[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37050-37051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11938]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-131-000]


East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the System Alignment 
Program Project

    On March 31, 2023, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP23-131-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 
7(c) and Authorization pursuant to section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act 
to replace, construct, and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The proposed 
project is known as the System Alignment Program Project (Project). 
East Tennessee states that the Project would improve the operational 
reliability of East Tennessee's system by minimizing the amount of 
displacement in the system design to meet customers' shifting needs.
    On April 14, 2023, 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 17, 2023
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ February 15, 2024
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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

    East Tennessee would construct approximately 16.1 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline loop (Boyds Creek Loop) adjacent to its existing 16-
inch-diameter pipeline in Knox and Sevier Counties, Tennessee; a new 
6,000-horsepower compressor station (the Talbot Compressor Station) in 
Jefferson County, Tennessee; a new 19,000-horsepower compressor station 
in Rockingham County, North Carolina (the Draper Compressor Station); 
and ancillary facilities in Knox County and Sevier Counties, Tennessee 
and Washington and Wythe Counties, Virginia. East Tennessee would also 
replace approximately 6.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline with new 
24-inch-diameter pipeline within its existing right-of-way in 
Washington County, Virginia and complete a hydrotest of an 
approximately 1.2 mile-segment of existing pipeline in Patrick County, 
Virginia.

Background

    On October 19, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned 
System Alignment Program Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of 
Scoping was issued during the pre-filing review of the Project in 
Docket No. PF22-8-000 and 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 North Carolina 
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Choctaw Nation of 
Oklahoma, U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation: Division 
of Air Pollution Control, Commonwealth of Virginia Department of 
Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Appalachian Voices, Teamsters National Pipeline Labor, Quapaw Nation, 
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Tennessee 
Department of Environment and Conservation: Division of Water 
Resources, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and fifteen 
landowners. The primary issues raised by the commenters are impacts on 
cultural and natural resources; incomplete tribal consultations, worker 
trainings, and permitting; potential groundwater contamination; 
potential air and noise pollution; and impacts on landowner property. 
All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA. No cooperating 
agencies are involved in the preparation of this EA.

Additional Information

    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
    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., 
CP23-131), 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.


[[Page 37051]]


    Dated: May 30, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-11938 Filed 6-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


