Ozark Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East End Expansion Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 74512-74515 [E6-21052]

Download as PDF jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES 74512 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 12, 2006 / Notices revision to the Interconnection and Local Delivery Service Agreement 1262 with Wabash Valley Power Association. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0023. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER07–279–000. Applicants: Kentucky Utilities Company. Description: Kentucky Utilities Company submits amendment to their contract with City of Falmouth, Kentucky Rate Schedule 310. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0018. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER07–280–000. Applicants: Kentucky Utilities Company. Description: Kentucky Utilities Co submits amendments to their contract with City of Corbin, Kentucky Rate Schedule 309. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0019. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER07–282–000. Applicants: Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Description: Southwest Power Pool, Inc submits an executed service agreement for firm point-to-point transmission service with Kansas Power Pool. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0003. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER07–283–000. Applicants: Southwest Power Pool, Inc. Description: Southwest Power Pool, Inc submits an executed service agreement for Network Integration Transmission Service with Kansas Power Pool. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0021. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER07–285–000. Applicants: New York Independent System Operator, Inc. Description: New York Independent System Operator Inc submits revisions to its Market Administration and Control Area Service Tariff. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0020. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER07–287–000. Applicants: Klondike Wind Power III LLC. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 11, 2006 Jkt 211001 Description: MidAmerican Energy Company submits an amended Network Integration Transmission Service Agreement and an amended Interconnection and Network Operating Agreement w/Indianola Municipal Utilities. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0022. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 2006. Docket Numbers: ER97–2846–011; ER99–2311–008; ER01–2928–010; ER01–1418–007; ER99–2324–004; ER01–1310–008; ER03–398–008. Applicants: Florida Power Corporation; Carolina Power & Light Company; Progress Ventures, Inc.; Efffingham County Power, LLC; MPC Generating, LLC; Walton County Power, LLC; Washington County Power, LLC. Description: Progress Energy, Inc on behalf of Florida Power Corp submits notice of change in status re the terminating agreement with Shady Hills Power Co, LLC etc pursuant to Order 652. Filed Date: 12/01/2006. Accession Number: 20061205–0026. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, December 22, 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. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. E6–21100 Filed 12–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF06–34–000] Ozark Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East End Expansion Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues December 4, 2006. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will identify and address the environmental impacts that could result from the construction and operation of the East End Expansion Project proposed by Ozark Gas Transmission, LLC (OGT). In order to assist staff with the identification of environmental issues and to comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), a scoping period has been opened to receive comments on the proposed project. Please note that the scoping period for this project will close on January 31, 2007. Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written comments, we invite you to attend the public scoping meetings that will be scheduled in mid January across the project region. A second notice will E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM 12DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 12, 2006 / Notices be issued in December to provide the meeting date, time, and locations. 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 planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. Details on how to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted by an OGT 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. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’ is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (https:// www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the FERC’s proceedings. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Summary of the Proposed Project OGT proposes to construct, own, operate, and maintain a natural gas pipeline to provide incremental multiyear shipper requirements due to expected regional supply and market growth. OGT indicates that the proposed facilities form the basis of an incremental project that is designed to optimize the placement of facilities to meeting short term volume growth requirements while taking into consideration a long term design to meet future anticipated transporter volume growth to 2026. The proposed pipeline would originate at the proposed Wonderview Compressor Station near Wonderview in Conway County, Arkansas along OGT existing pipeline right-of-way to Searcy, Arkansas and extend to a terminus at the interconnection with an existing interstate pipeline located near Banner in Calhoun County, Mississippi. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 11, 2006 Jkt 211001 The general location of the proposed pipeline is shown in the figure included as Appendix 1.1 The East End Expansion Project facilities under FERC jurisdiction would include: • Approximately 225 miles of 36inch-diameter pipeline extension (East End Expansion) and looping beginning in Conway County, Arkansas and ending in Calhoun County, Mississippi; • Approximately 8 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline extension (Noark Extension) from the existing Noark to the proposed Wonderview Compressor Station all within Conway County, Arkansas; • Three compressor stations— Wonderview, Searcy, and Helena Compressor Stations in Conway, White, and Phillips County, Arkansas, respectively each with two 10,000horsepower (hp) electric drive compressors; • Five new gas meter stations at interconnects with existing interstate pipelines, including: —Texas Gas Meter Station in Coahoma County, Mississippi; —ANR Meter Station in Panola County, Mississippi; —Trunkline Meter Station in Panola County, Mississippi; —Tennessee Gas Meter Station in Panola County, Mississippi; —Columbia Gulf Meter Station in Calhoun County, Mississippi; • Interconnections between the OGT existing 16-inch-diameter pipeline (Noark) and the OGT existing 20-inchdiameter pipeline; and • Four pig launching and receiving facilities (one on the 24-inch-diameter line and three on the 36-inch diameter line), 24-inch side valve on the 36-inch diameter line, and 14 mainline valves. The project would be designed and constructed to receive and transport about 1.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. OGT proposes to have the project constructed and operational by December 2008. Land Requirements for Construction As proposed, the typical construction right-of-way for the project pipeline would be 115-feet-wide for the 36-inchdiameter pipeline and 115-feet-wide for the 24-inch-diameter pipeline. Following construction, OGT would retain a 75-foot-wide permanent rightof-way for operation of the project. Additional, temporary extra workspaces beyond the typical construction right-ofway limits would be required at certain feature crossings (e.g., roads, railroads, 1 The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 74513 wetlands, or waterbodies), in areas with steep side slopes, or in association with special construction techniques. Based on preliminary information, construction of the proposed project facilities would affect a total of about 3,414 acres of land. Following construction, about 2,118 acres would be maintained as permanent right-ofway, and about 126 acres of land would be maintained as new aboveground facility sites. The remaining 1,170 acres of temporary workspace (including all temporary construction rights-of-way, extra workspaces, and pipe storage and contractor yards) would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. The EIS Process NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or not an interstate natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC will use the EIS to consider the environmental impact that could result if the OGT 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 to be considered 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. 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, E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM 12DEN1 74514 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 12, 2006 / Notices 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 the Commission’s 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 the FERC. With this notice, we are asking federal, state, and local governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues, especially those identified in Appendix 2, 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 like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided in Appendix 2. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Currently Identified Environmental Issues The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the project site and the facility information provided by OGT. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. • Potential effects on prime farmland and erodable soils. • Potential impacts to perennial and intermittent waterbodies, including waterbodies with federal and/or state designations/protections. • Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands and development of appropriate mitigation. • Potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including potential VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 11, 2006 Jkt 211001 impacts to federally and state-listed threatened and endangered species. • Potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities on surrounding areas. • Potential impacts and potential benefits of construction workforce on local housing, infrastructure, public services, and economy. • Potential impacts to local air and noise quality associated with construction and operation. • Public safety and potential hazards associated with the transport of natural gas. • Alternative alignments for the pipeline route and alternative sites for the compressor stations. 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 impact. 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. PF06–34–000 on the original and both copies. • Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before January 31, 2007. 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. The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations) will be provided at a later date in a separate notice. Scoping meetings are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on the proposed project. Interested PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the 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 your comments will be accurately recorded. Once OGT 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. Environmental Mailing List An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are potential right-ofway grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within distances defined in the Commission’s regulations of certain aboveground facilities. If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing list for this project. If you do not want to send comments at this time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request (Appendix 3). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be removed from the Commission’s environmental mailing list. Availability of Additional Information Additional information about the project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at 1–866–208–FERC (3372) or on the FERC Internet Web site 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 Web site, click on the ‘‘eLibrary link,’’ select ‘‘General Search’’ and in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field enter the project docket number excluding the last three digits (PF06–34). When researching information be sure to select an appropriate date range. In addition, the FERC now offers a free e-mail E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM 12DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 12, 2006 / Notices 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. Finally, OGT has established an Internet Web site for this project at https://www.eastendexpansion@ ozarkgastransmission.com. The 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 OGT thorough their Operations Communication Center at 1–888–593–8207. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–21052 Filed 12–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2085] Southern California Edison Company; Notice of Application and ApplicantPrepared EA Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, and Soliciting Comments, and Final Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES December 5, 2006. Take notice that the following hydroelectric application and applicantprepared environmental assessment has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: New—Major License. b. Project No.: 2085–014. c. Date Filed: November 29, 2005. d. Applicant: Southern California Edison Company. e. Name of Project: Mammoth Pool Hydroelectric Power Project. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:00 Dec 11, 2006 Jkt 211001 f. Location: On the San Joaquin River, near North Fork, California. The project affects 2,036 cres of Federal land administered by the Sierra National Forest. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Russ W. Krieger, Vice President Power Production, Southern California Edison Company, 300 N. Lone Hill Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773. Phone: 909–394– 8667. i. FERC Contact: Jim Fargo at (202) 502–6095, or e-mail: james.fargo@ferc.gov. j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, and final recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice. All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. The Commission’s Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person on 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. Motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Web site https://www.ferc.gov under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link. k. This application has been accepted for filing. l. Description of project: the Project is located in the central Sierra Nevada, within the San Joaquin River watershed, about 50 miles northeast of the City of Fresno. The Project is operated as a reservoir-storage type plant with an installed operating capacity of 190.0 MW and a dependable operating capacity of 187.0 MW. Water for the Project is taken from the San Joaquin River, Ross Creek, and Rock Creek and conveyed to the Mammoth Pool Powerhouse through the Mammoth Pool Tunnel. The Project facilities include: the Mammoth Pool Dam forming Mammoth Pool Reservoir, with a capacity of about PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 74515 119,940 acre-feet at an elevation of about 3,330 feet above mean sea level; one power tunnel about 7.5 miles long, to convey water from Mammoth Pool Reservoir to Mammoth Pool Powerhouse; two small diversions on Rock Creek and Ross Creek; and one 230 kV transmission line about 6.7 miles long that connects the Mammoth Pool Powerhouse to the non-project Big Creek No. 3 Switchyard. Type of Application: New—Major Modified License m. A copy of the application is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may 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, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, (202) 502–8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above. n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission’s Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application. All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title ‘‘PROTEST’’, ‘‘MOTION TO INTERVENE’’, ‘‘COMMENTS’’, ‘‘REPLY COMMENTS’’, ‘‘RECOMMENDATIONS’’, ‘‘TERMS AND CONDITIONS’’, or ‘‘PRESCRIPTIONS’’; (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular application. A copy of all other filings E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM 12DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74512-74515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21052]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-34-000]


Ozark Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East End Expansion 
Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

December 4, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will identify and address the environmental impacts that could result 
from the construction and operation of the East End Expansion Project 
proposed by Ozark Gas Transmission, LLC (OGT).
    In order to assist staff with the identification of environmental 
issues and to comply with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), a scoping period has been 
opened to receive comments on the proposed project. Please note that 
the scoping period for this project will close on January 31, 2007.
    Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public 
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written 
comments, we invite you to attend the public scoping meetings that will 
be scheduled in mid January across the project region. A second notice 
will

[[Page 74513]]

be issued in December to provide the meeting date, time, and locations.
    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 planned project 
and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. Details on how 
to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section of 
this notice.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by an OGT 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.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov). This fact 
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the 
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the FERC's proceedings.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    OGT proposes to construct, own, operate, and maintain a natural gas 
pipeline to provide incremental multiyear shipper requirements due to 
expected regional supply and market growth. OGT indicates that the 
proposed facilities form the basis of an incremental project that is 
designed to optimize the placement of facilities to meeting short term 
volume growth requirements while taking into consideration a long term 
design to meet future anticipated transporter volume growth to 2026. 
The proposed pipeline would originate at the proposed Wonderview 
Compressor Station near Wonderview in Conway County, Arkansas along OGT 
existing pipeline right-of-way to Searcy, Arkansas and extend to a 
terminus at the interconnection with an existing interstate pipeline 
located near Banner in Calhoun County, Mississippi.
    The general location of the proposed pipeline is shown in the 
figure included as Appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The East End Expansion Project facilities under FERC jurisdiction 
would include:
     Approximately 225 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline 
extension (East End Expansion) and looping beginning in Conway County, 
Arkansas and ending in Calhoun County, Mississippi;
     Approximately 8 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
extension (Noark Extension) from the existing Noark to the proposed 
Wonderview Compressor Station all within Conway County, Arkansas;
     Three compressor stations--Wonderview, Searcy, and Helena 
Compressor Stations in Conway, White, and Phillips County, Arkansas, 
respectively each with two 10,000-horsepower (hp) electric drive 
compressors;
     Five new gas meter stations at interconnects with existing 
interstate pipelines, including:

--Texas Gas Meter Station in Coahoma County, Mississippi;
--ANR Meter Station in Panola County, Mississippi;
--Trunkline Meter Station in Panola County, Mississippi;
--Tennessee Gas Meter Station in Panola County, Mississippi;
--Columbia Gulf Meter Station in Calhoun County, Mississippi;

     Interconnections between the OGT existing 16-inch-diameter 
pipeline (Noark) and the OGT existing 20-inch-diameter pipeline; and
     Four pig launching and receiving facilities (one on the 
24-inch-diameter line and three on the 36-inch diameter line), 24-inch 
side valve on the 36-inch diameter line, and 14 mainline valves.
    The project would be designed and constructed to receive and 
transport about 1.0 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. OGT 
proposes to have the project constructed and operational by December 
2008.

Land Requirements for Construction

    As proposed, the typical construction right-of-way for the project 
pipeline would be 115-feet-wide for the 36-inch-diameter pipeline and 
115-feet-wide for the 24-inch-diameter pipeline. Following 
construction, OGT would retain a 75-foot-wide permanent right-of-way 
for operation of the project. Additional, temporary extra workspaces 
beyond the typical construction right-of-way limits would be required 
at certain feature crossings (e.g., roads, railroads, wetlands, or 
waterbodies), in areas with steep side slopes, or in association with 
special construction techniques.
    Based on preliminary information, construction of the proposed 
project facilities would affect a total of about 3,414 acres of land. 
Following construction, about 2,118 acres would be maintained as 
permanent right-of-way, and about 126 acres of land would be maintained 
as new aboveground facility sites. The remaining 1,170 acres of 
temporary workspace (including all temporary construction rights-of-
way, extra workspaces, and pipe storage and contractor yards) would be 
restored and allowed to revert to its former use.

The EIS Process

    NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental 
impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or 
not an interstate natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC 
will use the EIS to consider the environmental impact that could result 
if the OGT 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 to be considered 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.
    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,

[[Page 74514]]

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 the Commission's 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 the FERC.
    With this notice, we are asking federal, state, and local 
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with 
respect to environmental issues, especially those identified in 
Appendix 2, 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 like to request cooperating 
status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided in 
Appendix 2.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a 
preliminary review of the project site and the facility information 
provided by OGT. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based 
on your comments and our analysis.
     Potential effects on prime farmland and erodable soils.
     Potential impacts to perennial and intermittent 
waterbodies, including waterbodies with federal and/or state 
designations/protections.
     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 visual effects of the aboveground facilities on 
surrounding areas.
     Potential impacts and potential benefits of construction 
workforce on local housing, infrastructure, public services, and 
economy.
     Potential impacts to local air and noise quality 
associated with construction and operation.
     Public safety and potential hazards associated with the 
transport of natural gas.
     Alternative alignments for the pipeline route and 
alternative sites for the compressor stations.

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 impact. 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. PF06-34-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before January 31, 2007.
    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.
    The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations) will be 
provided at a later date in a separate notice. Scoping meetings are 
designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on the 
proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to 
attend the 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 your comments will be accurately 
recorded.
    Once OGT 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.

Environmental Mailing List

    An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are 
potential right-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 do not want to send comments at this 
time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the 
Information Request (Appendix 3). If you do not return the Information 
Request, you will be removed from the Commission's environmental 
mailing list.

Availability of Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on 
the FERC Internet Web site 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 Web site, click on the ``eLibrary link,'' 
select ``General Search'' and in the ``Docket Number'' field enter the 
project docket number excluding the last three digits (PF06-34). When 
researching information be sure to select an appropriate date range. In 
addition, the FERC now offers a free e-mail

[[Page 74515]]

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.
    Finally, OGT has established an Internet Web site for this project 
at http:www.eastendexpansion@ozarkgastransmission.com">//www.eastendexpansion@ozarkgastransmission.com. The 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 OGT 
thorough their Operations Communication Center at 1-888-593-8207.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-21052 Filed 12-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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