El Paso Natural Gas Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Willcox Lateral 2013 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 26539-26541 [2012-10783]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / Notices
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an eSubscription link on the
Web site that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Dated: April 27, 2012.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–10773 Filed 5–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER12–1613–000]
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Hill Energy Resource & Services, LLC;
Supplemental Notice That Initial
Market-Based Rate Filing Includes
Request for Blanket Section 204
Authorization
This is a supplemental notice in the
above-referenced proceeding of Hill
Energy Resource & Services, LLC’s
application for market-based rate
authority, with an accompanying rate
tariff, noting that such application
includes a request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest should file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426,
in accordance with Rules 211 and 214
of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214). Anyone filing a motion to
intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Applicant.
Notice is hereby given that the
deadline for filing protests with regard
to the applicant’s request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability, is May 17,
2012.
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
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
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 Street NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above-referenced
proceeding 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 email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
Dated: April 27, 2012.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–10776 Filed 5–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP12–6–000]
El Paso Natural Gas Company;
Supplemental Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Proposed Willcox Lateral 2013
Expansion Project and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
As previously noticed on December 2,
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 Willcox Lateral 2013
Expansion Project (Project) proposed by
El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG).
The Project involves modification,
construction, and operation of certain
meter, compressor, and lateral facilities
in Cochise County, Arizona to
accommodate a proposed increase in the
maximum allowable operating pressure
(MAOP) of the Willcox Lateral. The
Commission will use the EA in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the Project is in the public
convenience and necessity.
Since issuance of the Commission’s
initial notice of intent (NOI) for the
Project, EPNG has determined that
additional modifications are necessary
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26539
to operate the Willcox Lateral at the
proposed increase in MAOP and has
identified 21 public road crossings
where replacement with thicker-walled
pipe would be required. In addition,
EPNG would install Over Pressure
Protection (OPP) at the Line 2163/2164
Bifurcation Facility and limit the
downstream facilities to an MAOP of
1219 pounds per square inch gauge.
EPNG states the replacements are
required to comply with the Pipeline
Hazardous Material Safety
Administration design factor
requirements for public road crossings
as codified in 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 192.111(b)(1) and (2).
This Supplemental NOI addresses
these changes and announces the
opening of a 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. Please
note that the scoping period will close
on May 30, 2012.
Further details on how to submit
written comments are in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for the entire Project. The
mailing list includes the affected 28
landowners of the 21 public roads
crossings where replacement with
thicker-walled pipe would be required.
EPNG has notified these landowners
affected by the road crossing
replacements. State and local
government representatives should
notify their constituents of this
proposed Project and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
EPNG 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
The Project involves the modification
of EPNG’s existing pipeline system and
installation of new facilities in Cochise
County, Arizona including:
• A new 400-foot-long, 16-inchdiameter lateral pipeline to connect the
Douglas Meter Station to EPNG’s
existing Line No. 2164;
• Replacement of compressor
modules and station yard piping at the
existing Willcox Compressor Station;
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
26540
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / Notices
• Expansion of the existing Douglas
Meter Station by installing updated flow
control and pressure regulation
equipment;
• Replacement of the existing two
8-inch orifice meters with two 8-inch
ultrasonic meters to increase the
capacity at the El Fresnal Meter Station;
and
• Replacement of existing pipeline at
21 existing public road crossings along
the Project route with thicker-walled
pipe and installation of OPP at the
Bifurcation Facility.
Land Requirements for Construction
Total ground disturbance activities
associated with pipeline replacement at
the 21 public road crossings would
affect approximately 24.51 acres of land
located on private property and lands
administered by the Arizona State Land
Department and the Bureau of Land
Management. EPNG proposes to use the
existing line Nos. 2163 and 2164 50-foot
permanent right-of-way and additional
temporary workspace at each of the
identified road crossing locations.
Pipeline replacement segments would
vary in length from 75 to 175 feet, and
would be installed using traditional
open cut or non-intrusive methods, such
as a bore or pull. All ground
disturbances related to the proposed
construction activities would be
temporary in nature. No new access
roads or expansion of existing roads
would be required for replacement
activities. Figure 1 identifies the
proposed activity locations for all road
crossing sites.
EPNG proposes to utilize the existing
Bifurcation Facility located at milepost
61.4 for staging of construction
equipment, pipe fabrication storage, and
construction work space for the
installation of the OPP equipment.
Approximately 1.1 acres of temporary
workspace/staging is proposed at the
existing location.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD 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. The NEPA also requires us 1
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
important environmental issues. By this
1 ‘‘We’’,
‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of
Energy Projects.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
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;
• Land use and recreation;
• Water resources, fisheries, and
wetlands;
• Cultural resources;
• Vegetation and wildlife;
• 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 (FERC’s records information
system, see the Additional Information
section of this Notice). To ensure we
have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully
follow the instructions in the Public
Participation section. 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. Comments on
the EA will be considered before we
make our recommendations to the
Commission.
With this notice, we are asking
agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
or special expertise with respect the
environmental issues of this project to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA.2 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.
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 the
Arizona State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO), and to solicit their views
and those of other government agencies,
2 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
interested Indian tribes, and the public
on the Project’s potential effects on
historic properties.3 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 on consultations
under section 106.
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 in your comments
so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before May 31,
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 (CP12–6–000) 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 may file your comments
electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. An eComment
is an easy method for interested persons
to submit brief, text-only comments on
a project;
(2) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Web site at
(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
3 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.
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / Notices
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 may 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; Indian 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 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).
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD 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 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 www.ferc.gov using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Click on the eLibrary
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and
enter the docket number, excluding the
last three digits, in the Docket Number
field (i.e., CP12–6). 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 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: April 30, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–10783 Filed 5–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 618–194]
Alabama Power Company; Notice of
Application for Amendment of License
Accepted for Filing and Soliciting
Comments, Motions To Intervene, and
Protests
Take notice that the following
hydroelectric application has been filed
with the Commission and is available
for public inspection.
a. Application Type: Amendment of
License.
b. Project No.: 618–194.
c. Date Filed: April 20, 2012.
d. Applicant: Alabama Power
Company.
e. Name of Project: Jordan
Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: On the Coosa River, in
Elmore, Chilton and Coosa Counties,
Alabama.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r.
h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Barry
Lovett, Alabama Power Company,
Supervisor Hydro Services, P.O. Box
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26541
2641, Birmingham, AL 35291, (205)
257–1268.
i. FERC Contact: Ms. Andrea Claros,
(202) 502–8171, andrea.claros@ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing comments,
motions to intervene, and protests, is
May 11, 2012. All documents may be
filed electronically via the Internet. See,
18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission’s Web
site at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp. If unable to be filed
electronically, documents may be paperfiled. To paper-file, an original and
seven copies should be mailed to:
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. 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.
Please include the project number (P–
618–194) on any comments, motions, or
recommendations filed.
k. Description of Request: Due to
drought conditions in the Coosa River
basin, Alabama Power proposes to
release from Jordan Dam no less than a
continuous flow of 2,000 cubic feet per
second (cfs), beginning immediately
after Commission approval until
December 31, 2012. Under normal
operation Alabama Power is required to
release 2,000 cfs from Jordan Dam July
1 through March 31 and release a
continuous base flow of 4,000 cfs for 18
hours/day and an 8,000 cfs pulse flow
for 6 hours/day from April 1 through
May 31. During the month of June the
base and pulse flows are stepped down
in daily increments to the continuous
flow of 2,000 cfs.
l. Locations of the Application: A
copy of the application is available for
inspection and reproduction at the
Commission’s Public Reference Room,
located at 888 First Street NE., Room
2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling
(202) 502–8371. This filing may also be
viewed on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp. Enter the docket number
excluding the last three digits in the
docket number field to access the
document. 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, call 1–866–208–3676 or
email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for
TTY, call (202) 502–8659. A copy is also
available for inspection and
reproduction at the address in item (h)
above.
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26539-26541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10783]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP12-6-000]
El Paso Natural Gas Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Willcox Lateral
2013 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
As previously noticed on December 2, 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 Willcox Lateral 2013 Expansion
Project (Project) proposed by El Paso Natural Gas Company (EPNG). The
Project involves modification, construction, and operation of certain
meter, compressor, and lateral facilities in Cochise County, Arizona to
accommodate a proposed increase in the maximum allowable operating
pressure (MAOP) of the Willcox Lateral. The Commission will use the EA
in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in
the public convenience and necessity.
Since issuance of the Commission's initial notice of intent (NOI)
for the Project, EPNG has determined that additional modifications are
necessary to operate the Willcox Lateral at the proposed increase in
MAOP and has identified 21 public road crossings where replacement with
thicker-walled pipe would be required. In addition, EPNG would install
Over Pressure Protection (OPP) at the Line 2163/2164 Bifurcation
Facility and limit the downstream facilities to an MAOP of 1219 pounds
per square inch gauge. EPNG states the replacements are required to
comply with the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration
design factor requirements for public road crossings as codified in 49
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 192.111(b)(1) and (2).
This Supplemental NOI addresses these changes and announces the
opening of a 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. Please note that the scoping period will close on May 30, 2012.
Further details on how to submit written comments are in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for the entire Project. The mailing list includes the
affected 28 landowners of the 21 public roads crossings where
replacement with thicker-walled pipe would be required. EPNG has
notified these landowners affected by the road crossing replacements.
State and local government representatives should notify their
constituents of this proposed Project and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
EPNG 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
The Project involves the modification of EPNG's existing pipeline
system and installation of new facilities in Cochise County, Arizona
including:
A new 400-foot-long, 16-inch-diameter lateral pipeline to
connect the Douglas Meter Station to EPNG's existing Line No. 2164;
Replacement of compressor modules and station yard piping
at the existing Willcox Compressor Station;
[[Page 26540]]
Expansion of the existing Douglas Meter Station by
installing updated flow control and pressure regulation equipment;
Replacement of the existing two 8-inch orifice meters with
two 8-inch ultrasonic meters to increase the capacity at the El Fresnal
Meter Station; and
Replacement of existing pipeline at 21 existing public
road crossings along the Project route with thicker-walled pipe and
installation of OPP at the Bifurcation Facility.
Land Requirements for Construction
Total ground disturbance activities associated with pipeline
replacement at the 21 public road crossings would affect approximately
24.51 acres of land located on private property and lands administered
by the Arizona State Land Department and the Bureau of Land Management.
EPNG proposes to use the existing line Nos. 2163 and 2164 50-foot
permanent right-of-way and additional temporary workspace at each of
the identified road crossing locations. Pipeline replacement segments
would vary in length from 75 to 175 feet, and would be installed using
traditional open cut or non-intrusive methods, such as a bore or pull.
All ground disturbances related to the proposed construction activities
would be temporary in nature. No new access roads or expansion of
existing roads would be required for replacement activities. Figure 1
identifies the proposed activity locations for all road crossing sites.
EPNG proposes to utilize the existing Bifurcation Facility located
at milepost 61.4 for staging of construction equipment, pipe
fabrication storage, and construction work space for the installation
of the OPP equipment. Approximately 1.1 acres of temporary workspace/
staging is proposed at the existing location.
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. The NEPA also requires
us \1\ 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 important
environmental issues. By this 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``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 recreation;
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
Cultural resources;
Vegetation and wildlife;
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 (FERC's records
information system, see the Additional Information section of this
Notice). To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and address your
comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public
Participation section. 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. Comments on the EA will be
considered before we make our recommendations to the Commission.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect the environmental issues of this
project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA.\2\
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 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 the Arizona 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.\3\ 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
on consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 in your comments
so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before May 31,
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 (CP12-6-000) 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 may file your comments electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is
an easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at
(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
[[Page 26541]]
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 may 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; Indian 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 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 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 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.,
CP12-6). 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 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: April 30, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-10783 Filed 5-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P