[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 6013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02778]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-12-000]


Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC; Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review of the Herscher Northwest Storage Field 
Abandonment Project

    On October 31, 2017, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America LLC 
(Natural) filed an application in Docket No. CP18-12-000 requesting 
permission pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to abandon 
certain facilities. The proposed project is known as the Herscher 
Northwest Storage Field Abandonment Project (Project), and is located 
in Kankakee County, Illinois.
    On November 8, 2017, 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 12, 2018
90-Day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--July 11, 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

    Natural proposes to abandon in place injection/withdrawal wells, 
pipeline laterals, and observation wells, and abandon by removal 
Compressor Station 202 and ancillary aboveground facilities belonging 
to its Herscher Northwest natural gas storage field in Kankakee, 
Illinois. Natural would also abandon in place approximately 15.3 
billion cubic feet of non-recoverable cushion gas.

Background

    On January 2, 2018 the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the proposed Herscher Northwest 
Storage Field 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; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to 
the NOI, the Commission received comments from the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA). The primary issue raised by the EPA is 
potential impacts on groundwater.

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., CP18-12), 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]v. 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: February 6, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-02778 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


