmission, 
LP (Texas Eastern) filed an application and supplements/amendments in 
Docket No. CP15-499-000/CP15-499-001 and Pomelo Connector, LLC (Pomelo) 
filed an application on December 22, 2016 in Docket No. CP17-26-000 
requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant 
to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon, construct, modify, 
and operate gas pipeline facilities in Texas. Pomelo's project known as 
the Pomelo Connector Pipeline Project (Pomelo Connector Pipeline) would 
provide up to 400,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of firm transportation 
service from an interconnection with Texas Eastern at the proposed 
Pomelo Petronila Compressor Station in Nueces County, Texas, to the 
Nueces Header pipeline system. Texas Eastern's project, known as the 
South Texas Expansion Project (STEP), would provide approximately 
396,000 Dth/d of firm natural gas transportation service to an 
interconnection with the Nueces Header. Collectively, the STEP and 
Pomelo Connector Pipeline projects are referred to as the Projects.
    On June 5, 2015, and January 4, 2017 the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Applications for 
the Projects. 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 Projects. This instant 
notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion 
of the EA for the Projects.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--September 18, 2017
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--December 17, 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

    Pomelo Connector Pipeline consists of construction and operation of 
approximately 14 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline, a new 5,000 
horsepower (hp) compressor station, approximately 0.2 mile of new 30-
inch-diameter pipeline, and associated aboveground facilities in Nueces 
County, Texas. Pomelo would engage in certain construction, operation, 
maintenance, and abandonment activities under blanket construction 
certificate authorization, and abandon all of the capacity of the 
Pomelo Connector Pipeline upon the in-service date by lease to Texas 
Eastern. STEP consists of construction and operation of a new 8,400 hp 
gas turbine unit in Nueces County, Texas; piping modifications at its 
existing Angleton Station property in Brazoria County, Texas; a new 
8,400 hp gas turbine unit at its existing Blessing Compressor Station 
in Matagorda County, Texas; clean burn emission work and piping 
modifications at its existing Mont Belvieu Compressor Station in 
Chambers County, Texas; and piping modifications at its existing Vidor 
Compressor Station in Orange County, Texas.

Background

    On April 6, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Projects 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 a total of 
five comment letters from the following: The Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department, Union Pacific Railroad, Gary Pyraon--an adjacent landowner 
to the proposed Petronila Compressor Station site, John Young--an 
individual, and the Teamsters National Pipeline Labor Management 
Cooperation Trust. The comments addressed related and non-
jurisdictional facilities, air quality/greenhouse gas emissions, 
alternatives, biological resources, migratory birds, habitat and 
wildlife, water resources, hazards/safety concerns, stormwater, and 
general support for the Projects.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of

[[Page 39993]]

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., CP17-26 
and CP15-499), 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: August 17, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-17847 Filed 8-22-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


