Questar Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Mainline 103 Extension Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 78631-78636 [2011-32372]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2011 / Notices
385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date.
Protests may be considered, but
intervention is necessary to become a
party to the proceeding.
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings
can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
other information, call (866) 208–3676
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
Dated: December 12, 2011.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–32402 Filed 12–16–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2210–207]
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Appalachian Power Company; Notice
of Designation of Certain Commission
Personnel as Non-Decisional
Commission staff members Jon
Cofrancesco (Office of Energy Projects
(202) 502–8951;
jon.cofrancesco@ferc.gov) and Elizabeth
Molloy (Office of the General Counsel;
(202) 502–8771;
elizabeth.molloy@ferc.gov) are assigned
to help resolve issues associated with
development of a settlement agreement
for the Smith Mountain 2011 updated
Shoreline Management Plan.
As ‘‘non-decisional’’ staff, Mr.
Cofrancesco and Ms. Molloy will not
participate in an advisory capacity in
the Commission’s review of any offer of
settlement or settlement agreement, or
deliberations concerning the disposition
of the 2011 updated Shoreline
Management Plan.
Different Commission ‘‘advisory staff’’
will be assigned to review any offer of
settlement or settlement agreement, and
to process the 2011 updated Shoreline
Management Plan, including providing
advice to the Commission with respect
to the agreement and the plan. Nondecisional staff and advisory staff are
prohibited from communicating with
one another concerning the settlement
and the 2011 updated Shoreline
Management Plan.
Dated: December 9, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–32374 Filed 12–16–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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viewing on the FERC Web site
(www.ferc.gov).
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP12–18–000]
Questar Pipeline Company; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Mainline
103 Extension Project and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
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 Mainline 103 Extension Project
involving construction and operation of
facilities by Questar Pipeline Company
(Questar) in Uintah County, Utah. The
Commission will use this EA 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 they need to
evaluate in the EA. Details on how to
submit comments are in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
Please note that the scoping period will
close on January 18, 2012.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and
local government representatives should
notify their constituents of this
proposed project and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you 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 Commission
approves the project, 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.
Questar provided landowners with a
fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled
‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On
My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’
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
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78631
Summary of the Proposed Project
Questar seeks authorization to
abandon about 8.3 miles of its 14-inchdiameter Mainline 68 and replace it
with about 8.5 miles of 20-inchdiameter Mainline 103 in Uintah
County, Utah. Questar is replacing this
portion of Mainline 68 because it has
been undermined and exposed by flash
flooding. Questar would extend
Mainline 103 away from flood areas in
Weaver Canyon, which would result in
the replacement being 0.2 mile longer
than Mainline 68. Mainline 68 would
remain in operation throughout
Questar’s extension of Mainline 103.
Questar would abandon its Mainline 68
in place, with the exception of areas that
are currently exposed, which would be
removed. Questar would also construct
a pig launcher/receiver 1 facility at its
new Mainline 103/68 junction.
The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 1.2
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities
would disturb about 120 acres of land
for the pipeline and aboveground
facilities. Following construction,
Questar would maintain about 52 acres
for permanent operation of the project’s
facilities; the remaining acreage would
be restored and revert to former uses.
The proposed pipeline route generally
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
1 A pipeline ‘‘pig’’ is a device used to clean or
inspect the pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an
aboveground facility where pigs are inserted or
retrieved from the pipeline.
2 The appendices referenced in this notice will
not appear 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2011 / Notices
notice, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to
address in the EA. We will consider all
filed comments 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:
• Geology and soils;
• Vegetation and wildlife;
• Water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• Endangered and threatened species;
• Cultural resources;
• Land use;
• Air quality and noise; and
• Public safety.
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.
The EA will present our independent
analysis of the issues. The EA will be
available in the public record through
eLibrary. Depending on the comments
received during the scoping process, we
may also publish and distribute the EA
to the public for an allotted comment
period. We will consider all comments
on the EA before making our
recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure we have the opportunity to
consider and address your comments,
please carefully follow the instructions
in the Public Participation section
beginning on page 5.
With this notice, we are asking
agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues of this project to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA.4 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
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
Bureau of Indian Affairs 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.
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
4 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, § 1501.6.
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Preservation Act, we are using this
notice to initiate consultation with
applicable State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO), 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.5 We will define the
project-specific Area of Potential Effects
(APE) in consultation with the SHPO as
the project develops. 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
Questar. This preliminary list of issues
may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
• Geotechnical issues with crossing
the White River;
• Effects on the Colorado
pikeminnow, White River beardtongue,
and Graham’s penstemon; and
• Crossing public, tribal, and private
lands.
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 the Commission receives them in
Washington, DC on or before January 18,
2012.
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 (CP12–18–000) with
your submission. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of
5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
district, site, building, structure, or object included
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
of Historic Places.
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comments and has expert staff available
to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or
efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments
electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission’s Web site
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy
method for interested persons to submit
brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments
electronically using the eFiling feature
on the Commission’s Web site
(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 must select
the type of filing you are making. If you
are filing a comment on a particular
project, please select ‘‘Comment on a
Filing’’; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your
comments by mailing them to 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, 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 we publish and distribute the EA,
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2011 / Notices
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 in the User’s Guide under
the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the Commission’s
Web site.
Additional Information
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
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19:31 Dec 16, 2011
Jkt 226001
‘‘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., CP12–18). 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
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78633
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 www.ferc.gov/Event
Calendar/EventsList.aspx along with
other related information.
Dated: December 13, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary
Appendix 1
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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EN19DE11.004
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2011 / Notices
78636
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 243 / Monday, December 19, 2011 / Notices
BILLING CODE 6717–01–C
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP11–481–000]
emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline,
Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Proposed Alden Gas Storage
Field Expansion Project and Request
for Comments On Environmental
Issues
As previously noticed on July 8, 2011,
and supplemented herein, 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 Alden Gas Storage Field
Expansion Project, involving the
expansion of the certificated boundary
and buffer zone of the existing Alden
Gas Storage Field by Southern Star
Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. (Southern
Star) in Rice County, Kansas. This EA
will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine
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Jkt 226001
whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity.
This Supplemental Notice of Intent
announces the opening of a limited
scoping period 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. Details on how to
submit written comments are provided
in the Public Participation section of
this notice. Please note that the limited
scoping period will close on January 13,
2012.
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
project and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner or owner of
mineral rights receiving this notice, you
may be contacted by a storage company
representative about the acquisition of
mineral rights and an easement to
convert, operate, and maintain the
proposed 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
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
negotiations to obtain an easement or
mineral rights fail to produce an
agreement, the company could initiate
condemnation proceedings where
compensation would be determined in
accordance with state or federal 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 Southern Star provided to
landowners and owners of mineral
rights. 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 (www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
Southern Star requests authorization
to expand its existing certificated
boundary and buffer zone of its existing
Alden Gas Storage Field located in Rice
County, Kansas to ensure the field’s
integrity and protection. The certified
storage boundary/buffer currently
encompasses 3,540 acres and operates
with a maximum storage capacity of
14.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) with a
working capacity of 4.2 Bcf. Southern
Star states it will attempt to acquire all
mineral rights from the base of the
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[FR Doc. 2011–32372 Filed 12–16–11; 8:45 am]
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 243 (Monday, December 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78631-78636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32372]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP12-18-000]
Questar Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Mainline 103 Extension
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
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 Mainline 103 Extension Project
involving construction and operation of facilities by Questar Pipeline
Company (Questar) in Uintah County, Utah. The Commission will use this
EA 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 they need to evaluate in the EA. Details on how
to submit comments are in the Public Participation section of this
notice. Please note that the scoping period will close on January 18,
2012.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you 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 Commission approves the project, 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.
Questar provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I
Need To Know?'' 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 (www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
Questar seeks authorization to abandon about 8.3 miles of its 14-
inch-diameter Mainline 68 and replace it with about 8.5 miles of 20-
inch-diameter Mainline 103 in Uintah County, Utah. Questar is replacing
this portion of Mainline 68 because it has been undermined and exposed
by flash flooding. Questar would extend Mainline 103 away from flood
areas in Weaver Canyon, which would result in the replacement being 0.2
mile longer than Mainline 68. Mainline 68 would remain in operation
throughout Questar's extension of Mainline 103. Questar would abandon
its Mainline 68 in place, with the exception of areas that are
currently exposed, which would be removed. Questar would also construct
a pig launcher/receiver \1\ facility at its new Mainline 103/68
junction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device used to clean or inspect the
pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an aboveground facility where
pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear 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
Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 120
acres of land for the pipeline and aboveground facilities. Following
construction, Questar would maintain about 52 acres for permanent
operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage would be
restored and revert to former uses. The proposed pipeline route
generally 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
[[Page 78632]]
notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the
issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments 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;
Vegetation and wildlife;
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
Endangered and threatened species;
Cultural resources;
Land use;
Air quality and noise; and
Public safety.
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.
The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We
will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section beginning on page 5.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of
this project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the
EA.\4\ 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 U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Sec. 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 (SHPO), 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.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project
develops. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of 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 Questar. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Geotechnical issues with crossing the White River;
Effects on the Colorado pikeminnow, White River
beardtongue, and Graham's penstemon; and
Crossing public, tribal, and private lands.
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 the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before
January 18, 2012.
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 (CP12-18-000) with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for interested persons to
submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling
feature on the Commission's Web site (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 must select the type of filing you are making. If
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select
``Comment on a Filing''; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
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, 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 we publish and distribute the EA, 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
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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 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., CP12-18). 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 www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Dated: December 13, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary
Appendix 1
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[FR Doc. 2011-32372 Filed 12-16-11; 8:45 am]
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