Black Bayou Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Black Bayou Gas Storage Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 59521-59523 [E7-20716]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 203 / Monday, October 22, 2007 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[RT01–99–000, RT01–99–001, RT01–99–002
and RT01–99–003; RT01–86–000, RT01–86–
001 and RT01–86–002; RT01–95–000, RT01–
95–001 and RT01–95–002; RT01–2–000,
RT01–2–001, RT01–2–002 and RT01–2–003;
RT01–98–000; RT02–3–000]
Regional Transmission Organizations;
Bangor Hydro-Electric Company, et al.;
New York Independent System
Operator, Inc., et al.; PJM
Interconnection, L.L.C., et al.; PJM
Interconnection, L.L.C.; ISO New
England, Inc.; New York Independent
System Operator, Inc.; Notice of Filing
October 12, 2007.
Take notice that PJM Interconnection,
L.L.C., New York Independent System
Operator, Inc. and ISO New England,
Inc. have posted on their internet Web
sites information updating their
progress on the resolution of Regional
Transmission Organization seams.
Any person desiring to file comments
on this information should file with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426, in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211
and 385.214). All such comments
should be filed on or before the
comment date. Comments may be filed
electronically via the Internet in lieu of
paper; see 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii)
and the instructions on the
Commission’s Web site under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filings.
Comment Date: November 6, 2007.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–20708 Filed 10–19–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket Nos. ER07–1215–000 and ER07–
1215–001]
The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc;
Notice of Issuance of Order
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
October 12, 2007.
The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc (RBS)
filed an application for market-based
rate authority, with an accompanying
rate schedule. The proposed marketbased rate schedule provides for the sale
of energy, capacity and ancillary
services at market-based rates. RBS also
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:02 Oct 19, 2007
Jkt 214001
requested waivers of various
Commission regulations. In particular,
RBS requested that the Commission
grant blanket approval under 18 CFR
part 34 of all future issuances of
securities and assumptions of liability
by RBS.
On October 12, 2007, pursuant to
delegated authority, the Director,
Division of Tariffs and Market
Development-West, granted the requests
for blanket approval under Part 34
(Director’s Order). The Director’s Order
also stated that the Commission would
publish a separate notice in the Federal
Register establishing a period of time for
the filing of protests. Accordingly, any
person desiring to be heard concerning
the blanket approvals of issuances of
securities or assumptions of liability by
RBS, should file a protest with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426, in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure. 18 CFR 385.211,
385.214 (2004).
Notice is hereby given that the
deadline for filing protests is November
13, 2007.
Absent a request to be heard in
opposition to such blanket approvals by
the deadline above, RBS is authorized to
issue securities and assume obligations
or liabilities as a guarantor, indorser,
surety, or otherwise in respect of any
security of another person; provided
that such issuance or assumption is for
some lawful object within the corporate
purposes of RBS, compatible with the
public interest, and is reasonably
necessary or appropriate for such
purposes.
The Commission reserves the right to
require a further showing that neither
public nor private interests will be
adversely affected by continued
approvals of RBS’ issuance of securities
or assumptions of liability.
Copies of the full text of the Director’s
Order are available from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426. The Order 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 filed to access the document.
Comments, protests, and interventions
may be filed electronically via the
internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions
on the Commission’s Web site under the
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59521
‘‘e-Filing’’ link. The Commission
strongly encourages electronic filings.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–20709 Filed 10–19–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP07–451–000]
Black Bayou Storage, LLC; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Black
Bayou Gas Storage Project and
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
October 12, 2007.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
the Black Bayou Gas Storage Project
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Black Bayou Storage, LLC
(BBS) in Cameron Parrish, Louisiana.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process we will use to
gather input from the public and
interested agencies on the project. Your
input will help the Commission staff
determine which issues need to be
evaluated in the EA. Please note that the
scoping period will close on November
30, 2007.
This notice is being sent to affected
landowners; federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes;
other interested parties in this
proceeding; 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.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
pipeline company representative about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
proposed facilities. The pipeline
company would seek to negotiate a
mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the project is approved by
the Commission, 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.
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
59522
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 203 / Monday, October 22, 2007 / Notices
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility on My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ was attached to the project
notice BBS provided to landowners.
This fact sheet addresses a number of
typically asked questions, including the
use of eminent domain and how to
participate in the Commission’s
proceedings. It is available for viewing
on the FERC Internet Web site
(www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
BBS proposes to convert a depleted
natural gas production field in Cameron
Parish Louisiana located 15 miles west
of Hackberry, Louisiana but includes
north into Calcasieu Parish for a short
distance. The storage field design
capacity of each cavern would be
approximately 10.4 billion cubic feet
(Bcf) consisting of 7.5 Bcf of working
capacity and up to 2.9 Bdf of cushion
gas. The caverns would have
approximately 1,200 million cubic feet
(MMcf) of maximum daily injection
capability and approximately 1,200
MMcf of maximum daily withdrawal
capability. BBS seeks authority to
construct and operate the following
facilities:
• Two salt dome storage caverns;
• One 18,940 horsepower compressor
station;
• One leaching plant;
• Five brine disposal wells on one
common pad;
• Five water supply wells on five
separate pads;
• One electrical substation;
• One 30-inch-diameter, 2.45-milelong gas pipeline interconnect with
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline
Corporation (Transco) mainline;
• One 24-inch-diameter, 4.69-milelong gas pipeline interconnect with
planned Kinder Morgan mainline;
• One 20-inch-diameter, 0.10-milelong cavern gas pipeline for Cavern No.
1;
• One 20-inch-diameter, 0.25-milelong cavern gas pipeline for Cavern No.
2;
• One 8-inch-, 12-inch-, and 16-inchdiameter, 2.20 mile-long water pipeline
system;
• One 16-inch-diameter, 1.43 milelong brine pipeline system;
• One meter station and one separate
tie-in facility for Transco’s pipeline
interconnect;
• One meter station with combined
tie-in facilities for the Kinder Morgan
pipeline interconnect; and
• One 0.25-mile-long access road for
Cavern Nos. 1 and 2.
Certain facilities of Diasu Oil and Gas
Company (Diasu) including a tank farm
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:04 Oct 19, 2007
Jkt 214001
would need to be dismantled, relocated
or removed before BBS constructs its
proposed compressor station and
leaching facility on the site of Diasu’s
current facilities.
The location of the project facilities is
shown in Appendix 1.1
Nonjurisdictional Facilities
Non-jurisdictional facilities that will
be built as a result of the proposed
project would include a 2.2 mile-long
230 kV electric powerline to be
constructed by Entergy, Inc. (Entergy).
The electric powerline would run
between Entergy’s existing 230 kV
transmission line on the south bank of
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and
BBS’s proposed electrical substation
approximately 2,100 feet northwest of
the Central Facility area. The electric
powerline would require several
environmental permits and approvals
including state and federal
authorization for work in waters of the
U.S. (Coastal Use Permit) and clearances
under the Endangered Species Act and
the National Historic Preservation Act.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities
would require about 94.4 acres of land.
Following construction, about 24.2 acres
would be maintained as permanent
pipeline right-of-way, new access roads,
well sites, or new aboveground facility
sites. The remaining 70.2 acres of land
would be restored and allowed to revert
to its former use.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy
Act (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. 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. State
and local government representatives
1 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all
appendices, other than Appendix 1 (maps), are
available on the Commission’s Web site at the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20426, or call (202) 502–8371. For instructions
on connecting to eLibrary refer to the last page of
this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to
all those receiving this notice in the mail.
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
are encouraged to notify their
constituents of this proposed action and
encourage them to comment on their
areas of concern.
In the EA we 2 will discuss impacts
that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
proposed project under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils
• Land use
• Water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands
• Cultural resources
• Vegetation and wildlife
• Air quality and noise
• Endangered and threatened species
• Hazardous waste
• Public safety
We will also evaluate possible
alternatives to the proposed project or
portions of the project, and make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be in the EA. Depending on
the comments received during the
scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state,
and local agencies, public interest
groups, interested individuals, affected
landowners, newspapers, libraries, and
the Commission’s official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will
be allotted for review if the EA is
published. We will consider all
comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the
Commission.
To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation
section below.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
proposed facilities and the
environmental information provided by
BBS. This preliminary list of issues may
be changed based on your comments
and our analysis.
• Cultural resources may be affected
by the project.
• The project would cross two major
waterbodies: Black Bayou and the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway.
• About 62.2 acres of wetlands, open
water, and other land uses would be
impacted during construction by
underground pipeline and cable
facilities, and about 6.8 acres of wetland
2 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects
(OEP).
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 203 / Monday, October 22, 2007 / Notices
open water and other land uses would
be impacted by above ground pipeline
facilities.
• Two cavern well pads, electrical
substation, part of the brine disposal
well pad site, the Kinder Morgan meter
station site, the Transco meter station,
and Water Well Pad No. 1, would be
constructed in marshland or open water
and could potentially impact fisheries.
• Essential fish habitat for the brown
shrimp, white shrimp, and red drum are
likely to be of concern within the
project area.
• The proposed project would
encompass areas containing suitable
nesting habitat for colonial wading
birds.
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
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 will be addressed in the EA/
EIS and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential
environmental effects of the proposal,
alternatives to the proposal (including
alternative locations/routes), and
measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. Please carefully follow
these instructions to ensure that your
comments are received in time and
properly recorded:
• Send an original and two copies of
your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, 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. CP07–451–
000.
• Mail your comments so that they
will be received in Washington, DC on
or before November 30, 2007.
Please note that the Commission
encourages electronic filing of
comments. See 18 Code of Federal
Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission’s
Internet Web site at https://www.ferc.gov
under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link and the link to
the User’s Guide. Prepare your
submission in the same manner as you
would if filing on paper and save it to
a file on your hard drive. Before you can
file comments you will need to create an
account by clicking on ‘‘Login to File’’
and then ‘‘New User Account.’’ You will
be asked to select the type of filing you
are making. This filing is considered a
‘‘Comment on Filing.’’
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:02 Oct 19, 2007
Jkt 214001
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. By this
notice we are also asking governmental
agencies, especially those in Appendix
2, to express their interest in becoming
cooperating agencies for the preparation
of the EA.
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 taken off the
mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, you may want to
become an official party to the
proceeding, an ‘‘intervenor’’. 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). Intervenors
have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission’s decision. Motions to
Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission’s
eFiling system at www.ferc.gov. Persons
without Internet access should send an
original and 14 copies of their motion to
the Secretary of the Commission at the
address indicated previously. Persons
filing Motions to Intervene on or before
the comment deadline indicated above
must send a copy of the motion to the
Applicant. All filings, including late
interventions, submitted after the
comment deadline must be served on
the Applicant and all other intervenors
identified on the Commission’s service
list for this proceeding. Persons on the
service list with e-mail addresses may
be served electronically; others must be
served a hard copy of the filing.
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.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59523
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
(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 https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–20716 Filed 10–19–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 12886–000]
BPUS Generation Development, LLC;
Notice of Application Accepted for
Filing and Soliciting Motions To
Intervene, Protests, and Comments
October 12, 2007.
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.: 12886–000.
c. Date filed: July 30, 2007.
d. Applicant: BPUS Generation
Development, LLC.
e. Name of Project: Fulton Lock &
Dam Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: Tombigbee River in
Itawamba County, Mississippi. It would
use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
Fulton Lock & Dam.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r).
E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM
22OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 203 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59521-59523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20716]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP07-451-000]
Black Bayou Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Black Bayou Gas Storage
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
October 12, 2007.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Black Bayou Gas Storage
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Black
Bayou Storage, LLC (BBS) in Cameron Parrish, Louisiana.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we will
use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the
project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine which
issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping
period will close on November 30, 2007.
This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state,
and local government representatives and agencies; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested
parties in this proceeding; 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.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities.
The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, 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.
[[Page 59522]]
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the
project notice BBS provided to landowners. This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent
domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is
available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
BBS proposes to convert a depleted natural gas production field in
Cameron Parish Louisiana located 15 miles west of Hackberry, Louisiana
but includes north into Calcasieu Parish for a short distance. The
storage field design capacity of each cavern would be approximately
10.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) consisting of 7.5 Bcf of working capacity
and up to 2.9 Bdf of cushion gas. The caverns would have approximately
1,200 million cubic feet (MMcf) of maximum daily injection capability
and approximately 1,200 MMcf of maximum daily withdrawal capability.
BBS seeks authority to construct and operate the following facilities:
Two salt dome storage caverns;
One 18,940 horsepower compressor station;
One leaching plant;
Five brine disposal wells on one common pad;
Five water supply wells on five separate pads;
One electrical substation;
One 30-inch-diameter, 2.45-mile-long gas pipeline
interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corporation (Transco)
mainline;
One 24-inch-diameter, 4.69-mile-long gas pipeline
interconnect with planned Kinder Morgan mainline;
One 20-inch-diameter, 0.10-mile-long cavern gas pipeline
for Cavern No. 1;
One 20-inch-diameter, 0.25-mile-long cavern gas pipeline
for Cavern No. 2;
One 8-inch-, 12-inch-, and 16-inch-diameter, 2.20 mile-
long water pipeline system;
One 16-inch-diameter, 1.43 mile-long brine pipeline
system;
One meter station and one separate tie-in facility for
Transco's pipeline interconnect;
One meter station with combined tie-in facilities for the
Kinder Morgan pipeline interconnect; and
One 0.25-mile-long access road for Cavern Nos. 1 and 2.
Certain facilities of Diasu Oil and Gas Company (Diasu) including a
tank farm would need to be dismantled, relocated or removed before BBS
constructs its proposed compressor station and leaching facility on the
site of Diasu's current facilities.
The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than Appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nonjurisdictional Facilities
Non-jurisdictional facilities that will be built as a result of the
proposed project would include a 2.2 mile-long 230 kV electric
powerline to be constructed by Entergy, Inc. (Entergy). The electric
powerline would run between Entergy's existing 230 kV transmission line
on the south bank of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and BBS's proposed
electrical substation approximately 2,100 feet northwest of the Central
Facility area. The electric powerline would require several
environmental permits and approvals including state and federal
authorization for work in waters of the U.S. (Coastal Use Permit) and
clearances under the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic
Preservation Act.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 94.4
acres of land. Following construction, about 24.2 acres would be
maintained as permanent pipeline right-of-way, new access roads, well
sites, or new aboveground facility sites. The remaining 70.2 acres of
land would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (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. 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. State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
In the EA we \2\ will discuss impacts that could occur as a result
of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geology and soils
Land use
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
Cultural resources
Vegetation and wildlife
Air quality and noise
Endangered and threatened species
Hazardous waste
Public safety
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section below.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by BBS. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Cultural resources may be affected by the project.
The project would cross two major waterbodies: Black Bayou
and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
About 62.2 acres of wetlands, open water, and other land
uses would be impacted during construction by underground pipeline and
cable facilities, and about 6.8 acres of wetland
[[Page 59523]]
open water and other land uses would be impacted by above ground
pipeline facilities.
Two cavern well pads, electrical substation, part of the
brine disposal well pad site, the Kinder Morgan meter station site, the
Transco meter station, and Water Well Pad No. 1, would be constructed
in marshland or open water and could potentially impact fisheries.
Essential fish habitat for the brown shrimp, white shrimp,
and red drum are likely to be of concern within the project area.
The proposed project would encompass areas containing
suitable nesting habitat for colonial wading birds.
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 will be addressed in the EA/EIS and considered by the
Commission. You should focus on the potential environmental effects of
the proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative
locations/routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be.
Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments
are received in time and properly recorded:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, 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. CP07-451-000.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before November 30, 2007.
Please note that the Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments. See 18 Code of Federal Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and
the instructions on the Commission's Internet Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov under the ``eFiling'' link and the link to the User's
Guide. Prepare your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper and save it to a file on your hard drive. Before you
can file comments you will need to create an account by clicking on
``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.'' You will be asked to
select the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered a
``Comment on Filing.''
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. By this
notice we are also asking governmental agencies, especially those in
Appendix 2, to express their interest in becoming cooperating agencies
for the preparation of the EA.
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
taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding, an ``intervenor''. 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). Intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should send an original and 14 copies
of their motion to the Secretary of the Commission at the address
indicated previously. Persons filing Motions to Intervene on or before
the comment deadline indicated above must send a copy of the motion to
the Applicant. All filings, including late interventions, submitted
after the comment deadline must be served on the Applicant and all
other intervenors identified on the Commission's service list for this
proceeding. Persons on the service list with e-mail addresses may be
served electronically; others must be served a hard copy of the filing.
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.
Availability of 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 (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 https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-20716 Filed 10-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P