[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12477]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
[Docket No. CP94-224-000]

 

Northern Natural Gas Co.; Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed EF Expansion Project and Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues

May 17, 1994.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss environmental impacts of the construction and operation of 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed in the EF Expansion 
Project.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether an environmental impact statement 
is necessary and whether or not to approve the project.
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    \1\Northern Natural Gas Company's (Northern) application was 
filed with the Commission under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    The applicant proposes to construct and operate the following 
facilities:
    A. Three segments of approximately 11.95 miles of pipeline:
     1.28 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Washington 
County, Minnesota (C-Line Extension);
     2.82 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Steele County, 
Minnesota (D-Line Extension);
     7.85 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline in Morrison County, 
Minnesota (Alexandria Branchline Loop); and
    B. modify nine existing Town Border Stations (TBS) (see appendix 
1).
    The proposed facilities would be used to transport up to 19,288 
Mcfd to Minnegasco, a Division of Arkla, Inc. and Great Plains Natural 
Gas Company.
    The general location of these facilities is shown in appendix 2.\2\
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    \2\Appendices 2 and 3 are not being printed in the Federal 
Register. Copies are available from the Commission's Public 
Reference Branch, room 3104, 941 North Capitol Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. Copies of the 
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The proposed pipeline would be built adjacent and parallel to 
existing rights-of-way. Northern intends to use a 75-foot-wide 
construction right-of-way. About 25 to 35 feet of the planned 75-foot 
width would use existing right-of-way. Consequently, about 35 to 50 
feet of new clearing would be required in most areas. Following 
construction, about 25 feet of the construction right-of-way would be 
allowed to revert to its former land use.
    Additional working space would be required adjacent to the planned 
construction right-of-way at road and stream crossings.

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 
to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. 
We call this ``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 requests public comments on the 
scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received 
are taken into account during the preparation of the EA.
    The EA 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
 water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
 vegetation and wildlife
 endangered and threatened species
 land use
 cultural resources
 hazardous waste

    We will also evaluate possible 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.
    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 
recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Northern. Keep in mind that 
this is a preliminary list. The list of issues will be added to, 
subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. 
Issues are:
     The Alexandria Branchline Loop crosses residential land 
within the Platte River Estate.
     The pipeline would cross 4 perennial streams and 19 
wetlands.
     The project may potentially impact federally listed 
threatened or endangered species.
     The project may cross or be near cultural resources/
archeological sites.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing your 
specific comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on 
the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to 
the proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or 
lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more 
useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure 
that your comments are received and properly recorded:
     Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 
20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP94-224-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Medha Kochhar, EA 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol St., NE., room 7312, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 10, 1994.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. Medha Kochhar at the above address.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceeding or become an 
``intervenor''. Among other things, intervenors have the right to 
receive copies of case-related Commission documents and filings by 
other intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor must provide copies of its 
filings to all other parties. If you want 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) attached 
as appendix 3.
    The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late interventions 
must show good cause, as required by Sec. 385.214(b)(3), why this time 
limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed as 
good cause for late intervention. You do not need intervenor status to 
have your scoping comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Ms. Medha Kochhar, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-2270.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.

                             Appendix 1--Proposed Town Border Station Modifications                             
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           No. and TBS                          County/state                             Facilities             
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1. Clarkfield No. 1..............  Yellow Medicine, MN, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\,    3-inch rotary meter run, modify meter
                                    Sec. 4 T115N R41W.                      piping.                             
2. St. Michael No. 1.............  Wright, MN, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Sec. 8      3-inch rotary meter run, modify meter
                                    T120N R23W.                             piping, remove 1-inch regulators and
                                                                            install 2-inch regulators.          
3. Glenwood No. 1................  Pope, MN, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, Sec. 6 T125N  Remove existing meters, install 3-   
                                    R37W.                                   inch rotary meter run, and one 6-   
                                                                            inch turbine.                       
4. St. Bonifacius No. 1..........  Hennepin, MN, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, Sec. 32   Remove existing meter, install two 3-
                                    T117N R24W.                             inch rotary meters, and modify meter
                                                                            piping.                             
5. Waconia No. 1.................  Carver, MN, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, Sec. 24     Remove existing meter regulator and  
                                    T116N R25W.                             install two 2-inch regulators.      
6. Waconia No. 1B................  Carver, MN, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, Sec. 24     Remove existing meter and install    
                                    T116N R25W.                             diaphragm meter.                    
7. Prior Lake No. 1..............  Scott, MN, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, Sec. 11      Replace existing regulators with two 
                                    T114N R22W.                             1-inch regulators and modify piping 
                                                                            under relief valve.                 
8. Prior Lake No. 1A.............  Scott, MN, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, Sec. 16      Remove existing meters and install   
                                    T114N R22W.                             one 3-inch and one 4-inch regulator.
9. Mound No. 1...................  Hennepin, MN, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, Sec. 22   Replace existing regulator valve     
                                    T117N R24W.                             trim.                               
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[FR Doc. 94-12477 Filed 5-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P