Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Segment Amendment Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 52786-52788 [E6-14769]

Download as PDF 52786 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 2006 / Notices document is added to a subscribed docket(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. Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 13, 2006. (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on September 20, 2006. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–14767 Filed 9–6–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–14768 Filed 9–6–06; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Federal Energy Regulatory Commission DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [ Docket No. CP04–400–002] Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Segment Amendment Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues Tennessee Valley Authority; Notice of Filing rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES August 25, 2006. Take notice that on August 21, 2006, Tennessee Valley Authority filed a revised Interconnection Agreement with East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc., in compliance with the Commission’s order issued July 20, 2006. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). 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. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant and all the parties in this proceeding. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. This filing is accessible online at https://www.ferc.gov, using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is 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 docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:11 Sep 06, 2006 Jkt 208001 August 25, 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) proposed Northern Segment Amendment Project (Northern Segment Amendment or Project) which involves design and workspace changes to the pipeline facilities previously approved as part of the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project.1 In the Northern Segment Amendment, Golden Pass proposes the following changes to the previously authorized facilities: (1) Replace the authorized, but not yet constructed, 36-inch-diameter pipeline with a 42-inch-diameter pipeline between approximate milepost (MP) 42.81 and MP 77.87, at the American Electric Power Texoma Pipeline (AEP Texoma) interconnect and the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) interconnect, respectively; (2) relocate a mainline valve (MLV) from MP 54.11 to 52.50 and install a 42-inch MLV rather than a 36inch MLV; (3) remove from the approved facilities the 36-inch pig receiver and launcher at the AEP Texoma interconnect; and (4) install a 42-inch pig receiver and MLV at the Transco interconnect. The pipeline route would not change as a result of the 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. PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 amended facilities. However, due to the increased diameter of the pipeline, Golden Pass is requesting additional temporary workspaces at certain locations. 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 September 25, 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 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 2 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. 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 (www.ferc.gov). 2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects. E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 2006 / Notices 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) will be used to transport natural gas on an open-access basis from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal on the Port Arthur ship channel to various interstate and intrastate pipelines in Texas and Louisiana. The EA prepared for the Project will incorporate by reference information provided in the environmental impact statement prepared for the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project. Golden Pass presently has a pending application for the Optimized Pipeline Project (OP Project) by which it proposes to construct and operate a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline, in place of the 42.8 miles of dual 36-inchdiameter pipelines and to shorten the pipeline route. That proposal would involve only those pipeline facilities in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas, south of approximate MP 42.81. An environmental assessment of the OP Project was issued on August 15, 2006. The Northern Segment Amendment would affect the authorized pipeline north of MP 42.81. A map illustrating the authorized facilities and the proposed Project is provided in Appendix 1.3 Non-Jurisdictional Facilities There are no proposed nonjurisdictional facilities associated with this proposal. Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the Project would not change the permanent pipeline right-ofway, but it would require additional temporary construction workspace at certain waterbody, road, and pipeline crossings. The total increase in temporary land requirements would be about 4.89 acres. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 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 3 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. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:11 Sep 06, 2006 Jkt 208001 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 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: • Land use. • Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands. • Cultural resources. • Vegetation and wildlife. • Endangered and threatened species. 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 will be 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 decision-making 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 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52787 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. • Land use. 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. CP04–400– 002 on the original and both copies. • Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC, on or before September 25, 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 online. 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 E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1 52788 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 173 / Thursday, September 7, 2006 / Notices 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. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 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 (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 www.ferc.gov/ esubscribenow.htm. Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at www.ferc.gov/ VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:11 Sep 06, 2006 Jkt 208001 EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–14769 Filed 9–6–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene, Protests, and Comments August 28, 2006. Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection: a. Type of Application: Preliminary Permit. b. Project No.: 12703–000. c. Date filed: June 28, 2006. d. Applicant: Goshen Hydroelectric Power LLC. e. Name of Project: Goshen Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: The project would be located on the Elkhart River in Elkhart County, Indiana. The project would use the Goshen Dam owned by the Elkhart County Parks and Recreation. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Mr. William Stockhausen, 218 W. Dunlap Street, Northville, MI 48167 (248) 349–2833. i. FERC Contact: Patricia W. Gillis at (202) 502–8735. j. Deadline for filing comments, protests, and motions to intervene: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice. The Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person in the official service list for the project. Further, if an intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency. k. Description of Project: The proposed project would consist of the following: (1) The existing 130-footwide, 5-foot-high Goshen Dam owned by the Elkhart County Park and Recreation, (2) an existing impoundment having a surface area of 765 acres with a storage capacity of 3100 acre-feet and normal water surface elevation of 790.9 feet mean sea level, (3) a proposed reconstructed PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 powerhouse containing two proposed generating unit with an installed capacity of 500 kilowatts, (4) an existing 100 feet long and 50 feet wide tailrace, (5) a proposed 60-foot-long, 12.5 kilovolt transmission line, and (6) appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would have an average annual generation of 2.575 gigawatt-hours, which would be sold to a local utility. l. Locations of Applications: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission in the Public Reference Room, located at 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling (202) 502–8371. This filing may also be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call toll-free 1–866–208–3676 or e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above. m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission’s mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission. n. Competing Preliminary Permit: Anyone desiring to file a competing application for preliminary permit for a proposed project must submit the competing application itself, or a notice of intent to file such an application, to the Commission on or before the specified comment date for the particular application (see 18 CFR 4.36). Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to file the competing preliminary permit application no later than 30 days after the specified comment date for the particular application. A competing preliminary permit application must conform with 18 CFR 4.30(b) and 4.36. o. Competing Development Application: Any qualified development applicant desiring to file a competing development application must submit to the Commission, on or before a specified comment date for the particular application, either a competing development application or a notice of intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of intent to file a development application allows an interested person to file the competing application no later than 120 days after the specified comment date for the particular application. A competing license application must conform with 18 CFR 4.30(b) and 4.36. E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52786-52788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14769]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[ Docket No. CP04-400-002]


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

August 25, 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) proposed Northern Segment Amendment Project (Northern 
Segment Amendment or Project) which involves design and workspace 
changes to the pipeline facilities previously approved as part of the 
Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project.\1\ In the Northern 
Segment Amendment, Golden Pass proposes the following changes to the 
previously authorized facilities: (1) Replace the authorized, but not 
yet constructed, 36-inch-diameter pipeline with a 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline between approximate milepost (MP) 42.81 and MP 77.87, at the 
American Electric Power Texoma Pipeline (AEP Texoma) interconnect and 
the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) interconnect, 
respectively; (2) relocate a mainline valve (MLV) from MP 54.11 to 
52.50 and install a 42-inch MLV rather than a 36-inch MLV; (3) remove 
from the approved facilities the 36-inch pig receiver and launcher at 
the AEP Texoma interconnect; and (4) install a 42-inch pig receiver and 
MLV at the Transco interconnect. The pipeline route would not change as 
a result of the amended facilities. However, due to the increased 
diameter of the pipeline, Golden Pass is requesting additional 
temporary workspaces at certain locations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 September 25, 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 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 \2\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``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 (www.ferc.gov).

[[Page 52787]]

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) will be used to transport 
natural gas on an open-access basis from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal 
on the Port Arthur ship channel to various interstate and intrastate 
pipelines in Texas and Louisiana. The EA prepared for the Project will 
incorporate by reference information provided in the environmental 
impact statement prepared for the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline 
Project.
    Golden Pass presently has a pending application for the Optimized 
Pipeline Project (OP Project) by which it proposes to construct and 
operate a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline, in place of the 42.8 miles 
of dual 36-inch-diameter pipelines and to shorten the pipeline route. 
That proposal would involve only those pipeline facilities in Jefferson 
and Orange Counties, Texas, south of approximate MP 42.81. An 
environmental assessment of the OP Project was issued on August 15, 
2006.
    The Northern Segment Amendment would affect the authorized pipeline 
north of MP 42.81. A map illustrating the authorized facilities and the 
proposed Project is provided in Appendix 1.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 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 Project would not change the permanent pipeline 
right-of-way, but it would require additional temporary construction 
workspace at certain waterbody, road, and pipeline crossings. The total 
increase in temporary land requirements would be about 4.89 acres.

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 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:
     Land use.
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands.
     Cultural resources.
     Vegetation and wildlife.
     Endangered and threatened species.
    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 will be 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 decision-making 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.
     Water Resources.
     Impact on water quality.
     Impact on wetlands.
     Endangered and Threatened Species.
     Land use.

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. CP04-400-002 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC, on or before September 25, 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 online.

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

[[Page 52788]]

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 (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 www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-14769 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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