Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Rover Pipeline Project et al under CP15-93 et al.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Routing Code PJ 11.4 Washington, DC 20426 Office of Energy Projects Washington, DC 20426 Official Business Penalty for Private Use FERC EIS No. 0267D Draft Environmental Impact Statement Trunkline Backhaul Project Rover Pipeline Project, Panhandle Backhaul Project & Draft Environmental Impact Statement FERC EIS 0267D Rover Pipeline Project Panhandle Backhaul Project & Trunkline Backhaul Project Docket Nos. February 2016 CP15-93-000 CP15-94-000 CP15-96-000 Docket Nos.: February 2016 CP15-93-000, CP15-94-000 and CP15-96-000 Cooperating Agencies FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426 OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS In Reply Refer To: OEP/DG2E/Gas 4 Rover Pipeline, LLC Rover Pipeline Project Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP Panhandle Backhaul Project Trunkline Gas Company, LLC Trunkline Backhaul Project Docket Nos. CP15-93-000 CP15-94-000 CP15-96-000 TO THE PARTY ADDRESSED: The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Rover Pipeline Project, Panhandle Backhaul Project, and Trunkline Backhaul Project (Projects), proposed by Rover Pipeline, LLC (Rover), Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, LP (Panhandle), and Trunkline Gas Company, LLC (Trunkline), respectively, in the above-referenced dockets. Rover, Panhandle, and Trunkline request authorization to construct and operate certain interstate natural gas pipeline facilities in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Mississippi to deliver up to 3.25 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas supply from the Marcellus and Utica Shale producers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio through interconnections with existing pipeline infrastructure in Ohio and Michigan to supply interstate natural gas pipelines and storage facilities as well as markets in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and Canadian regions. The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Projects in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the Projects would have some adverse and significant environmental impacts; however, these impacts would be reduced to acceptable levels with the implementation of Rovers, Panhandles, and Trunklines proposed mitigation and the additional measures recommended by staff in the draft EIS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OHEPA), and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) participated as cooperating agencies in ...