[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9753-9754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03388]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP19-509-000; CP19-509-001]


Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Marshall County Mine Panels 19e and 20e 
Project

    On September 4, 2019, Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas 
Eastern) filed an application in Docket No. CP19-509-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural 
gas pipeline facilities in Marshal County, West Virginia. On December 
19, 2019, Texas Eastern amended its application in Docket No. CP19-509-
001. The proposed project, known as the Marshal County Mine Panels 19E 
and 20E Project (Project), would ensure safe and efficient operation of 
existing Texas Eastern pipeline facilities for the duration of planned 
longwall mining activities.
    On September 17, 2019 and January 6, 2020, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) issued two separate Notice 
of Applications for the Project as amended. Among other things, the 
notices 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--March 27, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--June 25, 2020

    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

    Texas Eastern proposes to excavate, elevate, and replace certain 
sections of four natural gas transmission pipelines due to longwall 
mining activities in Marshall County, West Virginia. The Project would 
allow for safe and efficient operation of Texas Eastern's existing 
pipeline facilities for the duration of the longwall mining activities 
planned by Marshall County Coal Company in the area beneath Texas

[[Page 9754]]

Eastern's pipelines. The four mainline segments will remain in-service 
and be elevated using sandbags and skids for about two years until the 
longwall mining activities have completed and any potential ground 
subsidence has settled.

Background

    On October 1, 2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Marshall County 
Mine Panel 19E Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The Commission issued an additional NOI on January 13, 2020, 
following the Texas Eastern's Marshal County Mine Panel 20E amendment 
application. The NOIs were sent to affected landowners; owners of 
minerals rights; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local 
libraries and newspapers. Comment letters were received from the Osage 
Nation Historic Preservation Office and the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers in response to the NOIs. The primary issues raised in the 
comments are impacts on streams and wetlands and permitting 
requirements. All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA.

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., CP19-501), 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 website also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: February 13, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-03388 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


