Federal Register: June 2, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 106)
DOCID: FR Doc E6-8595
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Docket ID: [Docket No. CP06-115-000]
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; notice of intent:
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Texas Eastern Incremental Market Expansion II Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
May 26, 2006.
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 Texas Eastern Incremental Market Expansion (TIME) II Project involving construction, replacement, and operation of facilities by Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in Pickaway and Monroe Counties, Ohio and Somerset, Bedford, Franklin, Bucks, Fayette, and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. The TIME II Project would provide additional natural gas pipeline capacity to the New Jersey market area, alleviating the constraints currently experienced as a result of increasing market demand. The TIME II Project would provide up to 150,000 dekatherms per day (dth/d) of transportation capacity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Please note that the scoping period will close on June 30, 2006.
This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners; Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings 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 Internet Web site (http://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 Proposed Project \1\
In 2007, Texas Eastern proposes to:
\1\ Texas Eastern's application was filed with the Commission
under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's regulations.
[[Page 32074]]
trench, with a 36inchdiameter pipeline in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Eagle Discharge);
In 2008, Texas Eastern proposes to:
\2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it on both ends. The loop allows more gas to be moved through the pipeline system.
The general location of Texas Eastern's proposed facilities is shown on the map attached as Appendix 1.\3\
\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than Appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
5028371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of Texas Eastern's proposed pipeline facilities would require about 571.6 acres of land, including construction rightsofway for the loop and replacements, additional temporary workspaces, access roads, staging areas, and pipeyards/wareyards. Following construction, about 319.9 acres would be maintained as permanent rightsofway. The remaining 251.7 acres would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use.
Construction at the existing Uniontown Compressor Station would require disturbance of about 0.5 acre within the existing compressor station site and would not require the clearing of additional land.
Construction of the Heidlersburg Compressor Station would require about 6.3 acres of land. Following construction, about 6.2 acres would be maintained as a new aboveground facility site.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\4\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping''. The main goal of
the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important
environmental issues. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the
EA. All comments received are considered during the preparation of the
EA. By this notice, we are also asking Federal, state, and local
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation
of the EA. Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments below.
\4\ ''We'', ``us'', and ``our'', refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
In the EA, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the project. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project.
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities,
environmental information provided by Texas Eastern, and comments
gathered from concerned citizens at Texas Eastern's open houses. This
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded:
Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``eFiling'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account which can be created online.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding, or ``intervenor''. To
become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene according to
Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.214). Intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should send an original and 14 copies
of their motion to the Secretary of the Commission at the address indicated
[[Page 32075]]
previously. Persons filing Motions to Intervene on or before the
comment deadline indicated above must send a copy of the motion to the
Applicant. All filings, including late interventions, submitted after
the comment deadline must be served on the Applicant and all other
intervenors identified on the Commission's service list for this
proceeding. Persons on the service list with email addresses may be
served electronically; others must be served a hard copy of the filing.
Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor status to have your environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are potential rightofway grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities. Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1866208FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (http://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. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 18662083676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 5028659. 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 http://www.ferc.gov/ esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/ EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E68595 Filed 6106; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 671701P
SUMMARY:
Texas Eastern Transmission, LP,
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
May 26, 2006.
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 Texas Eastern Incremental Market Expansion (TIME) II Project involving construction, replacement, and operation of facilities by Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in Pickaway and Monroe Counties, Ohio and Somerset, Bedford, Franklin, Bucks, Fayette, and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. The TIME II Project would provide additional natural gas pipeline capacity to the New Jersey market area, alleviating the constraints currently experienced as a result of increasing market demand. The TIME II Project would provide up to 150,000 dekatherms per day (dth/d) of transportation capacity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Please note that the scoping period will close on June 30, 2006.
This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners; Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings 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 Internet Web site (http://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 Proposed Project \1\
In 2007, Texas Eastern proposes to:
\1\ Texas Eastern's application was filed with the Commission
under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's regulations.
[[Page 32074]]
trench, with a 36inchdiameter pipeline in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Eagle Discharge);
In 2008, Texas Eastern proposes to:
\2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it on both ends. The loop allows more gas to be moved through the pipeline system.
The general location of Texas Eastern's proposed facilities is shown on the map attached as Appendix 1.\3\
\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than Appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
5028371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of Texas Eastern's proposed pipeline facilities would require about 571.6 acres of land, including construction rightsofway for the loop and replacements, additional temporary workspaces, access roads, staging areas, and pipeyards/wareyards. Following construction, about 319.9 acres would be maintained as permanent rightsofway. The remaining 251.7 acres would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use.
Construction at the existing Uniontown Compressor Station would require disturbance of about 0.5 acre within the existing compressor station site and would not require the clearing of additional land.
Construction of the Heidlersburg Compressor Station would require about 6.3 acres of land. Following construction, about 6.2 acres would be maintained as a new aboveground facility site.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\4\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping''. The main goal of
the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important
environmental issues. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the
EA. All comments received are considered during the preparation of the
EA. By this notice, we are also asking Federal, state, and local
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation
of the EA. Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments below.
\4\ ''We'', ``us'', and ``our'', refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
In the EA, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the project. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project.
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities,
environmental information provided by Texas Eastern, and comments
gathered from concerned citizens at Texas Eastern's open houses. This
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded:
Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``eFiling'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account which can be created online.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding, or ``intervenor''. To
become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene according to
Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
385.214). Intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should send an original and 14 copies
of their motion to the Secretary of the Commission at the address indicated
[[Page 32075]]
previously. Persons filing Motions to Intervene on or before the
comment deadline indicated above must send a copy of the motion to the
Applicant. All filings, including late interventions, submitted after
the comment deadline must be served on the Applicant and all other
intervenors identified on the Commission's service list for this
proceeding. Persons on the service list with email addresses may be
served electronically; others must be served a hard copy of the filing.
Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor status to have your environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are potential rightofway grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities. Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1866208FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (http://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. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 18662083676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 5028659. 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 http://www.ferc.gov/ esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/ EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E68595 Filed 6106; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 671701P