[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 102 (Thursday, May 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22719-22722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09669]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP25-60-000]
Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Mountain
Valley Pipeline Southgate Amendment Project, and Notice of Public
Scoping Session
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP)
Southgate Amendment Project (Amendment Project) involving construction
and operation of facilities by Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP) in
Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Rockingham County, North Carolina.
The Commission will use this environmental document in its decision-
making process to determine whether the Amendment 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 regarding the Amendment Project. 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 from its action whenever it
considers the issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred to as
``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the
analysis in the environmental document on the important environmental
issues. Additional information about the Commission's NEPA process is
described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental Document section
of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. 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 June 21, 2025. Comments may be
submitted in written or oral form. Further details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this
notice.
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 environmental document. Commission
staff will consider all written or oral comments during the preparation
of the environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this Amendment Project to the
Commission before the opening of this docket on February 3, 2025, you
will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP25-60-000 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 Amendment Project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
Amendment 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 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 Amendment 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 subsequently grant, exercise, or oversee the
exercise of that eminent domain authority. The courts have exclusive
authority to handle eminent domain cases; the Commission has no
jurisdiction over these matters.
MVP 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, Landowner Topics link.
Public Participation
There are four methods you can use to submit your comments to the
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Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected].
(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 located 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'';
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the Commission. Be sure to reference the Amendment Project docket
number (CP25-60-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S.
Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be
addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852;
or
(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 Amendment Project area, scheduled as follows:
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Date and time Location
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Monday, June 16, 2025, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m... Olde Dominion Agricultural
Complex, 19783 U.S. Highway
29, Chatham, VA 24531, 434-
432-8026.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.. Rockingham County Community
College, ADT Auditorium,
560 County Home Road,
Wentworth, NC 27375, 336-
342-4261.
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The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be
considered in the environmental document. Individual oral comments will
be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is
designed to receive the maximum amount of oral comments in a convenient
way during the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Time. 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, starting at
5:00 p.m. Comments will be taken until 8:00 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 7:30 p.m. Please see Appendix 1 for additional
information on the session format and conduct.\1\ Your oral comments
will be recorded by a court reporter (with FERC staff or FERC
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 oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5
minutes may be implemented for each commentor. 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 MVP will also be present to answer
project-specific questions.
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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. For
assistance, contact FERC at [email protected] or call toll
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided orally at a scoping session.
Additionally, 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. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
community organizations, Tribal members and others, access publicly
available information and navigate Commission processes. For public
inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions,
comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to
contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
Summary of the Proposed Amendment Project
In February 2020, FERC issued a final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) that analyzed the Southgate Project. On June 18, 2020,
the Commission authorized the Southgate Project. MVP further evaluated
the Southgate Project and proposes modifications as part of the
Amendment Project.\2\ On February 3, 2025, MVP filed an application
with FERC for the Amendment Project in Docket No. CP25-60-000.
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\2\ Construction of the Southgate Project has not yet started.
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The Amendment Project includes the following modifications to the
previously authorized Southgate Project.
The Lambert Compressor Station has been removed and is no
longer proposed;
The length of the pipeline has decreased from 75.1 miles
to 31.3 miles;
The pipeline diameter would increase from 16- and 24-inch
diameters to 30-inch diameter;
The pipeline's operating capacity would increase from
375,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to 550,000 Dth/d;
The Southgate Project included four meter (interconnect)
stations. The Amendment Project would also include four meter
(interconnect) stations, one of which would include a pig launcher and
one which would include a pig receiver. Two of the four meter stations
are new facilities identified for the Amendment Project, but are
entirely located within Southgate Project certificated workspace; \3\
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\3\ 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.
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Six route deviations from the Southgate Project (totaling
3.1 miles) have been incorporated into the Amendment Project.
Centerline shifts for the route deviations generally range
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from 25 feet to about 1,410 feet, for engineering and environmental
reasons;
Eight mainline valves were in the Southgate Project; four
have been removed and are no longer proposed;
Four cathodic protection groundbeds were in the Southgate
Project; two have been removed and are no longer proposed;
13.5 acres of additional temporary workspaces were added;
Two new contractor yards were added; and
3.8 acres of temporary access roads were added.
The general location of the Amendment Project facilities is shown
in Appendix 2.
Land Requirements for Construction
The modifications associated with the Amendment Project would
result in a total impact footprint of approximately 51.0 acres of land
outside of the workspace that was previously certificated for the
Southgate Project. This includes the pipeline; additional temporary
workspaces; contractor yards; and new or improved access roads. The
modifications associated with the Amendment Project would result in
11.3 acres of permanent impact for operation of the Amendment Project.
The Southgate Project, as approved by the Commission in 2020, would
have affected 1,465.9 acres for construction and 450.0 acres for
operation.
NEPA Process and the Environmental Document
Any environmental document issued by the Commission will discuss
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation
of the proposed Amendment 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;
air quality and noise; and
reliability and safety.
Commission staff have already identified several issues that
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed
facilities and the environmental information provided by MVP. This
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our
analysis:
waterbodies and wetlands;
forested areas;
cumulative impacts;
pipeline safety associated with the increased diameter and
capacity.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
proposed Amendment Project or portions of the Amendment Project and
make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various
resource areas. Your comments will help Commission staff identify and
focus on the issues that might have an effect on the human environment
and potentially eliminate others from further study and discussion in
the environmental document.
Following this scoping period, Commission staff will determine
whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present Commission
staff's independent analysis of the issues. If Commission staff
prepares an EA, a ``Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an
Environmental Assessment'' will be issued. The EA may be issued for an
allotted public comment period. The Commission would consider timely
comments on the EA before making its decision regarding the proposed
Amendment Project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a ``Notice of
Intent to Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule'' will be issued, which
will open up an additional comment period. Staff will then 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 EA or draft and final EIS will be available in
electronic format in the public record through eLibrary \4\ 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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\4\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues of this Amendment Project to formally cooperate in
the preparation of the environmental document.\5\ 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. Currently, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service's Virginia and North Carolina Ecological Services
Field Offices have expressed their intention to participate as a
cooperating agency in the preparation of the environmental document.
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\5\ Cooperating agency responsibilities are addressed in section
107(a)(3) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(3)).
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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 Amendment Project's
potential effects on historic properties.\6\ The environmental document
for this Amendment Project will document findings on the impacts on
historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under
section 106.
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\6\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at 36 CFR 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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Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes;
newspapers; libraries; 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 Amendment Project purposes, or who own
homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone
who submits comments on the Amendment 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 Amendment Project.
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 protected] stating your
request. You must include the docket number CP25-60-000 in your
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure
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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 3).
Additional Information
Additional information about the Amendment 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. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at [email protected] or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. 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: May 22, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-09669 Filed 5-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P