[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45233-45234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19243]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP18-13-000]


Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC Line 8000 Replacement Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Line 
8000 Replacement Project (Project), proposed by Columbia Gas 
Transmission, LLC (Columbia) in the above-referenced docket. Columbia 
requests authorization to modernize and upgrade Columbia's Line 8000 
pipeline system by replacing and abandoning existing pipeline and 
constructing new pipeline and appurtenant facilities in Mineral County, 
West Virginia and Allegany County, Maryland.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Project in accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC 
staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate 
mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
    The proposed Line 8000 Project would consist of:
     Replacement of a total of approximately 13.25 miles of 
existing 12-inch-diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 13.54 
miles of new, coated 12-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline 
in five sections and four modification points along Line 8000 and 
Lateral Line 8006;
     Replacement of a total of approximately 0.54 miles of 
existing 4-inch-diameter bare steel pipeline, with approximately 0.67 
miles of new coated 4-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline 
along two laterals (Lateral Lines 8225 and 8244);
     Installation of two new pig \1\ launcher and receiver 
sites and four new mainline valves associated with pipeline facilities;
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    \1\ A pig is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and 
pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting 
internal inspections, or other purposes.
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     Modifications/abandonment of three existing mainline 
valves and three existing side tap valve sites and modification of tie-
ins at two regulator stations; and
     Abandonment of 13 active residential taps and 109 inactive 
taps.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EA 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; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. In addition, 
the EA is available for public viewing on the FERC's website 
(www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies of 
the EA 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.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments 
should focus on the EA's disclosure and discussion of potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and

[[Page 45234]]

measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific 
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that the 
Commission has the opportunity to consider your comments prior to 
making its decision on this project, it is important that we receive 
your comments in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 
September 28, 2018.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
project docket number (CP18-13-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff 
available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 or 
[email protected].
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can also file your comments electronically using the 
eFiling feature on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the 
link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments 
in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your 
submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking 
on eRegister. You must select the type of filing you are making. If you 
are filing a comment on a particular project, please select Comment on 
a Filing; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission's 
decision. The Commission may grant affected landowners and others with 
environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by 
stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding 
which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing 
environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do 
not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
    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. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on General Search, and enter the docket number in 
the Docket Number field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP18-
13). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or 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 which 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: August 29, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-19243 Filed 9-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


