First Public Comment Session on the Draft EIS for the Ridgeline Expansion Project (CP23-516-000, CP23-516-001)

Docket Nos. CP23-516-000, CP23-516-001

 The draft EIS is not a decision document.  It presents Commission staff’s independent analysis of the environmental issues for the Commission to consider when addressing the merits of all issues in this proceeding.  Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so.  Your comments should focus on the draft EIS’s disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts, and the completeness of the submitted alternatives, information, and analyses.  In addition, landowner comments are encouraged on the site-specific construction plans that East Tennessee developed for residences within 25 feet of construction work areas, provided in appendix J of the draft EIS.  To ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that the Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 pm Eastern Time on July 15, 2024.   

Comments

The primary goal of these comment sessions is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns with the draft EIS.  Individual verbal comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter.  This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.

Each comment session is scheduled from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  You may arrive at any time after 6:00 pm.  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 the end times listed above.  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 7:30 pm.  Please see appendix 2 for additional information on the session format and conduct.

Your oral comments will be recorded by the 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 page 2 and 3 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 may be implemented for each commentor.  Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the comment session to answer your questions about the environmental review process.

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 comment session. 

Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR Part 385.214).  Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene.  Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission’s decision.  The Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. 

Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.

Questions?

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.  The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

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, environmental justice communities, 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. 

In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets.  This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents.  Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.

Session Format

FERC is conducting the session to solicit your comments on the draft environmental impact statement.  There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff; however, FERC staff is available to answer questions about the environmental review process.  The session format is as follows:

• Tickets are handed out on a “first come, first serve” basis starting at the time listed in the Notice.
• Individuals are called in ticket number order to provide verbal comments to be transcribed by a court reporter for the public record. 
• Time limits on verbal comments may be enforced to ensure that all those wishing to comment have the opportunity to do so within the designated session time.
• Written comments may be submitted in addition to, or in lieu of, verbal comments. 
• Additional materials about FERC and the environmental review process are available at information stations at the session.

Session Conduct

Proper conduct will help the sessions maintain a respectful atmosphere for attendees to learn about the FERC Environmental Review Process and to be able to provide comments effectively.

• Loudspeakers, lighting, oversized visual aids, or other visual or audible disturbances are not permitted.
• Disruptive video and photographic equipment may not be used. 
• Conversations should be kept to a reasonable volume.  Attendees should be respectful of those providing verbal comments to the court reporters.
• Recorded interviews are not permitted within the session space.  

FERC reserves the right end the session if disruptions interfere with the opportunity for individuals to provide verbal comments or if there is a safety or security risk