2016-01116. Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Application

Take notice that on December 30, 2015, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia), 5151 San Felipe, Suite 2500, Houston, TX 77056, filed an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157 of the Commission's Regulations requesting authority to construct and operate its WB Xpress Project which would include: (i) The construction of approximately 29.2 miles of various diameter pipeline, (ii) modifications to seven existing compressor stations, (iii) construction of two new compressor stations, and (iv) uprating the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) on various segments of Columbia's existing Line WB and Line VB natural gas transmission systems. The WB Xpress Project facilities are designed to expand the capacity of Columbia's existing system to transport up to approximately 1.3 million dekatherms per day (MMDth/d) of natural gas. Facilities to be constructed or uprated are located in Clay, Kanawha, Grant, Upshur, Randolph, Pendleton, Braxton, and Hardy Counties, West Virginia and in Clark, Fauquier, Fairfax, Loudoun, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties, Virginia. The cost to construct the project facilities is approximately 780 million dollars.

The filing may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at [e-mail] or call toll-free, [phone] or TYY, [phone].

Any questions concerning this application should be directed to Michael D. Walker, Manager, FERC Certificates, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, P.O. Box 1273 Charleston, West Virginia 25325, phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], or email [e-mail] or Brittany Carns, Community Relations & Stakeholder Outreach Manager at the same address or via phone: [phone] or email: [e-mail].

On April 16, 2015 the Commission granted Columbia's request to utilize the Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF15-21-000 to staff activities involved in the WB Xpress Project. Now, as of the filing of the December 30 application, the Pre-Filing Process for this Project has ended. From this time forward, this proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP16-38-000 as noted in the caption of this Notice.

Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission's rules, 18 CFR 157.9, within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: Complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the Commission's public 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 EA for this proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission's public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule 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.

There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the comment date stated below, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 5 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the proceeding.

However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. The Commission will consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly involved in the protest.

Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission's final order.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the “eFiling” link at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 7 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.

Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on February 4, 2016.

Dated: January 14, 2016.

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.