[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 110 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13976]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 9, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-267-000]

 

Arkla Energy Resources Co.; Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Line F Replacement Project and Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues

June 3, 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 
facilities proposed in the Line F Replacement 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\Arkla Energy Resources Company's application was filed with 
the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 
of the Commission's regulations.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Arkla Energy Resources Company (AER) wants Commission authorization 
to replace and rearrange an existing mainline pipeline, abandon gas 
storage and supply pipelines, and make mainline enhancements to its 
pipeline system in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.\2\ These actions 
would improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of AER's pipeline 
system. Specifically, AER wants authorization for the following:
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    \2\In Docket No. CP94-541-000 filed on May 11, 1994, AER 
officially changed its name to NorAm Gas Transmission Company.
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     Abandon about 87 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline on 
Line F in Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, and 
Ouachita Parishes, Louisiana and replace it with about 91 miles of 20-
inch-diameter pipeline in eight segments ranging from 0.8 mile to 36.4 
miles in length.
     Reroute a portion of Line F included in the above 91 miles 
of replacement pipe. About 5 miles of pipe would be replaced with about 
5.5 miles of pipe to reroute and connect Line F directly to the Ruston 
Compressor Station in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
      Abandon Line 1-F, a 0.8-mile-long 20-inch-diameter 
storage line no longer needed after reroute of Line F.
     Abandon Line FT-5, a 0.9-mile-long 10-inch-diameter gas 
supply line, no longer needed after the reroute of Line F.
     Reclassify about 8.2 miles of Line F as a low pressure gas 
supply line and operate it as part of Line F-1-F in Caddo Parish, 
Louisiana.
     Abandon about 0.4 mile of Line S in Harrison County, 
Texas.
     Abandon 66 delivery taps installed to deliver gas to rural 
customers served by Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company.
     Construct about 2.2 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline 
(Line ACT-4) in Hot Springs County, Arkansas.
     Install two 2,250-horsepower slow speed reciprocal 
compressor units at the existing Ruston Compressor Station.
     Uprate the maximum allowable operating pressure on AER's 
Line S from 880 pounds per square inch (psi) to 930 psi.
    Some portions of the pipeline to be abandoned would be removed, 
others would be left in place. The general location of the project 
facilities is shown in appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\The appendices referenced in this notice 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 majority of the proposed pipeline would be built adjacent and 
parallel to existing rights-of-way. AER intends to use a 60-foot-wide 
construction right-of-way. About 15 feet of the planned 60-foot width 
would use existing right-of-way. Consequently, about 45 feet of new 
clearing would be required in most areas. Following construction, about 
20 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
     Air quality and noise
     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 AER. Keep in mind that this 
is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, subtracted 
from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. Issues are:
     Line F would cross 85 waterbodies, 6 of which are greater 
than 100 feet wide. These six waterbodies greater than 100 feet in 
width would be crossed by directional drilling.
     Line F would cross 39 wetlands, 9 of which are greater 
than 500 feet wide at the crossing location. Line ACT-4 would cross one 
wetland.
     Line F would disturb approximately 21 acres of forested 
wetland which may require active restoration and compensation.
     Eight residences are near Line F's right-of-way.
     Line F would cross two waterbodies classified as Louisiana 
Scenic Rivers. These waterbodies are both greater than 100 feet in 
width and are part of the six waterbodies mentioned above that would be 
directionally drilled.
     Line F would cross about 2.3 miles of the D'Arbonne 
National Wildlife Refuge in Union Parish, Louisiana.
     Noise from the proposed Ruston Mainline Compressor Station 
may be above the acceptable limits.

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. CP94-267-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, 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 July 6, 1994.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. O'Donnell 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 2.
    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. Lauren O'Donnell, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0325.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-13976 Filed 6-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P