Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northeast Supply Diversification Project and Ellisburg to Craigs Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 1146-1148 [2011-46]
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1146
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 5 / Friday, January 7, 2011 / Notices
the last three digits in the docket
number field to access the document.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support. A copy is also available for
inspection and reproduction at the
address in item h above.
You may also register online at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
m. Individuals desiring to be included
on the Commission’s mailing list should
so indicate by writing to the Secretary
of the Commission.
Anyone may submit comments, a
protest, or a motion to intervene in
accordance with the requirements of
Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR
385.210, .211, .214. In determining the
appropriate action to take, the
Commission will consider all protests or
other comments filed, but only those
who file a motion to intervene in
accordance with the Commission’s
Rules may become a party to the
proceeding. Any comments, protests, or
motions to intervene must be received
on or before the specified comment date
for the particular application.
Any filings must bear in all capital
letters the title ‘‘COMMENTS,’’
‘‘PROTEST,’’ or ‘‘MOTION TO
INTERVENE,’’ as applicable, and the
Project Number of the particular
application to which the filing refers. A
copy of any motion to intervene must
also be served upon each representative
of the Applicant specified in the
particular application.
Federal, State, and local agencies are
invited to file comments on the
described application. A copy of the
application may be obtained by agencies
directly from the applicant. If an agency
does not file comments within the time
specified for filing comments, it will be
presumed to have no comments. One
copy of an agency’s comments must also
be sent to the Applicant’s
representatives.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
[FR Doc. 2011–48 Filed 1–6–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Northeast Supply
Diversification Project and Ellisburg to
Craigs Project, and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
December 30, 2010.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline
Company.
Dominion Transmission, Inc.
Docket No.
CP11–30–
000
Docket No.
CP11–41–
000
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
two related projects proposed by
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (TGP)
and Dominion Transmission, Inc. (DTI).
TGP’s Northeast Supply Diversification
Project would involve construction and
operation of facilities in Tioga and
Bradford Counties, Pennsylvania and in
Niagara, Erie, and Livingston Counties,
New York. DTI’s Ellisburg to Craigs
Project would involve construction and
operation of facilities in Livingston and
Wyoming Counties, New York and
Potter County, Pennsylvania. This EA
will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the projects are in the public
convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process the Commission
will use to gather input from the public
and interested agencies on the project.
Your input will help the Commission
staff determine what issues need to be
evaluated in the EA. Please note that the
scoping period will close on January 31,
2011.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for these projects. State and
local government representatives are
asked to notify their constituents of
these planned projects 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
proposed facilities. The company would
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the projects are
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
where compensation would be
determined in accordance with state
law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ was attached to the project
notice TGP and DTI 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 Projects
TGP proposes to construct and
operate 6.8 miles of natural gas pipeline
loop,1 modifications at an existing meter
station and compressor station, and
other appurtenant facilities. The
Northeast Supply Diversification Project
would provide TGP with up to 150,000
dekatherms (Dth/d) per day of leased
capacity from DTI. According to TGP
and DTI, their projects would increase
natural gas delivery capacity in the
northeast region of the U.S.
The Northeast Supply Diversification
Project would consist of the following
facilities:
• 6.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter
natural gas pipeline in Tioga and
Bradford Counties, Pennsylvania;
• Piping/valve modifications at
existing Compressor Station 230C in
Niagara County, New York;
• A new pig 2 receiver at existing
Compressor Station 317 in Bradford
County, Pennsylvania;
• Modifications at five existing meter
stations in Erie and Niagara Counties,
New York; and
• Tap replacement at an existing
interconnection between TGP’s 200 Line
and DTI’s pipeline system in Livingston
County, New York.
DTI proposes to construct
compression, metering, pipeline, and
pressure regulation facilities to provide
the proposed leased capacity to TGP.
The Ellisburg to Craigs Project would
consist of the following facilities:
• A new 10,800 horsepower
compressor station in Wyoming County,
New York;
1 A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an
existing pipeline to increase capacity.
2 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that is inserted into and moves
through the pipeline, and is used for cleaning the
pipeline, internal inspections, or other purposes.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 5 / Friday, January 7, 2011 / Notices
• Replacement of 2,875 feet of 8-inchdiameter pipeline with 16-inchdiameter pipeline and a new meter
station in Livingston County, New York;
and
• Construction of new pressure
regulation facilities at existing meter
stations in Livingston County, New
York and Potter County, Pennsylvania.
The general locations of the projects’
facilities are shown in appendix 1.3
Land Requirements for Construction
TGP’s project would disturb
approximately 111 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, about 51 acres
would be maintained for permanent
operation of the project’s facilities; the
remaining acreage would be restored
and allowed to revert to former uses.
The entire proposed pipeline route
parallels TGP’s existing pipeline rightof-way.
DTI’s project would disturb
approximately 38 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline.
Following construction, about 11 acres
would be maintained for permanent
operation of the project’s facilities; the
remaining acreage would be restored
and allowed to revert to former uses.
The aboveground facilities would be
constructed adjacent to existing
aboveground facilities owned by DTI.
The pipeline replacement would
involve replacing the existing pipeline
with a larger diameter pipeline in the
same right-of-way.
The EA Process
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
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 4 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
3 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.
4 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental
staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects.
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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 projects 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 projects or
portions of the projects, 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
proposals 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.
Currently, the New York Department of
Agriculture and Markets has expressed
its intention to participate as a
cooperating agency in the preparation of
the EA.
Consultations Under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act
In accordance with the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation’s
implementing regulations for section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this
notice to initiate consultation with
applicable State Historic Preservation
Offices (SHPO), and to solicit their
views and those of other government
agencies, interested Indian tribes, and
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1147
the public on the projects’ potential
effects on historic properties.5 We will
define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation
with the SHPOs as the projects are
further developed. On natural gas
facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground
disturbance (examples include
construction right-of-way, contractor/
pipe storage yards, compressor stations,
and access roads). Our EA for these
projects will document our findings on
the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations
under section 106.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the
projects. 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 31,
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 (CP11–30–000 and
CP11–41–000) 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 website 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
5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 800. Historic properties are
defined in those regulations as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object
included in or eligible for inclusion in the National
Register for Historic Places.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 5 / Friday, January 7, 2011 / Notices
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;
environmental and public interest
groups; 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 projects. 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 projects.
If the EA is published for distribution,
copies will be sent to the environmental
mailing list for public review and
comment. If you would prefer to receive
a paper copy of the document instead of
the CD version or would like to remove
your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request
(appendix 2).
jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
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 Web site.
Additional Information
Additional information about the
projects 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
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15:30 Jan 06, 2011
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link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter
the docket number, excluding the last
three digits in the Docket Number field
(i.e., CP11–30 or CP11–41). 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 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. 2011–46 Filed 1–6–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 12576–004]
CRD Hydroelectric LLC, Iowa; Notice
of Availability of Environmental
Assessment
December 23, 2010.
In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission) regulations,
18 CFR Part 380 (Order No. 486, 52 FR
47879), the Office of Energy Projects has
reviewed the application for an original
license for the Red Rock Hydroelectric
Project (FERC Project No. 12576–004),
to be located on the Des Moines River,
in Marion County, Iowa, at the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers’ Red Rock
Dam.
Staff prepared an environmental
assessment (EA), which analyzes the
potential environmental effects of
licensing the project, and concludes that
licensing the project, with appropriate
environmental protection measures,
would not constitute a major federal
PO 00000
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action that would significantly affect the
quality of the human environment.
A copy of the EA is available for
review at the Commission in the Public
Reference Room or may be viewed on
the Commission’s Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. For
assistance, contact FERC Online
Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov; toll-free
at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, 202–
502–8659.
You may also register online at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
Any comments should be filed within
30 days from the date of this notice.
Comments 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/doc-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.
For further information, contact
Lesley Kordella at (202) 502–6406 or by
e-mail at Lesley.Kordella@ferc.gov.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–45 Filed 1–6–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1146-1148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-46]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Northeast Supply Diversification Project and Ellisburg to
Craigs Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
December 30, 2010.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company............ Docket No. CP11-30-000
Dominion Transmission, Inc................ Docket No. CP11-41-000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of two related projects proposed by
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (TGP) and Dominion Transmission, Inc.
(DTI). TGP's Northeast Supply Diversification Project would involve
construction and operation of facilities in Tioga and Bradford
Counties, Pennsylvania and in Niagara, Erie, and Livingston Counties,
New York. DTI's Ellisburg to Craigs Project would involve construction
and operation of facilities in Livingston and Wyoming Counties, New
York and Potter County, Pennsylvania. This EA will be used by the
Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the
projects are in the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that
the scoping period will close on January 31, 2011.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for these projects. State and local government
representatives are asked to notify their constituents of these planned
projects 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 proposed facilities.
The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the projects are 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 where compensation would be
determined in accordance with state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the
project notice TGP and DTI 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 Projects
TGP proposes to construct and operate 6.8 miles of natural gas
pipeline loop,\1\ modifications at an existing meter station and
compressor station, and other appurtenant facilities. The Northeast
Supply Diversification Project would provide TGP with up to 150,000
dekatherms (Dth/d) per day of leased capacity from DTI. According to
TGP and DTI, their projects would increase natural gas delivery
capacity in the northeast region of the U.S.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an existing
pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Northeast Supply Diversification Project would consist of the
following facilities:
6.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in
Tioga and Bradford Counties, Pennsylvania;
Piping/valve modifications at existing Compressor Station
230C in Niagara County, New York;
A new pig \2\ receiver at existing Compressor Station 317
in Bradford County, Pennsylvania;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ A ``pig'' is a tool that is inserted into and moves through
the pipeline, and is used for cleaning the pipeline, internal
inspections, or other purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modifications at five existing meter stations in Erie and
Niagara Counties, New York; and
Tap replacement at an existing interconnection between
TGP's 200 Line and DTI's pipeline system in Livingston County, New
York.
DTI proposes to construct compression, metering, pipeline, and
pressure regulation facilities to provide the proposed leased capacity
to TGP. The Ellisburg to Craigs Project would consist of the following
facilities:
A new 10,800 horsepower compressor station in Wyoming
County, New York;
[[Page 1147]]
Replacement of 2,875 feet of 8-inch-diameter pipeline with
16-inch-diameter pipeline and a new meter station in Livingston County,
New York; and
Construction of new pressure regulation facilities at
existing meter stations in Livingston County, New York and Potter
County, Pennsylvania.
The general locations of the projects' facilities are shown in
appendix 1.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 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
TGP's project would disturb approximately 111 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, about
51 acres would be maintained for permanent operation of the project's
facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to
revert to former uses. The entire proposed pipeline route parallels
TGP's existing pipeline right-of-way.
DTI's project would disturb approximately 38 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, about
11 acres would be maintained for permanent operation of the project's
facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to
revert to former uses. The aboveground facilities would be constructed
adjacent to existing aboveground facilities owned by DTI. The pipeline
replacement would involve replacing the existing pipeline with a larger
diameter pipeline in the same right-of-way.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ ``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 projects 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
projects or portions of the projects, 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 proposals 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. Currently, the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets
has expressed its intention to participate as a cooperating agency in
the preparation of the EA.
Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the projects' potential effects on
historic properties.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPOs as the projects
are further developed. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a
minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples
include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards,
compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for these projects will
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Historic
properties are defined in those regulations as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register for Historic
Places.
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Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the projects. 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 31,
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 (CP11-30-000 and CP11-41-000) 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 website 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
[[Page 1148]]
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;
environmental and public interest groups; 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 projects. 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 projects.
If the EA is published for distribution, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).
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 Web site.
Additional Information
Additional information about the projects 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., CP11-30 or CP11-41). 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
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. 2011-46 Filed 1-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P