Federal Register Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment and To Conduct Scoping Meetings and Notice of Floodplain and Wetland Involvement; Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) L.L.C. (LSr Project), 41383-41385 [E7-14488]
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 144 / Friday, July 27, 2007 / Notices
Canadian border at Neche, Pembina
County, North Dakota, for the purpose
of transporting liquid hydrocarbons and
other petroleum products between the
United States and Canada. Enbridge
seeks this authorization in connection
with its Alberta Clipper Project
(‘‘Alberta Clipper Project’’), which is
designed to transport Canadian crude
oil from the Western Canadian
Sedimentary Basin (‘‘WCSB’’) to
existing refinery markets in the Midwest
region of the United States. The project
description set forth in this notice is
based on information provided by
Enbridge in its Presidential permit
application.
Enbridge is planning to increase its
ability to provide additional supplies of
petroleum to markets in the United
States in response to customer requests
and marketplace demands. To fulfill
this goal, Enbridge has embarked upon
an expansion program to increase its
transportation capacity. The Enbridge
Expansion Program is specifically
designed to increase petroleum
transportation services from the
increasingly accessible oil sands supply
in the WCSB to refineries in the
Midwest. Enbridge proposes to
construct and operate a petroleum
pipeline and related facilities from
Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Superior,
Wisconsin in the United States. The
Alberta Clipper Project would have an
initial capacity to deliver 450,000
barrels per day (bpd) of petroleum from
an existing terminal at Hardisty, Alberta
to an existing terminal in Superior,
Wisconsin.
In total, the Alberta Clipper Project
would consist of approximately 992
miles of new pipeline in total. The
proposed system expansion would
include the construction of
approximately 326 miles of new 36inch-diameter pipeline from the United
States-Canada border near Neche, North
Dakota to the existing Enbridge tank
farm in Superior, Wisconsin for the
transportation of petroleum. Enbridge
proposes to construct the pipeline
generally along its existing pipeline
right-of-way. In Canada, the project
would involve the construction of
approximately 666 miles of new
pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to the
United States-Canada border.
Appropriate regulatory authorities in
Canada will conduct an independent
environmental review for the Canadian
facilities.
The Alberta Clipper Project also
would require modifications at existing
pump stations and the construction of
delivery facilities and mainline valves.
Modifications of the pump stations
would occur at locations necessary to
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16:53 Jul 26, 2007
Jkt 211001
maintain adequate flow through the
pipeline. Mainline valves would be
installed and located as dictated by the
hydraulic characteristics of the
transported petroleum. Enbridge
proposes to begin construction of the
project in November 2008. Construction
would occur over approximately 14
months, with an in-service date on or
before December 31, 2009.
U.S. counties that could possibly be
affected by construction of the proposed
pipeline are:
North Dakota: Pembina.
Minnesota: Kittson, Marshall,
Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, Clearwater,
Beltrami, Hubbard, Cass, Itasca, Aitkin,
St. Louis, Carlton.
Wisconsin: Douglas.
The Alberta Clipper Project would be
constructed within or adjacent to
Enbridge’s existing right-of-way
between the United States-Canadian
border near Neche, North Dakota and
Superior, Wisconsin. Construction of
the proposed pipeline would generally
require a 140-foot-wide construction
right-of-way to allow temporary storage
of topsoil and spoil and to accommodate
safe operation of construction
equipment. The spoil side (i.e., topsoil
and ditch spoil stockpile area) would
typically be up to 50-feet feet wide and
generally located within the existing
maintained right-of-way. The working
side (i.e., equipment work area and
travel lane) would typically be 90-feet
wide and mostly be located outside the
existing maintained right-of-way.
Following construction, Enbridge would
retain right-of-way to maintain 75-feet
from the current outermost pipeline.
Dated: July 23, 2007.
David Brown,
Director, Office of International Oceans,
Environment and Scientific Affairs, U.S.
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7–14486 Filed 7–26–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Federal Register Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental
Assessment; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment
and To Conduct Scoping Meetings and
Notice of Floodplain and Wetland
Involvement; Enbridge Pipelines
(Southern Lights) L.L.C. (LSr Project)
Department of State.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) and to
conduct public scoping meetings.
Notice of floodplain and wetlands
involvement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
41383
SUMMARY: Enbridge Pipelines (Southern
Lights) L.L.C. has applied to the United
States Department of State for a
Presidential Permit for the proposed
construction, connection, operation, and
maintenance at the border of the United
States of facilities for the export and
import of petroleum to and from a
foreign country (LSr Project). The
Department of State receives and
considers applications for Presidential
Permits for such energy-related
pipelines pursuant to authority
delegated to it by the President under
Executive Order 13337 of April 30, 2004
(69 FR 25299). To issue a Permit, the
Department of State must find that
issuance would serve the national
interest. The Department intends to
consult extensively with concerned
Federal and State agencies on this
application, and invites public comment
to assist it in arriving at its
determination. In accordance with
Section 102(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)) and
implementing regulations promulgated
by the Council on Environmental
Quality (40 CFR parts 1500–1508) and
the Department of State (22 CFR part
161), including in particular 22 CFR
161.7(c)(1), the Department of State
intends to prepare an environmental
assessment (EA) to determine if there
are any potential significant impacts
and to address alternatives to the
proposed action.
The purpose of this Notice of Intent
is to inform the public about the
proposed action, announce plans for
scoping meetings, invite public
participation in the scoping process,
and solicit public comments for
consideration in establishing the scope
and content of the LSr Project EA. As
the proposed project may involve an
action in a floodplain or wetland, the
EA will also include a floodplain and
wetlands assessment and floodplain
statement of findings.
DATES: Department of State invites
interested agencies, organizations, and
members of the public to submit
comments or suggestions to assist in
identifying significant environmental
issues and in determining the
appropriate scope of the LSr Project EA.
The public scoping period starts with
the publication of this Notice in the
Federal Register and will continue until
September 10, 2007. Written, electronic
and oral comments will be given equal
weight and State will consider all
comments received or postmarked by
September 10, 2007 in defining the
scope of the LSr Project EA. Comments
received or postmarked after that date
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41384
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 144 / Friday, July 27, 2007 / Notices
will be considered to the extent
practicable.
During this public scoping period, the
Department of State plans to use the
scoping process in conjunction with the
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
public hearing process to help identify
consulting parties and historic
preservation issues for consideration
under section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act and its
implementing regulations (36 CFR part
800). Dates and locations for the public
scoping meetings are:
1. August 13; 11 a.m.–2 p.m.;
Kennedy; MN; VFW & Cafe; 103 5th St.
E.
2. August 13; 6 p.m.–9 p.m.; Stephen;
MN; Stephen Community Center; 319
5th Street.
3. August 14; 6 p.m.–9 p.m.; Thief
River Falls; MN; Best Western Meeting
Room; 1060 Highway 32 South.
4. August 15; 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; Oklee;
MN; Oklee Community Hall; 2nd Ave.
Between Fire Hall and Gas Station.
5. August 15; 6 p.m.–9 p.m.; Gully;
MN; Gully Community Center; 120 S.
Main St.
6. August 16; 6 p.m.–9 p.m.;
Clearbrook; MN; City Hall Gym; 200
Elm St. SE.
The public is encouraged to become
involved in this process and provide
specific comments or concerns about
the proposed project. By becoming a
commentator, your concerns will be
addressed in the LSr Project EA and
considered by the Department of State.
Your comments should focus on the
potential environmental impacts,
reasonable alternatives (including
alternative facility sites and alternative
pipeline routes), and measures to avoid
or lessen environmental impacts. The
more specific your comments, the more
useful they will be. The public scoping
meetings identified above are designed
to provide another opportunity to offer
comments on the proposed project.
Interested individuals and groups are
encouraged to attend these meetings and
to present comments on the
environmental issues they believe
should be addressed in the LSr EA.
Again, written comments are considered
with equal weight in the process relative
to those received in public scoping
meetings.
Written comments or
suggestions on the scope of the LSr EA
should be addressed to: Elizabeth
Orlando, OES/ENV Room 2657, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC
20520. Comments may be submitted
electronically to:
southernlights@state.gov.
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ADDRESSES:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:53 Jul 26, 2007
Jkt 211001
For
information on the proposed project or
to receive a copy of the Draft LSr EA
when it is issued, contact Elizabeth
Orlando at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice by
electronic or regular mail as listed
above, or by telephone (202) 647–4284,
or by fax at (202) 647–5947.
More information on the Enbridge LSr
Project application for a Presidential
Permit, including associated maps and
drawings will be downloadable in its
entirety from an Enbridge hosted project
Web site that is being established for
this purpose and will be accessible
from: https://www.enbridgeUS.com/
publicinfo. This Web site is expected to
be operational on or about August 13,
2007. This Web site will NOT accept
public comments for the record, but it
will provide a link to the Department of
State project e-mail address noted
above. Department of State Presidential
Permit information and process can be
found at: https://www.state.gov/e/eeb/
c9986.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Need for Agency
Action
The Department of State has received
an application from Enbridge Pipelines
(Southern Lights) L.L.C. (‘‘Enbridge’’)
for a Presidential Permit, pursuant to
Executive Order 13337 of April 30,
2004, to construct, connect, operate, and
maintain a 20-inch crude oil and liquid
hydrocarbon pipeline at the U.S.Canadian border at Neche, Pembina
County, North Dakota, for the purpose
of transporting liquid hydrocarbons and
other petroleum products between the
United States and Canada. Enbridge
seeks this authorization in connection
with its Southern Lights Pipeline Project
(‘‘LSr Project’’), which is designed to
transport Canadian crude oil from the
Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
(‘‘WCSB’’) to existing refinery markets
in the Midwest region of the United
States. The project description set forth
in this notice is based on information
provided by Enbridge in its Presidential
permit application.
Enbridge is planning to increase its
ability to provide additional supplies of
petroleum to markets in the United
States in response to customer requests
and marketplace demands. To fulfill
this goal, Enbridge has embarked upon
an expansion program to increase its
transportation capacity. The Enbridge
Expansion Program is specifically
designed to increase petroleum
transportation services from the
increasingly accessible oil sands supply
in the WCSB to refineries in the
PO 00000
Frm 00100
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Midwest. Enbridge proposes to
construct and operate a petroleum
pipeline and related facilities from
Cromer, Manitoba, Canada, to
Clearbrook, Minnesota in the United
States. The LSr Project would have the
capacity to deliver 186,000 barrels per
day (bpd) of petroleum from a supply
hub near Cromer, Manitoba to an
existing terminal in Clearbrook,
Minnesota.
In total, the LSr Project would consist
of approximately 313 miles of new
pipeline in total. The proposed system
expansion would include the
construction of approximately 136 miles
of new 20-inch-diameter pipeline from
the United States-Canada border near
Neche, North Dakota to the existing
Enbridge tank farm in Clearbrook,
Minnesota for the transportation of
petroleum. Enbridge proposes to
construct the pipeline generally along
its existing pipeline right-of-way. In
Canada, the project would involve the
construction of approximately 178 miles
of new pipeline from Cromer, Manitoba
to the United States-Canada border.
Appropriate regulatory authorities in
Canada will conduct an independent
environmental review for the Canadian
facilities.
The LSr Project also would require
modifications at existing pump stations
and the construction of delivery
facilities and mainline valves.
Modifications of the pump stations
would occur at locations necessary to
maintain adequate flow through the
pipeline. Mainline valves would be
installed and located as dictated by the
hydraulic characteristics of the
transported petroleum. Enbridge
proposes to begin construction of the
project in mid-2008. Construction
would occur over approximately 6
months, with an in-service date on or
before December 31, 2008.
U.S. counties that could possibly be
affected by construction of the proposed
pipeline are:
North Dakota: Pembina.
Minnesota: Kittson, Marshall,
Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, Clearwater.
The LSr Project would be constructed
within or adjacent to Enbridge’s existing
right-of-way between the United StatesCanadian border near Neche, North
Dakota and Clearbrook, Minnesota.
Construction of the proposed pipeline
would generally require a 100-foot-wide
construction right-of-way to allow
temporary storage of topsoil and spoil
and to accommodate safe operation of
construction equipment. The spoil side
(i.e., topsoil and ditch spoil stockpile
area) would typically be 25 feet wide
and generally located within the
existing maintained right-of-way. The
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 144 / Friday, July 27, 2007 / Notices
working side (i.e., equipment work area
and travel lane) would typically be 75
feet wide and partially located outside
the existing maintained right-of-way.
Following construction, up to a 50-footwide permanent right-of-way in
addition to the existing permanent rightof-way will be maintained for operation
of the pipeline.
Dated: July 23, 2007.
David Brown,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy,
Bureau of International Oceans, Environment
and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of
State.
[FR Doc. E7–14488 Filed 7–26–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–07–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Third Meeting, Special Committee 213
Enhanced Flight Vision Systems/
Synthetic Vision System, (EFVS/SVS)
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of RTCA Special
Committee 213, Enhanced Flight Vision
Systems/Synthetic Vision System,
(EFVS/SVS).
AGENCY:
The FAA is issuing this notice
to advise the public of a meeting of
RTCA Special Committee 213,
Enhanced Flight Vision Systems/
Synthetic Vision System, (EFVS/SVS).
DATES: The meeting will be held August
21–23, 2007 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Hilton Gardens 1801 East Valley Road,
Renton, WA 98055.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
RTCA Secretariat, 1828 L Street, NW.,
Suite 805, Washington, DC, 20036;
telephone (202) 833–9339; fax (202)
833–9434; Web site https://www.rtca.org
for directions. Hilton Gardens:
telephone (425) 430–1414.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), notice is
hereby given for a Special Committee
213 meeting. The agenda will include:
• August 21:
• Opening Plenary Session (Welcome,
Introductions, and Agenda Review).
• Review SC–213 Objectives, Action
Items, and SC–213 Web site content.
• Review initial reports from WG 1,
and WG 2.
• Presentations.
• Afternoon: WG 1 and WG 2
meetings.
• August 22:
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SUMMARY:
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16:53 Jul 26, 2007
Jkt 211001
• WG 1 and WG 2 meeting.
• August 23:
• Morning: Work Group meetings and
development of actions items.
• Afternoon: Plenary.
• Review action items and
• Define next steps for continued
MASPS development.
• Closing Plenary Session (Other
Business, Establish date and time for
next meeting, Adjourn).
Attendance is open to the interested
public but limited to space availability.
With the approval of the chairmen,
members of the public may present oral
statements at the meeting. Persons
wishing to present statements or obtain
information should contact the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section. Members of the public
may present a written statement to the
committee at any time.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 23,
2007.
Francisco Estrada C.,
RTCA Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. 07–3677 Filed 7–26–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–M
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Cole
County, MO
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this
notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
will be prepared for proposed
improvements to U.S. 50/U.S. 63, (Rex
Whitton Expressway), in Jefferson City,
Cole County, Missouri.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Peggy Casey, Environmental Projects
Engineer, FHWA Division Office, 3220
West Edgewood, Suite H, Jefferson City,
MO 65109, Telephone: (573) 638–2620
or Mr. Kevin Keith, Chief Engineer,
Missouri Department of Transportation,
P.O. Box 270, Jefferson City, MO 65102,
Telephone: (573) 751–2803.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
FHWA, in cooperation with the
Missouri Department of Transportation
(MoDOT), will prepare an EIS for a
proposal to upgrade the existing U.S.
50/U.S. 63 (Rex Whitton Expressway)
facility. MoDOT completed a Problem
Definition Study for the study area in
April 2006. The study identified issues
and potential concepts to address the
issues.
PO 00000
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41385
The proposed action will accomplish
several goals: (1) Provide sufficient
roadway capacity and improve traffic
operations, (2) improve traffic safety, (3)
address geometric and structural
deficiencies, (4) and improve access to
major activity centers and encourage
development.
The proposed project study area is
defined as the area in Jefferson City
from just east of the U.S. 50/U.S. 54 Trilevel interchange to the Eastland Drive
interchange for an approximate length
of 3 miles; and from 300 feet south of
U.S. 50/U.S. 63 to McCarty Street on the
north. An additional area to the north of
McCarty will be studied to address
access to the Missouri State Prison
Redevelopment site. The width of the
study area varies from 400 to 800 feet.
Known potential impacts include
access changes, and residential,
commercial and institutional
acquisitions/relocations. Properties
eligible for the National Register of
Historic Places which are protected by
Section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act of 1966 may also be
impacted. Other potential Section 4(f)
impacts are to the East Miller Park, the
Lincoln University Recreation Park, and
the Lincoln University Tennis Courts.
The Lincoln University Tennis Courts
are also protected by the Land and
Water Conservation Fund Act
requirements. A floodplain
development permit from the State
Emergency Management Agency may be
required.
It is anticipated that the following
will be invited to be participating
agencies on this project: The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the State Emergency
Management Agency, the Missouri
Department of Conservation, the
Missouri Department of Natural
Resources, and the State Historic
Preservation Office.
Alternatives under consideration
include: (1) No build, (2) build
alternatives, and (3) transportation
management options. The Problem
Definition Study looked at a number of
alternatives but made no
recommendation. The EIS will look at
the work done in this study as a starting
point and use this information in
developing and evaluating the
reasonable alternatives.
To date, preliminary coordination has
occurred with local officials and other
interested parties. A public meeting and
two stakeholder meetings were held
during the Problem Definition Study. As
part of the scoping process, an
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 144 (Friday, July 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41383-41385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14488]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Federal Register Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment and
To Conduct Scoping Meetings and Notice of Floodplain and Wetland
Involvement; Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) L.L.C. (LSr Project)
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental assessment (EA)
and to conduct public scoping meetings. Notice of floodplain and
wetlands involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) L.L.C. has applied to the
United States Department of State for a Presidential Permit for the
proposed construction, connection, operation, and maintenance at the
border of the United States of facilities for the export and import of
petroleum to and from a foreign country (LSr Project). The Department
of State receives and considers applications for Presidential Permits
for such energy-related pipelines pursuant to authority delegated to it
by the President under Executive Order 13337 of April 30, 2004 (69 FR
25299). To issue a Permit, the Department of State must find that
issuance would serve the national interest. The Department intends to
consult extensively with concerned Federal and State agencies on this
application, and invites public comment to assist it in arriving at its
determination. In accordance with Section 102(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(C)) and
implementing regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental
Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and the Department of State (22 CFR
part 161), including in particular 22 CFR 161.7(c)(1), the Department
of State intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to
determine if there are any potential significant impacts and to address
alternatives to the proposed action.
The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to inform the public about
the proposed action, announce plans for scoping meetings, invite public
participation in the scoping process, and solicit public comments for
consideration in establishing the scope and content of the LSr Project
EA. As the proposed project may involve an action in a floodplain or
wetland, the EA will also include a floodplain and wetlands assessment
and floodplain statement of findings.
DATES: Department of State invites interested agencies, organizations,
and members of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist
in identifying significant environmental issues and in determining the
appropriate scope of the LSr Project EA. The public scoping period
starts with the publication of this Notice in the Federal Register and
will continue until September 10, 2007. Written, electronic and oral
comments will be given equal weight and State will consider all
comments received or postmarked by September 10, 2007 in defining the
scope of the LSr Project EA. Comments received or postmarked after that
date
[[Page 41384]]
will be considered to the extent practicable.
During this public scoping period, the Department of State plans to
use the scoping process in conjunction with the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission public hearing process to help identify consulting
parties and historic preservation issues for consideration under
section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its
implementing regulations (36 CFR part 800). Dates and locations for the
public scoping meetings are:
1. August 13; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Kennedy; MN; VFW & Cafe; 103 5th St.
E.
2. August 13; 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Stephen; MN; Stephen Community Center;
319 5th Street.
3. August 14; 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Thief River Falls; MN; Best Western
Meeting Room; 1060 Highway 32 South.
4. August 15; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Oklee; MN; Oklee Community Hall; 2nd
Ave. Between Fire Hall and Gas Station.
5. August 15; 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Gully; MN; Gully Community Center; 120
S. Main St.
6. August 16; 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Clearbrook; MN; City Hall Gym; 200 Elm
St. SE.
The public is encouraged to become involved in this process and
provide specific comments or concerns about the proposed project. By
becoming a commentator, your concerns will be addressed in the LSr
Project EA and considered by the Department of State. Your comments
should focus on the potential environmental impacts, reasonable
alternatives (including alternative facility sites and alternative
pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be.
The public scoping meetings identified above are designed to provide
another opportunity to offer comments on the proposed project.
Interested individuals and groups are encouraged to attend these
meetings and to present comments on the environmental issues they
believe should be addressed in the LSr EA. Again, written comments are
considered with equal weight in the process relative to those received
in public scoping meetings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions on the scope of the LSr EA
should be addressed to: Elizabeth Orlando, OES/ENV Room 2657, U.S.
Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. Comments may be submitted
electronically to: southernlights@state.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed
project or to receive a copy of the Draft LSr EA when it is issued,
contact Elizabeth Orlando at the address listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice by electronic or regular mail as listed above,
or by telephone (202) 647-4284, or by fax at (202) 647-5947.
More information on the Enbridge LSr Project application for a
Presidential Permit, including associated maps and drawings will be
downloadable in its entirety from an Enbridge hosted project Web site
that is being established for this purpose and will be accessible from:
https://www.enbridgeUS.com/publicinfo. This Web site is expected to be
operational on or about August 13, 2007. This Web site will NOT accept
public comments for the record, but it will provide a link to the
Department of State project e-mail address noted above. Department of
State Presidential Permit information and process can be found at:
https://www.state.gov/e/eeb/c9986.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Need for Agency Action
The Department of State has received an application from Enbridge
Pipelines (Southern Lights) L.L.C. (``Enbridge'') for a Presidential
Permit, pursuant to Executive Order 13337 of April 30, 2004, to
construct, connect, operate, and maintain a 20-inch crude oil and
liquid hydrocarbon pipeline at the U.S.-Canadian border at Neche,
Pembina County, North Dakota, for the purpose of transporting liquid
hydrocarbons and other petroleum products between the United States and
Canada. Enbridge seeks this authorization in connection with its
Southern Lights Pipeline Project (``LSr Project''), which is designed
to transport Canadian crude oil from the Western Canadian Sedimentary
Basin (``WCSB'') to existing refinery markets in the Midwest region of
the United States. The project description set forth in this notice is
based on information provided by Enbridge in its Presidential permit
application.
Enbridge is planning to increase its ability to provide additional
supplies of petroleum to markets in the United States in response to
customer requests and marketplace demands. To fulfill this goal,
Enbridge has embarked upon an expansion program to increase its
transportation capacity. The Enbridge Expansion Program is specifically
designed to increase petroleum transportation services from the
increasingly accessible oil sands supply in the WCSB to refineries in
the Midwest. Enbridge proposes to construct and operate a petroleum
pipeline and related facilities from Cromer, Manitoba, Canada, to
Clearbrook, Minnesota in the United States. The LSr Project would have
the capacity to deliver 186,000 barrels per day (bpd) of petroleum from
a supply hub near Cromer, Manitoba to an existing terminal in
Clearbrook, Minnesota.
In total, the LSr Project would consist of approximately 313 miles
of new pipeline in total. The proposed system expansion would include
the construction of approximately 136 miles of new 20-inch-diameter
pipeline from the United States-Canada border near Neche, North Dakota
to the existing Enbridge tank farm in Clearbrook, Minnesota for the
transportation of petroleum. Enbridge proposes to construct the
pipeline generally along its existing pipeline right-of-way. In Canada,
the project would involve the construction of approximately 178 miles
of new pipeline from Cromer, Manitoba to the United States-Canada
border. Appropriate regulatory authorities in Canada will conduct an
independent environmental review for the Canadian facilities.
The LSr Project also would require modifications at existing pump
stations and the construction of delivery facilities and mainline
valves. Modifications of the pump stations would occur at locations
necessary to maintain adequate flow through the pipeline. Mainline
valves would be installed and located as dictated by the hydraulic
characteristics of the transported petroleum. Enbridge proposes to
begin construction of the project in mid-2008. Construction would occur
over approximately 6 months, with an in-service date on or before
December 31, 2008.
U.S. counties that could possibly be affected by construction of
the proposed pipeline are:
North Dakota: Pembina.
Minnesota: Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk,
Clearwater.
The LSr Project would be constructed within or adjacent to
Enbridge's existing right-of-way between the United States-Canadian
border near Neche, North Dakota and Clearbrook, Minnesota. Construction
of the proposed pipeline would generally require a 100-foot-wide
construction right-of-way to allow temporary storage of topsoil and
spoil and to accommodate safe operation of construction equipment. The
spoil side (i.e., topsoil and ditch spoil stockpile area) would
typically be 25 feet wide and generally located within the existing
maintained right-of-way. The
[[Page 41385]]
working side (i.e., equipment work area and travel lane) would
typically be 75 feet wide and partially located outside the existing
maintained right-of-way. Following construction, up to a 50-foot-wide
permanent right-of-way in addition to the existing permanent right-of-
way will be maintained for operation of the pipeline.
Dated: July 23, 2007.
David Brown,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of International
Oceans, Environment and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-14488 Filed 7-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P
