[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56650-56652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19925]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP22-502-000; PF22-4-000; CP22-503-000; PF22-3-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC, Columbia Gas 
Transmission, LLC; Notice of Applications and Establishing Intervention 
Deadline

    Take notice that on August 24, 2022, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Company, LLC (Transco), P. O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, filed in 
Docket No. CP22-502-000, an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations, for 
authorization to construct, operate, and maintain its Commonwealth 
Energy Connector Project (CEC Project) located in various counties in 
Virginia. The CEC Project is designed to provide an additional 105,000 
Dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of firm transportation service for Virginia 
Natural Gas, Inc. (VNG), from Transco's existing Station 165 Zone 5 
Pooling Point in Pittsylvania County, Virginia to the existing 
interconnection between Transco and Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC 
(Columbia) in Greensville County, Virginia (Emporia I/C), where VNG has 
contracted with Columbia for further firm transportation service.
    In addition, on August 24, 2022, Columbia, 700 Louisiana Street, 
Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77002-2700, filed in Docket No. CP22-503-
000, an application under sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the NGA and Part 
157 of the Commission's regulations, for authorization to construct and 
operate its Virginia Reliability Project (VR Project) located in 
various counties in Virginia. The VR Project is designed to provide an 
additional 100,000 Dth/d of firm transportation service for VNG, from 
Emporia I/C to VNG's existing delivery point in Chesapeake County, 
Virginia.
    Specifically, Transco proposes to: (1) install an additional 33,000 
horsepower (HP) at existing Compressor Station (CS) 168 in Mecklenburg 
County, Virginia; (2) install a 6.35-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter 
extension of South Virginia Lateral B-Line in Brunswick and Greensville 
Counties, Virginia; and (3) modify the existing Emporia M&R Station at 
Emporia I/C. Transco estimates the cost of the CEC Project to be 
$117,709,858. Transco proposes a new incremental recourse rate designed 
to recover the cost of the proposed service, all as more fully set 
forth in the request which is on file with the Commission and open to 
public inspection with the Commission and open for public inspection.
    Additionally, Columbia proposes to: (1) replace 49 miles of 12-
inch-diameter pipeline with 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Virginia; (2) 
add a 5,500 HP hybrid compressor unit at the existing Emporia CS in 
Greensville County, Virginia; (3) modify the existing compressor units 
and increase power by 2,700 HP at the Petersburg CS in Prince George 
County, Virginia; and (4) modify other appurtenant facilities. Columbia 
will receive 105,000 Dth/d from Transco as proposed in Docket No. CP22-
502-000 for re-delivery to VNG for VNG's markets. Columbia estimates 
the cost of the VR Project to be $917,925,527. Columbia proposes a new 
incremental reservation rate, FTS-VRP, to apply to the VR Project 
capacity, all as more fully set forth in the request which is on file 
with the Commission and open to public inspection with the Commission 
and open for public inspection.
    In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
internet through the Commission's Home Page (http://ferc.gov) using the 
``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, 
the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency 
concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the 
President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission at [email protected] or call toll-free, 
(886) 208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.
    Any questions regarding Transco's application should be directed to 
Nick Baumann, Regulatory Analyst, Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251, by telephone at 
(713) 215-3383, or by email at [email protected].
    Any questions regarding Columbia's application should be directed 
to David A. Alonzo, Manager of Project Authorizations, Columbia Gas 
Transmission, LLC, 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 
77002-2700, by telephone at (832) 320-5477, or by email at 
[email protected].
    On December 20, 2021, the Commission granted Columbia's request to 
utilize the National Environmental Policy Act Pre-Filing Process and 
assigned Docket No. PF22-3-000 to staff activities involved in the VR 
Project. Now, as of the filing of the August 24, 2022 application, the 
Pre-Filing Process for this project has ended. From this time forward, 
this proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP22-503-000 as noted 
in the caption of this Notice.
    Additionally, on December 20, 2021, the Commission granted 
Transco's request to utilize the National Environmental Policy Act Pre-
Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF22-4-000 to staff activities 
involved in the CEC Project. Now, as of the filing of the August 24, 
2022 application, the Pre-Filing Process for this project has ended. 
From this time forward, this proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. 
CP22-502-000 as noted in the caption of this Notice.
    Pursuant to Section 157.9 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure,\1\ within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will 
either: complete its environmental review and place it into the 
Commission's public

[[Page 56651]]

record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental 
Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the 
anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of the final 
environmental impact statement (FEIS) or environmental assessment (EA) 
for this proposal. The filing of an EA in the Commission's public 
record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of 
the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the 
subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days 
of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's FEIS or EA.
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    \1\ 18 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 157.9.
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Public Participation

    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this project: you can file comments on the project, and you can file a 
motion to intervene in the proceeding. There is no fee or cost for 
filing comments or intervening. The deadline for filing a motion to 
intervene is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 29, 2022.

Comments

    Any person wishing to comment on the project may do so. Comments 
may include statements of support or objections to the project as a 
whole or specific aspects of the project. The more specific your 
comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments 
are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments on or 
before September 29, 2022.
    There are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the 
Commission. In all instances, please reference the Project docket 
number CP22-502-000 and/or CP22-503-000 in your submission.
    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website at www.ferc.gov 
under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment is an easy 
method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments on a 
project;
    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located 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 will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; first select ``General'' and then select ``Comment on a 
Filing''; or
    (3) You may file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address below.\2\ Your written comments must reference 
the Project docket number (CP22-502-000 and/or CP22-503-000).
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    \2\ Hand delivered submissions in docketed proceedings should be 
delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
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First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.

    The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments (options 1 
and 2 above) and has eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 
502-8258 or [email protected]
    Persons who comment on the environmental review of this project 
will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list and will 
receive notification when the environmental documents (EA or EIS) are 
issued for this project and will be notified of meetings associated 
with the Commission's environmental review process.
    The Commission considers all comments received about the project in 
determining the appropriate action to be taken. However, the filing of 
a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the 
proceeding. To become a party, you must intervene in the proceeding. 
For instructions on how to intervene, see below.

Interventions

    Any person, which includes individuals, organizations, businesses, 
municipalities, and other entities,\3\ has the option to file a motion 
to intervene in this proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to 
request rehearing of Commission orders issued in this proceeding and to 
subsequently challenge the Commission's orders in the U.S. Circuit 
Courts of Appeal.
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    \3\ 18 CFR 385.102(d).
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    To intervene, you must submit a motion to intervene to the 
Commission in accordance with Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure \4\ and the regulations under the NGA \5\ by the 
intervention deadline for the project, which is September 29, 2022. As 
described further in Rule 214, your motion to intervene must state, to 
the extent known, your position regarding the proceeding, as well as 
your interest in the proceeding. For an individual, this could include 
your status as a landowner, ratepayer, resident of an impacted 
community, or recreationist. You do not need to have property directly 
impacted by the project in order to intervene. For more information 
about motions to intervene, refer to the FERC website at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.
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    \4\ 18 CFR 385.214.
    \5\ 18 CFR 157.10.
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    There are two ways to submit your motion to intervene. In both 
instances, please reference the Project docket number CP22-502-000 and/
or CP22-503-000 in your submission.
    (1) You may file your motion to intervene by using the Commission's 
eFiling feature, which is located on the Commission's website 
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. New eFiling 
users must first create an account by clicking on ``eRegister.'' You 
will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; first select 
``General'' and then select ``Intervention.'' The eFiling feature 
includes a document-less intervention option; for more information, 
visit https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/document-less-intervention.pdf; or
    (2) You can file a paper copy of your motion to intervene, along 
with three copies, by mailing the documents to the address below.\6\ 
Your motion to intervene must reference the Project docket number CP22-
502-000 and/or CP22-503-000.
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    \6\ Hand delivered submissions in docketed proceedings should be 
delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
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First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.

    The Commission encourages electronic filing of motions to intervene 
(option 1 above) and has eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 
502-8258 or [email protected]
    Motions to intervene must be served on Transco either by mail or 
email at: Nick Baumann, Regulatory Analyst, Transcontinental Gas Pipe 
Line Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251 or 
[email protected]. Any subsequent submissions by an intervenor 
must be served on the applicant and all other parties to the 
proceeding. Contact information for parties can be downloaded from the 
service list at the eService link on FERC Online. Service can be via 
email with a link to the document.
    Motions to intervene must be served on Columbia either by mail or 
email at: David A. Alonzo, Manager of Project Authorizations, Columbia 
Gas

[[Page 56652]]

Transmission, LLC, 700 Louisiana Street, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 
77002-2700 or [email protected]. Any subsequent submissions by 
an intervenor must be served on the applicant and all other parties to 
the proceeding. Contact information for parties can be downloaded from 
the service list at the eService link on FERC Online. Service can be 
via email with a link to the document.
    All timely, unopposed \7\ motions to intervene are automatically 
granted by operation of Rule 214(c)(1).\8\ Motions to intervene that 
are filed after the intervention deadline are untimely, and may be 
denied. Any late-filed motion to intervene must show good cause for 
being late and must explain why the time limitation should be waived 
and provide justification by reference to factors set forth in Rule 
214(d) of the Commission's Rules and Regulations.\9\ A person obtaining 
party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the 
Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies (paper or 
electronic) of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other 
parties.
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    \7\ The applicant has 15 days from the submittal of a motion to 
intervene to file a written objection to the intervention.
    \8\ 18 CFR 385.214(c)(1).
    \9\ 18 CFR 385.214(b)(3) and (d).
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Tracking the Proceeding

    Throughout the proceeding, additional information about the 
projects will be available from the Commission's Office of External 
Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC website at www.ferc.gov 
using the ``eLibrary'' link as described above. The eLibrary link also 
provides access to the texts of all 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. For more information and to register, go to 
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    Intervention Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 29, 
2022.

    Dated: September 8, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-19925 Filed 9-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


