FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426

OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS In Reply Refer To:

OEP/DG2E/Gas 2
Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C.
Eastern System Upgrade Project
Docket No. CP16-486-000
April 12, 2017

David A. Stilwell, Field Office Supervisor

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
New York Ecological Services Field Office
3817 Luker Road
Cortland, NY 13045

Re: Eastern System Upgrade Project, Section 7 Consultation

Dear Mr. Stilwell:

In accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, as amended, please

consider the enclosed Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Eastern System
Upgrade Project (Project) as our Biological Assessment (BA). Please also consider as
part of our BA, the biological survey reports and other supplemental material sent
directly to your office by Millennium Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (Millennium).

Millennium requests authorization to construct, operate, and maintain new natural

gas facilities in New York consisting of (i) approximately 7.8 miles of 30- and 36-inch-
diameter pipeline loop in Orange County; (ii) a new 22,400 horsepower (hp) compressor
station in Sullivan County; (iii) additional 22,400 hp at the existing Hancock Compressor
Station in Delaware County; (iv) modifications to the existing Ramapo Meter Station in
Rockland County; (v) modifications to the Wagoner Interconnect in Orange County; (vi)
additional pipeline appurtenant facilities at the Huguenot and Westtown Meter Stations in
Orange County; and (vii) an alternate interconnect to the 16-inch-diameter Valley Lateral
at milepost 7.6 of the Project.

As detailed in the EA, there are 5 federally protected species that have the
potential to be located in the vicinity of the Project area that fall under the purview of
your office. Based on Millenniums informal consultation with your office, our own
analyses, and our recommendations contained in the EA, we conclude that the Project
would have no effect on the small whorled pogonia and may affect, but is not likely to
adversely affect the federally endangered Indiana bat, the federally threatened northern
long-eared bat, the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel, and the federally threatened
bog turtle. We request your concurrence with these determinations of effect.
 2

In accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's January 5, 2016 Intra-
Service Programmatic Biological Opinion on the final 4(d) rule for the northern long-
eared bat (NLEB), we are submitting the enclosed Northern Long-eared Bat 4(d)
Streamlined Consultation Form. The Project is not within 0.25 mile of a known NLEB
hibernaculum or within 150 feet from a known occupied maternity roost tree. As such we
have determined that this project may affect the NLEB, but that any resulting incidental
take is not prohibited by the final 4(d) rule.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please call Christine Mallory,
project biologist, at (202) 502-6748.

Sincerely,

Alisa M. Lykens, Chief

Gas Branch 2
Division of Gas Environment and
Engineering

Enclosure

cc: Public File, Docket No. CP16-486-000 (w/o enclosure)