2020-11436. Texas Eastern Gas Transmission, LP; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Middlesex Extension Project

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Middlesex Extension Project proposed by Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in the above-referenced docket. Texas Eastern requests authorization pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's regulations to construct, operate, and maintain natural gas pipeline facilities in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The facilities would provide 264 million cubic feet per day of natural gas transportation to interconnects with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC's Mainline System and existing Woodbridge Lateral for ultimate delivery to the 725-Megawatt natural gas-fueled combined-cycle Woodbridge Energy Center owned by CPV Shore Holdings, LLC in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.

The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of construction and operation of the Middlesex Extension Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigation measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

The proposed project includes the following facilities:

• 1.54 miles of 20-inch-diameter Line 20 Extension pipeline;
• 0.20 mile (631 feet of Woodbridge Lateral Tie-in, and 494 feet of Mainline E Tie-in) of 16-inch-diameter interconnecting piping;
• Line 20 Tie-in;
• Woodbridge Lateral Tie-in and Mainline E Tie-in;
• metering and regulating facilities;
• pipe inspection tool facilities (launcher, receiver and wire line pull ports); and
• cathodic protection and alternating current mitigation facilities.

The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. The EA is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov), on the Environmental Documents page (https://www.ferc.gov/​industries/​gas/​enviro/​eis.asp). In addition, the EA may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC's website. Click on the eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​elibrary.asp), click on General Search, and enter the docket number in the Docket Number field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP20-30). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll free at [phone], or for TTY, contact [phone].

Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the EA's disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that the Commission has the opportunity to consider your comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important that we receive your comments in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 22, 2020.

For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file your comments with the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at [phone] or [e-mail]. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.

(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;

(2) You can also file your comments electronically using the eFiling feature 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 must select the type of filing you are making. If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select Comment on a Filing; or

(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP20-30-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/​resources/​guides/​how-to.asp. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission's decision. The Commission may grant affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.

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. 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. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​ferconline.asp.

Dated: May 21, 2020.

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.