Comment of Allegheny Defense Project, Center for Biological Diversity, FreshWater Accountability Project, Heartwood, Kentucky Heartwood and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition re: CP15-88-000.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. Docket No. CP15-88-000 COMMENTS OF ALLEGHENY DEFENSE PROJECT, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRESHWATER ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT, HEARTWOOD, KENTUCKY HEARTWOOD, AND OHIO VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION The following comments are provided on behalf of the Allegheny Defense Project, Center for Biological Diversity, FreshWater Accountability Project, Heartwood, Kentucky Heartwood and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (collectively, Commenters) regarding Tennessee Gas Pipeline Companys (Tennessee) proposed Abandonment and Capacity Restoration Project (ACR Project). Tennessee proposes to abandon in place and sell approximately 964 miles of its existing 100 and 200 Lines (Abandoned Line) to its affiliate, Utica Marcellus Texas Pipeline, LLC (UMTP). UMTP will then convert the abandoned gas line so that it can transport natural gas liquids (NGL) as part of the UMTP Project. Tennessee will replace the Abandoned Line with new pipeline, compressor stations and other related infrastructure (Replacement Facilities) to maintain natural gas capacity under existing, long- term contracts currently supported by the Abandoned Line. All communications regarding this request should be addressed to and served upon: Ryan Talbott Jared M. Margolis Executive Director Staff Attorney, Endangered Species Program Allegheny Defense Project Center for Biological Diversity 117 West Wood Lane 2852 Willamette St. # 171 Kane, PA 16735 Eugene, OR 97405 (503) 329-9162 (503) 283-5474 rtalbott@alleghenydefense.org jmargolis@biologicaldiversity.org Lea Harper Ernest Q. Reed, Jr. Managing Director President 1 FreshWater Accountability Project Heartwood P.O. Box 473 P.O. Box 1065 Grand Rapids, OH 43522 Charlottesville, VA 22902 wewantcleanwater@gmail.com lec@wildvirginia.org Jim Scheff Vivian Stockman Director OVEC Project Coordinator Kentucky Heartwood Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition P.O. Box 1486 P.O. Box 6753 Berea, KY 40403 Huntington, WV 25773-6753 (859) 334-0602 (304) 522-0246 jim@kyheartwood.org vivian@ohvec.org COMMENTS I. FERC must prepare an environmental impact statement for the ACR Project and UMTP Project. A. The ACR Project and UMTP Project are connected, cumulative and similar actions that must be considered in the same EIS. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C). When preparing an EIS, an agency must determine the appropriate scope of the analysis. 40 C.F.R. 1508.25. In determining the proper scope of the analysis, an agency shall consider 3 types of actions connected, cumulative and similar actions. 40 C.F.R. 1508.25(a). As will be explained below, the ACR Project and UMTP Project are ...