Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Golden Pass Optimized Pipeline Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 2217-2220 [E6-277]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices In the EA we 1 will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. 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. To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public participation section below. Currently Identified Environmental Issues We have already identified issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by Dominion. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. • The installation of a 20,500 HP gas turbine generator may substantially increase air contaminant emissions from the Dominion Cove Point facility above currently permitted emission levels. • The installation of a 20,500 HP gas turbine generator and two air separation units may increase noise levels at affected noise-sensitive areas (NSAs). hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Public Participation You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentator, 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 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 1 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP). VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 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 3. • Reference Docket No. CP06–26– 000. • Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC, on or before February 6, 2006. 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 a free 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.2 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).3 Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission’s decision. Stakeholders 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. 2217 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 own homes within distances defined in the Commission’s regulations of certain aboveground facilities. 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 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. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–278 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF06–8–000] Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Golden Pass Optimized Pipeline Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues January 6, 2006. 2 Interventions may also be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing comments electronically. 3 The appendix referenced in this notice is not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of the appendix was sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail. PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that discusses the environmental impacts of Golden Pass Pipeline LP’s (Golden Pass) E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1 2218 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES proposed Optimized Pipeline Project (OP Project or Project) which involves design and route changes to the pipeline facilities previously approved as part of the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project.1 In the OP Project, Golden Pass proposes the following changes to the previously authorized facilities: (1) Replace the dual 36-inchdiameter pipelines (mainline and loop) with a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline and (2) incorporate a route change that would replace about 20.4 miles of pipeline with about 11.6 miles of pipeline, thus reducing the total length of the pipeline by about 8.8 miles. The OP Project is currently in the preliminary stages of design and at this time a formal application has not been filed with the Commission. For this project, the Commission is initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving the formal application. This allows interested stakeholders to become involved early in the project planning and to identify and resolve issues before a formal application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF06–8–000) has been established to place information filed by Golden Pass and related documents issued or received by the Commission, into the public record.2 Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new docket number will be established. 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 February 6, 2006. Details on how to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners along the OP Project route; Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; and local libraries and newspapers. With this notice, we 3 are asking Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise 1 On July 6, 2005, the Commission approved the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project in Docket Nos. CP04–386–000, CP04–400–000, CP04– 401–000, and CP04–402–000. The Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project included a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and associated LNG facilities, 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter mainline pipeline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter looping pipeline that would be constructed adjacent to the mainline, and associated pipeline facilities. 2 To view information in the docket, follow the instructions for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice. 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies which would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described later in this notice. We encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. Some affected landowners may be contacted by a project representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline. If so, the company should seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event that the Project is certificated by the Commission, that approval conveys the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the pipeline. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the 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?’’ 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). Summary of the Proposed Project In the Commission’s July 6, 2005 Order, Golden Pass was authorized to construct and operate approximately 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter mainline, 42.8 miles of 36-inchdiameter loop, and 1.8 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline and related pipeline facilities. These facilities (or the Authorized Pipeline) would be used to transport natural gas on an open-access basis from the proposed Golden Pass LNG Terminal on the Port Arthur ship channel to various interstate and intrastate pipelines in Texas and Louisiana. Golden Pass proposes in the OP Project to construct and operate a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline, in place of the 42.8 miles of dual 36-inch-diameter pipelines and shorten the pipeline route. This proposal would involve only those pipeline facilities in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas. Authorized Pipeline facilities in Newton County, Texas, and Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, would not be affected by the proposed OP Project. A map illustrating the PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 authorized facilities and the proposed OP Project is provided in Appendix 1.4 Non-Jurisdictional Facilities There are no proposed nonjurisdictional facilities associated with this proposal. Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the OP Project would reduce the total acreage of land impacted by the Authorized Pipeline as a result of the design change (from two 36-inch-diameter pipelines to one 42inch-diameter pipeline) and the route change (from 20.4 miles to 11.6 miles). The typical overland construction rightof-way width would be reduced from 125 feet to 100 feet, and the operating right-of-way width would be reduced from 75 feet to 50 feet. The typical open water construction right-of-way width would be reduced from 375 feet to 300 feet, and the operating right-of-way width would be reduced from 125 feet to 50 feet. The 225-foot-wide construction right-of-way and the 125foot-wide operating right-of-way along horizontal directional drills would be reduced to 150 feet and 50 feet, respectively. The OP Project would be approximately 8.8 miles shorter than the corresponding segment of the Authorized Pipeline. The EA Process NEPA 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 under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. 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 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 4 The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) at the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from the Commission’s Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch at 1–202–502–8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the Additional Information section of this notice. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices should follow the instructions for filing comments below. In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed Project under these general headings: • Geology and soils • Land use • Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands • Cultural resources • Vegetation and wildlife • Air quality and noise • Endangered and threatened species • Hazardous waste • Public safety We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Our independent analysis of the issues is included in the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA would be published and mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies, Native American tribes, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission’s official service list for this proceeding. A comment period would be allotted for review of the EA. All comments received on the EA would be considered before we make our recommendations to the Commission. The EA is used by the Commission in its decisionmaking process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity. To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public participation section described later in this notice. hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Currently Identified Environmental Issues We have identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by Golden Pass. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. ➢ Water Resources • Impact on water quality. • Impact on wetlands. ➢ Endangered and Threatened Species • Impact on essential fish habitat. ➢ Reliability and Safety • Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas pipelines. ➢ Air Quality and Noise • Impacts from construction of the pipeline on residences. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 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 may 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 may 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 2. • Reference Docket No. PF06–8–000 on the original and both copies. • Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before February 6, 2006. Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our environmental analysis of this project. However, 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 open a free 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’’. However, there is no procedure for parties to become intervenors during the pre-filing process. You may request intervenor status after Golden Pass files its formal certificate application with the Commission and is assigned a ‘‘CP’’ docket number. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2219 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). 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 do not want to send comments at this time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the attached Mailing List Retention Form (Appendix 3). If you do not return the form, you will be taken off the 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 TTY, contact 1–202–502–8659. 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. Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/ E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1 2220 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–277 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF06–3–000] Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Rockies Express Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES January 6, 2006. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that discusses the environmental impacts of the proposed Rockies Express Pipeline Project, Western Phase (the Project), which involves the construction and operation of facilities by Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC (Rockies Express) in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. These facilities would consist of 710 miles of 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, 5 new compressor stations; and approximately 42 mainline valves and 12 interconnects. This EIS will be used by the Commission in its decisionmaking process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity. This notice explains the scoping process that will be used to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the Project. Your input will help us determine which issues/impacts need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please note that the scoping period for the Project will close on February 10, 2006. Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, you are invited to attend the public scoping meetings that have been scheduled in the Project area. Nine scoping meetings are scheduled for January 23 through 27, 2006 in various locations along the route. Further instructions on how to submit written comments and additional details of the public scoping meetings are provided in the public participation section of this notice. The Rockies Express Project, Western Phase, is currently in the preliminary VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 stages of design, and at this time a formal application has not been filed with the Commission. For this proposal, the Commission is initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving the application. This allows interested stakeholders to become involved early in project planning and to identify and resolve issues before an application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF06–3–000) has been established to locate in the public record information filed by Rockies Express and related documents issued by the Commission.1 Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new docket number will be established. With this notice, we 2 are asking other Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues in the project area to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described later in this notice. We encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. This notice is being sent to landowners within 0.5 mile of the proposed compressor stations; landowners along the pipeline route under consideration; Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; and local libraries and newspapers; and other interested parties. Some affected landowners may be contacted by a Project representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. If so, Rockies Express and the affected landowners should seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event that the Project is certificated by the Commission, that approval conveys the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the facilities. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, Rockies Express could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with State law. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas 1 To view information in the docket, follow the instructions for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice. 2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects. PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’ 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 (www.ferc.gov). Summary of the Proposed Project Rockies Express’ long-term plan is to construct three separately certificated pipelines that together would result in the installation of approximately 1,323 miles of 42-inch-diameter, high pressure natural gas pipeline linking producing areas in the Rocky Mountain region to the upper Midwest and Eastern United States. This pipeline system would originate near the Cheyenne Hub, in Weld County, Colorado, and would terminate in Monroe County, Ohio. Rockies Express intends to pursue this system plan in three discrete phases (Western, Central, and Eastern). The FERC is now considering only the facilities included in the Western Phase. Rockies Express currently envisions that the Western Phase would include: • Approximately 710 miles of 42inch-diameter pipeline between the Cheyenne Hub in Weld County, Colorado and the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline system in Audrain County, Missouri; • 5 new compressor stations with a total of 116,500 horsepower of compression; • Approximately 42 mainline valves; and • 12 interconnects. A map depicting the general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 1.3 Rockies Express is requesting approval such that the facilities are completed and placed into service by January 2008. Construction of the facilities would take about eight months. Land Requirements for Construction It is estimated that the construction of the Project facilities would disturb about 6,929 acres of land. Following construction, about 4,358 acres of the total would be retained for the operation of the pipeline and the above ground facilities (compressor/meter stations). The pipeline would be constructed on a 125-foot-wide right-of-way with occasional increases in width for additional workspace at waterbody, 3 The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the Commission’s Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, at (202) 502–8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the last page of this Notice. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2217-2220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-277]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-8-000]


Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Golden Pass Optimized 
Pipeline Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

January 6, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that 
discusses the environmental impacts of Golden Pass Pipeline LP's 
(Golden Pass)

[[Page 2218]]

proposed Optimized Pipeline Project (OP Project or Project) which 
involves design and route changes to the pipeline facilities previously 
approved as part of the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline 
Project.\1\ In the OP Project, Golden Pass proposes the following 
changes to the previously authorized facilities: (1) Replace the dual 
36-inch-diameter pipelines (mainline and loop) with a single 42-inch-
diameter pipeline and (2) incorporate a route change that would replace 
about 20.4 miles of pipeline with about 11.6 miles of pipeline, thus 
reducing the total length of the pipeline by about 8.8 miles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ On July 6, 2005, the Commission approved the Golden Pass LNG 
Terminal and Pipeline Project in Docket Nos. CP04-386-000, CP04-400-
000, CP04-401-000, and CP04-402-000. The Golden Pass LNG Terminal 
and Pipeline Project included a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal 
and associated LNG facilities, 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
mainline pipeline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter looping pipeline 
that would be constructed adjacent to the mainline, and associated 
pipeline facilities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OP Project is currently in the preliminary stages of design and 
at this time a formal application has not been filed with the 
Commission. For this project, the Commission is initiating the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving the formal 
application. This allows interested stakeholders to become involved 
early in the project planning and to identify and resolve issues before 
a formal application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF06-8-
000) has been established to place information filed by Golden Pass and 
related documents issued or received by the Commission, into the public 
record.\2\ Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new 
docket number will be established.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions 
for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 February 6, 2006. Details on how to submit comments are provided in 
the Public Participation section of this notice.
    This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners along 
the OP Project route; Federal, State, and local government agencies; 
elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native 
American tribes; and local libraries and newspapers.
    With this notice, we \3\ are asking Federal, State, and local 
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. 
These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the 
proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies which would like 
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments described later in this notice. We encourage government 
representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project 
and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some affected landowners may be contacted by a project 
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, 
operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline. If so, the company should 
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event that 
the Project is certificated by the Commission, that approval conveys 
the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the pipeline. 
Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the 
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?'' 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).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    In the Commission's July 6, 2005 Order, Golden Pass was authorized 
to construct and operate approximately 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
mainline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter loop, and 1.8 miles of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline and related pipeline facilities. These 
facilities (or the Authorized Pipeline) would be used to transport 
natural gas on an open-access basis from the proposed Golden Pass LNG 
Terminal on the Port Arthur ship channel to various interstate and 
intrastate pipelines in Texas and Louisiana.
    Golden Pass proposes in the OP Project to construct and operate a 
single 42-inch-diameter pipeline, in place of the 42.8 miles of dual 
36-inch-diameter pipelines and shorten the pipeline route. This 
proposal would involve only those pipeline facilities in Jefferson and 
Orange Counties, Texas. Authorized Pipeline facilities in Newton 
County, Texas, and Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, would not be affected 
by the proposed OP Project. A map illustrating the authorized 
facilities and the proposed OP Project is provided in Appendix 1.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) at the 
``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference and 
Files Maintenance Branch at 1-202-502-8371. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary refer to the Additional Information section 
of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-Jurisdictional Facilities

    There are no proposed non-jurisdictional facilities associated with 
this proposal.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the OP Project would reduce the total acreage of 
land impacted by the Authorized Pipeline as a result of the design 
change (from two 36-inch-diameter pipelines to one 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline) and the route change (from 20.4 miles to 11.6 miles). The 
typical overland construction right-of-way width would be reduced from 
125 feet to 100 feet, and the operating right-of-way width would be 
reduced from 75 feet to 50 feet. The typical open water construction 
right-of-way width would be reduced from 375 feet to 300 feet, and the 
operating right-of-way width would be reduced from 125 feet to 50 feet. 
The 225-foot-wide construction right-of-way and the 125-foot-wide 
operating right-of-way along horizontal directional drills would be 
reduced to 150 feet and 50 feet, respectively. The OP Project would be 
approximately 8.8 miles shorter than the corresponding segment of the 
Authorized Pipeline.

The EA Process

    NEPA 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 under 
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. 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 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

[[Page 2219]]

should follow the instructions for filing comments below.
    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed Project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils
     Land use
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
     Cultural resources
     Vegetation and wildlife
     Air quality and noise
     Endangered and threatened species
     Hazardous waste
     Public safety
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed Project 
or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Our independent analysis of the issues is included in the EA. 
Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA 
would be published and mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies, 
Native American tribes, public interest groups, interested individuals, 
affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's 
official service list for this proceeding. A comment period would be 
allotted for review of the EA. All comments received on the EA would be 
considered before we make our recommendations to the Commission. The EA 
is used by the Commission in its decisionmaking process to determine 
whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section described later in 
this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have identified several issues that we think deserve attention 
based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the 
environmental information provided by Golden Pass. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    [rtarr8] Water Resources
     Impact on water quality.
     Impact on wetlands.
    [rtarr8] Endangered and Threatened Species
     Impact on essential fish habitat.
    [rtarr8] Reliability and Safety
     Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas 
pipelines.
    [rtarr8] Air Quality and Noise
     Impacts from construction of the pipeline on residences.

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 may 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 may 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 2.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-8-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 6, 2006.
    Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail 
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include 
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our 
environmental analysis of this project. However, 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 open a free 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''. However, there is no procedure for parties to become 
intervenors during the pre-filing process. You may request intervenor 
status after Golden Pass files its formal certificate application with 
the Commission and is assigned a ``CP'' docket number.
    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). 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 do not want to send comments at this time, but still want to 
remain on our mailing list, please return the attached Mailing List 
Retention Form (Appendix 3). If you do not return the form, you will be 
taken off the 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 TTY, 
contact 1-202-502-8659. 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.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/

[[Page 2220]]

EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-277 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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