East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project Well Plan Amendment and Request for Comments On Environmental Issues, 78986-78988 [2010-31707]
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78986
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2010 / Notices
FERC Contact: Sergiu Serban; phone:
(202) 502–6211.
Deadline for filing comments, motions
to intervene, competing applications
(without notices of intent), or notices of
intent to file competing applications: 60
days from the issuance of this notice.
Competing applications and notices of
intent must meet the requirements of 18
CFR 4.36. Comments, motions to
intervene, notices of intent, and
competing applications may be filed
electronically via the Internet. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission’s Web
site https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp. Commenters can submit
brief comments up to 6,000 characters,
without prior registration, using the
eComment system at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
ecomment.asp. You must include your
name and contact information at the end
of your comments. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support.
Although the Commission strongly
encourages electronic filing, documents
may also be paper-filed. To paper-file,
mail an original and seven copies to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
More information about this project,
including a copy of the application, can
be viewed or printed on the ‘‘eLibrary’’
link of Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number
(P–13841–000) in the docket number
field to access the document. For
assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–31711 Filed 12–16–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
[Docket No. CP11–40–000; CP10–34–000]
East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project
Well Plan Amendment and Request for
Comments On Environmental Issues
December 13, 2010.
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 Well Plan Amendment proposed by
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16:45 Dec 16, 2010
Jkt 223001
East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC (East
Cheyenne). The proposed project would
amend the East Cheyenne Gas Storage
Project, authorized by the Commission
on August 2, 2010 under Docket No.
CP10–34–000, which consists of
construction and operation of facilities
in Logan County, Colorado. The
proposed amendment primarily
involves redeveloping a number of
existing oil production wells in the
West Peetz and Lewis Creek Fields to
gas storage injection/withdrawal (I/W)
wells. This EA will be used by the
Commission in its decision-making
process to determine whether the
project amendment 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
amendment. 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 January 13, 2011.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and
local government representatives are
asked to notify their constituents of this
planned project amendment and
encourage them to comment on their
areas of concern.
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 East Cheyenne 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 also
available for viewing on the FERC Web
site (https://www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
The authorized East Cheyenne Gas
Storage Project consists of construction
and operation of a natural gas storage
facility in two nearly depleted oil
production fields in Logan County,
Colorado. Prior to, and concurrent with
development of the gas storage fields,
East Cheyenne planned to do enhanced
oil recovery (EOR) of petroleum reserves
remaining in the storage fields. East
Cheyenne’s activities to date have
included the conversion or plugging of
existing wells in the West Peetz Field.
The East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project
is anticipated to have an initial working
gas storage capacity of approximately
9.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which would
increase to approximately 18.9 Bcf
between 3 and 5 years after operation
begins.
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Sfmt 4703
The proposed Well Plan Amendment
consists of the following changes to the
East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project:
• Conversion of 14 existing vertical
oil production wells into natural gas
storage I/W wells;
• Relocation of two of the certificated
I/W wells, and the development of these
wells as vertical wells rather than
horizontal wells;
• Relocation of two of the originally
certificated monitoring wells and the
addition of three monitoring wells,
using existing well pads and well bores;
• Reduction of the number of water
disposal wells from four to three;
• Construction of additional gathering
lines necessary to connect the
additional and relocated wells;
• Conversion of 17 originally
proposed and certificated temporary
access roads to permanent access roads;
• Elimination of the temporary West
Peetz Compressor Station; and
• Modification of the equipment to be
used in the Process Facility to
incorporate certain equipment
previously included as part of the
temporary West Peetz Compressor
Station.
East Cheyenne proposes to amend its
project because of recently acquired
information about the existing
conditions in the J Sands reservoir. As
part of its EOR activities, East Cheyenne
has reentered and evaluated the
adequacy of previously plugged and
abandoned wells and at the same time
tested the characteristics of the
reservoir. In response to new
information, East Cheyenne undertook
additional consultation and performed
additional reservoir modeling. These
consultations and modeling efforts
suggest that the optimal method of
commencing storage development and
early storage operations will require an
increased number of I/W wells and the
conversion of horizontal wells to
vertical wells.
The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
Land Requirements for Construction
The approved East Cheyenne Gas
Storage Project involved storing natural
gas in nearly depleted reservoirs that
underlie an area of approximately 2,360
acres, with an additional 3,400 acres
serving as a storage buffer area. The
1 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of
appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail and are available at https://
www.ferc.gov using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ 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.
E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2010 / Notices
additional proposed facilities would all
be located in previously surveyed areas
within the project site. Construction of
the proposed facilities within that area
would require in total approximately
485.84 acres of land; an increase of
89.33 acres from the original project
total of 396.51 acres. Following
construction, about 201.39 acres would
be maintained within the permanent
right-of-way; an increase of 50.61 acres
from the original project total of 150.78
acres. The remaining 284.45 acres of
land would be restored and allowed to
revert to its former use.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD 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 2 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, 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.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
proposed project amendment 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 reasonable
alternatives to the proposed project or
portions of the project amendment, and
make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various
resource areas.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be presented in the EA. The
EA will be placed in the public record
and, depending on the comments
received during the scoping process,
may be published and distributed to the
public. A comment period will be
allotted if the EA is published for
review. We will consider all comments
on the EA before we make our
2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental
staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects.
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recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the Public Participation
section below.
With this notice, 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 notice.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project
amendment. 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 your comments so
that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before January 13,
2011.
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 (CP11–40–000) with
your submission. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert eFiling staff
available to assist you at (202) 502–8258
or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. An eComment
is an easy method for interested persons
to submit brief, 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 Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. With eFiling
you can provide comments in a variety
of formats by attaching them as a file
with your submission. New eFiling
users must first create an account by
clicking on ‘‘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
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78987
(3) You may file a paper copy of your
comments at the following address:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426.
Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list
includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; elected officials; Native
American Tribes; other interested
parties; and local libraries and
newspapers. This list also includes all
affected landowners (as defined in the
Commission’s regulations) who are
potential right-of-way grantors, whose
property may be used temporarily for
project purposes, or who own homes
within certain distances of aboveground
facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project. We will
update the environmental mailing list as
the analysis proceeds to ensure that we
send the information related to this
environmental review to all individuals,
organizations, and government entities
interested in and/or potentially affected
by the proposed project.
If the EA is published for distribution,
copies will be sent to the environmental
mailing list for public review and
comment.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, you may want to
become an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an
official party to the Commission’s
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
the 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 website.
Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web
site at https://www.ferc.gov using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Click on the eLibrary
link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter
the docket number, excluding the last
three digits in the Docket Number field
(i.e., CP11–40). Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for
TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The
eLibrary link also provides access to the
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78988
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2010 / Notices
texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now
offers a free service called eSubscription
which allows you to keep track of all
formal issuances and submittals in
specific dockets. This can reduce the
amount of time you spend researching
proceedings by automatically providing
you with notification of these filings,
document summaries, and direct links
to the documents. Go to https://
www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits
will be posted on the Commission’s
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–31707 Filed 12–16–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Post-2014 Resource Pool-Loveland
Area Projects, Allocation Procedures
and Call for Applications
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of allocation procedures
and call for applications.
AGENCY:
Western Area Power
Administration (Western), a Federal
power marketing agency of the
Department of Energy (DOE), is
publishing this notice of allocation
procedures and call for applications
from preference entities interested in an
allocation of Federal electric power.
Subpart C of the Energy Planning and
Management Program (Program), which
was developed in part to implement
Section 114 of the Energy Policy Act of
1992, provides for establishing projectspecific resource pools and allocating
power from these pools to eligible new
preference customers and for other
appropriate purposes as determined by
Western. These allocation procedures
and call for applications, in conjunction
with the Loveland Area Projects (LAP)
Final Post-1989 Marketing Plan (Post1989 Marketing Plan), establish the
framework for allocating power from the
LAP resource pool. This resource pool
is comprised of up to one percent of the
long-term marketable resource of the
LAP.
DATES: An entity interested in applying
for an allocation of electric power from
Western must submit a written
application (see Applicant Profile Data
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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16:45 Dec 16, 2010
Jkt 223001
(APD) in Section V.A.) to Western’s
Rocky Mountain Customer Service
Region at the address below. Western
must receive the application by 4 p.m.,
MST, on Friday, March 4, 2011. Western
reserves the right to not consider an
application that is received after the
prescribed date and time.
A single public information forum
(not to exceed 3 hours) on the allocation
procedures, call for applications, and
APD will be held on Wednesday,
February 2, 2011, at 1 p.m. MST; at the
address below.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications for an
allocation of electric power to Bradley
S. Warren, Regional Manager, Rocky
Mountain Customer Service Region,
Western Area Power Administration.
Applications may be delivered by
certified mail, commercial mail, e-mail,
or fax. Mail applications to 5555 East
Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO
80538–8986. Submit e-mail applications
to POST2014LAP@wapa.gov with an
electronic signature. If an electronic
signature is not available, fax the
signature page to 970–461–7204, or mail
it to the address above. Fax applications
to 970–461–7204.
Information about the Post-2014
Resource Pool Allocation Procedures,
including letters and other supporting
documents made or kept by Western
pertaining to these allocation
procedures and call for applications, is
available for public inspection and
copying at the Rocky Mountain
Customer Service Region office, Western
Area Power Administration, 5555 East
Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO
80538–8986.
The single public information forum
on the allocation procedures, call for
applications and APD will be held on
Wednesday, February 2, 2011, at 1 p.m.,
MST, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa
and Conference Center, 4705 Clydesdale
Parkway, Loveland, CO 80538;
telephone number 970–593–6200.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Swails, Public Utilities Specialist,
970–461–7339, or Melanie Reed,
Contracts and Energy Services Manager,
970–461–7229. Written requests for
information should be sent to Rocky
Mountain Customer Service Region,
Western Area Power Administration,
Attn: J6200, P.O. Box 3700, Loveland,
CO 80539–3003.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western
published the final rule establishing the
Program on October 20, 1995 (60 FR
54151). The rule became effective on
November 20, 1995 and is codified at 10
CFR part 905. Subpart C of the Program,
Power Marketing Initiative, provides for
allocations from project-specific power
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Sfmt 4703
resource pools to eligible new
preference customers and/or for other
appropriate purposes as determined by
Western. Up to one percent of existing
customers’ allocations will be placed in
a resource pool from which power
allocations to new customers will be
made. Allocations to new preference
customers shall be made in accordance
with the Post-1989 Marketing Plan and
the Program. This notice sets forth the
Post-2014 Resource Pool Allocation
Procedures for making these allocations.
These procedures address: (1) The
amount of pool resources; (2) general
eligibility criteria; (3) general allocation
criteria, i.e., how Western plans to
allocate pool resources to new
customers as provided for in the
Program; (4) general contract principles
under which Western will sell the
allocated power, and; (5) APD, i.e.,
application information required from
each applicant. As restated below, these
procedures are consistent with the key
principles and general eligibility and
allocation criteria established in the
LAP Post-2004 and Post-2009 Resource
Pool Procedures.
I. Amount of Pool Resources
Western will allocate up to one
percent of the LAP long-term firm
hydroelectric resource available as of
October 1, 2014, as firm power. ‘‘Firm
power’’ means firm capacity and
associated energy allocated by Western
that is subject to the terms and
conditions specified in Western’s longterm firm electric service contract. The
amount of resource that will become
available on October 1, 2014, is
approximately 6.9 MW for the summer
season and 6.1 MW for the winter
season.
II. General Eligibility Criteria
Western will apply the following
general eligibility criteria to applicants
seeking an allocation of firm power
under the Post-2014 Resource Pool
Allocation Procedures:
A. Qualified applicants must be
preference entities as defined by Section
9c of the Reclamation Project Act of
1939, 43 U.S.C. 485h(c), as amended
and supplemented.
B. Qualified applicants must be
located within the currently established
LAP marketing area. (See Section III.C.
below for a description of the LAP
marketing area.)
C. Qualified applicants must not have
a current firm electric service contract
nor be a member of a parent entity that
has a firm electric service contract with
Western.
D. Qualified utility and non-utility
applicants must be able to use the firm
E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM
17DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78986-78988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31707]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP11-40-000; CP10-34-000]
East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project Well
Plan Amendment and Request for Comments On Environmental Issues
December 13, 2010.
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 Well Plan Amendment proposed
by East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC (East Cheyenne). The proposed project
would amend the East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project, authorized by the
Commission on August 2, 2010 under Docket No. CP10-34-000, which
consists of construction and operation of facilities in Logan County,
Colorado. The proposed amendment primarily involves redeveloping a
number of existing oil production wells in the West Peetz and Lewis
Creek Fields to gas storage injection/withdrawal (I/W) wells. This EA
will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to
determine whether the project amendment 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 amendment. 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 January 13, 2011.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this planned
project amendment and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
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 East Cheyenne 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 also available for viewing on the FERC Web site (https://www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
The authorized East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project consists of
construction and operation of a natural gas storage facility in two
nearly depleted oil production fields in Logan County, Colorado. Prior
to, and concurrent with development of the gas storage fields, East
Cheyenne planned to do enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of petroleum
reserves remaining in the storage fields. East Cheyenne's activities to
date have included the conversion or plugging of existing wells in the
West Peetz Field. The East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project is anticipated
to have an initial working gas storage capacity of approximately 9.8
billion cubic feet (Bcf), which would increase to approximately 18.9
Bcf between 3 and 5 years after operation begins.
The proposed Well Plan Amendment consists of the following changes
to the East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project:
Conversion of 14 existing vertical oil production wells
into natural gas storage I/W wells;
Relocation of two of the certificated I/W wells, and the
development of these wells as vertical wells rather than horizontal
wells;
Relocation of two of the originally certificated
monitoring wells and the addition of three monitoring wells, using
existing well pads and well bores;
Reduction of the number of water disposal wells from four
to three;
Construction of additional gathering lines necessary to
connect the additional and relocated wells;
Conversion of 17 originally proposed and certificated
temporary access roads to permanent access roads;
Elimination of the temporary West Peetz Compressor
Station; and
Modification of the equipment to be used in the Process
Facility to incorporate certain equipment previously included as part
of the temporary West Peetz Compressor Station.
East Cheyenne proposes to amend its project because of recently
acquired information about the existing conditions in the J Sands
reservoir. As part of its EOR activities, East Cheyenne has reentered
and evaluated the adequacy of previously plugged and abandoned wells
and at the same time tested the characteristics of the reservoir. In
response to new information, East Cheyenne undertook additional
consultation and performed additional reservoir modeling. These
consultations and modeling efforts suggest that the optimal method of
commencing storage development and early storage operations will
require an increased number of I/W wells and the conversion of
horizontal wells to vertical wells.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to
all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
https://www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
The approved East Cheyenne Gas Storage Project involved storing
natural gas in nearly depleted reservoirs that underlie an area of
approximately 2,360 acres, with an additional 3,400 acres serving as a
storage buffer area. The
[[Page 78987]]
additional proposed facilities would all be located in previously
surveyed areas within the project site. Construction of the proposed
facilities within that area would require in total approximately 485.84
acres of land; an increase of 89.33 acres from the original project
total of 396.51 acres. Following construction, about 201.39 acres would
be maintained within the permanent right-of-way; an increase of 50.61
acres from the original project total of 150.78 acres. The remaining
284.45 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to its
former use.
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
\2\ 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, 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed project amendment 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 reasonable alternatives to the proposed
project or portions of the project amendment, and make recommendations
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA.
The EA will be placed in the public record and, depending on the
comments received during the scoping process, may be published and
distributed to the public. A comment period will be allotted if the EA
is published for review. 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 notice, 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 notice.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project amendment. 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 your
comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before
January 13, 2011.
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 (CP11-40-000) with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert
eFiling staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or
efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an
easy method for interested persons to submit brief, 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 Web site at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling you
can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a
file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an
account by clicking on ``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 a paper copy of your comments at the following
address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native
American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and
newspapers. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined
in the Commission's regulations) who are potential right-of-way
grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes,
or who own homes within certain distances of aboveground facilities,
and anyone who submits comments on the project. We will update the
environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we
send the information related to this environmental review to all
individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/
or potentially affected by the proposed project.
If the EA is published for distribution, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's 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 the 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 website.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site at https://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click
on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket
number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field
(i.e., CP11-40). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range.
For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
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texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-31707 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P