2019-12818. Enable Gulf Run Transmission, LLC, Enable Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Gulf Run and Line CP Modifications Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and ...

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Gulf Run and Line CP Modifications Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Enable Gulf Run Transmission, LLC (Gulf Run) and Enable Gas Transmission, LLC (EGT) in Jackson, Richland, Red River, DeSoto, Sabine, Vernon, Beauregard, and Calcasieu Parishes in Louisiana. The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity.

This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies about issues regarding the project. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires the Commission to discover concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as “scoping.” The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues to address in the EIS. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 12, 2019.

You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EIS. Commission staff will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.

If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on March 18, 2019, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. PF19-3-000 to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding.

This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list for this project. State and local government representatives should notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be determined by a judge in accordance with state law.

A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?” is available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/​resources/​guides/​gas/​gas.pdf. This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.

Public Participation

The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification and provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings. To sign up go to www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​esubscription.asp.

For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit your comments to 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, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;

(2) You can 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; a comment on a particular project is considered a “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 (PF19-3-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

(4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping sessions its staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:

Date and time	Location
Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 4:30-6:30 p.m	Natchitoches Event Center, 750 Second St., Natchitoches, LA 71457, [phone].
Thursday, June 27, 2019, 4:30-6:30 p.m	War Memorial Civic Center, 250 W 7th St., DeRidder, LA 70634, [phone].

The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in the EIS. Individual verbal comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.

Each scoping session is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CDT. You may arrive at any time after 4:00 p.m. There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 6:30 p.m. However, if no additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may conclude the session at 6:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional information on the session format and conduct.^[1]

Your scoping comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page of this notice for instructions on using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may be implemented for each commentor.

It is important to note that the Commission provides equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form or provided verbally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review process. Representatives from Gulf Run and EGT will also be present to answer project-specific questions.

Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; please refer to the review process flow chart in appendix 2.

Summary of the Planned Project

For the Gulf Run project component, Gulf Run plans to construct and operate approximately 171 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline, two new compressor stations, and ancillary facilities extending from Westdale, Louisiana, south to two connection points near Starks and Gillis, Louisiana. New pipeline facilities would include approximately 135 miles of mainline pipeline and approximately 36 miles of lateral pipeline.

For the Line CP Modifications project component, EGT plans to implement modifications necessary to allow bi-directional flow on its existing Line CP. Additionally, EGT plans to abandon Line CP by sale to Gulf Run. The Gulf Run and Line CP Modifications Project is currently designed to transport 2,800,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of natural gas. According to Gulf Run, its project would enhance the reliability and diversity of natural gas supply in the Gulf Coast Region and will create a new link between major supply basins and the Louisiana Gulf Coast.

The Gulf Run and Line CP Modifications Project would consist of the following facilities, all of which are in Louisiana:

• Mainline Pipeline—Approximately 135-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter natural gas transmission mainline pipeline extending from a receipt point at an interconnect with the existing EGT Line CP pipeline at the existing Westdale Compressor Station (CS) to delivery points at interconnects with the existing Golden Pass Pipeline, LLC and Transco Pipeline near Starks.
• Gillis Lateral—Approximately 36-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter lateral pipeline extending from the proposed Gulf Run CS #2 near DeRidder, to interconnects with multiple existing interstate pipelines (e.g., Cheniere Creole Trail, L.P., Texas Eastern Transmission, LP, Transco, and Trunkline Gas Company, LLC) near Gillis.
• Two new compressor stations:

○ Gulf Run CS #1—To be constructed near the town of Many in Sabine Parish. Installed capacity will include up to 55,370 horsepower (hp) from one natural gas-powered Titan 250 and one natural gas-powered Titan 130 compressor units on an approximately 20-acre site.

○ Gulf Run CS #2—To be constructed near DeRidder in Vernon Parish. Installed capacity will include up to 62,840 hp from two natural gas-powered Titan 130 compressor units and one natural gas-powered Mars 100 compressor unit on an approximately 20-acre site.

• Six new meter stations: Two near Starks and four near Gillis.
• New ancillary facilities including main line valves and pig launcher/receiver facilities.^[2] The exact design and location of these facilities are to be determined, but it is anticipated that some facilities will be located within the confines of the proposed compressor station and meter station sites.

• In addition to new facilities to be constructed, the following modifications are planned for the existing EGT Line CP system:

○ Westdale Compressor Station (near Westdale in Red River Parish)—Install two natural gas-powered Mars 100 compressor units totaling 31,800 hp; restage the two existing natural gas-powered Mars 100 compressor units (totaling 30,000 hp); add up to eight air-cooled heat exchangers; modify existing station piping; and add a motor control center building fuel gas skid, power and control building, and standby generator.

○ Vernon Compressor Station (near North Hodge in Jackson Parish)—Restage the existing natural gas-powered Mars 100 and two Taurus 70 compressor units (totaling 35,604 hp); add air-cooled heat exchangers; and modify existing station piping.

• Alto Compressor Station (near Alto in Richland Parish)—Restage the existing natural gas-powered Mars 100 compressor unit (15,000 hp) and modify existing station piping.

○ Modifications to four existing meters stations consisting of adding bi-directional flow to the ANR Meter Station and the Columbia Meter Station, modifying the Midcontinent Express Pipeline Meter Station to increase size, and adding a new receipt meter at the EGT Meter Station between Line CP and existing EGT pipeline facilities not being sold to Gulf Run.

The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 3.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the planned new aboveground facilities and the pipeline would disturb about 3,000 acres of land. Following construction, Gulf Run would maintain about 1,000 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 45 percent of the planned mainline pipeline route and about 61 percent of the Gillis Lateral pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way. Additionally, modifications to the existing Line CP system would disturb about approximately 40 acres of land. Following construction, the operational area of the Line CP modifications would generally be within the footprint of the existing facilities.

The EIS Process

The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the planned project under these general headings:

• Geology and soils;
• water resources and wetlands;
• vegetation and wildlife;
• threatened and endangered species;
• socioeconomics;
• cultural resources;
• land use;
• air quality and noise;
• public safety; and
• cumulative impacts

Commission staff will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project or portions of the project and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.

Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff have already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EIS.

The EIS will present Commission staffs' independent analysis of the issues. The draft EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary ^[3] and the Commission's website (https://www.ferc.gov/​industries/​gas/​enviro/​eis.asp). If eSubscribed, you will receive instant email notification when the draft EIS is issued. The draft EIS will be issued for an allotted public comment period. After the comment period on the draft EIS, Commission staff will consider all timely comments and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure Commission staff have the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.

With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues related to this project to formally cooperate in the preparation of the EIS.^[4] Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this notice.

Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on historic properties.^[5] The EIS for this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

Commission staff have already identified several issues that deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and the environmental information provided by Gulf Run and EGT. This preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our analysis:

• Impacts on wetlands, especially forested wetlands;
• potential impacts on threatened and endangered species;
• visual effects to cultural and scenic resources, such as the Hickory Branch state scenic river; and
• impacts on land use.

Environmental Mailing List

The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native American Tribes; and other interested parties. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the planned project.

A Notice of Availability of the draft EIS will be sent to the environmental mailing list and will provide instructions to access the electronic document on the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov). If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please return the attached “Mailing List Update Form” (appendix 4).

Becoming an Intervenor

Once Gulf Run and EGT file their application with the Commission, you may want to become an “intervenor” which is an official party to the Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request 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 http://www.ferc.gov/​resources/​guides/​how-to/​intervene.asp. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for the project, after which the Commission will issue a public notice that establishes an intervention deadline.

Additional Information

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. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket number in the “Docket Number” field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF19-3). 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]. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/​EventCalendar/​EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Dated: June 12, 2019.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov using the link called “eLibrary” or from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502- 8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.

2.  A “pig” is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.

3.  For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.

4.  The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6.

5.  The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.