[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 73 (Thursday, April 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16120-16121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06615]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP25-79-000]
ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of
an Environmental Assessment for the Heartland Project
On February 20, 2025, ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) filed an
application in Docket No. CP25-79-000 requesting a Certificate of
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) and
Authorization pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to
construct, replace, and operate certain natural gas pipeline
facilities. The proposed project is known as the Heartland Project
(Project) and would expand ANR's existing system to provide up to
473,000 dekatherms per day of incremental firm transportation service
to meet market demand for increased natural gas supply in the Midwest
United States.
On March 6, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project.
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's
environmental document for the Project.
[[Page 16121]]
This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\ The EA will be
issued for a 30-day comment period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For tracking purposes under the National Environmental
Policy Act, the unique identification number for documents relating
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1743174609.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule for Environmental Review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issuance of EA......................... October 10, 2025.
90-day Federal Authorization Decision January 8, 2026.
Deadline \2\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the
Project's progress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Description
The Project consists of: (1) installing approximately 68.9 miles of
new pipeline looping; (2) replacing approximately 1.5 miles of existing
18-inch- and 22-inch-diameter pipeline with a 30-inch diameter
pipeline; (3) constructing three new greenfield compressor stations
totaling 25,150 horsepower (hp) and installing one 19,500 hp compressor
unit at one existing compressor station; (4) installing two greenfield
meter stations and upgrading/expanding three existing meter stations;
and (5) constructing or modifying other existing appurtenant
facilities. The proposed Heartland Project is located in Brown, Racine,
Sheboygan, Waukesha, and Winnebago Counties, Wisconsin, and Bureau,
Kendall, Kane, McHenry, and Will Counties, Illinois.
Background
On July 22, 2024, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Heartland
Project and Notice of Public Scoping Session (Notice of Scoping). The
Notice of Scoping was issued during the pre-filing review of the
Project in Docket No. PF24-3-000 and was sent to affected landowners;
federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers.
In response to the Notice of Scoping, the Commission received
comments from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, McHenry County,
the City of New Berlin, 10 individuals, including potentially affected
landowners, and 20 letters in support of the Project. The primary
topics raised by the commenters are the potential for impacts on
threatened/endangered species, conservation areas, land use, water
resources, cultural resources, climate change, socioeconomics, noise,
air quality, safety, health effects, general support for the Project,
and the consideration of alternative routes and compressor station
locations. All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Wisconsin Department of
Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection; and Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the
EA.
Additional Information
In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to
keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 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.
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].
Additional information about the Project 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, select
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP25-79), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at [email protected].
The eLibrary link on the FERC website also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rule makings.
Dated: April 11, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-06615 Filed 4-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P