Docket No. CP22-466-000
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Wahpeton Expansion Project (Project).
WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. (WBI Energy) proposes to construct and operate a 60.5-mile-long, 12-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in Cass and Richland Counties, North Dakota. Construction and operation of the proposed facilities would provide 20,600 equivalent dekatherms of natural gas per day to Kindred and Wahpeton, North Dakota.
The Project would include the following natural gas facilities:
- a new 60.5-mile-long, 12-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline;
- minor modifications to WBI Energy’s existing Mapleton Compressor Station;
- a new Montana Dakota Utilities (MDU)-Wahpeton Border Station;
- a new MDU-Kindred Border Station;
- seven new block valve settings;
- four new pig launcher/receiver settings; and
- ancillary facilities.
The EIS was prepared in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], 1502.13), and FERC regulations implementing NEPA (18 CFR 380).
FERC staff concludes that construction and operation of the Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts. Most of these impacts would be temporary and occur during construction (e.g., impacts on wetlands, land use, traffic, and noise). With the exception of climate change impacts that are not characterized in the EIS as significant or insignificant, staff conclude that Project effects would not be significant. As part of the analysis, Commission staff developed specific mitigation measures (included in the draft EIS as recommendations). Staff recommend that these mitigation measures be attached as conditions to any authorization issued by the Commission.
The draft EIS comment period closes on December 27, 2022. The Commission will take into consideration staff’s recommendations when it makes a decision on the Project.