[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8072-8073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03715]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-463-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Okeechobee 
Lateral Pipeline Project Florida Southeast Connection, LLC

    On August 22, 2017, Florida Southeast Connection, LLC (FSC) filed 
an application to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is 
considering this application in Docket No. CP17-463-000 for a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). The proposed project is known as the 
Okeechobee Lateral Pipeline Project (Project), and would connect FSC's 
mainline system with the Florida Power & Light Company's (FPL) 
Okeechobee Clean Energy Center (OCEC). The Project would be capable of 
transporting up to 400 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to the 
OCEC.
    This Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review indicates the 
anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of an 
environmental assessment (EA) for this proposal. The issuance of a 
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify 
federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all 
necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal 
authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission 
staff's EA.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--March 16, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 14, 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

    FSC requests authorization to construct and operate approximately 
5.2 miles of 20-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline and 
associated facilities including an inspection tool launcher and a 
receiver and a meter station in Okeechobee County, Florida. As 
described above, this lateral pipeline would connect FSC's mainline 
system with FPL's OCEC. FSC anticipates construction would require four 
to five months.

Background

    On October 24, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Okeechobee Lateral 
Pipeline 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 Treasure Coast Democratic Environmental 
Caucus, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Sierra Club, and the Economic 
Council of Okeechobee County. The primary issues raised by the 
commentors concern air quality, cumulative impacts, potential future 
projects and connected actions, cultural resources, purpose and need, 
alternatives, and greenhouse gas and upstream emissions.

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

[[Page 8073]]

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., CP17-463), 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: February 16, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-03715 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


