[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 74 (Thursday, April 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21227-21228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08036]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP20-52-000]


WBI Energy Transmission, Inc.; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the North Bakken Expansion Project

    On February 14, 2020, WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. (WBI Energy) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP20-52-000 requesting a Certificate 
of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to 7(c) of the Natural Gas 
Act to construct and operate certain natural gas facilities in Burke, 
McKenzie, Mountrail, and Williams Counties, North Dakota. The proposed 
project is known as the North Bakken Expansion Project (Project), and 
would provide incremental firm transportation capacity from natural gas 
processing plants to a proposed interconnect with Northern Border 
Pipeline Company in McKenzie County, North Dakota.
    On February 26, 2020, 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--September 4, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--December 3, 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

    WBI Energy proposes to construct and operate five sections of new 
natural gas pipeline, a new compressor station, and modifications to an 
existing compressor station (totaling 92.5 miles of pipeline and 26,250 
horsepower of compression), all in North Dakota. The Project would 
provide about 350 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to 
the Midwest via Northern Border Pipeline Company's existing mainline.
    The Project includes: (i) 61.9 Miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
from WBI Energy's Tioga Compressor Station in Williams County to the 
proposed Elkhorn Creek Compressor Station in McKenzie County; (ii) 0.3 
mile of 24-inch-diameter pipeline from the proposed Elkhorn Creek 
Compressor Station to a new interconnect with Northern Border Pipeline 
Company; (iii) 20.4 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline looping along 
WBI Energy's Line Section 25 in Mountrail and Burke Counties- \1\; (iv) 
9.4 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline looping along WBI Energy's Line 
Section 30 in Williams County; (v) 0.5 mile of 20-inch-diameter receipt 
lateral to the Tioga Compressor Station; (vi) uprating WBI Energy's 
Line Section 25; (vii) installing 22,500 additional horsepower at the 
existing Tioga Compressor Station; (viii) constructing a new 3,750 
horsepower compressor station, the Elkhorn Creek Compressor Station, in 
McKenzie County; and (ix) and other associated appurtenances.
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    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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Background

    On July 3, 2019, the Commission staff granted WBI Energy's request 
to use the FERC's pre-filing environmental review process and assigned 
the Project Docket No. PF19-7-000. On September 13, 2019, the 
Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Planned North Bakken Expansion Project, Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session 
(NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project 
and was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; environmental interest groups; 
Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries.

[[Page 21228]]

    In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from the 
North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and two 
landowners. The North Dakota DEQ recommended the Project avoid Source 
Water Protection Areas, section 303(d) Waters, and surface and 
groundwater drinking sources. The DEQ also stated that WBI Energy 
should obtain a Stormwater Construction Permit and implement proper 
monitoring for the early leak detection. The primary environmental 
issues raised by the other commentors were project location, 
trespassing, impacts on water resources and soils, seeding, and 
spreading of weeds. All substantive comments will be addressed in the 
EA.
    The Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
and the U.S. Forest Service are cooperating agencies in the preparation 
of 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., 
CP20-52), 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: April 10, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-08036 Filed 4-15-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


