Northwest Pipeline, GP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Molalla Capacity Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting, 10348-10350 [2011-4082]

Download as PDF emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 10348 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 37 / Thursday, February 24, 2011 / Notices 14 CAISO’s Service Agreement 1511 with Solar Partners I LGIA to be effective 7/28/2010. Filed Date: 02/14/2011. Accession Number: 20110214–5188. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, March 07, 2011. Docket Numbers: ER11–2885–000. Applicants: California Independent System Operator Corporation. Description: California Independent System Operator Corporation submits tariff filing per 35.13(a)(2)(iii): 2011–02– 15 CAISO’s Amendments to BrightSource LGIA’s to be effective 1/ 26/2011. Filed Date: 02/15/2011. Accession Number: 20110215–5042. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 08, 2011. Docket Numbers: ER11–2886–000. Applicants: Sierra Pacific Power Company. Description: Sierra Pacific Power Company submits tariff filing per 35: Rate Schedule No. 61—Compliance to Fix Date of Concurrence to be effective 1/1/2011. Filed Date: 02/15/2011. Accession Number: 20110215–5044. Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 08, 2011. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. It is not necessary to separately intervene again in a subdocket related to a compliance filing if you have previously intervened in the same docket. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. In reference to filings initiating a new proceeding, interventions or protests submitted on or before the comment deadline need not be served on persons other than the Applicant. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at https:// www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:21 Feb 23, 2011 Jkt 223001 Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filings in the above proceedings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available for review in the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed dockets(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dated: February 15, 2011. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2011–4106 Filed 2–23–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP11–59–000] Northwest Pipeline, GP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Molalla Capacity Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting 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 Molalla Capacity Replacement Project, which would involve pipeline and associated facility abandonment and the construction and operation of a new pipeline loop and associated facilities by Northwest Pipeline, GP (Northwest) in Marion and Clackamas Counties, Oregon. This EA will be used by the Commission in its decisionmaking process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity. This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 scoping period will close on March 18, 2011. Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend the public scoping meeting scheduled as follows: FERC Public Scoping Meeting, Molalla Capacity Replacement Project, March 1, 2011, 6:30 p.m. PST, St. Mary’s Public Elementary School, 590 East College Street, Mount Angel, OR 97362. 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 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 retirement of pipeline facilities or the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline facilities. The 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 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 Northwest 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 Northwest proposes to construct, modify, and operate below and aboveground facilities along its existing 2436 Camas/Eugene pipeline. According to Northwest, the Molalla Capacity Replacement Project would replace the capacity of an approximately 15-milelong pipeline segment that is proposed for retirement with approximately 7.8 miles of new pipeline. The Molalla Capacity Replacement Project would consist of the following activities: E:\FR\FM\24FEN1.SGM 24FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 37 / Thursday, February 24, 2011 / Notices • Abandon in-place approximately 15 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline; • Relocate an existing pig 1 receiver from MP 41.02 to MP 48.04 and remove aboveground facilities, including a pig launcher, piping, and valves, to accommodate pipeline retirement; • Install approximately 7.8 miles of new 20-inch diameter pipeline loop;1 and • Install new taps, block valves, and crossovers along new pipeline loop. The general location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.2 Land Requirements for Construction The project would require approximately 117 acres of land for the modification, removal, retirement, and/ or installation of aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, about 20.6 acres would be maintained for permanent operation of the project’s below and aboveground facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to revert to former uses. About 78 percent of the proposed loop pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rightsof-way. 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 3 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 under these general headings: 1 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. A pipeline loop is constructed parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity. 2 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. 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:21 Feb 23, 2011 Jkt 223001 • Geology and soils; • Land use and visual resources; • Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • Cultural resources; • Vegetation and wildlife; • Air quality and noise; • Endangered and threatened species; • Public safety; and • Cumulative impacts We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Our independent analysis of the issues will be 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 beginning on page 5. 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. Currently, no agencies have expressed their intention to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to satisfy their NEPA responsibilities related to this project. 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 Office, and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project’s potential effects on historic properties.4 We will define the 4 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 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10349 project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project is 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 this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106. Currently Identified Environmental Issues We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by Northwest. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. • Agricultural land uses including hops, filberts, and other specialty crops; • Residential structures; • Construction noise; • Waterbody and wetland crossings; and • Federally-listed threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Public Participation You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the 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 your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before March 18, 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 (CP11–59–000) 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 We bsite at https:// www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an easy method for interested persons historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register for Historic Places. E:\FR\FM\24FEN1.SGM 24FEN1 10350 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 37 / Thursday, February 24, 2011 / Notices 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 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. emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 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 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. 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:21 Feb 23, 2011 Jkt 223001 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. the Mountain Pass Lateral Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Kern River Gas Transmission Company (Kern River) in San Bernardino County, California. This EA will be used by the Commission in Additional Information its decisionmaking process to determine Additional information about the whether the project is in the public project is available from the convenience and necessity. This notice announces the opening of Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public site at https://www.ferc.gov using the and interested agencies on the project. ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be the docket number, excluding the last evaluated in the EA. Please note that the three digits in the Docket Number field scoping period will close on March 18, (i.e., CP11–59). Be sure you have 2011. selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Site Visit Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov On March 8, 2011, the Office of or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for Energy Projects (OEP) staff will conduct TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the a site visit of the planned Mountain Pass texts of formal documents issued by the Lateral Project. We will inspect accessible locations along the proposed Commission, such as orders, notices, pipeline route, as feasible. Examination and rulemakings. of the proposed pipeline route will be In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called eSubscription by automobile, remote observation from vantage point(s) at higher elevations which allows you to keep track of all relative to the proposed route, and on formal issuances and submittals in foot. Representatives from BLM, Kern specific dockets. This can reduce the River and Molycorp will accompany the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing OEP staff. All interested parties may attend. you with notification of these filings, Those planning to attend must provide document summaries, and direct links their own transportation (vehicles with to the documents. Go to https:// high clearance are required) and should www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm. meet at the following time and location: Finally, public meetings or site visits Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 10 a.m. (PST), will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/ Location: Primm Valley Golf Club, Directions: (Interstate 15 Exit #291, EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along Yates Well Road, right at stop sign; with other related information. follow signs; meet in parking lot past Dated: February 16, 2011. entrance gate). Kimberly D. Bose, This notice is being sent to the Commission’s current environmental Secretary. mailing list for this project. State and [FR Doc. 2011–4082 Filed 2–23–11; 8:45 am] local government representatives are BILLING CODE 6717–01–P asked to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP11–46–000] Kern River Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Mountain Pass Lateral Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Onsite Environmental Review The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Summary of the Proposed Project Kern River proposes to construct approximately 8.6 miles of 8-inch lateral pipeline in San Bernardino County, California extending from the existing Kern River mainline along the western edge of Ivanpah Valley and terminating at the active mining operation on property owned by Molycorp Minerals, LLC (Molycorp). The lateral pipeline would have a design capacity of 24.27 million standard cubic feet per day. According to Kern River, its project and the natural gas it delivers to the Molycorp facility would provide reliable power generation and steam production in order to facilitate E:\FR\FM\24FEN1.SGM 24FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10348-10350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4082]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP11-59-000]


Northwest Pipeline, GP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Molalla Capacity Replacement 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meeting

    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 Molalla Capacity Replacement 
Project, which would involve pipeline and associated facility 
abandonment and the construction and operation of a new pipeline loop 
and associated facilities by Northwest Pipeline, GP (Northwest) in 
Marion and Clackamas Counties, Oregon. This EA will be used by the 
Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the 
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. Your input will help the Commission staff 
determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that 
the scoping period will close on March 18, 2011.
    Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public 
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of or in addition to 
sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend the 
public scoping meeting scheduled as follows: FERC Public Scoping 
Meeting, Molalla Capacity Replacement Project, March 1, 2011, 6:30 p.m. 
PST, St. Mary's Public Elementary School, 590 East College Street, 
Mount Angel, OR 97362.
    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 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 retirement of pipeline 
facilities or the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and 
maintain the proposed pipeline facilities. The 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 
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 Northwest 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

    Northwest proposes to construct, modify, and operate below and 
aboveground facilities along its existing 2436 Camas/Eugene pipeline. 
According to Northwest, the Molalla Capacity Replacement Project would 
replace the capacity of an approximately 15-mile-long pipeline segment 
that is proposed for retirement with approximately 7.8 miles of new 
pipeline.
    The Molalla Capacity Replacement Project would consist of the 
following activities:

[[Page 10349]]

     Abandon in-place approximately 15 miles of 16-inch-
diameter pipeline;
     Relocate an existing pig \1\ receiver from MP 41.02 to MP 
48.04 and remove aboveground facilities, including a pig launcher, 
piping, and valves, to accommodate pipeline retirement;
     Install approximately 7.8 miles of new 20-inch diameter 
pipeline loop;\1\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 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. A pipeline loop is constructed 
parallel to an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Install new taps, block valves, and crossovers along new 
pipeline loop.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 
1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of 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 project would require approximately 117 acres of land for the 
modification, removal, retirement, and/or installation of aboveground 
facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, about 20.6 acres 
would be maintained for permanent operation of the project's below and 
aboveground facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and 
allowed to revert to former uses. About 78 percent of the proposed loop 
pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-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 
\3\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``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 under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     Land use and visual resources;
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     Cultural resources;
     Vegetation and wildlife;
     Air quality and noise;
     Endangered and threatened species;
     Public safety; and
     Cumulative impacts
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to 
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be 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 beginning on page 5.
    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. 
Currently, no agencies have expressed their intention to participate as 
a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to satisfy their NEPA 
responsibilities related to this project.

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 Office, and to solicit 
their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian 
tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on historic 
properties.\4\ We will define the project-specific Area of Potential 
Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project is 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 this project will document our 
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status 
of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Northwest. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Agricultural land uses including hops, filberts, and other 
specialty crops;
     Residential structures;
     Construction noise;
     Waterbody and wetland crossings; and
     Federally-listed threatened and endangered species and 
their habitats.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the 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 your comments so 
that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before March 18, 
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 (CP11-59-000) 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 We bsite at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an 
easy method for interested persons

[[Page 10350]]

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 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 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. 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 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., CP11-59). 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.

    Dated: February 16, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-4082 Filed 2-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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