Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company's Amended 2003-2005 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 5996-5998 [E5-450]
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5996
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 23 / Friday, February 4, 2005 / Notices
they believe should be addressed in the
EA. A transcript of the meeting will be
made so that your comments will be
accurately recorded.
If you do not want to send comments
at this time but still want to remain on
our mailing list, please return the
Information Request (Appendix 4). If
you do not return the Information
Request, you will be taken off the
mailing list.
We may mail the EA for comment. If
you are interested in receiving it, please
return the Information Request
(Appendix 4). If you do not return the
Information Request, you will be taken
off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, you may want to
become an official party to the
proceeding known as an ‘‘intervenor’’.
Intervenors play a more formal role in
the process. Among other things,
intervenors have the right to receive
copies of case-related Commission
documents and filings by other
intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor
must send one electronic copy (using
the Commission’s eFiling system) or 14
paper copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must
send a copy of its filings to all other
parties on the Commission’s service list
for this proceeding. If you want to
become an intervenor you must file a
motion to intervene according to Rule
214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.214) (see Appendix 2).4 Only
intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission’s decision.
Affected landowners and parties with
environmental concerns may be granted
intervenor status upon showing good
cause by stating that they have a clear
and direct interest in this proceeding
which would not be adequately
represented by any other parties. You do
not need intervenor status to have your
environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this
notice to all individuals, organizations,
and government entities interested in
and/or potentially affected by the
proposed project. This includes all
landowners who are potential right-ofway grantors, whose property may be
used temporarily for project purposes,
or who own homes within distances
defined in the Commission’s regulations
of certain aboveground facilities. By this
notice we are also asking governmental
agencies, especially those in Appendix
3, to express their interest in becoming
cooperating agencies for the preparation
of the EA.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Additional Information
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Eastern Shore Natural Gas
Company’s Amended 2003–2005
Expansion Project and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at 1–866–208–FERC or on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov)
using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’
and enter the docket number excluding
the last three digits in the Docket
Number field. Be sure you have selected
an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for
TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The
eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which 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/esubscribenow.htm.
FERC conferences are accessible
under section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. For accessibility
accommodations please send an e-mail
to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free
(866) 208–3372 (voice) or (202) 208–
1659 (TTY), or send a FAX to (202) 208–
2106 with the required
accommodations.
Finally, public meetings or site visits
will be posted on the Commission’s
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–449 Filed 2–3–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
4 Interventions may also be filed electronically via
the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous
discussion on filing comments electronically.
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18:52 Feb 03, 2005
Jkt 205001
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Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP03–80–001]
January 31, 2005.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company’s
(ESNG) proposal to amend its certificate
for its 2003–2005 Expansion Project.
ESNG proposes to construct additional
facilities to increase its system’s
capacity by 7,450 Dekatherms per day.
The facilities would consist of four new
pipeline segments on ESNG’s existing
system in Chester County, Pennsylvania
and New Castle, Kent, and Sussex
Counties, Delaware.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping period that will be used to
gather environmental input from the
public and interested agencies on the
project. Please note that the scoping
period will close on March 2, 2005.
This notice is being sent to potentially
affected landowners; Federal, state, and
local government agencies; elected
officials; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American Tribes,
other interested parties; local libraries
and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to
notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
pipeline company representative about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
proposed facilities. The pipeline
company would seek to negotiate a
mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the project is approved by
the Commission, that approval conveys
with it the right of eminent domain.
Therefore, if easement negotiations fail
to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation
proceedings in accordance with state
law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ is available for viewing on
the FERC Web site (https://
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 23 / Friday, February 4, 2005 / Notices
www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses
a number of typically asked questions,
including the use of eminent domain
and how to participate in the
Commission’s proceedings. It is
available for viewing on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov).
Background
In the Commission’s October 8, 2003
certificate order, ESNG was authorized
to construct and operate certain
mainline looping, upgrade a measuring
and regulating station, and construct
and operate a new pressure control
station in three phases over a period of
three years, 2003 through 2005.
Phase I consisted of the upgrade of the
Parkesburg Measuring and Regulating
Station in Chester County,
Pennsylvania. Phase II consisted of
construction of approximately 2.7 miles
of 16-inch-diameter pipeline in Chester
County, Pennsylvania. Phase III, as
currently certificated, consists of
approximately 3.0 miles of 16-inchdiameter pipeline. Construction of both
Phase I and II has been completed and
they are in service. Phase III would be
constructed in 2005.
ESNG filed its original application in
April 2003. At that time ESNG did not
foresee additional customer growth
which could result in a forecasted
deficiency of firm capacity. Therefore,
by requesting an amendment to it’s
certificate, ESNG will be able to provide
for it’s customer’s increased volume
requirements.
After experiencing a relatively cold
January 2004 and continued growth of
their customer base, several of ESNG’s
customers reviewed their load profiles
in anticipation of responding to ESNG’s
most recent open season for 2006–2008
and realized that their current firm
capacity entitlements were deficient
under present peak day conditions.
ESNG determined that the most
practical, efficient, and effective way to
seek authorization for the additional
capacity requested by its customers for
the 2005–2006 heating season was to
request an amendment 1 to the
certificate issued in Docket No. CP03–
80–000.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Segment 1—Chester County,
Pennsylvania
• Segment 1 involves the installation
of approximately 1.4 miles of 16-inchdiameter loop 2 parallel to ESNG’s
1 ESNG’s application was filed with the
Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act
and part 157 of the Commission’s regulations.
2 A loop is a segment of pipeline installed
adjacent to an existing pipeline and which connects
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18:52 Feb 03, 2005
Jkt 205001
existing 8-inch-diameter pipeline,
located in Highland Township, Chester
County, Pennsylvania. The proposed
line ties in to the existing 8-inchdiameter pipeline at Glen Run Road and
extends in a south-southeasterly
direction for 1.4 miles to Lenover Road
where it ties in to the existing 16-inchdiameter pipeline completed in 2004 as
part of the facilities associated with
Phase II of the original certificate under
FERC Docket No. CP03–80–000. No
aboveground facilities are associated
with this segment.
Segment 2—New Castle County,
Delaware
• Segment 2 involves the installation
of approximately 3.2 miles of 16-inchdiameter loop near Glasgow, Delaware,
in New Castle County. The pipeline
starts at a point on Pleasant Valley Road
approximately 0.5 mile north of Route
40 where it will become an extension of
the 16-inch-diameter pipeline approved
as part of facilities associated with
Phase III of the original certificate. The
pipeline route runs southerly along
Pleasant Valley Road for approximately
0.5 mile. The pipeline route then runs
easterly along the north side of Route 40
for approximately 0.9 mile to an existing
pipeline right-of-way. The route then
diverts off of Route 40 and runs
southerly along an existing ESNG
pipeline right-of-way for approximately
0.3 mile. The route then runs easterly
for approximately 0.5 mile until it
intersects with Business Highway 896.
The route then runs southerly along
Business Highway 896 for
approximately 0.9 mile until the
intersection with Porter Road. The
proposed pipeline then continues
easterly along Porter Road for
approximately 0.1 mile. This segment
will include a new pressure control/
regulator station to be constructed at MP
3.1.
Segment 3—Sussex County, Delaware
• Segment 3 involves the installation
of approximately 10.3 miles of 6-inchdiameter loop from the City of Milford
to the Town of Milton, in Sussex
County, Delaware. This segment extends
from ESNG’s existing 6-inch-diameter
pipeline on the east side of the City of
Milford along Route 14 and Business
Route 1 for approximately 2.0 miles,
generally running in a southerly
direction to Route 30. The route then
continues southerly for approximately
8.0 miles along Route 30 to an
intersection with Route 16 west of the
to the existing pipeline at both ends of the loop.
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the
system.
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5997
City of Milton. This segment has a
proposed new meter and regulation
station constructed at the southern
terminus.
Segment 4—Sussex County, Delaware
• Segment 4 involves the installation
of approximately 6.0 miles of 10-inchdiameter loop parallel to ESNG’s
existing 6-inch-diameter pipeline
between the Towns of Laurel and
Delmar in Sussex County, Delaware.
The proposed route ties in to ESNG’s
existing 6-inch-diameter pipeline south
of the Town of Laurel. The route then
runs southerly along Route 13 for
roughly 6.0 miles to the Town of
Delmar, Delaware north of the
Delaware-Maryland State line. The
proposed 10-inch-diameter pipeline ties
in to ESNG’s existing 6-inch-diameter
pipeline on the southern terminus as
well. No aboveground facilities are
associated with this segment.
The location of the project facilities is
shown in Appendix 1.3
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities
would require about 220.5 acres of land.
Following construction, about 8.9 acres
would be maintained as new above
ground facility sites and right-of-way.
The remaining 211.6 acres of land
would be restored and allowed to revert
to its former use.
The EA Process
We 4 are preparing this EA to comply
with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) which requires the
Commission to take into account the
environmental impacts that could result
from an action whenever it considers
the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also
requires us to discover and address
concerns the public may have about
proposals. This process is referred to as
‘‘scoping’’. The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the
EA on the important environmental
issues. By this Notice of Intent, the
Commission staff requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to
address in the EA. All comments
received are considered during the
3 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all
appendices, other than appendix 1 (maps), are
available on the Commission’s Web site at the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20426, or call (202) 502–8371. For instructions
on connecting to eLibrary refer to the last page of
this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to
all those receiving this notice in the mail.
4 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects
(OEP).
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
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5998
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 23 / Friday, February 4, 2005 / Notices
preparation of the EA. By this notice, we
are also asking Federal, state, and local
agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of
the EA. Agencies that would like to
request cooperating status should follow
the instructions for filing comments
below.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be in the EA. Depending on
the comments received during the
scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to Federal, state,
and local agencies, public interest
groups, interested individuals, affected
landowners, newspapers, libraries, and
the Commission’s official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will
be allotted for review if the EA is
published. We will consider all
comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the
Commission.
comments are received in time and
properly recorded:
• Send an original and two copies of
your letter to: Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room
1A, Washington, DC 20426.
• Label one copy of the comments for
the attention of Gas Branch 1.
• Reference Docket Number CP03–
80–001.
• Mail your comments so that they
will be received in Washington, DC on
or before March 2, 2005.
Please note that the Commission
strongly encourages electronic filing of
any comments or interventions or
protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions
on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link and the link to the User’s
Guide. Before you can file comments,
you will need to create an account
which can be created on-line.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
Becoming an Intervenor
In the EA, we will discuss impacts
that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
project. We will also evaluate possible
alternatives to the proposed project or
portions of the project.
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
proposed facilities and the
environmental information provided by
ESNG. This preliminary list of issues
may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
Project-related impact on:
• 98 residences/structures within 50
feet of the construction workspace.
• 1.1 acres of wetland.
• 53.8 acres of agricultural land.
• Six federally-listed threatened and
endangered species potentially in the
project area.
• 28 road crossings.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project.
By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA
and considered by the Commission. You
should focus on the potential
environmental effects of the proposal,
alternatives to the proposal (including
alternative locations and routes), and
measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. Please carefully follow
these instructions to ensure that your
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18:52 Feb 03, 2005
Jkt 205001
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, you may want to
become an official party to the
proceeding known as an ‘‘intervenor’’.
Intervenors play a more formal role in
the process. Among other things,
intervenors have the right to receive
copies of case-related Commission
documents and filings by other
intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor
must send one electronic copy (using
the Commission’s eFiling system) or 14
paper copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must
send a copy of its filings to all other
parties on the Commission’s service list
for this proceeding. If you want to
become an intervenor you must file a
motion to intervene according to Rule
214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.214, see Appendix 2).5 Only
intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission’s decision.
Affected landowners and parties with
environmental concerns may be granted
intervenor status upon showing good
cause by stating that they have a clear
and direct interest in this proceeding
which would not be adequately
represented by any other parties. You do
not need intervenor status to have your
environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
If you wish to remain on our
environmental mailing list, please
return the Information Request Form
5 Interventions may also be filed electronically via
the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous
discussion on filing comments electronically.
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
included in Appendix 2. If you do not
return this form, you will be removed
from our mailing list.
Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at 1–866–208–FERC or on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov)
using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’
and enter the docket number excluding
the last three digits in the Docket
Number field. Be sure you have selected
an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TYY,
contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary
link also provides access to the texts of
formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which 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/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–450 Filed 2–3–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP05–42–000]
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Compressor Station 325
Horsepower Replacement Project and
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
January 26, 2005.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) on
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s
(Tennessee) proposed Compressor
Station 325 Horsepower Replacement
Project. Tennessee’s proposal involves
the replacement of the two existing
turbines at its Compressor Station 325
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 23 (Friday, February 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5996-5998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-450]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP03-80-001]
Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Eastern Shore Natural Gas
Company's Amended 2003-2005 Expansion Project and Request for Comments
on Environmental Issues
January 31, 2005.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of Eastern Shore Natural Gas
Company's (ESNG) proposal to amend its certificate for its 2003-2005
Expansion Project. ESNG proposes to construct additional facilities to
increase its system's capacity by 7,450 Dekatherms per day. The
facilities would consist of four new pipeline segments on ESNG's
existing system in Chester County, Pennsylvania and New Castle, Kent,
and Sussex Counties, Delaware.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will
be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Please note that the scoping period will close
on March 2, 2005.
This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners;
Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities.
The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with
state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Web site (https://
[[Page 5997]]
www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate
in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for viewing on the
FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov).
Background
In the Commission's October 8, 2003 certificate order, ESNG was
authorized to construct and operate certain mainline looping, upgrade a
measuring and regulating station, and construct and operate a new
pressure control station in three phases over a period of three years,
2003 through 2005.
Phase I consisted of the upgrade of the Parkesburg Measuring and
Regulating Station in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Phase II consisted
of construction of approximately 2.7 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline
in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Phase III, as currently certificated,
consists of approximately 3.0 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline.
Construction of both Phase I and II has been completed and they are in
service. Phase III would be constructed in 2005.
ESNG filed its original application in April 2003. At that time
ESNG did not foresee additional customer growth which could result in a
forecasted deficiency of firm capacity. Therefore, by requesting an
amendment to it's certificate, ESNG will be able to provide for it's
customer's increased volume requirements.
After experiencing a relatively cold January 2004 and continued
growth of their customer base, several of ESNG's customers reviewed
their load profiles in anticipation of responding to ESNG's most recent
open season for 2006-2008 and realized that their current firm capacity
entitlements were deficient under present peak day conditions. ESNG
determined that the most practical, efficient, and effective way to
seek authorization for the additional capacity requested by its
customers for the 2005-2006 heating season was to request an amendment
\1\ to the certificate issued in Docket No. CP03-80-000.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ESNG's application was filed with the Commission under
section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's
regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of the Proposed Project
Segment 1--Chester County, Pennsylvania
Segment 1 involves the installation of approximately 1.4
miles of 16-inch-diameter loop \2\ parallel to ESNG's existing 8-inch-
diameter pipeline, located in Highland Township, Chester County,
Pennsylvania. The proposed line ties in to the existing 8-inch-diameter
pipeline at Glen Run Road and extends in a south-southeasterly
direction for 1.4 miles to Lenover Road where it ties in to the
existing 16-inch-diameter pipeline completed in 2004 as part of the
facilities associated with Phase II of the original certificate under
FERC Docket No. CP03-80-000. No aboveground facilities are associated
with this segment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline installed adjacent to an
existing pipeline and which connects to the existing pipeline at
both ends of the loop. The loop allows more gas to be moved through
the system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Segment 2--New Castle County, Delaware
Segment 2 involves the installation of approximately 3.2
miles of 16-inch-diameter loop near Glasgow, Delaware, in New Castle
County. The pipeline starts at a point on Pleasant Valley Road
approximately 0.5 mile north of Route 40 where it will become an
extension of the 16-inch-diameter pipeline approved as part of
facilities associated with Phase III of the original certificate. The
pipeline route runs southerly along Pleasant Valley Road for
approximately 0.5 mile. The pipeline route then runs easterly along the
north side of Route 40 for approximately 0.9 mile to an existing
pipeline right-of-way. The route then diverts off of Route 40 and runs
southerly along an existing ESNG pipeline right-of-way for
approximately 0.3 mile. The route then runs easterly for approximately
0.5 mile until it intersects with Business Highway 896. The route then
runs southerly along Business Highway 896 for approximately 0.9 mile
until the intersection with Porter Road. The proposed pipeline then
continues easterly along Porter Road for approximately 0.1 mile. This
segment will include a new pressure control/regulator station to be
constructed at MP 3.1.
Segment 3--Sussex County, Delaware
Segment 3 involves the installation of approximately 10.3
miles of 6-inch-diameter loop from the City of Milford to the Town of
Milton, in Sussex County, Delaware. This segment extends from ESNG's
existing 6-inch-diameter pipeline on the east side of the City of
Milford along Route 14 and Business Route 1 for approximately 2.0
miles, generally running in a southerly direction to Route 30. The
route then continues southerly for approximately 8.0 miles along Route
30 to an intersection with Route 16 west of the City of Milton. This
segment has a proposed new meter and regulation station constructed at
the southern terminus.
Segment 4--Sussex County, Delaware
Segment 4 involves the installation of approximately 6.0
miles of 10-inch-diameter loop parallel to ESNG's existing 6-inch-
diameter pipeline between the Towns of Laurel and Delmar in Sussex
County, Delaware. The proposed route ties in to ESNG's existing 6-inch-
diameter pipeline south of the Town of Laurel. The route then runs
southerly along Route 13 for roughly 6.0 miles to the Town of Delmar,
Delaware north of the Delaware-Maryland State line. The proposed 10-
inch-diameter pipeline ties in to ESNG's existing 6-inch-diameter
pipeline on the southern terminus as well. No aboveground facilities
are associated with this segment.
The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 220.5
acres of land. Following construction, about 8.9 acres would be
maintained as new above ground facility sites and right-of-way. The
remaining 211.6 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert
to its former use.
The EA Process
We \4\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the Commission to take
into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us to discover and
address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is
referred to as ``scoping''. The main goal of the scoping process is to
focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By
this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff requests public comments on
the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments received are
considered during the
[[Page 5998]]
preparation of the EA. By this notice, we are also asking Federal,
state, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in
the preparation of the EA. Agencies that would like to request
cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments
below.
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\4\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
In the EA, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the project. We will also evaluate
possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the
project.
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by ESNG. This preliminary list
of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Project-related impact on:
98 residences/structures within 50 feet of the
construction workspace.
1.1 acres of wetland.
53.8 acres of agricultural land.
Six federally-listed threatened and endangered species
potentially in the project area.
28 road crossings.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are
received in time and properly recorded:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 1.
Reference Docket Number CP03-80-001.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before March 2, 2005.
Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic
filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding.
See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's
Web site at https://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and the
link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments, you will need
to create an account which can be created on-line.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process.
Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of
case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors.
Likewise, each intervenor must send one electronic copy (using the
Commission's eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. If
you want to become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene
according to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214, see Appendix 2).\5\ Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\5\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor
status to have your environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
If you wish to remain on our environmental mailing list, please
return the Information Request Form included in Appendix 2. If you do
not return this form, you will be removed from our mailing list.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link.
Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the
docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number
field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TYY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which 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/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-450 Filed 2-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P