Take notice that on November 1, 2013, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC (Columbia), 1700 MacCorkle Avenue SE., Charleston, West Virginia 25314, filed an application under sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act for the East Side Expansion Project (Project) in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. Columbia proposes to (i) replace existing compressors with new compressors at Milford and Easton Compressor Stations (CS), located in Pennsylvania, (ii) install approximately 9.5 miles of new 26-inch pipeline loop at the existing Line 1278 between Eagle CS and Downingtown CS in Chester County, Pennsylvania, (iii) install approximately 9.5 miles of 20-inch pipeline loop at the existing Line 10345 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, and (iv) install various measurement, station piping, and appurtenant facilities at existing sites located in Orange County, New York, Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania, and Harford County, Maryland, all as more fully set forth in the application. This filing is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at
Any questions regarding the East Side Expansion Project should be directed to Fredric J. George, Lead Counsel, Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC, P.O. Box 1273, Charleston, West Virginia 25325–1273 or at (304) 357–2359 (phone), or (304) 357–3206 (fax), or
On March 8, 2013, the Commission staff granted Columbia's request to utilize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF13–7–000 to staff activities involving the project. Now, as of the filing of this application on November 1, 2013 (CP14–17–000), the NEPA Pre-Filing Process for this project has ended. From this time forward, this proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP14–17–000, as noted in the caption of this Notice.
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission's rules, 18 CFR 157.9, within 90 days of this Notice, the Commission staff will either: Complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the Commission's public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or EA for this proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission's public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's FEIS or EA.
There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the comment date stated below, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit
However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. The Commission will consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly involved in the protest.
Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commentors will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. Environmental commentors will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commentors will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission's final order.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the “eFiling” link at
This filing is accessible on-line at