Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Southeast Market Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings, 70429-70431 [2012-28541]

Download as PDF 70429 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 227 / Monday, November 26, 2012 / Notices affected by the project. The Commission also determines whether or not the project: (1) Would be located on a navigable waterway; (2) would occupy or affect public lands or reservations of the United States; (3) would utilize surplus water or water power from a government dam; or (4) if applicable, has involved or would involve any construction subsequent to 1935 that may have increased or would increase the project’s head or generating capacity, or have otherwise significantly modified the project’s pre-1935 design or operation. l. Locations of the Application: Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and are available for public inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the Docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. 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. m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission’s mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission. n. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene—Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission’s Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application. o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents — All filings must bear in all capital letters the title ‘‘COMMENTS’’, ‘‘PROTESTS’’, AND/OR ‘‘MOTIONS TO INTERVENE’’, as applicable, and the Docket Number of the particular application to which the filing refers. A copy of any Motion to Intervene must also be served upon each representative of the Applicant specified in the particular application. p. Agency Comments—Federal, state, and local agencies are invited to file comments on the described application. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:24 Nov 23, 2012 Jkt 229001 A copy of the application may be obtained by agencies directly from the Applicant. If an agency does not file comments within the time specified for filing comments, it will be presumed to have no comments. One copy of an agency’s comments must also be sent to the Applicant’s representatives. Dated: November 16, 2012. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–28470 Filed 11–23–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF12–21–000] Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Southeast Market Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings 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 Southeast Market Expansion Project (SEME Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) in Jasper, Forrest, Perry, Greene, George, and Jackson Counties, Mississippi and Mobile County, Alabama. 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. Please note that the scoping period will close on December 19, 2012. You may submit comments in written form or verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are 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 meetings scheduled as follows: Date and time December 4, 2012, 7:00 PM EST. PO 00000 Frm 00018 Location New Augusta Elementary School, 100 8th Avenue S, New Augusta, MS, (601) 964–3226. Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Date and time December 5, 2012, 7:00 PM EST. December 6, 2012, 7:00 PM EST. Location Oak Park Elementary School, 1205 Queensburg Avenue, Laurel, MS, (601) 428–5046. George County Middle School, 330 Church Street, Lucedale, MS, (601) 947–3106. 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 planned 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 planned 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. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’ is available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). 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. Summary of the Planned Project Gulf South plans to construct and operate approximately 70 miles of new 30-inch-diameter and 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and 3 new compressor stations in Mississippi and Alabama. The SEME Project would provide about 450 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day to the Florida and Southeast markets via an interconnect with Florida Gas Transmission Company and a new high pressure interconnect with Gulf South’s existing Index 311 pipeline. According to Gulf South, the project is necessary to provide new natural gas transportation capacity to meet an increased level of gas supplies in the region. The SEME Project would consist of the following: • Construction of 70 miles of new 30inch-diameter and 24-inch-diameter pipeline (approximately 42.2 miles and E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1 70430 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 227 / Monday, November 26, 2012 / Notices 27.8 miles, respectively), which would begin near the southern terminus of Petal Gas Storage, L.L.C.’s transmission facilities in Forrest County, Mississippi and end at Gulf South’s existing Index 311 pipeline tie-in, approximately 4.5 miles west of Semmes, Alabama; • Installation of ancillary facilities associated with the new pipeline including one meter and regulating station, five mainline valves, two pig 1 launchers, two pig receivers, and overpressure protection devices; and • Installation of three new compressor stations, including: D The Forrest Compressor Station, which would be located in Forrest County, Mississippi at the beginning of the proposed 70-mile pipeline and would provide 16,000 nominal horsepower (hp) of compression; D The Jasper Compressor Station, which would be located on Gulf South’s existing Index 818 pipeline in Jasper County, Mississippi and would provide 13,222 nominal hp of compression; and D The Moss Point Compressor Station, which would be located at the intersection of Gulf South’s existing Index 300 pipeline and the Pascagoula Lateral in Jackson County, Mississippi and would provide 2,000 nominal hp of compression. The general location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.2 Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 1,133 acres of land for the aboveground facilities, pipeline, and access roads. Following construction, Gulf South would maintain about 453 acres for permanent operation of the project’s facilities; the remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 80 percent of the planned pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way. The EA Process mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and 1 A ‘‘pig’’ is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes. 2 The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:24 Nov 23, 2012 Jkt 229001 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. 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 planned project under these general headings: • Geology and soils; • Land use; • Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands; • Cultural resources; • Vegetation and wildlife; • Air quality and noise; • Endangered and threatened species; • Socioeconomics; • Public safety; and • Cumulative impacts. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Although no formal application has been filed, we have already initiated our NEPA review under the Commission’s pre-filing process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA. 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 we make 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 below. With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/ or special expertise with respect to the 3 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 environmental issues related to 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. Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation with applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), 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 SHPOs 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. 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 December 19, 2012. For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the project docket number (PF12–21–000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of 4 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, § 1501.6. 5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 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\26NON1.SGM 26NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 227 / Monday, November 26, 2012 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 located 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 located 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 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, 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 planned 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 Once Gulf South files its application with the Commission, you may want to VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:24 Nov 23, 2012 Jkt 229001 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. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application for the project. 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 (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., PF12– 21). 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 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. Information about the project may also be found on Gulf South’s Web site at https://www.gulfsouthpl.com/ ExpansionProjectsGS.aspx. Dated: November 19, 2012. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–28541 Filed 11–23–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70431 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. EL13–21–000] California Independent System Operator Corporation; Notice Establishing Answer Period to Limited Emergency Protest On November 16, 2012, JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corp. (JPMVEC) filed a Limited Emergency Protest (Protest) regarding the comment period for the California Independent System Operator Corporation’s (CAISO) petition for declaratory order and request for expedited treatment filed on November 16, 2012. (See Notice of Petition for Declaratory Order, November 16, 2012) Upon consideration, notice is hereby given that the date for filing answers to JPMVEC’s Protest is shortened to and including November 20, 2012. Dated: November 19, 2012. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–28549 Filed 11–23–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PR13–10–000] Moss Bluff Hub, LLC; Notice of Filing Take notice that on November 15, 2012, Moss Bluff Hub, LLC, (Moss Bluff) filed to revise its Statement of Operating Conditions (SOC) to reflect, among other things modifications to Section 3 (Request for Storage Service), as more fully described in the filing. Any person desiring to participate in this rate filing 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). 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. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, motions, or protests must be filed on or before the date as indicated below. Anyone filing an intervention or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. Anyone filing an intervention or protest on or before the intervention or protest date need not serve motions to intervene or protests on persons other than the Applicant. E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70429-70431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28541]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF12-21-000]


Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned Southeast Market Expansion 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meetings

    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 Southeast Market Expansion 
Project (SEME Project) involving construction and operation of 
facilities by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (Gulf South) in Jasper, 
Forrest, Perry, Greene, George, and Jackson Counties, Mississippi and 
Mobile County, Alabama. 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. Please note that 
the scoping period will close on December 19, 2012.
    You may submit comments in written form or verbally. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are 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 meetings scheduled as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date and time                           Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 4, 2012, 7:00 PM EST..........  New Augusta Elementary School,
                                          100 8th Avenue S, New Augusta,
                                          MS, (601) 964-3226.
December 5, 2012, 7:00 PM EST..........  Oak Park Elementary School,
                                          1205 Queensburg Avenue,
                                          Laurel, MS, (601) 428-5046.
December 6, 2012, 7:00 PM EST..........  George County Middle School,
                                          330 Church Street, Lucedale,
                                          MS, (601) 947-3106.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 planned 
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 planned 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.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). 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.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Gulf South plans to construct and operate approximately 70 miles of 
new 30-inch-diameter and 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline and 3 
new compressor stations in Mississippi and Alabama. The SEME Project 
would provide about 450 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per 
day to the Florida and Southeast markets via an interconnect with 
Florida Gas Transmission Company and a new high pressure interconnect 
with Gulf South's existing Index 311 pipeline. According to Gulf South, 
the project is necessary to provide new natural gas transportation 
capacity to meet an increased level of gas supplies in the region.
    The SEME Project would consist of the following:
     Construction of 70 miles of new 30-inch-diameter and 24-
inch-diameter pipeline (approximately 42.2 miles and

[[Page 70430]]

27.8 miles, respectively), which would begin near the southern terminus 
of Petal Gas Storage, L.L.C.'s transmission facilities in Forrest 
County, Mississippi and end at Gulf South's existing Index 311 pipeline 
tie-in, approximately 4.5 miles west of Semmes, Alabama;
     Installation of ancillary facilities associated with the 
new pipeline including one meter and regulating station, five mainline 
valves, two pig \1\ launchers, two pig receivers, and overpressure 
protection devices; and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Installation of three new compressor stations, including:
    [ssquf] The Forrest Compressor Station, which would be located in 
Forrest County, Mississippi at the beginning of the proposed 70-mile 
pipeline and would provide 16,000 nominal horsepower (hp) of 
compression;
    [ssquf] The Jasper Compressor Station, which would be located on 
Gulf South's existing Index 818 pipeline in Jasper County, Mississippi 
and would provide 13,222 nominal hp of compression; and
    [ssquf] The Moss Point Compressor Station, which would be located 
at the intersection of Gulf South's existing Index 300 pipeline and the 
Pascagoula Lateral in Jackson County, Mississippi and would provide 
2,000 nominal hp of compression.
    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 the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
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 planned facilities would disturb about 1,133 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities, pipeline, and access 
roads. Following construction, Gulf South would maintain about 453 
acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the 
remaining acreage would be restored and revert to former uses. About 80 
percent of the planned 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. 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 planned project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     Land use;
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     Cultural resources;
     Vegetation and wildlife;
     Air quality and noise;
     Endangered and threatened species;
     Socioeconomics;
     Public safety; and
     Cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before 
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we 
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their 
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
    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 we make 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 below.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues 
related to 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 Offices (SHPOs), 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 SHPOs 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 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 your comments so 
that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 
December 19, 2012.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
project docket number (PF12-21-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of

[[Page 70431]]

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 located 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 located 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
    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, 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 
planned 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

    Once Gulf South files its application with the Commission, 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. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for 
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission 
receives a formal application for the project.

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 (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., PF12-
21). 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 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. Information about 
the project may also be found on Gulf South's Web site at https://www.gulfsouthpl.com/ExpansionProjectsGS.aspx.

    Dated: November 19, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-28541 Filed 11-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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