The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to assess the environmental impacts associated with a proposed amendment to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC's (Transco) Northeast Supply Enhancement Project which was authorized on May 3, 2019 in Docket No. CP17-101-000. The Northeast Supply Enhancement Project Amendment (Amendment) involves utilizing an alternative road for permanent access to Compressor Station 206 in Somerset County, New Jersey, rather than constructing the approved access road to the site.

The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Amendment in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the Amendment would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability for the EA 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 area of the Amendment. The EA is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from FERC's website ( www.ferc.gov), on the Environmental Documents page ( http://www.ferc.gov/​industries/​gas/​enviro/​eis.asp). In addition, the EA may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on 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., CP20-49). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at: FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the EA's 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 the Amendment, it is important that the Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 26, 2020.

For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file your comments with the Commission. In all instances, please reference the Amendment's docket number (CP20-49-000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.

(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature located 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” as the filing type; or

(3) 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 may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Hand delivered submissions in docketed proceedings should be delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to ( printed page 23954) 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/​intervene.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 Amendment 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 formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that 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 http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​esubscription.asp.