[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47937-47938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22477]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP09-68-000]
Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Availability of the
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed TEMAX and TIME III Projects
September 11, 2009.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Texas Eastern Transmission,
LP (Texas Eastern) in the above-referenced docket.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources participated as
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EA. Cooperating agencies
have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources
potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA
analysis. The projects would require a permit from the USACE pursuant
to section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 United States Code 1344).
The EA assesses the potential environmental affects resulting from
two distinct projects known as the Texas Eastern Market Area Crossing
(TEMAX) and Texas Eastern Incremental Market Area Expansion III (TIME
III) Projects, in accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that
approval of the proposed projects, with appropriate mitigating
measures, would not constitute a major Federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment.
These projects consist of replacement of 25.9 miles of various
diameter pipeline, construction of 9.6 miles of loop,\1\ use of 0.8
mile of existing pipeline, and construction of 26.5 miles of new
pipeline lateral. In addition, Texas Eastern requests authorization to
add 85,633 horsepower (hp) of compression at four existing compressor
stations and abandon 9,500 hp of compression at one compressor station,
resulting in a net increase of 76,133 hp of compression for the
projects. Texas Eastern also requests authorization to uprate the
maximum allowable operating pressure of its existing Lines 1 and 2 from
1,000 to 1,112 pounds per square inch gauge for 268 miles between its
Uniontown and Marietta Compressor Stations. The proposed facilities are
located in Greene, Bedford, Franklin, Adams, Lancaster and York
Counties, Pennsylvania.
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\1\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe installed adjacent
and parallel to an existing pipeline system that is connected to the
system at both ends. A loop allows more gas to be moved through that
portion of the pipeline system or functions as a backup system.
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The TEMAX Project would provide additional natural gas
transportation capacity of 395,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) from a
receipt point with the Rockies Express Pipeline LLC in Clarington,
Ohio, to an interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company,
LLC (Transco) in York County, Pennsylvania. The TIME III Project, would
provide additional transportation capacity of 60,000 Dth/d from a
receipt point in Oakford, Pennsylvania to the same interconnect with
Transco.
The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-
8371.
Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local
agencies; interested groups and individuals; local newspapers and
libraries in the project areas; Native American groups; and parties to
this proceeding.
Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is
important that we receive your comments before the date specified
below.
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the TEMAX and TIME III Projects. 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 October 13, 2009.
For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project's docket number CP09-68-000 with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258
or [email protected].
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site
at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit 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 Internet Web site at
http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users
must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or
``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are
making. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on
a Filing;'' or
(3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by
sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
If you choose the option to mail your comments, label one copy of
the comments for the attention of the Gas Branch 1, PJ-11.1.
Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).\2\ Only intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission's decisions.
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\2\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion of filing
comments electronically.
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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
[[Page 47938]]
which would not be adequately represented by any other parties. You do
not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
Additional information about the projects is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link.
Click on the eLibrary link, then on ``General Search'' and enter the
docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number
field (i.e., CP09-68). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date
range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
[email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site
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
notifications of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-22477 Filed 9-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P