Gulf South Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East Texas Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 17089-17092 [E6-4873]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 5, 2006 / Notices
Revised Sheet 500 and 501 to First
Electric Rate Schedule 23–33 pursuant
to Section 205 of the Federal Power Act
etc.
Filed Date: 03/22/2006.
Accession Number: 20060328–0081.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Wednesday, April 12, 2006.
Docket Numbers: ER06–777–000.
Applicants: Connectiv Energy Supply,
Inc.
Description: Conectiv Energy Supply,
Inc. submits its request for authorization
to make wholesale power sales to its
affiliate, Delmarva Power & Light Co.
Filed Date: 03/22/2006.
Accession Number: 20060328–0086.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Wednesday, April 12, 2006.
Docket Numbers: ER06–779–000.
Applicants: Carolina Power & Light
Company.
Description: Carolina Power & Light
Co. dba Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc.
submits a notice of termination of the
Standard Large Generator
Interconnection Agreement with North
Carolina Electric Membership Corp.
Filed Date: 03/23/2006.
Accession Number: 20060328–0075.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Thursday, April 13, 2006.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211
and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date. It
is not necessary to separately intervene
again in a subdocket related to a
compliance filing if you have previously
intervened in the same docket. Protests
will be considered by the Commission
in determining the appropriate action to
be taken, but will not serve to make
protestants parties to the proceeding.
Anyone filing a motion to intervene or
protest must serve a copy of that
document on the Applicant. In reference
to filings initiating a new proceeding,
interventions or protests submitted on
or before the comment deadline need
not be served on persons other than the
Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with Internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
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Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the intervention or protest to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First St. NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above proceedings
are accessible in the Commission’s
eLibrary system by clicking on the
appropriate link in the above list. They
are also available for review in the
Commission’s Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC. There is an
eSubscription link on the Web site that
enables subscribers to receive e-mail
notification when a document is added
to a subscribed dockets(s). For
assistance with any FERC Online
service, please e-mail
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–4878 Filed 4–4–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2146–113]
Alabama Power Company; Notice of
Availability of Environmental
Assessment
March 29, 2006.
In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s regulations, the Office of
Energy Projects has reviewed the
application requesting the
Commission’s authorization for nonproject use of project lands and waters
for a water withdrawal at the Logan
Martin development of the Coosa River
Project. The proposed withdrawal
would be located south of Ragland,
Alabama. An environmental assessment
(EA) has been prepared.
In the EA, the Commission’s staff
concludes that approval of the licensee’s
application would not produce any
significant adverse environmental
impacts, consequently the proposal
would not constitute a major federal
action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment.
A copy of the EA is attached to the
Commission order titled ‘‘Approving
Non-Project use of Project Lands and
Waters, issued March 28, 2006, and is
available at the Commission’s Public
Reference Room. A copy of the EA may
also be viewed on the Commission’s
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17089
Web site at https://www.ferc.gov using
the ‘‘elibrary’’ link. Enter the docket
numbers (P–2146) in the docket field to
access the document. For assistance,
call (202) 502–8222 or (202) 502–8659
(for TTY).
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–4881 Filed 4–4–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF06–17–000]
Gulf South Pipeline Company; Notice
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Proposed
East Texas Expansion Project and
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
March 28, 2006.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the East Texas Expansion Project
proposed by the Gulf South Pipeline
Company (Gulf South). This notice
describes the proposed project, the EIS
process and how the public can
participate in our 1 analysis.
This notice is being sent to affected
landowners; Federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest
groups; Native American tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. We encourage
government representatives to notify
their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
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.
If you received this notice, you are on
the environmental mailing list for this
project. If you would like to remain on
our mailing list, please return the
Information Request (Appendix 2). If
you do not return the Information
Request, you will be removed from the
1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy
Projects.
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 5, 2006 / Notices
Commission’s environmental mailing
list.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Gulf South proposes to construct,
operate and maintain approximately 146
miles of natural gas pipeline in Desoto,
Red River, Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita
and Richland Parishes, Louisiana. This
pipeline would have the capacity to
deliver approximately 1.5 billion cubic
feet (BCF) of natural gas per day and
would interconnect with three existing
interstate natural gas pipeline facilities.
Gulf South is also proposing to expand
its existing natural gas compressor
station in Panola County, Texas; and
construct a new natural gas compressor
station in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
According to Gulf South, the purpose
of this project is to transport natural gas
from production fields in east Texas and
northern Louisiana to markets in the
Gulf Coast, Midwestern, Northeastern
and Southeastern United States. Gulf
South has also stated that the East Texas
Expansion Project will satisfy the
growing demand for natural gas in the
United States.
Specifically, Gulf South is proposing
to construct, operate and maintain:
• 146.3 miles of 42-inch-diameter
pipeline beginning near Keatchie,
Louisiana and extending easterly
through Desoto, Red River, Bienville,
Jackson, Ouachita and Richland
Parishes until connecting with existing
pipeline facilities near Delhi, Louisiana.
• An additional 40,000 horsepower
(HP) of compression at the existing
Carthage Junction Compressor Station in
Panola County, Texas.
• A new 26,830 HP compressor
station (Vixen Compressor Station) near
pipeline mile post 98.3 in Ouachita
Parish, Louisiana.
• Meter and regulation stations,
mainline block valves, and pigging
facilities.
A general location of the proposed
pipeline and compressor stations is
provided in Appendix 1.2
Land Requirements
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Construction of the proposed 42-inchdiameter pipeline would generally
require the use of a 100 foot
2 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 Public
Participation section of this notice. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail. Requests for detailed maps of the
proposed facilities should be made directly to Gulf
South.
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construction right-of-way (ROW). The
exact size of the construction ROW
would vary depending on land type and
construction method. Additional
temporary work spaces (ATWS), access
roads, pipe storage and contractor yards
would also be required during
construction of the 42-inch-diameter
pipeline. Expansion of the Carthage
Junction Compressor Station would be
conducted within the fenced boundaries
of the station. Construction of the
proposed Vixen Compressor Station
would require the purchase and
temporary disturbance of approximately
20 acres of land. Approximately 2,500
acres of land would be temporarily
affected by construction of the proposed
project.
Operation of the proposed 42-inchdiameter pipeline would require the use
of a 60 foot permanent ROW. Operation
of the expanded Carthage Junction
Compressor Station would not require
the use of additional lands. Operation of
the proposed Vixen Compressor Station
would require the use of approximately
10 acres of land. Approximately 950
acres of land would be permanently
affected by operation of the proposed
project.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a Gulf
South representative about the
acquisition of an easement to construct,
operate and maintain the proposed
project facilities. The pipeline company
would seek to negotiate a mutually
acceptable agreement. However, if the
project is approved by the FERC, 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.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from the
approval of an interstate natural gas
pipeline. The FERC will use the EIS to
assess the environmental impact that
could result if the East Texas Expansion
Project is authorized under section 7 of
the Natural Gas Act.
NEPA also requires us to discover and
address concerns the public may have
about proposals under consideration by
the Commission. This process is
referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal
of the scoping process is to focus the
analysis in the EIS on the important
environmental issues. With this Notice
of Intent, the Commission staff is
requesting public comments on the
scope of the issues to be addressed in
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the EIS. All comments received will be
considered during preparation of the
EIS. Please note that the scoping period
will close on April 27, 2006.
In the EIS, 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;
• Water resources;
• Wetlands and vegetation;
• Fish and wildlife;
• Threatened and endangered
species;
• Land use, recreation and visual
resources;
• Air quality and noise;
• Cultural resources;
• Socioeconomics;
• Reliability and safety; and
• Cumulative impacts.
In the EIS, 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 affected
resources.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be included in a draft EIS.
The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal,
state and local government agencies;
elected officials; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American
tribes; affected landowners;
commentors; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and the
FERC’s official service list for this
proceeding. A 45-day comment period
will be allotted for review of the draft
EIS. We will consider all comments on
the draft EIS and revise the document,
as necessary, before issuing a final EIS.
We will consider all comments on the
final EIS before we make our
recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure that your comments are
considered, please follow the
instructions in the Public Participation
section of this notice.
Although no formal application has
been filed, the FERC staff has already
initiated its NEPA review under its Prefiling Process. The purpose of the Prefiling Process is to encourage the early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
an application is filed.
With this notice, we are also asking
federal, state and local governmental
agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to express their
interest in becoming cooperating
agencies for the preparation of the EIS.
These agencies may choose to
participate once they have evaluated the
proposal relative to their
responsibilities. Agencies that would
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 5, 2006 / Notices
like to request cooperating status should
send a letter expressing that interest and
expected level of involvement to the
Secretary of the Commission at the
address provided in the public
participation section of this notice.
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Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
The EIS will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction, operation and
maintenance of the proposed project.
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
project site, interaction with the public
during the pre-filing process and
information provided by Gulf South.
This preliminary list of issues may be
changed based on your comments and
our analysis.
• The minimization of construction
rights-of-way and associated
construction impacts.
• Potential effects on prime farmland
and soils with a high potential for
compaction.
• Potential impacts to existing land
uses, including residences, suburban
housing developments, agricultural and
managed forested lands.
• Potential increases in noise
resulting from the construction of
pipeline compression.
• Potential impacts to perennial and
intermittent waterbodies, including
waterbodies with federal and/or state
designations.
• Evaluation of temporary and
permanent impacts on wetlands and
development of appropriate mitigation.
• Potential impacts to fish and
wildlife habitat, including potential
impacts to federally and state-listed
threatened and endangered species.
• Potential impacts to wildlife
management areas.
• Potential impacts and benefits of
construction workforce on local
housing, infrastructure, public services
and economy.
• Public safety and potential hazards
associated with the transport of natural
gas.
• Alternative alignments for the
pipeline route.
• Assessment of the effect of the
proposed project when combined with
other past, present, or reasonably
foreseeable future actions in the project
area.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the
proposed project. By becoming a
commentor, your concerns will be
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addressed in the EIS and considered by
the Commission. Your comments
should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and
measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impacts. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly
recorded, please carefully follow these
instructions:
• 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 your comments
for the attention of Gas Branch 2, DG2E.
• Reference Docket No. PF06–17–000
on the original and both copies.
• Mail your comments so that they
will be received in Washington, DC on
or before April 27, 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. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filing of any
comments in response to this Notice of
Intent. For information on electronically
filing comments, please see the
instructions on the Commission’s Web
site at https://www.ferc.gov; before you
can submit comments you will need to
create a free account.
Public scoping meetings are designed
to provide another opportunity to offer
comments on the proposed project. The
FERC will announce plans for public
scoping meetings in the vicinity of the
proposed project once Gulf South has
filed additional information with the
Commission. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend
these meetings and to present comments
on the environmental issues they
believe should be addressed in the EIS.
A transcript of each meeting will be
generated so that comments are
accurately recorded.
Once Gulf South formally files its
application with the Commission, you
may want to become an official party to
the proceeding known as an
‘‘intervenor.’’ Intervenors play a more
formal role in the process and are able
to file briefs, appear at hearings and be
heard by the courts if they choose to
appeal the Commission’s final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in a
Commission proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for
becoming an intervenor are included in
the User’s Guide under the ‘‘e-filing’’
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17091
link on the Commission’s Web site.
Please note that you may not request
intervenor status at this time. You must
wait until a formal application is filed
with the Commission.
Availability of Additional Information
Gulf South has established an Internet
Web site for this project at https://
www.gulfsouthpl.com. This Web site
includes a description of the project, a
map of the proposed pipeline route and
answers to frequently asked questions.
You can also request additional
information or provide comments
directly to Gulf South at 1–877–972–
8533 or by e-mail at
easttexasexpansionproject
@gulfsouthpl.com.
Additional information about this
project can also be obtained by
contacting the Commission’s Office of
External Affairs, at 1–866–208—FERC
(3372). Additional information is also
available on the Internet at https://
www.ferc.gov. The ‘‘eLibrary link’’ on
the FERC Web site provides access to
documents submitted to and issued by
the Commission, such as comments,
orders, notices and rulemakings. Once
on the FERC website, click on the
‘‘eLibrary link,’’ select ‘‘General Search’’
and in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field enter
the project docket number excluding the
last three digits (PF06–17). When
researching information be sure to select
an appropriate date range. In addition,
the FERC now offers a free email service
called eSubscription that 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. To register for this service,
go to https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
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.
For assistance with the FERC Web site
or with eSubscription, please contact
FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
free at 1–866–208–3676, or TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
Appendix 2—Information Request
[Docket No. PF06–17–000]
b Please keep my name on the mailing list
for the East Texas Expansion Project.
Name llllllllllllllllll
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 5, 2006 / Notices
Agency lllllllllllllllll
Address
llllllllllllllll
City llllllllllllllllll
State llllllllllllllllll
Zip Code llllllllllllllll
b Please send me a paper copy of the
environmental document instead of an
electronic copy (compact disc).
From llllllllllllllllll
lllllllllllllllllllll
lllllllllllllllllllll
lllllllllllllllllllll
ATTN: OEP—Gas 2, PJ—11.2, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20426.
(Docket No. PF06–17–000)
Staple or Tape Here
[FR Doc. E6–4873 Filed 4–4–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPPT–2003–0604; FRL–7774–6]
Access to Confidential Business
Information by Chemical Abstract
Services; Correction
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Correction.
AGENCY:
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the
Federal Register of November 29, 2005,
concerning the authorization of EPA’s
contractor Chemical Abstract Services,
of Columbus, Ohio, to access
information which has been submitted
to EPA under sections 5 and 8 of the
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
This document is being issued to correct
errors in that notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general information contact: Colby
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator,
Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 554–1404; e-mail address:
TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.
For technical information contact:
Scott M. Sherlock, TSCA Security Staff,
Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202)564–8257; e-mail address:
sherlock.scott@epa.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Notice Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public
in general. This action may, however, be
of interest to those persons who are or
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may be required to conduct testing of
chemical substances under TSCA. Since
other entities may also be interested, the
Agency has not attempted to describe all
the specific entities that may be affected
by this action. If you have any questions
regarding the applicability of this action
to a particular entity, consult the
technical person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this
Document and Other Related
Documents?
1. Docket. EPA has established a
docket for this action under docket
identification (ID) number EPA–HQ–
OPPT–2003–0004. Publicly available
docket materials are available
electronically athttps://
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the OPPT Docket, EPA Docket Center,
EPA West, Rm. B102, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA
Docket Center Public Reading Room is
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the OPPT
Docket is (202) 566–0280.
2. Electronic access. You may access
this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet
under the ‘‘Federal Register’’ listings
athttps://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
II. What Does this Correction Do?
In FR Doc 05–23437 published in the
Federal Register of November 29, 2005
(70 FR 71500) (FRL–7751–6), EPA
issued a notice announcing the access of
information submitted to EPA under
sections 5 and 8 of TSCA to Chemical
Abstract Services. In that document the
access date and expiration date were
inadvertently listed. The document is
corrected as follows:
1. On page 71501, first column, the
date unit should have read:
‘‘DATES: Access to confidential data will
occur on March 1, 2006.’’
2. On page 71501, second column,
under Unit II., the fifth paragraph is
corrected to read:
‘‘Clearance for access to TSCA CBI
under Contract Number EP–W–06–011
may continue until December 31, 2012.
Access will occur on March 1, 2006.’’
List of Subjects
Environmental protection,
Confidential business information.
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March 29, 2006.
Vicki Simons,
Acting Director, Information Management
Division, Office of PollutionPrevention and
Toxics.
[FR Doc. E6–4931 Filed 4–4–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2006–0273; FRL–7771–6]
The Association of American Pesticide
Control Officials State FIFRA Issues
Research and Evaluation Group
Working Committee on Water Quality
and Pesticide Disposal Public Meeting
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Association of American
Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO)/
State FIFRA Issues Research and
Evaluation Group (SFIREG) Working
Committee on Water Quality and
Pesticide Disposal (WC/WQ&PD) will
hold a 2–day meeting, beginning on
April 24, 2006 and ending April 25,
2006. This notice announces the
location and times for the meeting and
sets forth the tentative agenda topics.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
April 24, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April, 25, 2006.
ADDRESS: The meeting will be held at
Mayflower Park Hotel, 4th and Olive
Streets, Seattle, WA, 98101, telephone
number: (206) 623–8700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Georgia McDuffie, Field and External
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of
Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–
0001; telephone number: (703) 605–
0195; fax number: (703) 308–1850; email address: mcduffie.georgia@epa.gov
or Philip H. Gray, SFIREG Executive
Secretary, P.O. Box 1249, Hardwick, VT
05843–1249; telephone number: (802)
472–6956; fax (802) 472–6957; e-mail
address: aapco@plainfield.bypass.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. General Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by
this action if you are interested in
SFIREG information exchange
relationship with EPA regarding
important issues related to human
health, environmental exposure to
pesticides, and insight into EPA’s
decision-making process are invited and
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17089-17092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4873]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF06-17-000]
Gulf South Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East Texas Expansion
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
March 28, 2006.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for
the East Texas Expansion Project proposed by the Gulf South Pipeline
Company (Gulf South). This notice describes the proposed project, the
EIS process and how the public can participate in our \1\ analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, state,
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. We encourage government
representatives to notify their constituents of this proposed project
and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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-of-way 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.
If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing
list for this project. If you would like to remain on our mailing list,
please return the Information Request (Appendix 2). If you do not
return the Information Request, you will be removed from the
[[Page 17090]]
Commission's environmental mailing list.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Gulf South proposes to construct, operate and maintain
approximately 146 miles of natural gas pipeline in Desoto, Red River,
Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita and Richland Parishes, Louisiana. This
pipeline would have the capacity to deliver approximately 1.5 billion
cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas per day and would interconnect with
three existing interstate natural gas pipeline facilities. Gulf South
is also proposing to expand its existing natural gas compressor station
in Panola County, Texas; and construct a new natural gas compressor
station in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
According to Gulf South, the purpose of this project is to
transport natural gas from production fields in east Texas and northern
Louisiana to markets in the Gulf Coast, Midwestern, Northeastern and
Southeastern United States. Gulf South has also stated that the East
Texas Expansion Project will satisfy the growing demand for natural gas
in the United States.
Specifically, Gulf South is proposing to construct, operate and
maintain:
146.3 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline beginning near
Keatchie, Louisiana and extending easterly through Desoto, Red River,
Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita and Richland Parishes until connecting
with existing pipeline facilities near Delhi, Louisiana.
An additional 40,000 horsepower (HP) of compression at the
existing Carthage Junction Compressor Station in Panola County, Texas.
A new 26,830 HP compressor station (Vixen Compressor
Station) near pipeline mile post 98.3 in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
Meter and regulation stations, mainline block valves, and
pigging facilities.
A general location of the proposed pipeline and compressor stations
is provided in Appendix 1.\2\
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\2\ 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
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
Requests for detailed maps of the proposed facilities should be made
directly to Gulf South.
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Land Requirements
Construction of the proposed 42-inch-diameter pipeline would
generally require the use of a 100 foot construction right-of-way
(ROW). The exact size of the construction ROW would vary depending on
land type and construction method. Additional temporary work spaces
(ATWS), access roads, pipe storage and contractor yards would also be
required during construction of the 42-inch-diameter pipeline.
Expansion of the Carthage Junction Compressor Station would be
conducted within the fenced boundaries of the station. Construction of
the proposed Vixen Compressor Station would require the purchase and
temporary disturbance of approximately 20 acres of land. Approximately
2,500 acres of land would be temporarily affected by construction of
the proposed project.
Operation of the proposed 42-inch-diameter pipeline would require
the use of a 60 foot permanent ROW. Operation of the expanded Carthage
Junction Compressor Station would not require the use of additional
lands. Operation of the proposed Vixen Compressor Station would require
the use of approximately 10 acres of land. Approximately 950 acres of
land would be permanently affected by operation of the proposed
project.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a Gulf South representative about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate and maintain the proposed project facilities. The
pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the FERC, 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.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from the approval of an interstate natural gas pipeline. The
FERC will use the EIS to assess the environmental impact that could
result if the East Texas Expansion Project is authorized under section
7 of the Natural Gas Act.
NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public
may have about proposals under consideration by the Commission. This
process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important
environmental issues. With this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
is requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to be
addressed in the EIS. All comments received will be considered during
preparation of the EIS. Please note that the scoping period will close
on April 27, 2006.
In the EIS, 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;
Water resources;
Wetlands and vegetation;
Fish and wildlife;
Threatened and endangered species;
Land use, recreation and visual resources;
Air quality and noise;
Cultural resources;
Socioeconomics;
Reliability and safety; and
Cumulative impacts.
In the EIS, 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 affected resources.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal, state and local
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners;
commentors; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers;
and the FERC's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will
consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We will consider all comments on
the final EIS before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To
ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the
instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.
Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has
already initiated its NEPA review under its Pre-filing Process. The
purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage the early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed.
With this notice, we are also asking federal, state and local
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with
respect to environmental issues to express their interest in becoming
cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. Agencies that would
[[Page 17091]]
like to request cooperating status should send a letter expressing that
interest and expected level of involvement to the Secretary of the
Commission at the address provided in the public participation section
of this notice.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed project. We
have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the project site, interaction with the
public during the pre-filing process and information provided by Gulf
South. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
The minimization of construction rights-of-way and
associated construction impacts.
Potential effects on prime farmland and soils with a high
potential for compaction.
Potential impacts to existing land uses, including
residences, suburban housing developments, agricultural and managed
forested lands.
Potential increases in noise resulting from the
construction of pipeline compression.
Potential impacts to perennial and intermittent
waterbodies, including waterbodies with federal and/or state
designations.
Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands
and development of appropriate mitigation.
Potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including
potential impacts to federally and state-listed threatened and
endangered species.
Potential impacts to wildlife management areas.
Potential impacts and benefits of construction workforce
on local housing, infrastructure, public services and economy.
Public safety and potential hazards associated with the
transport of natural gas.
Alternative alignments for the pipeline route.
Assessment of the effect of the proposed project when
combined with other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable future
actions in the project area.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the proposed project. By becoming a
commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please carefully follow these instructions:
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 your comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 2, DG2E.
Reference Docket No. PF06-17-000 on the original and both
copies.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before April 27, 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. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filing of any comments in response to this Notice
of Intent. For information on electronically filing comments, please
see the instructions on the Commission's Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov; before you can submit comments you will need to create a
free account.
Public scoping meetings are designed to provide another opportunity
to offer comments on the proposed project. The FERC will announce plans
for public scoping meetings in the vicinity of the proposed project
once Gulf South has filed additional information with the Commission.
Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend these
meetings and to present comments on the environmental issues they
believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting
will be generated so that comments are accurately recorded.
Once Gulf South formally files its application with the Commission,
you may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and
are able to file briefs, appear at hearings and be heard by the courts
if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor
formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.
Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time.
You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.
Availability of Additional Information
Gulf South has established an Internet Web site for this project at
https://www.gulfsouthpl.com. This Web site includes a description of the
project, a map of the proposed pipeline route and answers to frequently
asked questions. You can also request additional information or provide
comments directly to Gulf South at 1-877-972-8533 or by e-mail at
easttexasexpansionproject @gulfsouthpl.com.
Additional information about this project can also be obtained by
contacting the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208--
FERC (3372). Additional information is also available on the Internet
at https://www.ferc.gov. The ``eLibrary link'' on the FERC Web site
provides access to documents submitted to and issued by the Commission,
such as comments, orders, notices and rulemakings. Once on the FERC
website, click on the ``eLibrary link,'' select ``General Search'' and
in the ``Docket Number'' field enter the project docket number
excluding the last three digits (PF06-17). When researching information
be sure to select an appropriate date range. In addition, the FERC now
offers a free email service called eSubscription that 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. To register for
this service, go to https://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
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.
For assistance with the FERC Web site or with eSubscription, please
contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free
at 1-866-208-3676, or TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
Appendix 2--Information Request
[Docket No. PF06-17-000]
[ballot] Please keep my name on the mailing list for the East Texas
Expansion Project.
Name------------------------------------------------------------------
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Agency----------------------------------------------------------------
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[ballot] Please send me a paper copy of the environmental document
instead of an electronic copy (compact disc).
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ATTN: OEP--Gas 2, PJ--11.2, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
(Docket No. PF06-17-000)
Staple or Tape Here
[FR Doc. E6-4873 Filed 4-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
