90 FR 77 pgs. 17058-17060 - Northwest Pipeline, LLC, Portland General Electric Company, B-R Pipeline, LLC, KB Pipeline Company; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Kelso-Beaver Reliability Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Session
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 77Pages: 17058 - 17060
Pages: 17058, 17059, 17060Docket number: [Docket No. CP25-89-000, CP25-90-000]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-06944 Filed 4-22-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP25-89-000, CP25-90-000]
Northwest Pipeline, LLC, Portland General Electric Company, B-R Pipeline, LLC, KB Pipeline Company; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Kelso-Beaver Reliability 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 Kelso-Beaver Reliability Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Northwest Pipeline, LLC (Northwest) in Cowlitz County, Washington. The Commission will use this environmental document 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 regarding the 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 a 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 p.m. eastern time on May 19, 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 and oral comments during the preparation of the environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on February 27, 2025, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. CP25-89-000 or CP25-90-000 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 proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
Northwest 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 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 FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature, which is 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";
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP25-89-000 or CP25-90-000) 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
[top] (4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend the public scoping session its staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:
| Date and time | Location |
|---|---|
| Thursday, May 15, 2025, 4:30-6:30 p.m | Cowlitz County Event Center, 1900 7th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632, phone number: (360) 577-3121. |
The primary goal of this scoping session 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.
The scoping session is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. You may arrive at any time after 4:30 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 p.m. Please see appendix 2 for additional information on the session format and conduct. 1
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". For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
Your oral 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 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 Northwest will also be present to answer project-specific questions.
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 OPP@ferc.gov.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Northwest proposes to acquire, own, and operate an existing 18-mile-long, 20-inch-diameter pipeline (KB Pipeline) from Portland General Electric Company, KB Pipeline Company, and B-R Pipeline, LLC. 2 Northwest also requests authorization to make the KB Pipeline bi-directional and install a new 5,500 horsepower compressor station in Cowlitz County, Washington. Northwest states the project would provide the transportation services necessary for interested shippers to further access and utilize the non-jurisdictional expansion of the State of Oregon-regulated North Mist Storage facility (North Mist Project), which would be constructed concurrently with the Kelso-Beaver Reliability Project.
Footnotes:
2 ?Portland General Electric Company, KB Pipeline Company, and B-R Pipeline, LLC also filed to abandon the KB Pipeline to Northwest in Docket No. CP25-90-000.
The Project would create 52,400 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of westbound capacity and 131,000 Dth/d of eastbound capacity on Northwest's system. According to Northwest, the Project would provide incremental westbound transportation service from its system into the North Mist Project and new eastbound transportation service from the North Mist Project into Northwest's system.
The project would consist of the following facilities:
• one new KB Compressor Station in Cowlitz County, Washington, consisting of one 5,500 horsepower electric motor driven compressor unit and appurtenances. The site is currently residential in use; and
• modification of the existing KB Meter Station and existing aboveground facilities in Cowlitz County, Washington.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 4.8 acres of land, including about 3.3 acres for the proposed KB Compressor Station, about 0.7 acre for the KB Meter Station, and about 0.8 acre for temporary workspace along the KB Pipeline right-of-way. Northwest would purchase the land on which the proposed compressor station and meter station would be constructed. Following construction, Northwest would maintain about 3.9 acres for permanent operation of the project's aboveground facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses.
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 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.
[top] Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the 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 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? 3 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.
Footnotes:
3 ?For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document. 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.
Footnotes:
4 ?Cooperating agency responsibilities are addressed in section 107(a)(3) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(3)).
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, 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 environmental document for this project will document findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
Footnotes:
5 ?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.
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; 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.
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 GasProjectAddressChange@ferc.gov stating your request. You must include the docket number CP25-89-000 or CP25-90-000 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 3).
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. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov 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: April 17, 2025.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-06944 Filed 4-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P