[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 77205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26454]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP21-2-000]


Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.; Notice of Schedule for 
the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Lines DT and DS 
Replacement Project Amendment

    On October 2, 2020, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. 
(Southern Star) filed an application in Docket No. CP21-2-000 
requesting an amendment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 
(Commission or FERC) authorization pursuant to Section 7(b) of the 
Natural Gas Act issued on December 19, 2019, in Docket No. CP19-31-000. 
The proposed project is known as the Lines DT and DS Replacement 
Project Amendment (Project). The purpose of this Project is to modify 
the previous authorization (CP19-31-000) to grant Southern Star's 
proposed abandonment of certain natural gas pipeline facilities in-
place rather than by removal, as previously proposed.
    On October 7, 2020, the Commission 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 document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule 
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\
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    \1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA: December 28, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: March 28, 2021

    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

    The Project would involve the abandonment in-place of the 31.8-
mile-long, 26-inch-diameter Line DT and the 31.4-mile-long, 20-inch-
diameter Line DS, rather than abandonment by removal, which was 
authorized in Docket No. CP19-31-000. The Project is located in 
Anderson and Franklin Counties, Kansas.

Background

    On October 27, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Lines DT and DS Replacement Project Amendment and Notice of Public 
Scoping Session. The Notice of Scoping 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 Notice of Scoping, the Commission received a comment from a 
landowner who requested that Southern Star abandon the pipeline by 
removal on his land, as originally proposed. 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 formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the 
Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service 
provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    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., 
CP21-2-000), 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: November 24, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-26454 Filed 11-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


