Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Lights 2009-2010 Zone EF Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 16296-16298 [E8-6220]
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16296
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 60 / Thursday, March 27, 2008 / Notices
comments in support of or in opposition
to this project. The Commission will
consider these comments in
determining the appropriate action to be
taken, but the filing of a comment alone
will not serve to make the filer a party
to the proceeding. The Commission’s
rules require that persons filing
comments in opposition to the project
provide copies of their protests only to
the party or parties directly involved in
the protest.
Persons who wish to comment only
on the environmental review of this
project should submit an original and
two copies of their comments to the
Secretary of the Commission.
Environmental commenters will be
placed on the Commission’s
environmental mailing list, will receive
copies of the environmental documents,
and will be notified of meetings
associated with the Commission’s
environmental review process.
Environmental commenters will not be
required to serve copies of filed
documents on all other parties.
However, the non-party commenters
will not receive copies of all documents
filed by other parties or issued by the
Commission (except for the mailing of
environmental documents issued by the
Commission) and will not have the right
to seek court review of the
Commission’s final order.
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
‘‘e-Filing’’ link. The Commission
strongly encourages electronic filings.
Comment Date: April 10, 2008.
Any person desiring to participate in
this rate proceeding 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). Protests will be considered by
the Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. Such notices, motions, or
protests must be filed on or before the
date as indicated below. Anyone filing
an intervention or protest must serve a
copy of that document on the Applicant.
Anyone filing an intervention or protest
on or before the intervention or protest
date need not serve motions to intervene
or protests on persons other than the
Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
Web site that enables subscribers to
receive e-mail notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please e-mail
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
Friday, April 4, 2008.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF08–12–000]
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Northern
Lights 2009–2010 Zone EF Expansion
Project and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
March 20, 2008.
March 20, 2008.
Take notice that on March 12, 2008,
Enbridge Pipelines (Louisiana Intrastate)
LLC filed its annual revision of the fuel
percentage on its system pursuant to
section 3.2 of its Statement of Operating
Conditions. Louisiana Intrastate seeks
an effective date of April 1, 2008.
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 proposed Northern Lights 2009–
2010 Zone EF Expansion Project
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Northern Natural Gas
Company (Northern) in Carver, Wright,
Hennepin, Dakota, Anoka, Washington,
and Freeborn Counties, Minnesota. The
EA will be used by the Commission in
its decision-making process to
determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process the Commission
will use to gather input from the public
and interested agencies on the project.
Your input will help determine which
issues need to be evaluated in the EA.
Please note that the scoping period for
this Notice will close on April 21, 2008.
Details on how to submit comments are
provided in the Public Participation
section of this notice. Further notice
will be issued in the near future
regarding any local public comment
meetings to be held by the Commission
staff.
This notice is being sent to affected
landowners; federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; elected officials; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to
notify their constituents of this
proposed project and to encourage them
to comment on their areas of concern.
A brochure prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility on My Land?’’ is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site
(https://www.ferc.gov). This brochure
addresses a number of typically asked
questions.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Northern wants to expand the
capacity of its facilities in Minnesota to
transport an additional 135,000
decatherms per day of natural gas for
incremental firm winter service.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–6213 Filed 3–26–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–6212 Filed 3–26–08; 8:45 am]
[Docket No. PR03–11–006]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Enbridge Pipelines (Louisiana
Intrastate) LLC; Notice of Compliance
Filing
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16:08 Mar 26, 2008
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 60 / Thursday, March 27, 2008 / Notices
Northern seeks authority to construct
and operate:
• An approximately 6.34-mile-long
extension of the 30-inch-diameter
Faribault-Farmington D-Line;
• an approximately 5.98-mile-long
extension of the 20-inch-diameter
Farmington-North Branch C-Line;
• an approximately 5.9-mile-long
extension of the 20-inch-diameter Elk
River loop;
• the replacement of approximately
10.99 miles of the 3- and 2-inchdiameter Rockford Branch Line with
22.65 miles of 16-inch-diameter
pipeline;
• an approximately 10.68 miles of the
16-inch-diameter Greenfield Corcoran
Branch Line;
• a new 15,000 horsepower ISO-rated
greenfield compressor station located
near Albert Lea, Minnesota; and
• 1 new Corcoran meter station.
The general location of the project
facilities is shown in Appendix 1.1
Land Requirements
Construction of the proposed facilities
would require approximately 664 acres
of land. Following construction,
approximately 323.0 acres would be
maintained as new pipeline right-of-way
and aboveground facility sites. The
remaining acreage would be restored
and allowed to revert to its former use.
Surveys are still ongoing during prefiling and acreages are apt to change.
The EA Process
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
We 2 are preparing this EA to comply
with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) which requires the
Commission to take into account the
environmental impact that could result
if it authorizes Northern’s proposal. By
this notice, we are also asking Federal,
State, and local agencies with
jurisdiction and/or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA.
Agencies that would like to request
cooperating status should follow the
instructions for filing comments
provided below.
The purpose of the Pre-filing Process
is to seek public and agency input early
1 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all
appendices 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.
2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy
Projects.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:08 Mar 26, 2008
Jkt 214001
in the project planning phase and
encourage involvement by interested
stakeholders in a manner that allows for
the early identification and resolution of
environmental issues. We will work
with all interested stakeholders to
identify and attempt to address issues
before Northern files its application
with the FERC.
NEPA also requires the FERC 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, we are requesting
public comments on the scope of the
issues to address in the EA. All
comments received will be considered
during the preparation of the EA. As
part of the Pre-filing Process review,
FERC staff representatives will
participate in three public open houses
sponsored by Northern in the project
areas on April 15–17, 2008 to explain
the environmental review process to
interested stakeholders and take
comments about the project.
The EA 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, fisheries, and
wetlands
• endangered and threatened species
• land use
• cultural resources
• vegetation and wildlife (including
sensitive species)
• air and noise quality.
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 which will be
published and mailed to federal, state,
and local agencies, interested
individuals who return the Information
Request Form in Appendix 3, and the
Commission’s official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will
be allotted for review when the EA is
published. We will consider all
comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the
Commission.
Although no formal application has
been filed, the FERC staff has already
initiated its NEPA review under its Prefiling Process. The purpose of the Prefiling Process is to encourage the early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
16297
an application is filed with the FERC.
Once a formal application is filed with
the FERC, a new docket number will be
established.
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
Northern. This preliminary list of issues
may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
• Federally listed endangered or
threatened species may occur in the
proposed project area.
• Construction impacts to wetlands
located in the proposed project area.
Also, we have made a preliminary
decision to not address the impacts of
the nonjurisdictional facilities. We will
briefly describe their location and status
in the EA.
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
and considered by the Commission. You
should focus on the potential
environmental effects of the proposal,
reasonable alternatives to the proposal
including alternative locations and
routes, and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they 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 3.
• Reference Docket No. PF08–12–000.
• Mail your comments so that they
will be received in Washington, DC on
or before April 21, 2008.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing of any comments,
interventions or protests to this
proceeding. See 18 Code of Federal
Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission’s Web
site at https://www.ferc.gov under the
link to ‘‘Documents and Filings’’ and
‘‘eFiling.’’ eFiling is a file attachment
process and requires that you prepare
your submission in the same manner as
you would if filing on paper, and save
it to a file on your hard drive. New
eFiling users must first create an
E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM
27MRN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 60 / Thursday, March 27, 2008 / Notices
account by clicking on ‘‘Sign up’’ or
‘‘eRegister.’’ You will be asked to select
the type of filing you are making. This
filing is considered a ‘‘Comment on
Filing.’’ In addition, there is a ‘‘Quick
Comment’’ option available, which is an
easy method for interested persons to
submit text only comments on a project.
The Quick-Comment User Guide can be
viewed at https://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/efiling/quick-comment-guide.pdf.
Quick Comment does not require a
FERC eRegistration account; however,
you will be asked to provide a valid
email address. All comments submitted
under either eFiling or the Quick
Comment option are placed in the
public record for the specified docket or
project number.
If you are interested in receiving a
copy of the EA, please return the
Information Request Form (Appendix
3). If you do not return the Information
Request, you will be taken off the
mailing list.
Once Northern 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.
Site Visits
On April 15–17, 2008, the OEP staff
will conduct a site visit of the planned
Northern Lights Zone EF Expansion
Project. We will view the proposed
facility locations and pipeline route.
Examination will be by automobile and
on foot. Representatives of Northern
will be accompanying the OEP staff.
All interested parties may attend.
Those planning to attend must provide
their own transportation and should
meet at the following locations:
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Monday, April 14, 2008
2:30 p.m. Site visit for Elk River Loop
Extension. Meet at Prairie Knoll Park,
14800 Prairie Road NW (off of 146th
Lane), Andover, MN 55304.
Tuesday, April 16, 2008
9 a.m. Site visit for Rockford BL
Replacement. Meet at American Inn
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:08 Mar 26, 2008
Jkt 214001
Lodge & Suites, 36 S. Elm Street,
Waconia, MN 55387.
1 p.m. Site visit for Corcoran MN BL.
Meet at Woody’s on Main, 6030 Main
Street, Rockford, MN 55373.
Wednesday, April 17, 2008
9 a.m. Site visit for C-Line Extension.
Meet at The Machine Shed
Restaurant, 8515 Hudson Boulevard
(I–94 & Inwood Avenue), Lake Elmo,
MN 55042.
2:30 p.m. Site visit for D-Line
Extension. Meet at the Big Steer
Travel Plaza (Sunco Station), 8051
Bagley Avenue, Northfield, MN
55057.
Thursday, April 18, 2008
2:30 p.m. Site visit for Albert Lea
Compressor Station. Meet at Gopher
Stop Convenience Store, 3598 West
Highway 30 (I–35 at Exit 26),
Ellendale, MN 56026.
For additional information, please
contact the Commission’s Office of
External Affairs at 1–866–208–FERC
(3372).
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.
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 (https://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
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 https://
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. E8–6220 Filed 3–26–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP08–87–000]
Florida Gas Transmission Company,
LLC; Notice of Request Under Blanket
Authorization
March 12, 2008.
Take notice that on March 6, 2008,
Florida Gas Transmission Company,
LLC (FGT), 5444 Westheimer Road,
Houston, Texas 77056, filed in Docket
No. CP08–87–000, a prior notice request
pursuant to sections 157.205 and
157.212 of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission’s regulations
under the Natural Gas Act for
authorization to construct, own, and
operate an interconnect with Kinder
Morgan Louisiana Pipeline LLC (KMLP),
located in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, to
receive revaporized liquefied natural
gas, all as more fully set forth in the
application, which is on file with the
Commission and open to public
inspection. The filing may also be
viewed on the Web 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 at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202)
502–8659.
Specifically, FGT proposes the
installation of a 12-inch tap and valve,
approximately 50 feet of 16-inch
diameter connecting pipe, and
electronic flow measurement. FGT
estimates the cost of construction to be
$226,000. FGT states that all cost
associated with such facilities will be
reimbursed by KMLP. FGT asserts that
FGT will own, maintain, and operate
E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 60 (Thursday, March 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16296-16298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF08-12-000]
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Lights 2009-2010
Zone EF Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues
March 20, 2008.
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 proposed Northern Lights 2009-
2010 Zone EF Expansion Project involving construction and operation of
facilities by Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in Carver,
Wright, Hennepin, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, and Freeborn Counties,
Minnesota. The EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making
process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience
and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Your input will help determine which issues
need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period for
this Notice will close on April 21, 2008. Details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this
notice. Further notice will be issued in the near future regarding any
local public comment meetings to be held by the Commission staff.
This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state,
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. State and
local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents
of this proposed project and to encourage them to comment on their
areas of concern.
A brochure prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility on My Land?'' is available for viewing on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov). This brochure addresses a
number of typically asked questions.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Northern wants to expand the capacity of its facilities in
Minnesota to transport an additional 135,000 decatherms per day of
natural gas for incremental firm winter service.
[[Page 16297]]
Northern seeks authority to construct and operate:
An approximately 6.34-mile-long extension of the 30-inch-
diameter Faribault-Farmington D-Line;
an approximately 5.98-mile-long extension of the 20-inch-
diameter Farmington-North Branch C-Line;
an approximately 5.9-mile-long extension of the 20-inch-
diameter Elk River loop;
the replacement of approximately 10.99 miles of the 3- and
2-inch-diameter Rockford Branch Line with 22.65 miles of 16-inch-
diameter pipeline;
an approximately 10.68 miles of the 16-inch-diameter
Greenfield Corcoran Branch Line;
a new 15,000 horsepower ISO-rated greenfield compressor
station located near Albert Lea, Minnesota; and
1 new Corcoran meter station.
The general 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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements
Construction of the proposed facilities would require approximately
664 acres of land. Following construction, approximately 323.0 acres
would be maintained as new pipeline right-of-way and aboveground
facility sites. The remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to
revert to its former use. Surveys are still ongoing during pre-filing
and acreages are apt to change.
The EA Process
We \2\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the Commission to take
into account the environmental impact that could result if it
authorizes Northern's proposal. By this notice, we are also asking
Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special
expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate
with us in the preparation of the EA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should
follow the instructions for filing comments provided below.
The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to seek public and agency
input early in the project planning phase and encourage involvement by
interested stakeholders in a manner that allows for the early
identification and resolution of environmental issues. We will work
with all interested stakeholders to identify and attempt to address
issues before Northern files its application with the FERC.
NEPA also requires the FERC 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, we are requesting public comments on the scope of the
issues to address in the EA. All comments received will be considered
during the preparation of the EA. As part of the Pre-filing Process
review, FERC staff representatives will participate in three public
open houses sponsored by Northern in the project areas on April 15-17,
2008 to explain the environmental review process to interested
stakeholders and take comments about the project.
The EA 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, fisheries, and wetlands
endangered and threatened species
land use
cultural resources
vegetation and wildlife (including sensitive species)
air and noise quality.
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 which will
be published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies,
interested individuals who return the Information Request Form in
Appendix 3, and the Commission's official service list for this
proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review when the EA is
published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our
recommendations to the Commission.
Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has
already initiated its NEPA review under its Pre-filing Process. The
purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage the early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC. Once a formal application is filed
with the FERC, a new docket number will be established.
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 Northern. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Federally listed endangered or threatened species may
occur in the proposed project area.
Construction impacts to wetlands located in the proposed
project area.
Also, we have made a preliminary decision to not address the
impacts of the nonjurisdictional facilities. We will briefly describe
their location and status in the EA.
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 and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, reasonable alternatives to the proposal including alternative
locations and routes, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they 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 3.
Reference Docket No. PF08-12-000.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before April 21, 2008.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any
comments, interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18 Code of
Federal Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the
Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to
``Documents and Filings'' and ``eFiling.'' eFiling is a file attachment
process and requires that you prepare your submission in the same
manner as you would if filing on paper, and save it to a file on your
hard drive. New eFiling users must first create an
[[Page 16298]]
account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or ``eRegister.'' You will be asked
to select the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered
a ``Comment on Filing.'' In addition, there is a ``Quick Comment''
option available, which is an easy method for interested persons to
submit text only comments on a project. The Quick-Comment User Guide
can be viewed at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/quick-comment-
guide.pdf. Quick Comment does not require a FERC eRegistration account;
however, you will be asked to provide a valid email address. All
comments submitted under either eFiling or the Quick Comment option are
placed in the public record for the specified docket or project number.
If you are interested in receiving a copy of the EA, please return
the Information Request Form (Appendix 3). If you do not return the
Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
Once Northern 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.
Site Visits
On April 15-17, 2008, the OEP staff will conduct a site visit of
the planned Northern Lights Zone EF Expansion Project. We will view the
proposed facility locations and pipeline route. Examination will be by
automobile and on foot. Representatives of Northern will be
accompanying the OEP staff.
All interested parties may attend. Those planning to attend must
provide their own transportation and should meet at the following
locations:
Monday, April 14, 2008
2:30 p.m. Site visit for Elk River Loop Extension. Meet at Prairie
Knoll Park, 14800 Prairie Road NW (off of 146th Lane), Andover, MN
55304.
Tuesday, April 16, 2008
9 a.m. Site visit for Rockford BL Replacement. Meet at American Inn
Lodge & Suites, 36 S. Elm Street, Waconia, MN 55387.
1 p.m. Site visit for Corcoran MN BL. Meet at Woody's on Main, 6030
Main Street, Rockford, MN 55373.
Wednesday, April 17, 2008
9 a.m. Site visit for C-Line Extension. Meet at The Machine Shed
Restaurant, 8515 Hudson Boulevard (I-94 & Inwood Avenue), Lake Elmo, MN
55042.
2:30 p.m. Site visit for D-Line Extension. Meet at the Big Steer Travel
Plaza (Sunco Station), 8051 Bagley Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057.
Thursday, April 18, 2008
2:30 p.m. Site visit for Albert Lea Compressor Station. Meet at Gopher
Stop Convenience Store, 3598 West Highway 30 (I-35 at Exit 26),
Ellendale, MN 56026.
For additional information, please contact the Commission's Office
of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC (3372).
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.
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 (https://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 https://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. E8-6220 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P