November 7, Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20426

Transcription

1 November 7, 2014 Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, DC Re: Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C., Docket No. PF Northeast Energy Direct Project Monthly Status Report Dear Ms. Bose: Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. ( Tennessee ) is filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ( Commission ) in Docket No. PF its monthly pre-filing status report for the above-referenced project. This status report updates the information Tennessee provided in its September 15, 2014 pre-filing request letter through the month of October Subsequent status reports will be submitted on a calendar month basis. In accordance with the Commission s filing requirements, Tennessee is submitting this filing with the Commission s Secretary through the efiling system. Tennessee is also providing complete copies of this filing to the Office of Energy Projects ( OEP ). Any questions concerning the enclosed filing should be addressed to Ms. Jacquelyne Rocan at (713) or to Mr. Richard Siegel at (713) Respectfully submitted, TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY Enclosure By: J. Curtis Moffatt J. Curtis Moffatt Deputy General Counsel and Vice President Gas Group Legal cc: Mr. Rich McGuire Mr. Michael McGehee Mr. Eric Tomasi

2 Public Outreach Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company ( Tennessee ) Northeast Energy Direct ( NED ) Project, Docket No. PF Pre-Filing Monthly Activity Report (September 15, 2014 through October 31, 2014) 1 Tennessee has distributed the following NED Project notifications: Notification that Tennessee filed a request to implement a pre-filing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was ed to impacted elected officials on September 16, NED Project newsletter was ed to Project stakeholders on September 25, Project fact card, newsletter, and state-specific Kinder Morgan asset documents were mailed to affected landowners. Notification of upcoming survey activities was provided to elected officials in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts on October 8, Details regarding open houses were provided to elected officials in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire on October 16, Tennessee held or took part in the following stakeholder meetings and presentations: Springfield, Massachusetts -- Western Massachusetts EDC infrastructure committee natural gas infrastructure discussion on September 16, 2014 Lenox, Massachusetts -- Berkshire Garden Club public forum presentation on September 17, 2014 Pittsfield, Massachusetts -- Berkshire Planning Commission presentation on September 18, 2014 Ayer, Shirley, and Harvard Rotary Clubs joint presentation on September 25, 2014 Pittsfield, Massachusetts City Council Public Health & Safety Committee presentation on September 30, 2014 Dracut, Massachusetts -- Dracut and Tyngsborough joint town presentation on October 1, 2014 Winchendon, Massachusetts -- Winchendon town presentation on October 6, 2014 Salem, New Hampshire -- Salem town presentation on October 8, 2014 Environmental Pittsfield, Massachusetts -- Berkshire Chamber of Commerce natural gas forum on October 30, 2014 New Lebanon, New York -- Columbia County joint three town presentation on October 30, 2014 Tennessee submitted its pre-filing request letter to the Commission on September 15, The Commission issued a notice granting request to use the pre-filing process for the NED Project on October 2, Prior to submitting the pre-filing request, Tennessee mailed pre-filing participation request letter to Native American Tribes in the NED Project area (on August 28, 2014) and to applicable regulatory agencies (on August 29, 2014), and has received multiple 1 This first monthly status report updates the information provided in Tennessee s September 15, 2014 pre-filing request through the month of October Subsequent status reports will be submitted on a calendar month basis.

3 responses regarding Native America Tribes and regulatory agencies intent to participate in the pre-filing process for the NED Project. Cultural resource predictive models were filed with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission ( PHMC ) and the New York State Historic Preservation Office ( NYSHPO ). The PHMC approval model was approved on October 2, The NYSHPO predictive model was approved on October 2, On October 8, 2014, Tennessee notified the Native American Tribes in the NED Project area and applicable regulatory agencies of the Commission s approval of the pre-filing request, and included information regarding submittal of comments to the Commission as part of the pre-filing process. On October 21, 2014, Tennessee mailed consultation letters to various regulatory agencies to solicit information on the proposed NED Project route. On October 21, 2014, Tennessee mailed consultation letters to the Native American Tribes in the NED Project area. Certain responses have been received as of the date of tiling this status report. On October 30, 2014, the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office Project Notification form was filed. Architectural research was completed at the PHMC. Architectural background research was completed at the NYSHPO. Tennessee has submitted threatened and endangered species consultation letters to New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania state authorities. In addition, Tennessee has submitted consultation letters to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service offices for both New York and Pennsylvania. Tennessee continues to maintain and update the mailing list for applicable regulatory agencies and Native American Tribes in the NED Project area. Tennessee executed a contract with Edge Engineering and Science, the third-party environmental contractor selected by the Commission. Tennessee environmental representatives have attended multiple public meetings to support the Tennessee public outreach efforts for the NED Project. Tennessee prepared drafts of Resource Reports 1 and 10, and updated stakeholder list. Subsequent to the end of the reporting period for this first pre-filing status report, Tennessee filed the draft Resource Reports 1 and 10, and updated stakeholder list, on November 5, As of October 31, 2014, biological surveys have taken place over approximately 16.7 miles, or 10 percent, of the NED Project Supply Path route (Troy, Pennsylvania to Wright, New York) and approximately 32.4 miles, or 13 percent, of the NED Project Market Path route (Wright, New York to Dracut, Massachusetts). In addition, cultural resource surveys have taken place over approximately 13.0 miles, or 8 percent, of the route NED Project Supply Path route and approximately 29.7 miles, or 12 percent, of the NED Project Market Path route. Both biological and cultural resource surveys are expected to continue, weather permitting, through early December Table 1 below summarizes the completion status of environmental and cultural surveys. 2

4 Table 1: Civil, Biological, and Cultural Surveys Performed Survey Survey Completed (miles) Area* Segment (miles) Civil** Environmental Cultural NED Project (Supply Path) 159 C: 36.7 D: NED Project (Market Path) 253 C: 53.3 D: % Complete C: 22% D: 13% 12% 10% *The total survey area in Table 1 does not correlate precisely to proposed total length of pipeline for the NED Project. This number represents the survey area for the proposed pipeline and for evaluation of route alternatives. ** C represents center line staking. D represents completed civil detail survey. Project Meetings Tennessee conducted a preliminary consultation meeting with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on October 28, 2014 in Albany, New York. A meeting with the Native American Oneida Tribe of New York is scheduled for November 13, 2014 Tennessee scheduled various open houses throughout the NED Project Market Path area in November and December 2014, and filed this information with the Commission on October 21, Subsequent to the end of the reporting period for this first pre-filing status report and the filing of the draft Resource Reports 1 and 10, and updated stakeholder list, on November 5, 2014, Tennessee filed a letter with the Commission on November 6, 2014 to postpone the scheduled open houses to provide stakeholders with additional time to review the information submitted on November 5, Tennessee will work with the Commission staff to establish the updated open house schedule for the NED Project. Right-of-Way Tennessee has obtained survey permission for approximately 48% of the NED Project Market Path area, and for approximately 55% of the NED Project Supply Path. Title work for the NED Project Market Path area is approximately 79% completed and for the NED Supply Path is approximately 12% completed. Tennessee land representatives are supporting the evaluation process for potential alternatives with landowner identification. Notification letters regarding the pre-filing process for the NED Project were sent to 988 landowners on October 15, 2014 (for the NED Supply Path area), to 2,036 landowners on October 16, 2014 (for the NED Project Market Path area). Engineering Tennessee continues to evaluate the proposed route for the NED Project. Deviations to the proposed route are being made to accommodate construction constraints, and requests from landowners and applicable regulatory agencies. Tennessee engineers are evaluating proposed alternatives, as identified in the draft Resource Report 10 submitted on November 5, 2014, as discussed above, including options to avoid Article 97 properties in Massachusetts. 3

5 Tennessee continues to evaluate the proposed major river crossings. Preparations are being made to permit geotechnical cores in the Hudson River (New York) to support the proposed horizontal directional drill ( HDD ) crossing method. In addition, Tennessee continues to evaluate other potential HDD locations. Once these locations are identified, Tennessee will seek appropriate permits for the geotechnical investigations. Tennessee is finalizing a proposal for aerial photography of the proposed primary route for the NED Project and for several alternative routes discussed in the draft Resource Report 10 submitted on November 5, 2014, as discussed above. Tennessee engineering supported the preparation of draft Resource Reports 1 and 10 for the NED Project. Tennessee is continuing to evaluate locations for proposed compressor stations along the proposed route, and site visits are being scheduled. Tennessee continues to evaluate routing of laterals based on potential sites for the proposed Market Path Tail Station. Tennessee field engineers continue to identify available access roads, pipe/construction yards, and other areas to be used during construction. Tennessee is revising route maps to include extra construction workspace, where needed. Tennessee engineers continue to support the public outreach efforts and field survey efforts for wetlands and cultural resources. Civil engineers continue to stake centerline along all routes on accessible land. Preparation of NED Project alignment sheets is anticipated to begin in December Tennessee is scheduling the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for proposed compressor stations in the fourth quarter of

6 Document Content(s) NED Project-Monthly Status Rpt_Trnsmtl_(Nov 7)final.DOCX NED Project_MonthlyStatusRpt(November 7)final.DOCX...2-5