Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Phase VIII Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, 30386-30390 [E8-11695]
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30386
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 27, 2008 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Combined Notice of Filings #1
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May 20, 2008.
Take notice that the Commission has
received the following Natural Gas
Pipeline Rate and Refund Report filings:
Docket Numbers: RP05–157–013.
Applicants: Saltville Gas Storage
Company L.L.C.
Description: Saltville Gas Storage
Company, LLC submits First Revised
Sheet 21A et al to its FERC Gas Tariff,
Original Volume 1, to become effective
6/15/08.
Filed Date: 05/15/2008.
Accession Number: 20080516–0147.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
Docket Numbers: RP08–341–000.
Applicants: Canyon Creek
Compression Company.
Description: Canyon Creek
Compression Co submits a statement of
Nature, Reasons and Basis et al in
accordance with Section 37 of its tariff.
Filed Date: 04/30/2008.
Accession Number: 20080501–0036.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
Docket Numbers: RP08–379–000.
Applicants: Alliance Pipeline L.P.
Description: Alliance Pipeline LP
submits Fourth Revised Sheet 279 to
FERC Gas Tariff, Original Volume 1, to
become effective 6/1/08.
Filed Date: 05/15/2008.
Accession Number: 20080516–0148.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
Docket Numbers: CP06–407–005.
Applicants: Missouri Interstate Gas
LLC.
Descriptions: Missouri Interstate Gas
LLC., submits First Revised Tariff Sheet
No. 5 to FERC Gas Tariff, First Revised
Volume No. 1.
Filed Date: May 12, 2008.
Accession Number: 200805–4014.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
Docket Numbers: CP08–399–000.
Applicants: Columbia Gulf
Transmission Company.
Descriptions: Columbia Gulf
Transmission Company submits an
abbreviated application for permission
and approval to abandon natural gas
service (Rate Schedule X67).
Filed Date: May 15, 2008.
Accession Number: 20080516–0149.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest in any of the above proceedings
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17:22 May 23, 2008
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must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211
and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date. It
is not necessary to separately intervene
again in a subdocket related to a
compliance filing if you have previously
intervened in the same docket. Protests
will be considered by the Commission
in determining the appropriate action to
be taken, but will not serve to make
protestants parties to the proceeding.
Anyone filing a motion to intervene or
protest must serve a copy of that
document on the Applicant. In reference
to filings initiating a new proceeding,
interventions or protests submitted on
or before the comment deadline need
not be served on persons other than the
Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with Internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the intervention or protest to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First St., NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above proceedings
are accessible in the Commission’s
eLibrary system by clicking on the
appropriate link in the above list. They
are also available for review in the
Commission’s Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC. There is an
eSubscription link on the Web site that
enables subscribers to receive e-mail
notification when a document is added
to a subscribed dockets(s). For
assistance with any FERC Online
service, please e-mail
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–11729 Filed 5–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF08–14–000]
Florida Gas Transmission Company,
LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Phase VIII Expansion
Project, Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Notice of
Public Scoping Meetings
May 19, 2008.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
that will discuss the environmental
impacts of Florida Gas Transmission
Company, LLC’s (FGT) proposed Phase
VIII Expansion Project. The project
involves the construction and operation
of natural gas pipeline and compressor
facilities in various counties in Alabama
and Florida as discussed below.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process the Commission
will use to gather input from the public
and interested agencies on the proposed
project. Your input will help determine
which issues need to be evaluated in the
EIS. Please note that the scoping period
will close on June 20, 2008.
This notice is being sent to affected
landowners; federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest
groups; Native American tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to
notify their constituents along this
proposed project and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
Comments regarding this project may
be submitted in written form or
verbally. Further details on how to
submit written or electronic comments
are provided in the public participation
section of this notice. In lieu of or in
addition to sending written comments,
we invite you to attend the public
scoping meetings we have scheduled as
follows:
Date
Location
Tuesday, June
3, 2008, 7
p.m. (EST).
Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive,
Crestview, Florida, 850–
682–0647.
Catholic Church Parish Hall,
2750 S. Byron Butler
Pkwy, Perry, Florida, 850–
584–8853.
Wednesday,
June 4,
2008, 7 p.m.
(EST).
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 27, 2008 / Notices
Date
Location
Tuesday, June
10, 2008, 7
p.m. (EST).
Residence Inn by Marriott,
2101 Northpointe Parkway,
Lutz, Florida, 813–792–
8400.
Lake Placid Middle School
(Auditorium), 201 Tangerine Avenue, Lake Placid, Florida, 863–699–5030.
Thursday,
June 12,
2008, 7 p.m.
(EST).
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The FERC will be the lead federal
agency for the preparation of the EIS.
The document will satisfy the
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA). In addition, with this notice,
we 1 are asking other federal, state, and
local agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to cooperate with
us in the preparation of the EIS. These
agencies may choose to participate once
they have evaluated FGT’s proposal
relative to their responsibilities.
Agencies that would like to request
cooperating status should follow the
instructions for filing comments
described later in this notice.
Consultations have been initiated with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, and other
state and/or federal wildlife
management and environmental
agencies. Consultations with these and
other agencies will continue throughout
the project review and permitting
period.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by an FGT
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 FERC, that approval
conveys with it the right of eminent
domain. Therefore, if easement
negotiations fail to produce an
agreement, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings in
accordance with state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility on My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ is available for viewing on
the FERC Internet Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses
a number of typically asked questions,
including the use of eminent domain
and how to participate in the FERC’s
proceedings.
Summary of the Proposed Project
FGT proposes to construct and
operate an expansion of the existing
1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects.
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FGT pipeline system that would
increase FGT’s certificated capacity by
about one billion cubic feet per day of
natural gas. The Phase VIII Expansion
Project would consist of looping 2
portions of their existing pipelines;
installing horsepower at new or existing
compressor stations; acquiring an
existing lateral; and constructing new
laterals. The Phase VIII Expansion
Project would consist of about 567.6
miles of pipeline with ancillary
facilities, and an additional 207,900
horsepower of compression.
Specifically, FGT seeks authority to
construct and operate:
Eleven Pipeline Loop Segments
• Loop 1 would be about 25.5 miles
of 42-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Mobile County, Alabama (milepost [MP]
165.3 to Compressor Station [CS] 11).
• Loop 2 would be about 47.6 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Baldwin and Escambia Counties,
Alabama and Escambia and Santa Rosa
Counties, Florida (MP 205.0 to MP
252.6).
• Loop 3 would be about 50.7 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton
Counties, Florida (CS 12 to MP 310.9).
FGT would also remove a previously
abandoned 24-inch-diameter pipeline
from about MP 260.2 to MP 273.5.
• Loop 4 would be about 59 miles of
36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Washington, Bay, and Calhoun
Counties, Florida (CS 13 to MP 383.5).
FGT would also remove a previously
abandoned 24-inch-diameter pipeline
from about MP 327.6 to MP 340.2.
• Loop 5 would be about 66.8 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson Counties,
Florida (CS 14 to MP 461.5).
• Loop 6 would be about 35.2 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Taylor, Lafayette, and Suwannee
Counties, Florida (CS 15 to MP 503.9).
• Loop 7 would be about 12.8 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Suwannee and Gilchrist Counties,
Florida (West Leg (WL) MP 0.0 to MP
12.8).
• Loop 8 would be about 46.1 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Levy and Citrus Counties, Florida (WL
MP 44.5 to CS 26).
• Loop 9 would be about 49.3 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Hernando, Pasco, and Hillsborough
Counties, Florida (WL MP 110.9 to CS
27).
2 A pipeline ‘‘loop’’ is a pipeline connected to
another pipeline at each end, generally parallel to
or located near each other, to provide additional
capacity and reliability.
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• Loop 10 would be about 38.8 miles
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline located in
Hillsborough and Polk Counties, Florida
(CS 27 to WL MP 199.0).
• Loop 11 (Turkey Point Lateral),
would be about 6.7 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipeline located in Dade
County, Florida (MP 11.3 to 18.0).
Three Greenfield Pipeline Segments
• The Suwannee Lateral would be
about 22.0 miles of 20-inch-diameter
pipeline including about 8 miles of
pipeline loop located in Lafayette
County, Florida and about 14 miles of
greenfield route located in Madison and
Suwannee Counties, Florida (MP 0.0 to
22.0).
• The Arcadia to Florida Power and
Light (FPL) Martin Plant Lateral would
be about 90.6 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Desoto, Highlands,
Okeechobee, and Martin Counties,
Florida.
• The Manatee Lateral would be
about 16.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Manatee County,
Florida.
One Pipeline Acquisition Segment
• FGT would acquire from FPL its
Martin Plant to FGT Mainline 20-inchdiameter pipeline located in Martin
County, Florida. This pipeline is about
23.1 miles in length. There would be no
new construction or ground disturbing
activities associated with the acquisition
of this segment.
Eight Upgrades to Existing Compressor
Stations
• Station 11 in Mobile County,
Alabama, would have two new
compressor units installed that would
add 40,000 hp.
• Station 12 in Santa Rosa County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would
add 20,500 hp.
• Station 13 in Washington County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed and two
existing compressor units upgraded that
would add 26,000 hp.
• Station 14 in Gadsden County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would
add 24,800 hp.
• Station 15 in Washington County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would
add 20,000 hp.
• Station 24 in Gilchrist County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would
add 20,500 hp.
• Station 26 in Citrus County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would
add 20,500 hp.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 27, 2008 / Notices
• Station 27 in Hillsborough County,
Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would
add 20,000 hp.
One New Compressor Station
• Station 29 would be located in
Okeechobee County, Florida, and would
have two compressor units for a total of
15,600 hp.
Three New Metering and Regulation
(M&R) Stations
• One new M&R station (Progress
Energy (PE) Suwannee M&R Station)
would be located in Suwannee County,
Florida, at the new PE Power Plant site.
• One new M&R station (FPL Manatee
M&R Station) would be located in
Manatee County, Florida, at the FPL
Manatee Plant site.
• One new M&R station (FPL Martin
M&R Station) would be located in
Martin County, Florida at the FPL
Martin Plant site.
FGT is requesting approval to begin
construction of the proposed facilities in
January of 2010. A general overview
map of the major project facilities is
provided in Appendix 1.3
Land Requirements for Construction
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Construction of the project would
require about 7,995 acres of land. For
pipeline facilities, FGT would obtain a
permanent right-of-way easement that
would be typically 50 feet in width,
about 3,320 acres. The remaining 4,675
acres of temporary workspace would be
restored and allowed to revert to its
former use. A majority of the pipeline
route would parallel existing utility
rights-of-way.
The temporary land requirements for
construction of the proposed facilities
would differ according to the type of
terrain encountered and the
corresponding construction methods
that would be used, as described below.
FGT would utilize a typical 75-footwide construction right-of-way in
upland areas to install the 20- and 24inch-diameter pipelines, a 100-footwide construction right-of-way in
upland areas to install the 30- and 36inch-diameter looping and greenfield
segments, and a 120-foot-wide
construction right-of-way to install the
3 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are
available on the Commission’s Internet Web site
(https://www.ferc.gov) at the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from
the Commission’s Public Reference Room at (202)
502–8371. For instructions on connecting to
eLibrary, refer to the end of this notice. Copies of
the appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice by mail. Requests for detailed maps of the
proposed facilities should be made directly to FGT
(see https://www.panhandleenergy.com/FGT/
PhaseVIII/ for contact information).
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17:22 May 23, 2008
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upland 42-inch-diameter loop. Through
unsaturated wetlands, FGT proposes to
use a 75-foot-wide construction right-ofway to install the 20- through 36-inchdiameter pipelines and 100 feet for the
proposed 42-inch-diameter loop.
Following construction of the
proposed facilities, FGT would obtain a
permanent right-of-way easement that
would typically be 50 feet in width,
centered over the new pipeline. This
easement would overlap existing
pipeline rights-of-way in most looping
locations.
FGT may require temporary extra
work spaces where obstacles prevent the
normal placement of spoil and/or pipe
sections immediately adjacent to the
pipe ditch, additional volumes of spoil
would be generated, and additional
construction operations would be
performed (e.g., road and railroad
crossings, wetland and water body
crossings, areas with steep side slopes,
areas where topsoil segregation would
be required, areas where rock is
encountered, truck turnarounds,
crossovers, tie-ins, and horizontal
directional drill entry and exit points).
Aboveground facilities along the
project include pig 4 launcher and
receiver facility sites and mainline valve
locations, which would typically be
located within the permanent right-ofway or adjacent to existing aboveground
facility locations (e.g., compressor
stations or mainline valve sites). FGT
would add between 10 to 20 acres to
existing Compressor Stations 11, 12, 13,
and 14. Additional land required for
construction at these existing
compressor stations would be retained
for project operations. FGT would also
acquire about 30 acres of land for the
new Compressor Station 29. Each M&R
station site would be located on power
plant property.
The EIS Process
NEPA requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action
whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity under Section 7 of the Natural
Gas Act. NEPA also requires the
Commission 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
EIS on the important environmental
issues and reasonable alternatives.
Although no formal application has
been filed, we have already initiated our
4 A pipeline ‘‘pig’’ is a device designed to
internally clean or inspect the pipeline. A pig
launcher/receiver is an aboveground facility where
pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
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NEPA review under the FERC’s PreFiling Process. The purpose of the PreFiling Process is to encourage the early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
an application is filed with the FERC.
As part of our Pre-Filing Process
review, representatives from the FERC
have begun to contact some federal and
state agencies to discuss their
involvement in the scoping process and
the preparation of the EIS. In addition,
representatives from the FERC
participated in FGT sponsored public
open houses in the project area from
April 14–30, 2008, to explain the
environmental review process to
interested stakeholders and take
comments about the project. During
early June, 2008, the FERC staff will
conduct interagency scoping meetings
in the project area to solicit comments
and concerns about the project from
jurisdictional agencies. By this notice,
we are formally announcing our
preparation of the EIS and requesting
additional agency and public comments
to help us focus the analysis in the EIS
on the potentially significant
environmental issues related to the
proposed action.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be included in a draft EIS.
The draft EIS will be mailed to federal,
state, and local government agencies;
elected officials; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American
tribes; other interested parties; local
libraries and newspapers; and the
FERC’s official service list for this
proceeding. A 45-day comment period
will be allotted for review of the draft
EIS. We will consider all timely
comments on the draft EIS and revise
the document, as necessary, before
issuing a final EIS. To ensure that your
comments are considered, please follow
the instructions in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
The EIS will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
proposed project under the general
resource headings listed below. 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 FGT. This
preliminary list of issues may be
changed based on your comments and
our additional analysis.
• Geology and Soils:
—Assessment of potential geologic
hazards, including sinkholes.
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—Potential impact on mineral resources
and mining operations.
—Effect on hydric soils and soils with
a high potential for compaction.
• Water Resources and Wetlands:
—Effect on groundwater resources.
—Potential effect on perennial streams,
intermittent streams, and ponds
crossed by or close to the planned
route.
—Effect on waterbodies designated
under federal or state programs,
including the Escatawpa, Blackwater,
Escambia, Yellow, Shoal, Chipola,
Apalachicola, Ochlockonee, Aucilla,
Suwannee, Sante Fe, Withlacoochee,
Hillsborough, and Kissimmee Rivers.
—Evaluation of temporary and
permanent effects on wetlands,
including forested wetlands.
• Fisheries, Wildlife, and Vegetation:
—Effect on fisheries, wildlife, and
vegetation resources, including
planted pine and forested habitats.
—Effect on vegetative nuisance species.
• Endangered and Threatened
Species and Habitats:
—Potential effect on federal- and statelisted species, including, but not
limited to, the wood stork, redcockaded woodpecker, everglade snail
kite, Florida scrub-jay, eastern indigo
snake, and gopher tortoise.
—Potential effect on Lake Wales Ridge
managed lands.
• Cultural Resources:
—Effect on historic and prehistoric
sites.
—Native American and tribal concerns.
• Land Use:
—Impact on residential areas, pine
plantations, orange groves, mining,
and irrigation and drainage systems.
—Effect on recreation and public
interest areas, including wildlife
management areas, national forests,
state forests, national wildlife refuges,
canals, and scenic trail systems.
—Visual effect of the aboveground
facilities on surrounding areas.
• Air Quality and Noise:
—Effect on local air quality and noise
environment from construction and
operation of the proposed facilities.
• Reliability and Safety:
—Assessment of public safety factors
associated with natural gas facilities.
• Alternatives:
—Assessment of alternative routes and
systems to reduce or avoid
environmental impacts.
—Assessment of alternative compressor
station sites.
• Cumulative Impacts:
—Assessment of the effect of the
proposed project when combined
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17:31 May 23, 2008
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with other projects that have been
proposed in the same region and
similar time frame.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about FGT’s
Phase VIII Expansion Project. Your
comments should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives, and measures to avoid or
lessen environmental impacts. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly
recorded, please mail your comments so
that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 20,
2008, and carefully follow these
instructions:
• 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 1, DG2E;
and
• Reference Docket No. PF08–14–000
on the original and both copies.
The public scoping meetings between
June 3 and June 11, 2008, are designed
to provide another opportunity to offer
comments on the proposed project.
Interested groups and individuals are
encouraged to attend these meetings and
to present comments on the
environmental issues they believe
should be addressed in the EIS.
Transcripts of the meetings will be
made so that your comments will be
accurately recorded. In addition, we
have asked FGT to be available with
project location maps to answer
landowner comments from 5:30 p.m. to
the start of the meeting at the respective
locations.
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 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 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
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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(s). We will include all
comments that we receive within a
reasonable time frame in our
environmental analysis of the project.
Once FGT 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 ‘‘eFiling’’
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. You do not need
intervenor status to have your
environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
If you want to remain on our mailing
list and receive future mailings, please
return the ‘‘Remain on Mailing List
Form’’ included in Appendix 2. If you
do not return this form, you will be
removed from the Commission’s
environmental mailing list.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs
at 1–866–208 FERC (3372) or on the
FERC Internet Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov) 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 (i.e., PF08–
14). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance
with eLibrary, 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 on the FERC Internet Website also
provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and rule
makings.
E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM
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30390
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 102 / Tuesday, May 27, 2008 / Notices
In addition, the FERC now offers a
free service called eSubscription that
allows you to keep track of all formal
issuances and submittals in specific
dockets. This can reduce the amount of
time you spend researching proceedings
by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document
summaries, and direct links to the
documents. To register for this service,
go to https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Finally, FGT has established an
Internet Web site for its project at
https://www.panhandleenergy.com/FGT/
PhaseVIII/. The Web site includes a
description of the project and links to
related documents.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–11695 Filed 5–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No 12715–001]
Fairlawn Hydroelectric Company, LLC.;
Notice of Intent To File License
Application, Filing of Pre-Application
Document, Commencement of
Licensing Proceeding, Scoping
Meetings, Solicitation of Comments on
the Pad and Scoping Document, and
Identification of Issues and Associated
Study Requests
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
May 19, 2008.
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to
File License Application and
Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
b. Project No.: 12715–001.
c. Date Filed: March 19, 2008.
d. Submitted By: Fairlawn
Hydroelectric Company, LLC.
e. Name of Project: Jennings Randolph
Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: At the Corps of Engineers’
Jennings Randolph Dam on the North
Branch Potomac River in Garrett
County, Maryland, and Mineral County,
West Virginia.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of
the Commission’s Regulations.
h. Potential Applicant Contact:
Clifford Phillips, Fairlawn Hydroelectric
Company, LLC, 150 North Miller Road,
Suite 450 C, Fairlawn, Ohio 44333,
(330) 869–8451.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:22 May 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
i. FERC Contact: Michael Spencer,
michael.spencer@ferc.gov, (202) 502–
6093.
j. We are asking federal, state, local,
and tribal agencies with jurisdiction
and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to cooperate with
us in the preparation of the
environmental document. Agencies who
would like to request cooperating status
should follow the instructions for filing
comments described in paragraph o
below. Cooperating agencies should
note the Commission’s policy that
agencies that cooperate in the
preparation of the environmental
document cannot also intervene. See, 94
FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001).
k. With this notice, we are initiating
informal consultation with: (a) The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA
Fisheries under section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act and the joint
agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR
Part 402; and (b) the State Historic
Preservation Officer, as required by
section 106, National Historical
Preservation Act, and the implementing
regulations of the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
l. With this notice, we are designating
Fairlawn Hydroelectric Company, LLC
as the Commission’s non-federal
representative for carrying out informal
consultation, pursuant to Section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act and section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
m. Fairlawn Hydroelectric Company,
LLC filed a Pre-Application Document
(PAD; including a proposed process
plan and schedule) with the
Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of
the Commission’s regulations. The
Commission issued the scoping
document for the proposed Jennings
Randolph Project on May 19, 2008.
n. A copy of the PAD and the scoping
document are available for review at the
Commission in the Public Reference
Room or may be viewed on the
Commission’s Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov), using the ‘‘eLibrary’’
link. Enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits in the
docket number field to access the
document. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support at
FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY,
(202) 502–8659. A copy is also available
for inspection and reproduction at the
address in paragraph h.
Register online at https://ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm to be notified via email of new filing and issuances related
to this or other pending projects. For
assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
o. With this notice we are soliciting
comments on the PAD and the scoping
document, as well as study requests. All
comments on the PAD and the scoping
document, and study requests should be
sent to the address above in paragraph
h. In addition, all comments on the PAD
and the scoping document, study
requests, requests for cooperating
agency status, and all communications
to and from Commission staff related to
the merits of the potential application
(original and eight copies) must be filed
with the Commission at the following
address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426. All filings with the Commission
must include on the first page, the
project name (Jennings Randolph
Project) and number (P–12715–001),
and bear the heading ‘‘Comments on
Pre-Application Document,’’ ‘‘Study
Requests,’’ ‘‘Comments on Scoping
Document 1,’’ ‘‘Request for Cooperating
Agency Status,’’ or ‘‘Communications to
and from Commission Staff.’’ Any
individual or entity interested in
submitting study requests, commenting
on the PAD or the scoping document,
and any agency requesting cooperating
status must do so by July 17, 2008.
Comments on the PAD and the
scoping document, study requests,
requests for cooperating agency status,
and other permissible forms of
communications with the Commission
may be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. The
Commission strongly encourages
electronic filings. See 18 CFR
85.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on
the Commission’s Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov) under the ‘‘e-filing’’ link.
p. Although our current intent is to
prepare an environmental assessment
(EA), there is the possibility that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be required. Nevertheless, this
meeting will satisfy the NEPA scoping
requirements, irrespective of whether an
EA or EIS is issued by the Commission.
Scoping Meetings
Commission staff will hold two
scoping meetings in the vicinity of the
project at the time and place noted
below. The daytime meeting will focus
on resource agency, Indian tribes, and
non-governmental organization
concerns, while the evening meeting is
primarily for receiving input from the
public. We invite all interested
individuals, organizations, and agencies
to attend one or both of the meetings,
and to assist staff in identifying
particular study needs, as well as the
scope of environmental issues to be
addressed in the environmental
E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM
27MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30386-30390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11695]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF08-14-000]
Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Phase VIII
Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings
May 19, 2008.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of Florida Gas Transmission
Company, LLC's (FGT) proposed Phase VIII Expansion Project. The project
involves the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline and
compressor facilities in various counties in Alabama and Florida as
discussed below.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the proposed project. Your input will help determine which
issues need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please note that the scoping
period will close on June 20, 2008.
This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state,
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. State and local government
representatives are asked to notify their constituents along this
proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
Comments regarding this project may be submitted in written form or
verbally. Further details on how to submit written or electronic
comments are provided in the public participation section of this
notice. In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, we
invite you to attend the public scoping meetings we have scheduled as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST)....... Crestview Community Center,
1446 Commerce Drive,
Crestview, Florida, 850-682-
0647.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST)..... Catholic Church Parish Hall,
2750 S. Byron Butler Pkwy,
Perry, Florida, 850-584-
8853.
[[Page 30387]]
Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST)...... Residence Inn by Marriott,
2101 Northpointe Parkway,
Lutz, Florida, 813-792-
8400.
Thursday, June 12, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST)..... Lake Placid Middle School
(Auditorium), 201 Tangerine
Avenue, Lake Placid,
Florida, 863-699-5030.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FERC will be the lead federal agency for the preparation of the
EIS. The document will satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). In addition, with this notice,
we \1\ are asking other federal, state, and local agencies with
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental
issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These
agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated FGT's
proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies that would like
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing
comments described later in this notice. Consultations have been
initiated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, and other state and/or federal wildlife management and
environmental agencies. Consultations with these and other agencies
will continue throughout the project review and permitting period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by an FGT 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 FERC, that approval conveys
with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov). This fact
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the FERC's proceedings.
Summary of the Proposed Project
FGT proposes to construct and operate an expansion of the existing
FGT pipeline system that would increase FGT's certificated capacity by
about one billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. The Phase VIII
Expansion Project would consist of looping \2\ portions of their
existing pipelines; installing horsepower at new or existing compressor
stations; acquiring an existing lateral; and constructing new laterals.
The Phase VIII Expansion Project would consist of about 567.6 miles of
pipeline with ancillary facilities, and an additional 207,900
horsepower of compression. Specifically, FGT seeks authority to
construct and operate:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a pipeline connected to another
pipeline at each end, generally parallel to or located near each
other, to provide additional capacity and reliability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eleven Pipeline Loop Segments
Loop 1 would be about 25.5 miles of 42-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Mobile County, Alabama (milepost [MP] 165.3 to
Compressor Station [CS] 11).
Loop 2 would be about 47.6 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Baldwin and Escambia Counties, Alabama and Escambia
and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida (MP 205.0 to MP 252.6).
Loop 3 would be about 50.7 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties, Florida
(CS 12 to MP 310.9). FGT would also remove a previously abandoned 24-
inch-diameter pipeline from about MP 260.2 to MP 273.5.
Loop 4 would be about 59 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Washington, Bay, and Calhoun Counties, Florida (CS
13 to MP 383.5). FGT would also remove a previously abandoned 24-inch-
diameter pipeline from about MP 327.6 to MP 340.2.
Loop 5 would be about 66.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson Counties, Florida (CS
14 to MP 461.5).
Loop 6 would be about 35.2 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Taylor, Lafayette, and Suwannee Counties, Florida
(CS 15 to MP 503.9).
Loop 7 would be about 12.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Suwannee and Gilchrist Counties, Florida (West Leg
(WL) MP 0.0 to MP 12.8).
Loop 8 would be about 46.1 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Levy and Citrus Counties, Florida (WL MP 44.5 to CS
26).
Loop 9 would be about 49.3 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Hernando, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties, Florida
(WL MP 110.9 to CS 27).
Loop 10 would be about 38.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline located in Hillsborough and Polk Counties, Florida (CS 27 to
WL MP 199.0).
Loop 11 (Turkey Point Lateral), would be about 6.7 miles
of 24-inch-diameter pipeline located in Dade County, Florida (MP 11.3
to 18.0).
Three Greenfield Pipeline Segments
The Suwannee Lateral would be about 22.0 miles of 20-inch-
diameter pipeline including about 8 miles of pipeline loop located in
Lafayette County, Florida and about 14 miles of greenfield route
located in Madison and Suwannee Counties, Florida (MP 0.0 to 22.0).
The Arcadia to Florida Power and Light (FPL) Martin Plant
Lateral would be about 90.6 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline located
in Desoto, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Martin Counties, Florida.
The Manatee Lateral would be about 16.5 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline located in Manatee County, Florida.
One Pipeline Acquisition Segment
FGT would acquire from FPL its Martin Plant to FGT
Mainline 20-inch-diameter pipeline located in Martin County, Florida.
This pipeline is about 23.1 miles in length. There would be no new
construction or ground disturbing activities associated with the
acquisition of this segment.
Eight Upgrades to Existing Compressor Stations
Station 11 in Mobile County, Alabama, would have two new
compressor units installed that would add 40,000 hp.
Station 12 in Santa Rosa County, Florida, would have one
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,500 hp.
Station 13 in Washington County, Florida, would have one
new compressor unit installed and two existing compressor units
upgraded that would add 26,000 hp.
Station 14 in Gadsden County, Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would add 24,800 hp.
Station 15 in Washington County, Florida, would have one
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,000 hp.
Station 24 in Gilchrist County, Florida, would have one
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,500 hp.
Station 26 in Citrus County, Florida, would have one new
compressor unit installed that would add 20,500 hp.
[[Page 30388]]
Station 27 in Hillsborough County, Florida, would have one
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,000 hp.
One New Compressor Station
Station 29 would be located in Okeechobee County, Florida,
and would have two compressor units for a total of 15,600 hp.
Three New Metering and Regulation (M&R) Stations
One new M&R station (Progress Energy (PE) Suwannee M&R
Station) would be located in Suwannee County, Florida, at the new PE
Power Plant site.
One new M&R station (FPL Manatee M&R Station) would be
located in Manatee County, Florida, at the FPL Manatee Plant site.
One new M&R station (FPL Martin M&R Station) would be
located in Martin County, Florida at the FPL Martin Plant site.
FGT is requesting approval to begin construction of the proposed
facilities in January of 2010. A general overview map of the major
project facilities is provided in Appendix 1.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) at the
``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference Room at
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to
the end of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice by mail. Requests for detailed maps of
the proposed facilities should be made directly to FGT (see https://
www.panhandleenergy.com/FGT/PhaseVIII/ for contact information).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the project would require about 7,995 acres of
land. For pipeline facilities, FGT would obtain a permanent right-of-
way easement that would be typically 50 feet in width, about 3,320
acres. The remaining 4,675 acres of temporary workspace would be
restored and allowed to revert to its former use. A majority of the
pipeline route would parallel existing utility rights-of-way.
The temporary land requirements for construction of the proposed
facilities would differ according to the type of terrain encountered
and the corresponding construction methods that would be used, as
described below.
FGT would utilize a typical 75-foot-wide construction right-of-way
in upland areas to install the 20- and 24-inch-diameter pipelines, a
100-foot-wide construction right-of-way in upland areas to install the
30- and 36-inch-diameter looping and greenfield segments, and a 120-
foot-wide construction right-of-way to install the upland 42-inch-
diameter loop. Through unsaturated wetlands, FGT proposes to use a 75-
foot-wide construction right-of-way to install the 20- through 36-inch-
diameter pipelines and 100 feet for the proposed 42-inch-diameter loop.
Following construction of the proposed facilities, FGT would obtain
a permanent right-of-way easement that would typically be 50 feet in
width, centered over the new pipeline. This easement would overlap
existing pipeline rights-of-way in most looping locations.
FGT may require temporary extra work spaces where obstacles prevent
the normal placement of spoil and/or pipe sections immediately adjacent
to the pipe ditch, additional volumes of spoil would be generated, and
additional construction operations would be performed (e.g., road and
railroad crossings, wetland and water body crossings, areas with steep
side slopes, areas where topsoil segregation would be required, areas
where rock is encountered, truck turnarounds, crossovers, tie-ins, and
horizontal directional drill entry and exit points).
Aboveground facilities along the project include pig \4\ launcher
and receiver facility sites and mainline valve locations, which would
typically be located within the permanent right-of-way or adjacent to
existing aboveground facility locations (e.g., compressor stations or
mainline valve sites). FGT would add between 10 to 20 acres to existing
Compressor Stations 11, 12, 13, and 14. Additional land required for
construction at these existing compressor stations would be retained
for project operations. FGT would also acquire about 30 acres of land
for the new Compressor Station 29. Each M&R station site would be
located on power plant property.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device designed to internally clean
or inspect the pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an aboveground
facility where pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The EIS Process
NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the
issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires the Commission 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 EIS on the important
environmental issues and reasonable alternatives.
Although no formal application has been filed, we have already
initiated our NEPA review under the FERC's Pre-Filing Process. The
purpose of the Pre-Filing Process is to encourage the early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC.
As part of our Pre-Filing Process review, representatives from the
FERC have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss
their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the
EIS. In addition, representatives from the FERC participated in FGT
sponsored public open houses in the project area from April 14-30,
2008, to explain the environmental review process to interested
stakeholders and take comments about the project. During early June,
2008, the FERC staff will conduct interagency scoping meetings in the
project area to solicit comments and concerns about the project from
jurisdictional agencies. By this notice, we are formally announcing our
preparation of the EIS and requesting additional agency and public
comments to help us focus the analysis in the EIS on the potentially
significant environmental issues related to the proposed action.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's official service list
for this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for
review of the draft EIS. We will consider all timely comments on the
draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final
EIS. To ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the
instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project under the general
resource headings listed below. 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
FGT. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your
comments and our additional analysis.
Geology and Soils:
--Assessment of potential geologic hazards, including sinkholes.
[[Page 30389]]
--Potential impact on mineral resources and mining operations.
--Effect on hydric soils and soils with a high potential for
compaction.
Water Resources and Wetlands:
--Effect on groundwater resources.
--Potential effect on perennial streams, intermittent streams, and
ponds crossed by or close to the planned route.
--Effect on waterbodies designated under federal or state programs,
including the Escatawpa, Blackwater, Escambia, Yellow, Shoal, Chipola,
Apalachicola, Ochlockonee, Aucilla, Suwannee, Sante Fe, Withlacoochee,
Hillsborough, and Kissimmee Rivers.
--Evaluation of temporary and permanent effects on wetlands, including
forested wetlands.
Fisheries, Wildlife, and Vegetation:
--Effect on fisheries, wildlife, and vegetation resources, including
planted pine and forested habitats.
--Effect on vegetative nuisance species.
Endangered and Threatened Species and Habitats:
--Potential effect on federal- and state-listed species, including, but
not limited to, the wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker, everglade
snail kite, Florida scrub-jay, eastern indigo snake, and gopher
tortoise.
--Potential effect on Lake Wales Ridge managed lands.
Cultural Resources:
--Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.
--Native American and tribal concerns.
Land Use:
--Impact on residential areas, pine plantations, orange groves, mining,
and irrigation and drainage systems.
--Effect on recreation and public interest areas, including wildlife
management areas, national forests, state forests, national wildlife
refuges, canals, and scenic trail systems.
--Visual effect of the aboveground facilities on surrounding areas.
Air Quality and Noise:
--Effect on local air quality and noise environment from construction
and operation of the proposed facilities.
Reliability and Safety:
--Assessment of public safety factors associated with natural gas
facilities.
Alternatives:
--Assessment of alternative routes and systems to reduce or avoid
environmental impacts.
--Assessment of alternative compressor station sites.
Cumulative Impacts:
--Assessment of the effect of the proposed project when combined with
other projects that have been proposed in the same region and similar
time frame.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about FGT's Phase VIII Expansion Project. Your
comments should focus on the potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be.
To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please
mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on
or before June 20, 2008, and carefully follow these instructions:
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 1, DG2E; and
Reference Docket No. PF08-14-000 on the original and both
copies.
The public scoping meetings between June 3 and June 11, 2008, are
designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on the
proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to
attend these meetings and to present comments on the environmental
issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Transcripts of the
meetings will be made so that your comments will be accurately
recorded. In addition, we have asked FGT to be available with project
location maps to answer landowner comments from 5:30 p.m. to the start
of the meeting at the respective locations.
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
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 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 e-mail 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(s). We will include all comments that we receive within a
reasonable time frame in our environmental analysis of the project.
Once FGT 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 ``eFiling'' 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.
You do not need intervenor status to have your environmental comments
considered.
Environmental Mailing List
If you want to remain on our mailing list and receive future
mailings, please return the ``Remain on Mailing List Form'' included in
Appendix 2. If you do not return this form, you will be removed from
the Commission's environmental mailing list.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208 FERC (3372) or on
the FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) 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 (i.e., PF08-14). Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, 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 on
the FERC Internet Website also provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule
makings.
[[Page 30390]]
In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called
eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and
submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you
spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. To register for this service, go to https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx
along with other related information.
Finally, FGT has established an Internet Web site for its project
at https://www.panhandleenergy.com/FGT/PhaseVIII/. The Web site includes
a description of the project and links to related documents.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-11695 Filed 5-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
