[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49011-49013]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18898]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP21-78-000]

ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for The Proposed Wisconsin Access
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Schedule for
Environmental Review

    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 Wisconsin Access Project
(Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by ANR
Pipeline Company (ANR) in Oconto, Oneida, Manitowoc, and Marathon
Counties, Wisconsin. The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-
making process to determine whether the Project is in the public
convenience and necessity. The schedule for preparation of the EIS is
discussed in the Schedule for Environmental Review section of this
notice.
    As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review
process, the Commission takes into account concerns the public may have
about proposals and the environmental impacts that could result
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred
to as ``scoping.'' By notice issued on April 23, 2021, in Docket No.
CP21-78-000, the Commission opened a scoping period; and staff intends
to prepare an EIS that will address the concerns raised during that
scoping period as well as comments received in response to this notice.
Therefore, the Commission requests comments on potential alternatives
and impacts, and any relevant information, studies, or analyses of any
kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.
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 September 25,
2021. Further details on how to submit comments are provided in the
Public Participation section of this notice.
    As mentioned above, the Commission previously opened a scoping
period which expired on May 24, 2021. All substantive written and oral
comments provided during scoping will be addressed in the EIS.
Therefore, if you submitted comments on this Project to the Commission
during the previous scoping process, you do not need to file those
comments again.
    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 proposed 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, the Natural Gas Act conveys the right of eminent
domain to the company. 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. The Commission does
not grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of eminent domain
authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle eminent domain
cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these matters.
    ANR provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I
Need To Know?'' which addresses typically asked questions, including
the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's
proceedings. This fact sheet along with other landowner topics of
interest are available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov)
under the Natural Gas Questions or Landowner Topics link.

Public Participation

    There are three 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_NUMBER> or
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>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 FERC Online. 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 also on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under
the link to FERC Online. 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 Commission. Be sure to reference the Project docket number (CP21-
78-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service
must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Additionally, 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.

Summary of the Proposed Project, the Project Purpose and Need, and
Expected Impacts

    ANR proposes to facilitate an increase in the firm capacity on its
natural gas pipeline by approximately 50,707 dekatherms per day into
Wisconsin, through software modifications and minor modifications to
its existing Coleman, Lena, Meeme, Mosinee, Rhinelander, Suring, and
Two Rivers Meter Stations. The modifications

include the replacement of some metering and filtering equipment,
installation of additional metering equipment, and replacement of two
meter station buildings.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
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    \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''. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. 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
FERC at [email protected] or call toll free,<PHONE_NUMBER>
or TTY<PHONE_NUMBER>.
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    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 4.1
acres of land, 2.4 acres of which are within the existing facility
fencelines. Following construction, ANR would convert less than 0.1
acre of the area outside the existing facilities for permanent
operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be
restored and revert to former uses.
    Based on an initial review of ANR's proposal, Commission staff have
identified a couple of expected impacts that deserve attention in the
EIS. These include noise impacts and an increase in greenhouse gas
emissions.

The NEPA Process and the EIS

    The EIS issued by the Commission will discuss impacts that could
occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed
Project under the relevant general resource areas:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     socioeconomics and environmental justice;
     air quality and noise; and
     reliability and safety.
    Commission staff will also make recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your comments will help
Commission staff focus its analysis on the issues that may have a
significant effect on the human environment.
    The EIS will present Commission staff's independent analysis of the
issues. Staff will prepare a draft EIS which will be issued for public
comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments received
during the comment period on the draft EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any draft and final EIS will be
available in electronic format in the public record through eLibrary
\2\ and the Commission's natural gas environmental documents web page
(https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents). If eSubscribed, you will receive instant
email notification when the environmental document is issued.
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    \2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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Alternatives Under Consideration

    The EIS will evaluate reasonable alternatives that are technically
and economically feasible and meet the purpose and need for the
proposed action.\3\ Alternatives currently under consideration include:
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    \3\ 40 CFR 1508.1(z).
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     The no-action alternative, meaning the Project is not
implemented.
    With this notice, the Commission requests specific comments
regarding any additional potential alternatives to the proposed action
or segments of the proposed action. Please focus your comments on
reasonable alternatives (including alternative facility sites and
pipeline routes) that meet the Project objectives, are technically and
economically feasible, and avoid or lessen environmental impact.

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 initiated section 106 consultation for
the Project in the notice issued on April 23, 2021, with the applicable
State Historic Preservation Officer(s), and other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public to solicit their views and
concerns regarding the Project's potential effects on historic
properties.\4\ This notice is a continuation of section 106
consultation for the Project. The Project EIS will document findings on
the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of
consultations under section 106.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 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.
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Schedule for Environmental Review

    On March 25, 2021, the Commission issued its Notice of Application
for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted other agencies
issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all
necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the request for a
federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the
Commission staff's final EIS for the Project. This notice identifies
the Commission staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS
for the Project, which is based on an issuance of the draft EIS in
December 2021.
    Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS: March 18, 2022
    90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: June 16, 2022
    If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an
additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are
kept informed of the Project's progress.

Permits and Authorizations

    The table below lists the anticipated permits and authorizations
for the Project required under federal law. This list may not be all-
inclusive and does not preclude any permit or authorization if it is
not listed here. Agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special
expertise may formally cooperate in the preparation of the Commission's
EIS and may adopt the EIS to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related
to this Project. 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.

           Environmental Permits, Approvals, and Consultations
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              Agency                    Permit/approval/consultation
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Federal Energy Regulatory           Certificate of Public Convenience
 Commission.                         and Necessity under Section 7(c) of
                                     the Natural Gas Act.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service....  Endangered Species Act--Section 7
                                     Consultation, Migratory Bird Treaty
                                     Act, Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle
                                     Protection Act.

Wisconsin State Historic            Section 106 of the National Historic
 Preservation Officer (SHPO).        Preservation Act.
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Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for the Project which includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; federally recognized Indian
tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers.
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 and includes a mailing address with
their comments. 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 proposed Project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of
the following steps:
    (1) Send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP21-78-000 in your
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to
accept comments.
    Or
    (2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2).

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 at 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 (i.e., CP21-78). Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC
Online Support at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or<PHONE_NUMBER>, or for
TTY, contact<PHONE_NUMBER>. 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 https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events along with
other related information.

    Dated: August 26, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-18898 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P