Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Loop Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 17849-17851 [E9-8808]
Download as PDF
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 73 / Friday, April 17, 2009 / Notices
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, PJ11.3.
Comments will be considered by the
Commission but will not serve to make
the commentor a party to the
proceeding. Any person seeking to
become a party to the proceeding must
file a motion to intervene pursuant to
Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR
385.214).1 Only intervenors have the
right to seek rehearing of the
Commission’s decision.
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
comments considered.
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at 1–866–208–FERC or on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov)
using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’
and enter the docket number excluding
the last three digits in the Docket
Number field. Be sure you have selected
an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for
TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The
eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which allows you to keep track of all
formal issuances and submittals in
specific dockets. This can reduce the
amount of time you spend researching
proceedings by automatically providing
you with notification of these filings,
document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to https://
www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
1 Interventions may also be filed electronically via
the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous
discussion on filing comments electronically.
1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy
Projects.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:13 Apr 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–8811 Filed 4–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF09–6–000]
Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Loop Expansion Project and
Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
April 10, 2009.
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 Loop Expansion Project (project)
planned by Questar Overthrust Pipeline
Company (Overthrust). The project
consists of about 43 miles of 36-inchdiameter pipeline within Uinta and
Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming. The EA
will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process used to gather input
from the public and interested agencies
on the project. Your input will help the
Commission staff determine what issues
need to be evaluated in the EA. Please
note that the scoping period will close
on May 11, 2009.
This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being
sent to affected landowners; Federal,
State, and local government
representatives and agencies;
environmental and public interest
groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. We 1 encourage
government representatives to notify
their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
pipeline company representative about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
17849
planned 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,
‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on
My Land? What Do I Need to Know?’’
is available for viewing on the FERC
Web site (https://www.ferc.gov). This fact
sheet addresses a number of typicallyasked questions, including those
focusing on the use of eminent domain
and how to participate in the FERC’s
proceedings.
Summary of the Planned Project
The planned Loop Expansion Project
would consist of the following facilities:
• About 43 miles of 36-inch-diameter
pipeline in Uinta and Sweetwater
Counties, Wyoming;
• A bypass valve assembly tie-in at
the Rock Springs Compressor Station in
Rock Springs, Wyoming;
• A new crossover valve assembly at
milepost (MP) 43.3; and
• Two 36-inch-diameter block valves
at MPs 18.6 and 38.5.
The Loop Expansion Project would
allow Overthrust to provide up to
800,000 dekatherms per day of natural
gas westbound to Kern River Gas
Transmission Company and to El Paso
Corporation’s proposed Ruby Pipeline.
A general location map of
Overthrust’s planned facilities is
provided in appendix 1.2
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of Overthrust’s planned
facilities would disturb about 833 acres
of land including aboveground facilities
and the pipeline. Overthrust would
utilize existing public roads to access
the work areas. Following construction,
about 262.3 acres would be maintained
for permanent operation of the project’s
facilities while the remaining acreage
would be restored and allowed to revert
to former uses. About 90 percent (39.1
miles) of the planned pipeline would be
collocated with existing pipeline,
utility, or road ROWs.
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.
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
17850
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 73 / Friday, April 17, 2009 / Notices
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
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
NOI, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to
address in the EA. All comments
received will be considered during the
preparation of the EA. State and local
government representatives are
encouraged to notify their constituents
of this planned action and encourage
them to comment on their areas of
concern.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
planned project under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils;
• Land use;
• Water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• Cultural resources;
• Vegetation and wildlife;
• Air quality and noise;
• Endangered and threatened species;
and
• Public safety.
We will also evaluate possible
alternatives to the planned project or
portions of the project, and make
recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource
areas.
Although no formal application has
been filed, we have already initiated our
NEPA review under the Commission’s
Pre-filing Process. 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.
As part of our Pre-filing Process review,
we have begun to contact some Federal
and State agencies to discuss their
involvement in the scoping process and
the preparation of the EA.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be presented in the EA.
Depending on the comments received
during scoping, the EA may be
published and mailed to Federal, State,
and local agencies; public interest
groups; interested individuals; affected
landowners; and local newspapers and
libraries. A comment period will be
allotted for review if the EA is
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:13 Apr 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
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.
With this NOI, we are asking agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special
expertise with respect to environmental
issues to formally cooperate with us in
the preparation of the EA. These
agencies may choose to participate once
they have evaluated the proposal
relative to their responsibilities.
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 Department of
the Interior’s Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has already
requested cooperating-agency status and
will be assisting us in the scoping,
analysis, and preparation of the EA. The
EA will be used by both the FERC and
the BLM to satisfy our NEPA
requirements and support our respective
decisions.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Loop
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 send in your comments
so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before May 11,
2009.
For your convenience, there are three
methods in which you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In
all instances please reference the project
docket number PF09–6–000 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
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 to 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 Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for
the attention of Gas Branch 1, PJ11.1.
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
planned 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.
If you do not want to send comments
at this time but still want to remain on
our mailing list, please return the
Information Request (appendix 2). If you
do not return the Information Request,
you will be taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Overthrust 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 ‘‘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.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at 1–866–208–FERC or on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov)
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 73 / Friday, April 17, 2009 / Notices
using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’
and enter the docket number excluding
the last three digits in the Docket
Number field. Be sure you have selected
an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for
TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The
eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which allows you to keep track of all
formal issuances and submittals in
specific dockets. This can reduce the
amount of time you spend researching
proceedings by automatically providing
you with notification of these filings,
document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to https://
www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
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, Overthrust has established an
Internet Web site for its project at
https://www.overthrustexpansion.com.
The site includes a project overview,
contact information, regulatory
overview, and construction procedures.
Overthrust will continue to update its
Web site with information about the
project. You can also request additional
information by calling Overthrust at 1–
800–366–8532.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–8808 Filed 4–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. RP09–428–000]
ANR Pipeline Company; Notice of
Technical Conference
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
April 9, 2009.
Take notice that the Commission Staff
will convene a technical conference in
the above-referenced proceeding on
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at 9 a.m. (EST),
in Room 3M–2B at the offices of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The technical conference will afford
the Commission staff and the parties to
the proceeding an opportunity to
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:13 Apr 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
discuss the issues raised by ANR
Pipeline Company’s (ANR) annual fuel
and electric power cost re-determination
filing, including but not limited to the
proposed increase in the gas fuel charge
and electric power cost charge for the
Cold Springs 1 Storage Field.
FERC conferences are accessible
under section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. For accessibility
accommodations please send an e-mail
to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free
(866) 208–3372 (voice) or (202) 502–
8659 (TTY), or send a fax to (202) 208–
2106 with the required
accommodations.
All interested persons are permitted
to attend. For further information please
contact David Faerberg at (202) 502–
8275 or e-mail David.Faerberg@ferc.gov.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–8802 Filed 4–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. RM07–10–000]
Transparency Provisions of Section 23
of the Natural Gas Act; Notice of
Extension of Time
April 9, 2009.
On April 8, 2009, the American Forest
& Paper Association, the Process Gas
Consumers Group, the Interstate Natural
Gas Association of America, the Electric
Power Supply Association, the
Independent Petroleum Association of
America, and the American Gas
Association (the Associations) filed a
joint motion for an extension of time for
the initial filing of Form No. 552, as
required by Commission Order Nos.
704, 704–A, and 704–B (Order No.
704).1 The motion states that because
many of the Associations’ members are
unfamiliar with reporting transactional
data under the Commission’s rules and
because of questions about the
requirements of Form No. 552, as well
as informational system and data
collection issues which must be
addressed by the members, additional
time is needed to submit the compliance
filing.
Upon consideration, notice is hereby
given that an extension of time for
submitting the initial filing of Form 572
1 Transparency Provisions of Section 23 of the
Natural Gas Act, Order No. 704, 121 FERC ¶ 61,295
(2007), order on reh’g, Order No. 704–A, 124 FERC
¶ 61,269 (2008), order on reh’g, Order No. 704–B,
125 ¶ 61,302 (2008).
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17851
in compliance with Commission Order
No. 704, is granted to and including July
1, 2009.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–8772 Filed 4–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OECA–2008–0432; FRL–8893–5]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; NESHAP for Reinforced
Plastic Composites Production, EPA
ICR Number 1976.04, OMB Control
Number 2060–0509
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), this document announces
that an Information Collection Request
(ICR) has been forwarded to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval. This is a request
to renew an existing approved
collection. The ICR that is abstracted
below describes the nature of the
collection and the estimated burden and
cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be
submitted on or before May 18, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing docket ID number EPA–HQ–
OECA–2008–0432, to (1) EPA online
using https://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), or by e-mail to
docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental
Protection Agency, Enforcement and
Compliance Docket and Information
Center, mail code 2201T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at:
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer
for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Schaefer, Office of Air Quality Planning
and Standards, Sector Policies and
Programs Division (D243–05),
Measurement Policy Group,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina,
27711; telephone number: (919) 541–
0296; fax number: (919) 541–3207; email address: schaefer.john@epa.gov.
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 73 (Friday, April 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17849-17851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8808]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF09-6-000]
Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Loop Expansion Project and
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
April 10, 2009.
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 Loop Expansion Project
(project) planned by Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company (Overthrust).
The project consists of about 43 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline
within Uinta and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming. The EA will be used by
the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process used to
gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project.
Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues need to
be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period will close
on May 11, 2009.
This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being sent to affected landowners;
Federal, State, and local government representatives and agencies;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. We \1\
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 planned 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, ``An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility on My Land? What Do I Need to Know?'' is available for viewing
on the FERC Web site (https://www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically-asked questions, including those focusing on the
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the FERC's proceedings.
Summary of the Planned Project
The planned Loop Expansion Project would consist of the following
facilities:
About 43 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Uinta and
Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming;
A bypass valve assembly tie-in at the Rock Springs
Compressor Station in Rock Springs, Wyoming;
A new crossover valve assembly at milepost (MP) 43.3; and
Two 36-inch-diameter block valves at MPs 18.6 and 38.5.
The Loop Expansion Project would allow Overthrust to provide up to
800,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas westbound to Kern River Gas
Transmission Company and to El Paso Corporation's proposed Ruby
Pipeline.
A general location map of Overthrust's planned facilities is
provided 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 Overthrust's planned facilities would disturb about
833 acres of land including aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Overthrust would utilize existing public roads to access the work
areas. Following construction, about 262.3 acres would be maintained
for permanent operation of the project's facilities while the remaining
acreage would be restored and allowed to revert to former uses. About
90 percent (39.1 miles) of the planned pipeline would be collocated
with existing pipeline, utility, or road ROWs.
[[Page 17850]]
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 NOI, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments
received will be considered during the preparation of the EA. State and
local government representatives are encouraged to notify their
constituents of this planned action and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the planned project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
Land use;
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
Cultural resources;
Vegetation and wildlife;
Air quality and noise;
Endangered and threatened species; and
Public safety.
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Although no formal application has been filed, we have already
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's Pre-filing Process.
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. As part of our Pre-filing Process
review, we have begun to contact some Federal and State agencies to
discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of
the EA.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA.
Depending on the comments received during scoping, the EA may be
published and mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies; public
interest groups; interested individuals; affected landowners; and local
newspapers and libraries. 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.
With this NOI, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. 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
Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
already requested cooperating-agency status and will be assisting us in
the scoping, analysis, and preparation of the EA. The EA will be used
by both the FERC and the BLM to satisfy our NEPA requirements and
support our respective decisions.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Loop 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 send
in your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or
before May 11, 2009.
For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number PF09-6-000 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 to 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 Street, NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 1,
PJ11.1.
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 planned 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.
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request
(appendix 2). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be
taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Overthrust 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 ``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.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov)
[[Page 17851]]
using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General
Search'' and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in
the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
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, Overthrust has established an Internet Web site for its
project at https://www.overthrustexpansion.com. The site includes a
project overview, contact information, regulatory overview, and
construction procedures. Overthrust will continue to update its Web
site with information about the project. You can also request
additional information by calling Overthrust at 1-800-366-8532.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-8808 Filed 4-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P