[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16147]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-161-000]

 

Avoca Natural Gas Storage; Facility Design Changes for the 
Proposed Avoca Gas Storage Field Project and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues

June 27, 1994.
    On June 3 and 17, 1994, Avoca Natural Gas Storage (Avoca) filed an 
updated description of its proposed Avoca Gas Storage Field Project, in 
Docket No. CP94-161-000. Avoca's filing contained significant design 
changes in the proposed storage field project. This notice updates the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC or Commission) ``Notice of 
Intent To Prepare An Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Avoca 
Gas Storage Field Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues'' (NOI) issued February 1, 1994.

Summary of the Proposed Changes in Facility Design

    Avoca proposes the following changes in the Avoca Gas Storage Field 
Project:
     new locations for the brine disposal wells, brine disposal 
pipeline, water source pipeline, and the solution-mined cavern wells;
     a change in the design of the cavern system--instead of 
developing 10 individual caverns, Avoca would solution-mine 5 caverns 
using 10 wells (2 wells per cavern); and
     Avoca proposes to increase its solution-mining rate by 
withdrawing up to 3 million gallons of water per day (2,000 gallons per 
minute), rather than limiting its withdrawal to 2 million gallons of 
water per day. The total leaching period for all five caverns is 
approximately 3 years.
    Avoca has moved several of its proposed facilities. The new 
proposed location of these facilities is shown in appendix 1.1 
Avoca states that the proposed changes in facility locations are a 
result of negotiations with local landowners.
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    \1\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, N.E., Washington, D.C. 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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    Avoca proposes the change in cavern design and the increase in 
leaching rate to reduce the time required to solution-mine the proposed 
caverns. Avoca states that it has obligations to have certain 
facilities in service for the 1996 winter heating season. Avoca 
believes that reducing the time required to solution-mine its caverns 
will allow it to place some of the proposed facilities in service for 
the 1996 winter heating season.

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.

Additional Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several environmental issues that we 
think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed 
facilities and the information provided by Avoca. These were listed in 
the Commission's February 1, 1994 NOI.
    As a result of Avoca's modified proposal, the following additional 
environmental issues will be addressed:
     Avoca proposes to use up to 3,000,000 gallons of water per 
day for the solution-mining process. This may have an impact on 
groundwater availability. Testing of wells in the local aquifers 
indicates that the water supply recharges up to 14,600,000 gallons of 
water per day.
     Avoca's brine disposal pipelines would cross five 
wetlands.
     Moving the facilities to the new locations may have an 
impact on cultural resources.

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. CP94-161-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Steven G. Grape, EA 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol St., NE. Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before July 14, 1994.

If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from 
Mr. Grape 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 section 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 Questions?

    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Mr. Steven G. Grape, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1046.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-16147 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P