{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA-2021-0118","title":"Florida Gas Transmission — Pipeline Special Permit","source_type":"permit","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":"2022-04-04","effective_on":"2022-04-04","summary":"PHMSA-2021-0118, issued 2022-04-04 for Florida Gas Transmission's gas transmission system.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2021-0118.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2021-0118.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-special-permit-phmsa-2021-0118","source_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docket/PHMSA-2021-0118","body":"PHMSA pipeline special permit PHMSA-2021-0118. Operator: Florida Gas Transmission. System: Gas Transmission. Issue date: 2022-04-04.\n\n<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION\nPIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION\nENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT\nand\nFINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT\nSpecial Permit Information:\nDocket Number: PHMSA-2021-0118\nRequested By: Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC\nOperator ID#: 5304\nOriginal Date Requested: November 17, 2021\nIssuance Date: April 4, 2022\nCode Section(s): 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d) and 192.619(a)\nI. Background:\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 – 4375 et seq., Council on\nEnvironmental Quality Regulations, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and U.S. Department of Transportation\n(DOT) Order No. 5610.1C, requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)1 to analyze a proposed action to\ndetermine whether the action will have a significant impact on the human environment.\nPHMSA analyzes special permit requests for potential risks to public safety and the environment\nthat could result from our decision to grant, grant with additional conditions, or deny the\nrequest. As part of this analysis, PHMSA evaluates whether a special permit will impact the\nlikelihood or consequence of a pipeline failure as compared to the operation of the pipeline in\n1 Throughout this special permit the usage of “PHMSA” or “PHMSA OPS” means the U.S. Department of\nTransportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Pipeline Safety.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 1 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nfull compliance with the Federal pipeline safety regulations. PHMSA’s environmental review\nassociated with the special permit application is limited to impacts that would result from\ngranting or denying the special permit. PHMSA developed this assessment to determine what\neffects, if any, our decision would have on the environment.\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60118(c) and 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 190.341, PHMSA\nmay only grant special permit requests that are not inconsistent with pipeline safety. PHMSA\nwill impose conditions in the special permit if we conclude they are necessary for safety,\nenvironmental protection, or are otherwise in the public interest. If PHMSA determines that a\nspecial permit would be inconsistent with pipeline safety or is not justified, the application will\nbe denied.\nThe purpose of this Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) is to comply with National\nEnvironmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC (FGT)2\nspecial permit to waive compliance from 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d) and 192.619(a) for one (1)\nspecial permit segment and one (1) special permit inspection area along the FGT natural gas\ntransmission pipeline system in Florida. This FEA assesses the pipeline special permit request,\nin accordance with 49 CFR 190.341, and is intended to specifically analyze any environmental\nimpact associated with the waiver of certain federal pipeline safety regulations found in 49 CFR\n192.611(a) and (d) and 192.619(a). This permit requires FGT to implement additional\nconditions on the operations, maintenance, and integrity management (IM) of the approximately\n0.978 miles (special permit segment) on the 26-inch Mainline Loop CMPR STA 18-19\n(Pipeline) and approximately 73.7 miles (special permit inspection area) of the FGT natural gas\ntransmission pipeline system located in Brevard County, Florida.\nII. Introduction:\nPursuant to 49 U.S.C. 60118(b) and 49 CFR 190.341, FGT submitted a special permit\napplication to PHMSA on November 17, 2021, requesting that PHMSA waive the requirements\nof 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d) and 192.619(a) to permit FGT to maintain the maximum\n2 Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC is owned by Energy Transfer and Kinder Morgan, Inc.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 2 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nallowable operating pressure (MAOP) for one (1) special permit segment where the class\nlocation has changed from Class 1 to Class 3 located in in Brevard County, Florida.\nPHMSA is granting a special permit to waive certain regulatory requirements where it is not\ninconsistent with pipeline safety. A special permit is typically conditioned on the performance\nof additional measures beyond minimum Federal pipeline safety regulations, in accordance with\n49 CFR 190.341.\nIII. Regulatory Background:\nPHMSA regulations at 49 CFR 192.611(a) require that an operator confirm or revise the MAOP\nof a pipe segment that is in satisfactory condition when the hoop stress of the segment is no\nlonger commensurate with class location. Under 49 CFR 192.611(a), an operator may be\nrequired to reduce the operating pressure of a pipe segment, or alternatively, may have to\nreplace the pipe in order to maintain the MAOP. Below is the relevant text of 49 CFR\n192.611(a):\n49 CFR 192.611 Change in class location: Confirmation or revision of maximum allowable\noperating pressure\n(a) If the hoop stress corresponding to the established maximum allowable operating pressure\nof a segment of pipeline is not commensurate with the present class location, and the\nsegment is in satisfactory physical condition, the maximum allowable operating pressure of\nthat segment of pipeline must be confirmed or revised according to one of the following\nrequirements:\n(1) If the segment involved has been previously tested in place for a period of not less than 8\nhours:\n(i) The maximum allowable operating pressure is 0.8 times the test pressure in Class 2\nlocations, 0.667 times the test pressure in Class 3 locations, or 0.555 times the test\npressure in Class 4 locations. The corresponding hoop stress may not exceed 72\npercent of the SMYS of the pipe in Class 2 locations, 60 percent of SMYS in Class 3\nlocations, or 50 percent of SMYS in Class 4 locations.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 3 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n(ii) The alternative maximum allowable operating pressure is 0.8 times the test pressure in\nClass 2 locations and 0.667 times the test pressure in Class 3 locations. For pipelines\noperating at alternative maximum allowable pressure per §192.620, the corresponding\nhoop stress may not exceed 80 percent of the SMYS of the pipe in Class 2 locations and\n67 percent of SMYS in Class 3 locations.\n(2) The maximum allowable operating pressure of the segment involved must be reduced so\nthat the corresponding hoop stress is not more than that allowed by this part for new\nsegments of pipelines in the existing class location.\n3) The segment involved must be tested in accordance with the applicable requirements of\nsubpart J of this part, and its maximum allowable operating pressure must then be\nestablished according to the following criteria:\n(i) The maximum allowable operating pressure after the requalification test is 0.8 times\nthe test pressure for Class 2 locations, 0.667 times the test pressure for Class 3\nlocations, and 0.555 times the test pressure for Class 4 locations.\n(ii) The corresponding hoop stress may not exceed 72 percent of the SMYS of the pipe in\nClass 2 locations, 60 percent of SMYS in Class 3 locations, or 50 percent of SMYS in\nClass 4 locations.\n(iii) For pipeline operating at an alternative maximum allowable operating pressure per\n§192.620, the alternative maximum allowable operating pressure after the\nrequalification test is 0.8 times the test pressure for Class 2 locations and 0.667 times\nthe test pressure for Class 3 locations. The corresponding hoop stress may not exceed\n80 percent of the SMYS of the pipe in Class 2 locations and 67 percent of SMYS in\nClass 3 locations.\n49 CFR 192.619 What is the maximum allowable operating pressure for steel or plastic\npipelines?\n(a)(2)(ii) For steel pipe operated at 100 p.s.i. (689 kPa) gage or more, the test pressure is divided\nby a factor determined in accordance with the following table:\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 4 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nSection 192.619(a) requires Class 3 location pipe to be pressure tested to 1.5 times MAOP.\nIV. Purpose and Need\nFGT requested a waiver from the requirements of 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d) and 192.619(a) for\nthe special permit segment consisting of approximately 0.978 miles of natural gas transmission\npipeline listed below in Table 1 – Special Permit Segment. Without a special permit, the cited\nregulations require that FGT complete pipe replacement, hydrotest, and pressure reduction,\nbased on population changes in the vicinity of the special permit segment. FGT must apply the\nspecial permit conditions to one (1) special permit segment to provide an equivalent margin of\nsafety and environmental protection to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 192.611, as outlined in\nthe special permit conditions.\nThe special permit establishes enhanced IM procedures to maintain pipe integrity and protect\nboth the public and the environment for the class location units in which the special permit\nsegment is located for the length of pipeline covered by the special permit. In addition, FGT\nmust comply with conditions as provided in the terms of the special permit for all the impacted\nspecial permit segments and the special permit inspection area in the special permit.\nThe special permit authorizes future class changes within the special permit inspection area\n(special permit segment extensions) under the special permit, providing the special permit\nsegment extensions meet the special permit conditions applicable to the special permit segment.\nIn that case, FGT must also notify PHMSA and update this FEA/FONSI.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 5 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nV. Site Description\nThe special permit segment consists of 5,162 feet (approximately 0.978) of the 26-inch diameter\nMainline Loop CMPR STA 18-19 Pipeline located in Brevard County, Florida. The special\npermit inspection area extends approximately 73.7 miles of the pipeline.\nVI. Special Permit Segments and Special Permit Inspection Areas\nSpecial Permit Segment:\nThis special permit applies to the special permit segment identified in Table 1 – Special Permit\nSegment and are identified using the FGT survey station (SS) references.\nTable 1 – Special Permit Segment\nSpecial\nStart\nEnd\nOutside\nPermit\nDiameter\nLine Name Length\n(feet)\nSurvey\nStation\nSurvey\nStation\nCounty,\nState\nYear\nSeam\nMAOP\nSegment\nNumber\nInstalled\nType\n(psig)\n(inches)\n(SS)\n(SS)\n182069 26\n26-inch Mainline\nLoop STA 18 - STA\n19\n5,162 3241+20 3292+82 Brevard, FL 1968 DSAW 977\nSpecial Permit Inspection Area:\nThe special permit inspection area is defined as the area that extends 220 yards on each side of\nthe centerline along approximately 79.7 miles of 26-inch diameter Mainline Loop pipeline. A\nsummary of special permit inspection area is included in Table 2 – Special Permit Inspection\nArea.\nTable 2 – Special Permit Inspection Area\nSpecial\nSpecial Permit\nOutside\nPermit\nInspection\nSegment\nNumber(s)\nDiameter\nLine Name County, State Start Survey\nStation (MP)\nEnd Survey\nStation (MP)\nLength\n(miles)\n(inches)\nArea Name\nFLMEB-18 182069 26 Mainline Loop\nSTA18-STA19 Brevard, FL 668.8 742.5 73.7\nAttachment B1 is a general map that includes the pipeline route map showing the special\npermit segment and special permit inspection area.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 6 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nPHMSA is granting this special permit request based on this document and the \"Special Permit\nAnalysis and Findings\" document, which is incorporated by reference into this document and\ncan be read in its entirety in Docket No. PHMSA-2021-0118 in the Federal Docket Management\nSystem (FDMS) located on the internet at www.regulations.gov.\nVII. Alternatives\nAlternative 1: “No Action” Alternative\nIf PHMSA were to select the “no action” alternative, PHMSA would deny FGT’s special permit\nrequest, FGT would be required to fully comply with 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d) and\n192.619(a). In order to maintain the existing MAOP, FGT would be required to replace the\n0.978 miles (5,162 feet) of pipe in the special permit segment or FGT would be required to\nreduce pressure on the segment. FGT stated that it would choose to replace the special permit\nsegment to maintain the MAOP because a pressure reduction would prevent it from meeting its\ncontractual obligations to deliver natural gas to its customers.\nAlternative 2: “Selected” Alternative – Issuance of the special permit\nPHMSA is granting the special permit with the below conditions, and FGT is allowed to\ncontinue to operate at the current maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of 977\npounds per square inch gauge (psig) in the Class 3 location without replacing pipe while\ncomplying with the special permit conditions, as described below.\nVIII. Overview of Special Permit Conditions\nThe special permit conditions are designed to prevent leaks and ruptures such that the Special\nPermit is not inconsistent with pipeline safety. This section provides an overview of the special\npermit conditions. For FGT specific technical requirements, see Attachment C - Special\nPermit Conditions.\n1) Current Status of Pipe in the Ground\nTo ensure that key characteristics of the pipe currently installed in each special permit\nsegment is known, FGT must provide records that confirm pipe specifications, successful\npressure tests, and girth weld non-destructive tests are required. Should records be\nunavailable or unacceptable, additional activities as detailed in the special permit must be\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 7 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\ncompleted. If FGT does not complete these additional activities are not completed or should\npipe be discovered that does not meet specific requirements of eligibility, the special permit\nsegment must be replaced.\n2) Operating Conditions\nThe special permit inspection area must continue to be operated at or below the existing\nMAOP until a restoration or uprating plan has been approved, if allowed by the special\npermit. To ensure compliance with special permit conditions, the operator’s Operations and\nMaintenance Manual (O&M), IMP, and Damage Prevention (DP) program must be modified\nto implement the special permit conditions. In addition, PHMSA must approve any long-\nterm flow reversals that would impact the special permit segment.\n3) Threat Management\nThreats are factors that can lead to the failure of a pipeline. Activities are required to\nidentify, assess, remediate, and monitor threats to the pipeline.\na) General activities. The permit holder must perform annual data integration and\nidentification of threats to which the special permit inspection area is susceptible. These\nactivities must include integrity assessments with specific inline inspection tools, strict\nanomaly repair criteria, and appropriate environmental assessment and permitting.\nAdditional integrity assessment methodologies may be used if allowed by the special\npermit. Integrity assessments must then be conducted periodically at an interval\ndetermined in the special permit for each threat identified.\nb) External corrosion control requirements. The special permit requires additional\nactivities to monitor and mitigate external corrosion. These activities include installation\nand annual monitoring of cathodic protection (CP) test stations, periodic close interval\nsurveys (CIS), and clearing or remediating shorted casings that may impede CP\neffectiveness. These activities ensure the appropriate level of CP is reaching the pipeline\nin areas where coating loss or damage has occurred in order to prevent or mitigate\nexternal corrosion. In addition, FGT will be required to develop and implement a plan\nthat identifies and remediates interference from alternating or direct current (AC/DC)\nsources (such as high-voltage powerlines) that could adversely impact the effectiveness\nof CP.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 8 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nc) Internal corrosion control requirements. The special permit includes gas quality\nspecifications to mitigate internal corrosion because internal corrosion is highly\ndependent on the quality of the gas transported within the pipeline and.\nd) Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) requirements. To ensure that SCC is discovered and\nremediated, any time a pipe segment is exposed during an excavation the permit holder\nmust examine coating to determine type and condition. If the coating is in poor\ncondition, FGT must conduct additional SCC analysis. If SCC is confirmed, FGT must\nimplement additional special permit defined remediation and mitigation.\ne) Pipe seam requirements. FGT must perform an engineering integrity analysis to\ndetermine susceptibility to seam threats. The permit holder must re-pressure test any\nspecial permit segments with an identified seam to ensure the issue is not systemic in\nnature.\nf) External pipe stress requirements. Upon identification of any source of external stress\non the pipeline (such as soil movement), FGT must develop procedures to evaluate and\nperiodically monitor these stresses.\ng) Third-party specific requirements. To assist in identifying the pipeline location and\nminimizing the chance of accidental pipeline strikes, FGT must install and maintain line-\nof-site markers for the pipeline. FGT must perform mitigation activities for any location\nwhere a depth-of-cover survey shows insufficient soil cover.\n4) Consequence Mitigation\nTo ensure quick response and decreased adverse outcome in the event of a failure, each side\n(upstream and downstream) of the special permit segment must have and maintain operable\nautomatic shutdown valves (ASV) or remote-controlled valves (RCV). FGT must monitor\nvalves through a control room with a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)\nsystem. In addition to the mainline valves, should a crossover or lateral connect between the\nvalve locations, additional isolation valves may be required.\n5) Post Leak or Failure\nIf the special permit inspection area experiences an in-service or pressure test leak/failure,\nFGT must conduct a root cause analysis to determine the cause. If the cause is determined\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 9 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nto be systemic in nature, the permit holder must implement a remediation plan or the special\npermit segment must be replaced, as determined by the special permit specific conditions.\n6) Class Location Study and Potential Extension of Special permit segment\nFGT must conduct a class location study at an interval specified in the special permit. This\nallows the permit holder to quickly identify extended locations that must comply with the\nspecial permit segment requirements. FGT may extend the special permit segment with\nproper notification, update of the Final Environmental Assessment, and implementation of\nall requirements in the special permit.\n7) PHMSA Oversite and Management\nPHMSA maintains oversight and management of each special permit. This includes annual\nmeetings with executive level officers on special permit implementation status, written\ncertification of the special permit, special permit required notification of planned activities,\nnotification of root cause analysis results, and notification prior to certain excavation\nactivities so that PHMSA may observe.\n8) Gas Leakage Surveys and Remediation\nThe special permit segment and special permit inspection area have requirements in the\nspecial permit to conduct leakage surveys more frequently than is presently required in 49\nCFR 192.706. Gas leakage surveys using instrumented gas leakage detection equipment\nmust be conducted along each special permit segment and at all valves, flanges, pipeline tie-\nins with valves and flanges, ILI launcher, and ILI receiver facilities in each special permit\ninspection area at least twice each calendar year, not to exceed 7½ months. The type of\nleak detection equipment used, survey findings, and remediation of all instrumented gas\nleakage surveys must be documented by operator. The special permit will require a three-\nstep grading process with a time interval for remediation based upon the type of leak.\n9) Documentation\nFGT must maintain documentation that supports compliance with special permit conditions\nfor the life of the pipeline.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 10 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nIX. Affected Resources and Environmental Consequences\nA. Affected Resources and Environmental Consequences of the Granted\nAction and the No Action Alternatives\nFGT is granted a special permit that waives compliance with 49 CFR 192.611(a) and (d) and\n192.619(a) for a special permit segment totaling 5,162 feet (approximately 0.978 miles) located\nwithin the special permit inspection area totaling approximately 73.7 miles. FGT must comply\nwith the special permit conditions within the special permit segment.\nPotential risks from the regulatory waiver to pipeline integrity will be analyzed for each special\npermit segment to evaluate the potential for impacts or increased risk to safety or environmental\nresources.\nAesthetics: The visual character of the special permit segment and the special permit inspection\narea will not be changed by the approval of this special permit request. The objective of the\nspecial permit is to avoid construction or ground disturbances in the pipeline ROW that would\nbe necessitated if the special permit was not granted. Therefore, the issuance of the requested\nspecial permit will result sporadic and temporary aesthetic impacts due to increased monitoring,\nmaintenance, and repair activities along the affected special permit segment or special permit\ninspection area.\nDenial of the special permit request would require the replacement or pressure testing of all the\npipeline segments associated with this special permit request. Pipe replacement would require\nremoval of the existing pipe and installation of a new pipe. This would result in the use of\nheavy equipment and ground disturbance. Furthermore, pressure testing would also require\ndisturbances along the pipeline ROW.\nAgricultural Resources: This special permit request will not impact agricultural resources in the\npipeline ROW where the special permit segment or the special permit inspection area are\nlocated, as there are none in adjacent areas.\nAir Quality: Air Quality Control Regions (AQCRs) are areas for which implementation plans\ndescribe how ambient air quality standards would be achieved and maintained. AQCRs are\ndefined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Area (EPA) and state agencies in accordance with\nthe Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA). The 1977 CAA Amendments in Section 107 require EPA and\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 11 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\nstates to identify by category those AQCRs meeting and not meeting the U.S. National Ambient\nAir Quality Standards (NAAQS) which are standards for harmful pollutants. Areas meeting the\nNAAQS are designated “attainment areas,” and areas not meeting the NAAQS are designated\n“nonattainment areas”. The designation of an area is made on a pollutant-by-pollutant basis. The\nspecial permit segment occurs in areas that are designated attainment areas for all pollutants.\nThis special permit will not significantly affect the air quality of the special permit segment or\nthe special permit inspection area, as increased monitoring, maintenance, and repair activities\nand associated vehicles and equipment will only have sporadic and temporary air impacts caused\nby fuel combustion. The objective of the special permit is to avoid construction or ground\ndisturbances in the pipeline ROW that would be necessitated if the special permit was not granted.\nIf the special permit request is not granted, pipe replacement and hydrotesting would be required.\nThis would necessitate blowing down the pipeline which releases unburned natural gas into the\natmosphere, which is an aggressive greenhouse gas. Furthermore, pipe replacement and/or\npressure testing would be required which would require the temporary use of heavy equipment,\nwhich result in release of air pollutants.\nBiological Resources: The “Selected” Alternative will not impact vegetation (including\nwetlands), wildlife (including threatened and endangered species), or fishery resources in the\npipeline ROW where the special permit segment or the special permit inspection area are located.\nThe low-growing herbaceous cover within the pipeline ROW may provide sources of food and\nnesting sites for various birds, as well as cover for mammals, invertebrates, reptiles, and\namphibians. The area has been disturbed previously and is located between Interstate 95 (I-95)\nand a man-made drainage canal. Furthermore, the pipeline ROW is maintained in an herbaceous\nstate by routine mowing and clearing activities using mechanical equipment. Therefore, the\nwildlife found in the vicinity of the special permit segment will most likely be tolerant of human\ndisturbance. A discussion of water resources (wetlands and waterbodies) crossed by the special\npermit segments is provided in this document. A discussion of listed species and sensitive areas\n(i.e., conservation land) is provided below.\nListed Species\nThe U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Information, Planning, and Conservation System\n(IPaC) was utilized to identify the federally and state listed threatened and endangered species\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 12 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nthat could potentially inhabit or traverse the special permit segment (USFWS, 2021). Table 3\nprovides a list of the federally and state listed threatened and endangered species potentially\noccurring in the special permit segment. A total of 13 listed species (5 birds, 6 reptiles, and 2\nplants) were identified as potentially occurring in the special permit segment.\nThe objective of the special permit is to avoid construction or ground disturbance in the pipeline\nROW. Therefore, the “Selected” Alternative will not disturb wildlife habitat resulting in “No\neffect” to listed species. However, if the special permit request is not granted by selection of the\n“No Action” Alternative, then pipe replacement and/or pressure testing would be required, which\nwould disturb vegetation and wildlife habitat in the vicinity of the existing pipeline ROW, which\ncould potentially disturb listed species such as gopher tortoises and gopher tortoise commensal\nspecies (i.e., Eastern indigo snake) in the special permit segment.\nAny inspection activities related to the special permit segment will be conducted within the\nboundaries of the previously disturbed pipeline ROW. FGT has received a categorical exclusion\nblanket clearance from the USFWS for minor pipeline construction and maintenance projects\nwithin FGT’s existing ROW. The Florida USFWS Ecological Services Field Office has\ndetermined in its categorical exclusion blanket clearances that work within FGT’s existing ROW\nis unlikely to adversely impact federally listed species and their habitats.\nTABLE 3\nFederally and State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species Potentially\nSpecies Occurring within the Special Permit Segment Areas in Brevard County, Florida\nHabitat Description Federal\nStatus\nState\nStatus Determination of Effect /\nRationale\nBirds\nAudubon's Crested\nCaracara\n(Polyborus plancus\naudubonii)\nT T Eastern Black Rail\n(Laterallus\njamaicensis ssp.\nJamaicensis)\nT T Occurs in dry or wet prairie areas with\nscattered cabbage palms (Sabal\npalmetto). It may also be found in\nlightly wooded areas.\nTypically found in salt and brackish\nmarshes with dense cover.\nNo effect / No suitable habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas (maintained pipeline\nROW).\nNo effect / No suitable habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas (maintained pipeline\nROW).\nEverglade Snail\nKite\n(Rostrhamus\nsociabilis\nplumbeus)\nE E Habitat includes salt and brackish\nmarshes with dense cover.\nNo effect / No suitable habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas (maintained pipeline\nROW).\nRed-Cockaded\nWoodpecker\n(Picoides borealis)\nE E Mature 80-120-year-old longleaf or\nloblolly pine forest.\nNo effect / No mature 80 to120-\nyear-old longleaf or loblolly pine\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 13 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 14>>>\n\nTABLE 3\nFederally and State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species Potentially\nSpecies Occurring within the Special Permit Segment Areas in Brevard County, Florida\nHabitat Description Federal\nStatus\nState\nStatus Determination of Effect /\nRationale\nforest present in the special\npermit project areas (maintained\npipeline ROW).\nWood Stork\n(Mycteria\nAmericana)\nT T Inhabits emergent wetland, mixed\nhardwood swamps, sloughs,\nmangroves, and cypress domes.\nNesting trees range from low shrubs to\ncypress.\nNo effect / No preferred suitable\nnesting habitat present in the\nspecial permit project areas\n(maintained pipeline ROW).\nReptiles\nEastern Indigo\nSnake\n(Drymarchon\ncouperi)\nT T Gopher tortoise\n(Gopherus\nPolyphemus)\nC T Species prefers xeric longleaf pine\nsandhills with gopher tortoise burrows\nand requires very large tracts of land.\nCommensal species with gopher\ntortoise burrows. FGT will adhere to\nUSFWS Standard Protection Measures\nfor the Eastern Indigo Snake if\nexcavations are required in an area\ncontaining burrows.\nInhabits well-drained soils types with\nsparse tree canopy such as pine\nflatwoods, longleaf pine /xeric oak,\nand xeric oak scrub. Habitat includes\ndisturbed soils within utility and road\nROWs.\nNo effect / Although suitable\nhabitat is present within the\npipeline ROW (i.e., gopher\ntortoise burrows),\nthe special permit will allow FGT\nto avoid construction in the\npipeline ROW avoiding impacts\nto this species.\nGreen Sea Turtle\n(Chelonia mydas)\nT T Found in shallow waters (except when\nNo effect / Although suitable\nhabitat is present within the\npipeline ROW, the special permit\nwill allow FGT to avoid\nconstruction in the pipeline ROW\navoiding impacts to this species.\nNo effect / No coastal habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas\nHawksbill Sea\nTurtle\n(Eretmochelys\nimbricate)\nE E migrating) inside reefs, bays, and\ninlets with an abundance of seagrass.\nBeaches are required for nesting.\nPrimarily found in tropical coral reefs.\nNesting occurs on undisturbed deep-\nsand beaches in the tropics.\nNo effect / No coastal habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas\nLeatherback Sea\nTurtle\n(Dermochelys\ncoriacea)\nE E Found primarily in the ocean. Requires\nsandy nesting beaches backed with\nvegetation for nesting.\nNo effect / No coastal habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas.\nLoggerhead Sea\nTurtle\n(Caretta caretta)\nT T Florida’s sandy Atlantic and Gulf of\nMexico beaches are preferred habitat\nfor nesting.\nNo effect / No coastal habitat is\npresent in the special permit\nproject areas (maintained pipeline\nROW).\nFlowering Plants\nCarter's Mustard\n(Warea carteri)\nE E Sandhill, scrubby flatwoods, inland\nand coastal scrub.\nNo effect / Preferred suitable\nhabitat not present in special\npermit project areas (maintained\npipeline ROW).\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 14 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 15>>>\n\nTABLE 3\nFederally and State Listed Threatened and Endangered Species Potentially\nSpecies Occurring within the Special Permit Segment Areas in Brevard County, Florida\nHabitat Description Federal\nStatus\nState\nStatus Determination of Effect /\nRationale\nLewton's\nPolygala\n(Polygala\nlewtonii)\nE E Oak scrub, sandhill, and transition\nzones between high pine and turkey\noak barrens.\nNo effect / Preferred suitable\nhabitat not present in special\npermit project areas (maintained\npipeline ROW).\nSource: USFWS, 2021a.\nNotes:\nE - Endangered T - Threatened C - Candidate Species\nConservative Land: The Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) maintains an inventory of the\nstate's conservation land holdings (FNAI, 2021). The special permit segment does not cross\nconservation land holdings.\nClimate Change: The scope and duration of any activities associated with the special permit\nsegment, including maintenance and repair activities will have minimal impact on climate change.\nA benefit of the “Selected” Alternative is that it will avoid methane venting, construction, or\nground disturbances in the pipeline ROW. The “No Action” Alternative would not grant a special\npermit, requiring the pipe replacement and/or hydrotesting would be required, which would\nnecessitate the use of heavy equipment during construction and blowing down the pipeline\nreleasing natural gas, a known greenhouse gas. Pipeline operators can and should mitigate\nblowdowns through pressure reductions and capture and storage of natural gas during pipeline\nwork. However, PHMSA does not currently have authority to mandate these mitigation measures.\nThe “Selected” alternative will result in emissions that result from increased maintenance,\nmonitoring, and repair requirements for the duration of the special permit. These emissions\nwould be expected to be significantly less than the replacement associated with the “No Action”\nalternative.\nCultural Resources: Neither the “No Action” nor the “Selected” alternative will have an effect\non cultural resources. Any inspection activities associated with the special permit segment and\nspecial permit inspection area will be conducted within the boundaries of FGT’s existing\naboveground facilities (i.e., compressor stations) and maintained pipeline ROW. FGT was\ngranted a categorical exclusion blanket clearance certificate from the Florida Division of\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 15 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 16>>>\n\nHistorical Resources for activities to be undertaken within its existing, previously disturbed\nROW to ensure compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended\n(NHPA). The Florida State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concurred with its categorical\nexclusion for work within existing ROW and stated that “no known historic properties will be\naffected by this undertaking.”\nEnvironmental Justice: The special permit alternative associated with this special permit will\nnot have an adverse impact on the population along the pipeline including local, minority, low\nincome, or limited English proficiency populations as shown below in Table 4 - Demographic\nInformation for Special Permit Segment – Using EPA EJScreen.\nThe special permit is intended to maintain or increase safety with the implementation of safety\nconditions in the special permit segment. Many special permit conditions also apply to the\nspecial permit inspection area and will not have a disparate impact on any minority, low\nincome, or limited English proficiency populations. This special permit will also reduce climate\nchange impacts, which are understood to disproportionately affect low-income and minority\ncommunities. Therefore, consistent with DOT Order 5610.2C (“Department of Transportation\nActions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income\nPopulations”) and Executive Orders 12898 (“Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice\nin Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations”), 13985 (“Advancing Racial Equity and\nSupport for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”), 13990 (“Protecting\nPublic Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis”),\n14008 (“Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad”), 12898 and DOT Order 5610.2(a),\nand Department of Transportation Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority\nPopulations and Low-Income Populations, PHMSA does not anticipate that the special permit\nwill result in disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority or low-income\npopulations.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 16 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 17>>>\n\nTable 4 - Demographic Information for Special Permit Segments – Using EPA EJScreen\nSpecial\nTotal Population\nPermit\nLow Income\nState County\nSegment\nNo.\n(Along Special\nPermit Segment)\nMinority*/ People of\nColor** Population\nPopulation\nLinguistically\nIsolated\n182069 FL Brevard 2,313 21% 13% 0%\nMinority*: The term minority is used in the currently active DOT Environmental Justice Order 5610.2(a),\navailable at:\nhttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/ej_at_dot/orders/order_56102a/index.cfm\nPeople of Color**: The term people of color is used in the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening and\nmapping tool (EJSCREEN). An overview of demographic indicators through EJSCREEN is available at:\nhttps://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/overview-demographic-indicators-ejscreen\nGeology and Soils: The general characteristics of the special permit segment consists of\nrelatively flat terrain. The project area is located in the Atlantic Plain physiographic region of\nthe U.S. Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs) are geographically associated land resource\nunits, usually encompassing several thousand acres, characterized by a particular pattern of\nsoils, geology, climate, water resources, and land uses. The special permit segment crosses the\nSouthern Florida Flatwoods MLRA and the special permit inspection area crosses the Southern\nFlorida Flatwoods and Southern Florida Lowlands MLRAs (USDA NRCS, 2021a). The soils\nwithin the Southern Florida Flatwoods and Southern Florida Lowlands MLRAs are deep or very\ndeep, poorly drained or very poorly drained, and loamy or sandy (USDA NRCS, 2021b).\nThe objective of the special permit is to avoid construction or ground disturbances in the\npipeline ROW that will be necessitated if the special permit was not granted. Therefore, the\n“Selected” Alternative will not result in soils impacts to the affected special permit segment or\nspecial permit inspection area. Furthermore, no changes to geologic conditions would occur.\nDenial of the special permit request will require the replacement and/or pressure testing of the\npipeline segments associated with this special permit request. Pipe replacement would require\nvegetation clearing, removal of the existing pipe, and installation of a new pipe. The removal of\nthe vegetative cover and ground disturbance exposes soils to the effects of wind and water\nwhich increases the potential for soil erosion and the transport of sediment to sensitive resource\nareas. Furthermore, pressure testing would also expose the soil to water which increases the\npotential for soil erosion and transport of sediment to sensitive areas along the pipeline ROW.\nPHMSA-2021-0118 – Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - Florida\nPage 17 of 79\n\n<<<PAGE 18>>>\n\nMineral Resources: Florida’s mineral commodities include limestone, sand, gravel, clay, heavy\nminerals, phosphate, and peat. The special permit segment is located along FGT’s e","truncated":true,"body_characters":177123}