Southeast Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Black Warrior Storage Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 43744-43746 [E8-17157]
Download as PDF
43744
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 145 / Monday, July 28, 2008 / Notices
A copy of the draft EIS is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Branch, Room 2A, located at
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426. The final EIS also may be viewed
on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the eLibrary
link. Enter the docket number excluding
the last three digits in the docket
number field to access the document.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY,
(202) 502–8659.
You may also register online at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via
e-mail of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
For further information, contact Blake
Condo at (202) 502–8914 or
blake.condo@ferc.gov.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–17176 Filed 7–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Lighthouse’s development proposal.
The EA finds that approval of SCE&G’s
application would not constitute a
major federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human
environment.
A copy of the EA is on file with the
Commission and is available for public
inspection. The EA may also be viewed
on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket
number (P–516) excluding the last three
digits in the docket number field to
access the document. For assistance,
contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov,or tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY,
(202) 502–8659.
Any comments should be filed by July
31, 2008, and should be addressed to
the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Room 1–A, Washington, DC 20426.
Please reference the project name and
project number (P–2686) on all
comments. Comments may be filed
electronically via the Internet in lieu of
paper. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filings. See18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions
on the Commission’s Web site under the
‘‘eFiling’’ link. For further information,
contact Brian Romanek at (202) 502–
6175.
Southeast Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Black
Warrior Storage Project and Request
for Comments on Environmental
Issues
would consist of new natural gas
pipeline, abandonment by removal of
existing pipeline, new existing
injection/withdrawal wells, new
gathering pipelines, a new salt water
disposal pipeline, conversion of existing
gas wells to observation wells, a new
salt water disposal well, a new
compressor station and a new meter
station. This 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 will
close on August 20, 2008. Details on
how to submit comments are provided
in the Public Participation section of
this notice.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
pipeline company representative about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
proposed facilities. The pipeline
company would seek to negotiate a
mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the project is approved by
the Commission, that approval conveys
with it the right of eminent domain.
Therefore, if easement negotiations fail
to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation
proceedings in accordance with state
law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ was attached to the project
notice Southwest provided to
landowners. This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically asked questions,
including the use of eminent domain
and how to participate in the
Commission’s proceedings. It is
available for viewing on the FERC
Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov).
July 21, 2008.
Summary of the Proposed Project
[Project No. 516–452]
South Carolina Electric and Gas
Company; Notice of Availability of
Environmental Assessment
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–17170 Filed 7–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
July 18, 2008.
In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s regulations, 18 CFR part
380 (Order No. 486, 52 FR 47879), the
Office of Energy Projects has prepared
an environmental assessment (EA) for
an application filed by South Carolina
Electric and Gas Company (SCE&G)
(licensee) on January 17, 2008, for a
non-project use of project lands and
waters at the Saluda Hydroelectric
Project (FERC Project No.516).
Specifically, the licensee requests
authorization to issue a permit to
Lighthouse Developments, Inc.
(Lighthouse) to install a community
dock that would accommodate 84
watercraft, a boat launch ramp, and
parking lot. The proposed facilities
would provide boating access to the
project’s reservoir (Lake Murray) for
homeowners in a new residential
development known as Paradise Cove.
The EA evaluates the environmental
impacts that would likely result from
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:35 Jul 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP08–418–000]
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
the Black Warrior Storage Project
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Southeast Gas Storage, LLC
(Southeast) in Monroe and Lowndes
Counties, Mississippi.1 These facilities
1 Southwest’s application was filed with the
Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act
and Part 157 of the Commission’s regulations.
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Southeast proposes to convert a
nearly depleted oil and gas reservoir
into a high-deliverability natural gas
storage facility approximately 3.5 miles
northwest of Caledonia in Monroe and
Lowndes Counties, Mississippi. The
purpose of this project is to provide 24.7
billion cubic feet of working gas
capacity to customers in the region.
Southeast would achieve this capacity
by drilling new withdrawal/injection
wells, converting, reworking or plugging
existing wells, constructing lateral and
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 145 / Monday, July 28, 2008 / Notices
gathering pipelines, and installing new
compression. Southeast proposes:
• 4.6 miles of new 24-inch-diameter
lateral pipeline, designated the Line
547M–100 pipeline, replacing the
existing 6-inch-diameter Line 547E–100
pipeline. The Line 547M–100 pipeline
would extend from the Tennessee Gas
Pipeline Company tie-ins to Southwest’s
proposed new Hamilton Compressor
Station;
• Removal of 11,600 feet of the
existing 6-inch-diameter Line 547E–100
pipeline;
• The new electric driven 24,000horsepower Hamilton Compressor
Station;
• 2.8 miles of 24-inch-diameter
gathering pipelines from the proposed
compressor station to seven well pads;
• 5,500 feet of 4.5-inch-diameter salt
water disposal piping;
• 15 new horizontal withdrawal/
injection wells and associated well
pads;
• 4 existing active wells to be
converted to observation wells;
• 9 plugged and abandoned wells to
be converted to observation wells;
• 2 existing active wells to be plugged
and abandoned;
• 2 existing active wells to convert to
injection/withdrawal wells;
• 1 plugged and abandoned well to be
re-plugged and abandoned;
• 1 new salt water disposal well and
associated well pad;
• 1 plugged and abandoned
stratigraphic test well drilled under a
Commission exemption to be converted
to an observation well;
• A new electrical substation; and
• The new Hamilton Meter Station
and interconnect.
Southeast requests certification by
December 31, 2008, for an in-service
date of June 2010. The location of the
project facilities is shown in Appendix
1.2
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities
would require disturbance of about 253
acres of widely distributed land
surrounding the proposed Hamilton
Compressor Station. This includes 200
acres under new permanent easement
and 53 acres that would be restored to
previous land use following
construction.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
2 The
appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all
appendices, other than Appendix 1 (maps), are
available on the Commission’s Web site at the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from the Commission’s Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20426, or call (202) 502–8371. For instructions
on connecting to eLibrary refer to the last page of
this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to
all those receiving this notice in the mail.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:35 Jul 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
43745
Southeast would conduct well
drilling, conversion, and abandonment
on a combination of existing and new
well pad sites. The 15 new wells would
be constructed on 15 new individual
well pad sites, at seven locations, with
well pads ranging in size from 300 by
300 feet to 400 by 425 feet of permanent
easement. One new salt water disposal
well would be constructed within a 300
by 300-foot area of new permanent
easement. The proposed Hamilton
Compressor Station and associated
electrical substation would occupy a 27acre area of new permanent easement.
The proposed meter station would
occupy 0.6 acre of new permanent
easement. The proposed Line 547M–100
pipeline and the gathering pipelines
would be constructed with a 75-footwide typical construction width within
a 50-foot-wide new permanent right-ofway. Southeast would abandon by
removal all of the existing 11,000-footlong Line 547E–100 pipeline, which
would be replaced in the same trench
with the proposed Line 547M–100
pipeline. Construction and operation of
the salt water disposal pipeline would
require 50 and 25 feet of right-of-way
width, respectively. The combined
pipeline construction would require 83
acres of disturbance. Extra work spaces
along the pipelines and well pad areas,
contractor yards, horizontal directional
drill sites and access roads would
disturb 23 acres of temporary right-ofway.
construction and operation of the
proposed project under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils
• Water resources
• Wetlands and fisheries
• Vegetation and wildlife
• Threatened and endangered species
• Land use
• Cultural resources
• Air quality and noise
• Reliability and safety, and
• Cumulative impacts
We will also evaluate reasonable
alternatives to the proposed project or
portions of the project, and make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be in the EA. Depending on
the comments received during the
scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state,
and local agencies, public interest
groups, interested individuals, affected
landowners, newspapers, libraries, and
the Commission’s official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will
be allotted for review if the EA is
published. We will consider all
comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the
Commission.
To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation
section below.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action
whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity. NEPA also requires us to
discover and address concerns the
public may have about proposals. This
process is referred to as ‘‘scoping’’. The
main goal of the scoping process is to
focus the analysis in the EA on the
important environmental issues. By this
Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
requests public comments on the scope
of the issues to address in the EA. All
comments received are considered
during the preparation of the EA. State
and local government representatives
are encouraged to notify their
constituents of this proposed action and
encourage them to comment on their
areas of concern.
In the EA we 3 will discuss impacts
that could occur as a result of the
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
3 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects
(OEP).
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
Southeast. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
• Cultural resources may be affected
by the project.
• Federally listed threatened and
endangered species are present in the
project area.
• The Hamilton Compressor Station
may have visual impacts.
• Route variations for the Line 547M–
100 pipeline will be studied.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Black
Warrior Storage 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
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
43746
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 145 / Monday, July 28, 2008 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly
recorded, please send in your comments
so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before August 20,
2008.
For your convenience, there are three
methods which you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In
all instances please reference the project
docket number CP08–418–000 with
your submission. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of
comments and has dedicated eFiling
expert staff available to assist you at
202–502–8258 or efiling@ferc.gov:
(1) You may file your comments
electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on
the Commission’s Internet Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for
interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Internet Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. eFiling involves
preparing your submission in the same
manner as you would if filing on paper,
and then saving the file on your
computer’s hard drive. You will attach
that file as your submission. 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. A
comment on a particular project is
considered a ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or
(3) You may file your comments via
mail to the Commission by sending an
original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.
Label one copy of the comments for
the attention of Gas Branch 2, PJ11.2.
As described above, we may publish
and distribute the EA for comment. If
you are interested in receiving an EA for
review and/or comment, please return
the Environmental Mailing List Form
(Appendix 3). If you do not return the
Environmental Mailing List Form, you
will be taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, you may want to
become an official party to the
proceeding, or ‘‘intervenor’’. To become
an intervenor you must file a motion to
intervene according to Rule 214 of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214). Intervenors
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:35 Jul 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission’s decision. Motions to
Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission’s
eFiling system at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should
send an original and 14 copies of their
motion to the Secretary of the
Commission at the address indicated
previously. Persons filing Motions to
Intervene on or before the comment
deadline indicated above must send a
copy of the motion to the Applicant. All
filings, including late interventions,
submitted after the comment deadline
must be served on the Applicant and all
other intervenors identified on the
Commission’s service list for this
proceeding. Persons on the service list
with e-mail addresses may be served
electronically; others must be served a
hard copy of the filing.
Affected landowners and parties with
environmental concerns may be granted
intervenor status upon showing good
cause by stating that they have a clear
and direct interest in this proceeding
which would not be adequately
represented by any other parties. You do
not need intervenor status to have your
environmental comments considered.
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 (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
(i.e., enter PF06–398) 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
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which allows you to keep track of all
formal issuances and submittals in
specific dockets. This can reduce the
amount of time you spend researching
proceedings by automatically providing
you with notification of these filings,
document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits
will be posted on the Commission’s
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–17157 Filed 7–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL07–56–004; EL07–58–004]
Allegheny Electric Cooperative v. PJM
Interconnection, LLC; Notice of Filing
July 18, 2008.
Take notice that on July 7, 2008, PJM
Interconnection, LLC filed revised Tariff
and Operating Agreement sheets to
reflect an August 1, 2008 effective date
to correspond to the implementation
date and on July 8, 2008 filed an
additional revision to section X of
Attachment M to also reflect the August
1, 2008 effective date.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest this filing must file in
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 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
comment date. Anyone filing a motion
to intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Applicant and
all the parties in this proceeding.
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
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 145 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43744-43746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17157]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP08-418-000]
Southeast Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Black Warrior Storage Project
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
July 21, 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 Black Warrior Storage Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by Southeast Gas
Storage, LLC (Southeast) in Monroe and Lowndes Counties,
Mississippi.\1\ These facilities would consist of new natural gas
pipeline, abandonment by removal of existing pipeline, new existing
injection/withdrawal wells, new gathering pipelines, a new salt water
disposal pipeline, conversion of existing gas wells to observation
wells, a new salt water disposal well, a new compressor station and a
new meter station. This EA will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Southwest's application was filed with the Commission under
section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's
regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
will close on August 20, 2008. Details on how to submit comments are
provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities.
The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with
state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the
project notice Southwest provided to landowners. This fact sheet
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of
eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.
It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site
(www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
Southeast proposes to convert a nearly depleted oil and gas
reservoir into a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility
approximately 3.5 miles northwest of Caledonia in Monroe and Lowndes
Counties, Mississippi. The purpose of this project is to provide 24.7
billion cubic feet of working gas capacity to customers in the region.
Southeast would achieve this capacity by drilling new withdrawal/
injection wells, converting, reworking or plugging existing wells,
constructing lateral and
[[Page 43745]]
gathering pipelines, and installing new compression. Southeast
proposes:
4.6 miles of new 24-inch-diameter lateral pipeline,
designated the Line 547M-100 pipeline, replacing the existing 6-inch-
diameter Line 547E-100 pipeline. The Line 547M-100 pipeline would
extend from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company tie-ins to Southwest's
proposed new Hamilton Compressor Station;
Removal of 11,600 feet of the existing 6-inch-diameter
Line 547E-100 pipeline;
The new electric driven 24,000-horsepower Hamilton
Compressor Station;
2.8 miles of 24-inch-diameter gathering pipelines from the
proposed compressor station to seven well pads;
5,500 feet of 4.5-inch-diameter salt water disposal
piping;
15 new horizontal withdrawal/injection wells and
associated well pads;
4 existing active wells to be converted to observation
wells;
9 plugged and abandoned wells to be converted to
observation wells;
2 existing active wells to be plugged and abandoned;
2 existing active wells to convert to injection/withdrawal
wells;
1 plugged and abandoned well to be re-plugged and
abandoned;
1 new salt water disposal well and associated well pad;
1 plugged and abandoned stratigraphic test well drilled
under a Commission exemption to be converted to an observation well;
A new electrical substation; and
The new Hamilton Meter Station and interconnect.
Southeast requests certification by December 31, 2008, for an in-
service date of June 2010. The location of the project facilities is
shown in Appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than Appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would require disturbance
of about 253 acres of widely distributed land surrounding the proposed
Hamilton Compressor Station. This includes 200 acres under new
permanent easement and 53 acres that would be restored to previous land
use following construction.
Southeast would conduct well drilling, conversion, and abandonment
on a combination of existing and new well pad sites. The 15 new wells
would be constructed on 15 new individual well pad sites, at seven
locations, with well pads ranging in size from 300 by 300 feet to 400
by 425 feet of permanent easement. One new salt water disposal well
would be constructed within a 300 by 300-foot area of new permanent
easement. The proposed Hamilton Compressor Station and associated
electrical substation would occupy a 27-acre area of new permanent
easement. The proposed meter station would occupy 0.6 acre of new
permanent easement. The proposed Line 547M-100 pipeline and the
gathering pipelines would be constructed with a 75-foot-wide typical
construction width within a 50-foot-wide new permanent right-of-way.
Southeast would abandon by removal all of the existing 11,000-foot-long
Line 547E-100 pipeline, which would be replaced in the same trench with
the proposed Line 547M-100 pipeline. Construction and operation of the
salt water disposal pipeline would require 50 and 25 feet of right-of-
way width, respectively. The combined pipeline construction would
require 83 acres of disturbance. Extra work spaces along the pipelines
and well pad areas, contractor yards, horizontal directional drill
sites and access roads would disturb 23 acres of temporary right-of-
way.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals.
This process is referred to as ``scoping''. The main goal of the
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important
environmental issues. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the
EA. All comments received are considered during the preparation of the
EA. State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
In the EA we \3\ will discuss impacts that could occur as a result
of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geology and soils
Water resources
Wetlands and fisheries
Vegetation and wildlife
Threatened and endangered species
Land use
Cultural resources
Air quality and noise
Reliability and safety, and
Cumulative impacts
We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section below.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Southeast. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Cultural resources may be affected by the project.
Federally listed threatened and endangered species are
present in the project area.
The Hamilton Compressor Station may have visual impacts.
Route variations for the Line 547M-100 pipeline will be
studied.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Black Warrior Storage 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
[[Page 43746]]
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please send in your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before August 20, 2008.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number CP08-418-000 with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258
or efiling@ferc.gov:
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site
at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. 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. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on
a Filing''; or
(3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by
sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 2,
PJ11.2.
As described above, we may publish and distribute the EA for
comment. If you are interested in receiving an EA for review and/or
comment, please return the Environmental Mailing List Form (Appendix
3). If you do not return the Environmental Mailing List Form, you will
be taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding, or ``intervenor''. To
become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene according to
Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.214). Intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should send an original and 14 copies
of their motion to the Secretary of the Commission at the address
indicated previously. Persons filing Motions to Intervene on or before
the comment deadline indicated above must send a copy of the motion to
the Applicant. All filings, including late interventions, submitted
after the comment deadline must be served on the Applicant and all
other intervenors identified on the Commission's service list for this
proceeding. Persons on the service list with e-mail addresses may be
served electronically; others must be served a hard copy of the filing.
Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor
status to have your environmental comments considered.
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 (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 (i.e., enter PF06-
398) in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676,
or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such
as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-17157 Filed 7-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P