[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41708-41709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14920]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP22-141-000]


Great Basin Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the 2023 Mainline 
Replacement Project

    On March 30, 2022, Great Basin Gas Transmission Company (Great 
Basin) filed an application in Docket No. CP22-141-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline facilities 
and Authorization pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to 
abandon certain natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project 
is known as the 2023 Mainline Replacement Project (Project) and would 
involve abandoning and replacing a segment of pipeline in Humboldt 
County, Nevada to address indications that the subject pipeline segment 
is approaching the end of its useful life.
    On April 13, 2022, 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 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--November 10, 2022
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--February 8, 2023
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    \2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other 
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally 
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal 
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed 
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the 
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a 
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.

    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

    Great Basin proposes to abandon in-place approximately 20.4 miles 
of its existing 16-inch-diameter steel pipeline and construct, as 
replacement, approximately 20.4 miles of new 16-inch-diameter steel 
pipeline in Humboldt County, Nevada. The replacement pipeline would be 
constructed approximately 20 feet from the existing pipeline to be 
abandoned beginning just south of US-95, north of Winnemucca, Nevada, 
and ending south of State Highway 49/Jungo Road near Great Basin's 
existing Elko Lateral Tap. The Project would also include removal of 
existing valves and replacement with new valves and associated 
appurtenances within Great Basin's existing Elko Lateral Tap.

Background

    On May 16, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 2023 
Mainline Replacement Project and Notice of Public Scoping Session 
(Notice of Scoping). 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 comments 
from the Nevada State Historic Preservation Officer, Environmental 
Protection Agency, and Teamsters National Pipeline Labor Management 
Cooperation Trust. The primary issues and topics raised by the 
commenters are consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act and recommendations

[[Page 41709]]

for what the environmental analysis should include regarding purpose 
and need, alternatives, scope of the assessment, environmental 
baseline, climate change, air quality, water resources, spills and 
hazardous materials, habitat and wildlife, environmental justice, land 
use, tribal consultations, and monitoring and adaptive management. We 
also received a comment letter promoting the use of Teamster union 
member pipeline workers and its union contractors to build the Project. 
All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA.
    The Bureau of Land Management and Environmental Protection Agency 
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 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., 
CP22-141), 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: July 7, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-14920 Filed 7-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


