TransCanada PipeLine USA, Ltd.; Bison Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pathfinder Pipeline Project and Bison Pipeline Project; Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Public Meetings, 58225-58228 [E8-23500]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 194 / Monday, October 6, 2008 / Notices
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.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
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, select
‘‘General Search’’ and enter the project
docket number excluding the last three
digits (i.e., PF06–1) 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 TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link on
the FERC Internet Web site also
provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and rule
makings.
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.
Texas Gas has established an Internet
Web site for the project at
www.txgt.com, then click on expansion
projects. The Web site includes a
description of the project, a map of the
proposed pipeline route, and contact
information. You may also use Texas
Gas’ toll free telephone number, 1–866–
462–6679 to ask questions about the
project.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–23504 Filed 10–3–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
17:44 Oct 03, 2008
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket Nos. PF08–22–000; PF08–23–000]
TransCanada PipeLine USA, Ltd.;
Bison Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Pathfinder
Pipeline Project and Bison Pipeline
Project; Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues and Notice of
Public Meetings
September 30, 2008.
Additional Information
VerDate Aug<31>2005
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Jkt 217001
The Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC or Commission) is
in the process of preparing an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
on the environmental impacts of the
Pathfinder Pipeline Project involving
the construction and operation of a new
underground natural gas pipeline
proposed by TransCanada PipeLine
USA, Ltd. (TransCanada). The
Pathfinder project is under review in
Docket No. PF08–22–000.
A related pipeline project, the
proposed Bison Pipeline Project (Bison)
is also currently under review in Docket
No. PF08–23–000. The entire route of
Bison is identical to that of the
corresponding portion of Pathfinder
(Segment 2) from Dead Horse to
Compressor Station No. 6, as described
further in Summary of the Proposed
Project section of this notice.
On September 3, 2008, TransCanada
announced that one of its subsidiaries
acquired Bison Pipeline, LLC from
Northern Border. With this acquisition,
TransCanada will provide shippers on
Bison the opportunity to transport their
production on Pathfinder. TransCanada
proposes to build either Pathfinder or
Bison. Once TransCanada is in a
position to confirm which of the two
Projects it will pursue, TransCanada
will file a request with the FERC to
discontinue review of the other project.
While we 1 are requesting comments on
both Pathfinder and Bison, we expect
that a single project will be proposed
and addressed in our EIS.
This Notice of Intent (NOI) explains
the scoping process that will be used to
gather input from the public and
interested agencies on the Project. Your
input will help determine which issues
will be evaluated in the EIS. Please note
that the scoping period for this Project
will close on November 3, 2008.
Comments on the Project may be
submitted in written form or verbally. In
1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy
Projects.
PO 00000
Frm 00116
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
58225
lieu of, or in addition, to sending
written comments, we also invite you to
attend the public scoping meetings that
have been scheduled in the Project area
during the week of October 13, 2008.
Details on how to submit comments and
additional details of the public scoping
meetings are provided in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
The FERC will be the lead federal
agency in the preparation of an EIS that
will satisfy the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and will be used by the FERC
to consider the environmental impacts
that could result if the Commission
issues a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity for the
Project under Section 7 of the Natural
Gas Act. As a part of that review we will
be preparing an EIS for the proposed
Project.
The Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) is participating as a cooperating
agency in the preparation of the EIS
because the Project would cross federal
lands and resources administered by the
White River, Little Snake, Lander,
Rawlins, Casper, Buffalo, Miles City and
North Dakota Field Offices, for which
the BLM has jurisdiction and/or special
expertise with respect to environmental
issues/impacts. The EIS will be used by
the BLM to meet its NEPA
responsibilities in considering
TransCanada’s application for a Rightof-Way Grant and Temporary Use
Permit for the portion of the Project on
federal land.
Although a formal application has not
been filed, the FERC has already
initiated its NEPA review under its prefiling process. A pre-filing docket
number has been assigned to the
Pathfinder Pipeline Project (PF08–22–
000) and the Bison Pipeline Project
(PF08–23–000). The purpose of the prefiling process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
an application is filed with the FERC.
This NOI is being sent to federal,
state, and local government agencies;
elected officials; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest
groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations;
commentors and other interested
parties; and local libraries and
newspapers. We encourage government
representatives to notify their
constituents of this proposed Project
and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
TransCanada representative about the
acquisition of an easement to construct,
operate, and maintain the proposed
E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM
06OCN1
58226
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 194 / Monday, October 6, 2008 / Notices
facilities. TransCanada 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, and the Project is ultimately
approved by the FERC, TransCanada
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/for-citizens/citizenguides.asp). This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically asked questions,
including the use of eminent domain
and how to participate in FERC’s
proceedings.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Summary of the Proposed Project
TransCanada has announced its
proposal to construct and operate a new
natural gas pipeline and associated
structures with a maximum capacity of
1.6 billion cubic feet per day. As shown
in Appendix 1,2 the Pathfinder Project
would be located in portions of
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and
North Dakota and would consist of 673
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline
running from Meeker, Rio Blanco
County, Colorado to near Glen Ullin,
Morton County, North Dakota. The
currently proposed pipeline route
would travel across Rio Blanco and
Moffat Counties in Colorado; Carbon,
Sweetwater, Freemont, Natrona,
Johnson, and Campbell Counties in
Wyoming; Powder River, Carter, and
Fallon Counties in Montana; and
Bowman, Slope, Hettinger, Stark, Grant,
and Morton Counties, North Dakota.
The pipeline would connect to the
existing Northern Border mainline
pipeline system in southwest North
Dakota and would deliver natural gas to
primarily midwestern markets. The
proposed Pathfinder Project includes an
11-mile-long supply lateral,3 the
Wamsutter Segment, located near
Wamsutter, Sweetwater County,
Wyoming to connect the Pathfinder
Pipeline Project mainline to natural gas
2 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
printed in the Federal Register, but they are being
provided to all those who receive this notice in the
mail. Copies of the NOI can be obtained from the
Commission’s Web site at the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, from
the Commission’s Public Reference Room, or by
calling (202) 502–8371. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the end of this
notice.
3 A lateral pipeline typically takes gas from the
main system to deliver it to a customer or receives
gas from a storage or supply source.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:44 Oct 03, 2008
Jkt 217001
supply in the Green River Basin. Certain
associated aboveground facilities are
also proposed. Mainline valves spaced
at intervals along the pipeline as
defined by U.S. Department of
Transportation regulations per the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49 Part
192, eight compressor stations, four
meter stations, and seven pig launcher
and receiver facilities are currently
proposed.
More specifically, TransCanada
proposes the following primary
components for the Pathfinder Project:
• 673 miles of 36-inch diameter
underground natural gas pipeline
consisting of four segments:
➢ Meeker Segment: 130 miles of
pipeline from an existing gathering hub
near Meeker, Colorado to Wamsutter,
Wyoming;
➢ Segment 1: 236 miles of pipeline
from Wamsutter, Wyoming to Dead
Horse in Campbell County, Wyoming;
and
➢ Segment 2: 297 miles of pipeline
commencing in Dead Horse and
terminating at the Northern Border
Pipeline Company’s existing
Compressor Station No. 6 in Morton
County, North Dakota: and
➢ Wamsutter Segment: 11 miles of
pipeline extending from the existing
Echo Springs gas plant to the
intersection of the Pathfinder Meeker
Segment and Segment 1 in Wamsutter,
Wyoming;
• A new 10,000 horsepower
compressor station at milepost (MP) 0.0
of the Wamsutter Segment near Echo
Springs, Wyoming;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 153 in
Sweetwater County, Wyoming;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 221 in
Freemont County, Wyoming;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 301 in
Natrona County, Wyoming;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 374 in
Campbell County, Wyoming;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 453 in Powder
River County, Montana;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 535 in Fallon
County, Montana;
• A new 30,000 horsepower
compressor station at MP 619 in
Hettinger County, North Dakota;
• One meter station and one pig
launcher on the Meeker Segment; one
meter station, one pig launcher, and one
pig receiver on the Wamsutter Segment;
one meter station and three pig
launcher/receivers on Segment 1; and
two meter stations, two pig launcher/
PO 00000
Frm 00117
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
receivers, and one pig receiver on
Segment 2;
• Approximately 36 mainline valves
generally located at 20-mile intervals
along the pipeline;
• Temporary pipe storage and
contractor yards at various locations
along the pipeline for office trailers,
parking, and pipe and equipment
storage during construction; and
• Temporary construction roadways
and short permanent roads from existing
roads to meter station sites and other
aboveground facilities.
Bison would consist of approximately
297 miles of 24-inch-diameter natural
gas pipeline and related pipeline system
facilities that would move gas
northeastward from Dead Horse across
the southeastern corner of Montana and
into central North Dakota where it
interconnects with the Northern Border
pipeline system near Compressor
Station No. 6 in Morton County. The
entire route of Bison is identical to that
of the corresponding portion of
Pathfinder (Segment 2) from Dead Horse
to Compressor Station No. 6.
Location maps depicting the proposed
facilities are attached to this NOI as
Appendix 1.
The EIS Process
NEPA requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action
when it considers whether or not a
natural gas pipeline should be
approved. FERC will use the EIS to
consider the environmental impacts that
could result if it issues a Project
authorization to TransCanada under
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. 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 scoping is
to focus the analysis in the EIS on the
important environmental issues. With
this NOI, we are requesting public
comments on the issues to be addressed
in the EIS. All comments received will
be considered during preparation of the
EIS.
In the EIS we will discuss impacts
that could occur as a result of the
construction, operation, and
maintenance of the proposed Project
under these general headings:
• Geology and soils;
• Water resources;
• Aquatic resources;
• Vegetation and wildlife;
• Threatened and endangered
species;
• Land use, recreation, and visual
resources;
• Cultural resources;
• Socioeconomics;
E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM
06OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 194 / Monday, October 6, 2008 / Notices
• Air quality and noise;
• Reliability and safety;
• Cumulative impacts.
In the EIS, we will also evaluate
possible alternatives to the proposed
Project or portions of the Project, and
make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on affected
resources.
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; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest
groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations;
commentors; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and
FERC’s official service list for this
proceeding. There will be at minimum
a 45-day comment period allotted for
review of the draft EIS. We will consider
all comments on the draft EIS and revise
the document, if necessary, before
issuing a final EIS. We will then
consider all comments on the final EIS
before we make our recommendations to
the Commission. To ensure that your
comments are considered, please follow
the instructions in the Public
Participation section of this NOI.
With this NOI, we are asking federal,
state, and local agencies with
jurisdiction and/or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EIS. These agencies
may choose to participate once they
have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. As previously
discussed, the BLM has agreed to
become a cooperating agency and would
use the EIS to fulfill its NEPA
responsibilities in considering the
potential issuance of a Right-of-Way
Grant and Temporary Use Permit for the
portion of the Project on federal land.
Additional agencies that would like to
request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this NOI.
The EIS will examine the proposed
action and alternatives that require
administrative or other actions by other
federal agencies.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified issues that
we think deserve attention based on our
previous experience with similar
projects in the region. This preliminary
list of issues, which is presented below,
may be revised based on your comments
and our continuing analyses specific to
the Pathfinder Project.
• Potential for disturbance to
residents along pipeline construction
route, including noise and aesthetics;
• Potential impacts to the viewshed
from construction activities and
placement of aboveground facilities;
• Potential for geological hazards,
including seismic activity, to have
impacts on the pipeline;
• Potential impacts of the pipeline on
waterbodies and wetlands, including
issues of erosion control;
• Potential impacts of the pipeline on
vegetation, including the clearing and
revegetation of existing plant
communities and, in particular, the
clearing of riparian areas;
• Potential impacts of the pipeline on
threatened and endangered species and
wildlife habitat;
• Potential impacts of the pipeline on
cultural resources, including
paleontological resources and historic
trails; and
• Potential impacts of the pipeline on
recreation and scenic resources.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the
Pathfinder Project or Bison 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 send in your comments
so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before November
3, 2008.
Comments on the proposed Project
can be submitted to the FERC in written
form or verbally at the public scoping
meetings. For your convenience, there
Date
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Wednesday, October 15, 6 to 8 pm ...................
Thursday, October 16, 6 to 8 pm .......................
17:44 Oct 03, 2008
are three methods which you can use to
submit your written comments to the
Commission. In all instances please
reference the Project docket number
(PF08–22–000 or PF08–23–000) with
your submission. The three methods
are:
(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 3, PJ–11.3.
The public scoping meetings (dates,
times, and locations listed below) are
designed to provide another opportunity
to offer comments on the proposed
Project. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend the
meetings and to present comments on
the environmental issues that they
believe should be addressed in the EIS.
A transcript of the meetings will be
generated so that your comments can be
accurately recorded. All meetings are
scheduled to run from 6 to 8 p.m., and
are scheduled as follows:
Location
Monday, October 13, 6 to 8 pm .........................
Tuesday, October 14, 6 to 8 pm ........................
VerDate Aug<31>2005
58227
Jkt 217001
Best Western Tower West Lodge, 109 N. U.S. Highway 14–16, Gillette, Wyoming 82716.
Roosevelt High School, 140 East K Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.
Broadus High School, 500 North Trautman, Broadus, MT 59317.
Jeffrey Memorial Center, 315 East Pine Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
Bowman City Hall, 101 1st Street NE, Bowman, North Dakota 58623.
Holiday Inn Suites, 300 South Colorado Highway 13, Craig, Colorado 81625.
Parish Hall—Sacred Heart Church, 204 Oak Avenue East, Glen Ullin, North Dakota 58631.
PO 00000
Frm 00118
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM
06OCN1
58228
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 194 / Monday, October 6, 2008 / Notices
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,
TransCanada has established a Web site
for the Project at https://
www.transcanada.com/company/
pathfinder.html. The Web site includes
a Project overview, timeline, safety and
environmental information, and public
outreach. You can also request
additional information by contacting
TransCanada directly at:
E-mail: pathfinder@transcanada.com.
Mailing address: Pathfinder Pipeline
Project, PO Box 6160, Broomfield, CO
80021.
Toll-free telephone: (866) 509–2270.
interventions in lieu of paper using the
‘‘eFiling’’ link at https://www.ferc.gov.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the protest or intervention to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426.
This filing is accessible on-line at
https://www.ferc.gov, using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the
Web site that enables subscribers to
receive e-mail notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please e-mail
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on October 10, 2008.
Environmental Mailing List
Everyone who responds to this notice
or provides comments throughout the
EIS process will be retained on our
mailing list for this Project. If you do not
want to send comments at this time but
want to stay informed and receive
copies of the draft and final EIS, you
must return the Mailing List Retention
Form (Appendix 2). If you do not send
comments or return the Mailing List
Retention Form asking to remain on the
mailing list, you will be taken off the
mailing list.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
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.
Once TransCanada formally files its
application with the Commission, you
may want to become an ‘‘intervenor,’’
which is an official party to the
proceeding. Intervenors play a more
formal role in the process and are able
to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be
heard by the courts if they choose to
appeal the Commission’s final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in a
Commission proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for
becoming an intervenor are included in
the User’s Guide under the ‘‘e-filing’’
link on the Commission’s Web site.
Please note that you may not request
intervenor status at this time. You must
wait until a formal application is filed
with the Commission.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–23500 Filed 10–3–08; 8:45 am]
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8–23502 Filed 10–3–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ID–5870–000]
[Docket No. RM98–1–000]
Swisher, Keith L.; Notice of Filing
Records Governing Off-the Record
Communications; Public Notice
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, select
‘‘General Search’’ and enter the Project
docket number, excluding the last three
digits (i.e., PF08–22) in the ‘‘Docket
Number’’ field. Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary
helpline can be reached at 1–866–208–
3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or by e-mail
at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The
eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also
provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and rule
makings.
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
Take notice that on September 19,
2008, Keith L. Swisher submitted for
filing an application for authority to
hold interlocking positions, pursuant to
section 305(b) of the Federal Power Act,
16 U.S.C. 825d(b) (2008), Part 45 of Title
18 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
18 CFR Part 45 (2008), and Commission
Order No. 664 (2005).
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. On or before the
comment date, it is not necessary to
serve motions to intervene or protests
on persons other than the Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:44 Oct 03, 2008
Jkt 217001
September 30, 2008.
PO 00000
Frm 00119
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
September 30, 2008.
This constitutes notice, in accordance
with 18 CFR 385.2201(b), of the receipt
of prohibited and exempt off-the-record
communications.
Order No. 607 (64 FR 51222,
September 22, 1999) requires
Commission decisional employees, who
make or receive a prohibited or exempt
off-the-record communication relevant
to the merits of a contested proceeding,
to deliver to the Secretary of the
Commission, a copy of the
communication, if written, or a
summary of the substance of any oral
communication.
Prohibited communications are
included in a public, non-decisional file
associated with, but not a part of, the
decisional record of the proceeding.
Unless the Commission determines that
the prohibited communication and any
responses thereto should become a part
of the decisional record, the prohibited
off-the-record communication will not
be considered by the Commission in
reaching its decision. Parties to a
proceeding may seek the opportunity to
respond to any facts or contentions
E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM
06OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 194 (Monday, October 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58225-58228]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23500]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. PF08-22-000; PF08-23-000]
TransCanada PipeLine USA, Ltd.; Bison Pipeline, LLC; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed
Pathfinder Pipeline Project and Bison Pipeline Project; Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Public Meetings
September 30, 2008.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) is in
the process of preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the
environmental impacts of the Pathfinder Pipeline Project involving the
construction and operation of a new underground natural gas pipeline
proposed by TransCanada PipeLine USA, Ltd. (TransCanada). The
Pathfinder project is under review in Docket No. PF08-22-000.
A related pipeline project, the proposed Bison Pipeline Project
(Bison) is also currently under review in Docket No. PF08-23-000. The
entire route of Bison is identical to that of the corresponding portion
of Pathfinder (Segment 2) from Dead Horse to Compressor Station No. 6,
as described further in Summary of the Proposed Project section of this
notice.
On September 3, 2008, TransCanada announced that one of its
subsidiaries acquired Bison Pipeline, LLC from Northern Border. With
this acquisition, TransCanada will provide shippers on Bison the
opportunity to transport their production on Pathfinder. TransCanada
proposes to build either Pathfinder or Bison. Once TransCanada is in a
position to confirm which of the two Projects it will pursue,
TransCanada will file a request with the FERC to discontinue review of
the other project. While we \1\ are requesting comments on both
Pathfinder and Bison, we expect that a single project will be proposed
and addressed in our EIS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Notice of Intent (NOI) explains the scoping process that will
be used to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the
Project. Your input will help determine which issues will be evaluated
in the EIS. Please note that the scoping period for this Project will
close on November 3, 2008.
Comments on the Project may be submitted in written form or
verbally. In lieu of, or in addition, to sending written comments, we
also invite you to attend the public scoping meetings that have been
scheduled in the Project area during the week of October 13, 2008.
Details on how to submit comments and additional details of the public
scoping meetings are provided in the Public Participation section of
this notice.
The FERC will be the lead federal agency in the preparation of an
EIS that will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and will be used by the FERC to consider the
environmental impacts that could result if the Commission issues a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Project under
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. As a part of that review we will be
preparing an EIS for the proposed Project.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating as a
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS because the Project
would cross federal lands and resources administered by the White
River, Little Snake, Lander, Rawlins, Casper, Buffalo, Miles City and
North Dakota Field Offices, for which the BLM has jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to environmental issues/impacts. The EIS
will be used by the BLM to meet its NEPA responsibilities in
considering TransCanada's application for a Right-of-Way Grant and
Temporary Use Permit for the portion of the Project on federal land.
Although a formal application has not been filed, the FERC has
already initiated its NEPA review under its pre-filing process. A pre-
filing docket number has been assigned to the Pathfinder Pipeline
Project (PF08-22-000) and the Bison Pipeline Project (PF08-23-000). The
purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of
interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC.
This NOI is being sent to federal, state, and local government
agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and
public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional Native American
organizations; commentors and other interested parties; and local
libraries and newspapers. We encourage government representatives to
notify their constituents of this proposed Project and encourage them
to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a TransCanada representative about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed
[[Page 58226]]
facilities. TransCanada 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, and the Project is
ultimately approved by the FERC, TransCanada 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/for-
citizens/citizen-guides.asp). This fact sheet addresses a number of
typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how
to participate in FERC's proceedings.
Summary of the Proposed Project
TransCanada has announced its proposal to construct and operate a
new natural gas pipeline and associated structures with a maximum
capacity of 1.6 billion cubic feet per day. As shown in Appendix 1,\2\
the Pathfinder Project would be located in portions of Colorado,
Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota and would consist of 673 miles of
36-inch-diameter pipeline running from Meeker, Rio Blanco County,
Colorado to near Glen Ullin, Morton County, North Dakota. The currently
proposed pipeline route would travel across Rio Blanco and Moffat
Counties in Colorado; Carbon, Sweetwater, Freemont, Natrona, Johnson,
and Campbell Counties in Wyoming; Powder River, Carter, and Fallon
Counties in Montana; and Bowman, Slope, Hettinger, Stark, Grant, and
Morton Counties, North Dakota. The pipeline would connect to the
existing Northern Border mainline pipeline system in southwest North
Dakota and would deliver natural gas to primarily midwestern markets.
The proposed Pathfinder Project includes an 11-mile-long supply
lateral,\3\ the Wamsutter Segment, located near Wamsutter, Sweetwater
County, Wyoming to connect the Pathfinder Pipeline Project mainline to
natural gas supply in the Green River Basin. Certain associated
aboveground facilities are also proposed. Mainline valves spaced at
intervals along the pipeline as defined by U.S. Department of
Transportation regulations per the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49
Part 192, eight compressor stations, four meter stations, and seven pig
launcher and receiver facilities are currently proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not printed in
the Federal Register, but they are being provided to all those who
receive this notice in the mail. Copies of the NOI can be obtained
from the Commission's Web site at the ``eLibrary'' link, from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, or by calling (202) 502-8371.
For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the end of this
notice.
\3\ A lateral pipeline typically takes gas from the main system
to deliver it to a customer or receives gas from a storage or supply
source.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
More specifically, TransCanada proposes the following primary
components for the Pathfinder Project:
673 miles of 36-inch diameter underground natural gas
pipeline consisting of four segments:
[rtarr8] Meeker Segment: 130 miles of pipeline from an existing
gathering hub near Meeker, Colorado to Wamsutter, Wyoming;
[rtarr8] Segment 1: 236 miles of pipeline from Wamsutter, Wyoming
to Dead Horse in Campbell County, Wyoming; and
[rtarr8] Segment 2: 297 miles of pipeline commencing in Dead Horse
and terminating at the Northern Border Pipeline Company's existing
Compressor Station No. 6 in Morton County, North Dakota: and
[rtarr8] Wamsutter Segment: 11 miles of pipeline extending from
the existing Echo Springs gas plant to the intersection of the
Pathfinder Meeker Segment and Segment 1 in Wamsutter, Wyoming;
A new 10,000 horsepower compressor station at milepost
(MP) 0.0 of the Wamsutter Segment near Echo Springs, Wyoming;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 153 in
Sweetwater County, Wyoming;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 221 in
Freemont County, Wyoming;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 301 in
Natrona County, Wyoming;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 374 in
Campbell County, Wyoming;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 453 in
Powder River County, Montana;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 535 in
Fallon County, Montana;
A new 30,000 horsepower compressor station at MP 619 in
Hettinger County, North Dakota;
One meter station and one pig launcher on the Meeker
Segment; one meter station, one pig launcher, and one pig receiver on
the Wamsutter Segment; one meter station and three pig launcher/
receivers on Segment 1; and two meter stations, two pig launcher/
receivers, and one pig receiver on Segment 2;
Approximately 36 mainline valves generally located at 20-
mile intervals along the pipeline;
Temporary pipe storage and contractor yards at various
locations along the pipeline for office trailers, parking, and pipe and
equipment storage during construction; and
Temporary construction roadways and short permanent roads
from existing roads to meter station sites and other aboveground
facilities.
Bison would consist of approximately 297 miles of 24-inch-diameter
natural gas pipeline and related pipeline system facilities that would
move gas northeastward from Dead Horse across the southeastern corner
of Montana and into central North Dakota where it interconnects with
the Northern Border pipeline system near Compressor Station No. 6 in
Morton County. The entire route of Bison is identical to that of the
corresponding portion of Pathfinder (Segment 2) from Dead Horse to
Compressor Station No. 6.
Location maps depicting the proposed facilities are attached to
this NOI as Appendix 1.
The EIS Process
NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or
not a natural gas pipeline should be approved. FERC will use the EIS to
consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues a
Project authorization to TransCanada under Section 7 of the Natural Gas
Act. 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 scoping is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the
important environmental issues. With this NOI, we are requesting public
comments on the issues to be addressed in the EIS. All comments
received will be considered during preparation of the EIS.
In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction, operation, and maintenance of the proposed Project
under these general headings:
Geology and soils;
Water resources;
Aquatic resources;
Vegetation and wildlife;
Threatened and endangered species;
Land use, recreation, and visual resources;
Cultural resources;
Socioeconomics;
[[Page 58227]]
Air quality and noise;
Reliability and safety;
Cumulative impacts.
In the EIS, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the
proposed Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.
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; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations; commentors; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and FERC's official service list for
this proceeding. There will be at minimum a 45-day comment period
allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will consider all comments on
the draft EIS and revise the document, if necessary, before issuing a
final EIS. We will then consider all comments on the final EIS before
we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure that your
comments are considered, please follow the instructions in the Public
Participation section of this NOI.
With this NOI, we are asking federal, state, and local agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation
of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. As
previously discussed, the BLM has agreed to become a cooperating agency
and would use the EIS to fulfill its NEPA responsibilities in
considering the potential issuance of a Right-of-Way Grant and
Temporary Use Permit for the portion of the Project on federal land.
Additional agencies that would like to request cooperating agency
status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided
under the Public Participation section of this NOI.
The EIS will examine the proposed action and alternatives that
require administrative or other actions by other federal agencies.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified issues that we think deserve attention
based on our previous experience with similar projects in the region.
This preliminary list of issues, which is presented below, may be
revised based on your comments and our continuing analyses specific to
the Pathfinder Project.
Potential for disturbance to residents along pipeline
construction route, including noise and aesthetics;
Potential impacts to the viewshed from construction
activities and placement of aboveground facilities;
Potential for geological hazards, including seismic
activity, to have impacts on the pipeline;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on waterbodies and
wetlands, including issues of erosion control;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on vegetation, including
the clearing and revegetation of existing plant communities and, in
particular, the clearing of riparian areas;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on threatened and
endangered species and wildlife habitat;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on cultural resources,
including paleontological resources and historic trails; and
Potential impacts of the pipeline on recreation and scenic
resources.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Pathfinder Project or Bison 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
send in your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC
on or before November 3, 2008.
Comments on the proposed Project can be submitted to the FERC in
written form or verbally at the public scoping meetings. For your
convenience, there are three methods which you can use to submit your
written comments to the Commission. In all instances please reference
the Project docket number (PF08-22-000 or PF08-23-000) with your
submission. The three methods are:
(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 3,
PJ-11.3.
The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations listed
below) are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on
the proposed Project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged
to attend the meetings and to present comments on the environmental
issues that they believe should be addressed in the EIS.
A transcript of the meetings will be generated so that your
comments can be accurately recorded. All meetings are scheduled to run
from 6 to 8 p.m., and are scheduled as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, October 13, 6 to 8 pm Best Western Tower West Lodge, 109 N.
U.S. Highway 14-16, Gillette, Wyoming
82716.
Tuesday, October 14, 6 to 8 Roosevelt High School, 140 East K Street,
pm. Casper, Wyoming 82601.
Broadus High School, 500 North Trautman,
Broadus, MT 59317.
Wednesday, October 15, 6 to 8 Jeffrey Memorial Center, 315 East Pine
pm. Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
Bowman City Hall, 101 1st Street NE,
Bowman, North Dakota 58623.
Thursday, October 16, 6 to 8 Holiday Inn Suites, 300 South Colorado
pm. Highway 13, Craig, Colorado 81625.
Parish Hall--Sacred Heart Church, 204 Oak
Avenue East, Glen Ullin, North Dakota
58631.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 58228]]
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.
Once TransCanada formally files its application with the
Commission, you may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an
official party to the proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role
in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be
heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final
ruling. An intervenor formally participates in a Commission proceeding
by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an
intervenor are included in the User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link
on the Commission's Web site. Please note that you may not request
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a formal
application is filed with the Commission.
Environmental Mailing List
Everyone who responds to this notice or provides comments
throughout the EIS process will be retained on our mailing list for
this Project. If you do not want to send comments at this time but want
to stay informed and receive copies of the draft and final EIS, you
must return the Mailing List Retention Form (Appendix 2). If you do not
send comments or return the Mailing List Retention Form asking to
remain on the mailing list, you will be taken off the mailing list.
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, select ``General Search'' and enter
the Project docket number, excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF08-
22) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-
mail at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC Web
site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.
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, TransCanada has
established a Web site for the Project at https://www.transcanada.com/
company/pathfinder.html. The Web site includes a Project overview,
timeline, safety and environmental information, and public outreach.
You can also request additional information by contacting TransCanada
directly at:
E-mail: pathfinder@transcanada.com.
Mailing address: Pathfinder Pipeline Project, PO Box 6160,
Broomfield, CO 80021.
Toll-free telephone: (866) 509-2270.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-23500 Filed 10-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
