[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16763]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 12, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP93-613-000 and -001; CP93-673-000 and -001]

 

Northwest Pipeline Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northwest Expansion II 
Projects

July 6, 1994.
    On November 10, 1993 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC 
or Commission) issued a Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Northwest Expansion II 
Projects in the above dockets and related projects proposed by Paiute 
Pipeline Company (Paiute) in Docket Nos. CP93-751-000 and CP94-29-000 
(Paiute Expansion II Projects). The purpose of the notice was to 
request comments on environmental issues.
    On June 14 and June 15, 1994 Northwest Pipeline Corporation 
(Northwest) filed amendments to its two original applications that 
represent a change in the scope of the Northwest Expansion II Projects. 
Based on the changes in the amended filings, we have determined that an 
environmental assessment (EA), rather than an EIS is the more 
appropriate document for analyzing the potential environmental impacts 
associated with Northwest's projects. The cooperating Federal agencies 
agree with this strategy. From the standpoint of the environmental 
analysis the important changes are:
     The deletion of 8 pipeline loops from the projects, which 
reduces the total miles of pipeline construction from 177.2 miles to 
54.9 miles;
     The deletion of 11 compressor station modifications, which 
reduces the required compression from 88,235 horsepower (hp) to 14,820 
hp;
     The addition of 5.8 miles of 20-inch-diameter loop in 
Marion County, Oregon (the Salem Loop) and 1,070 hp at the existing 
Pegram Compressor Station in Bear Lake County, Idaho that were not part 
of the original proposals;
     The deletion of 26 of the 37 originally proposed meter 
station modifications;
     The change in pipeline routing of both the Gresham Loop 
and Weyerhaeuser Lateral; and
     The termination of service agreements by all shippers that 
had proposed to have Northwest deliver gas to Paiute for ultimate 
delivery to customers in Nevada.
    The list of facilities proposed in the amended filings are in 
appendix 1 and maps showing the location of the Salem Loop, the Pegram 
Compressor Station, and the amended routing for the Gresham Loop and 
Weyerhaeuser Lateral are attached as appendix 2.1
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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, 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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    For the purposes of the environmental analysis Northwest's two 
applications will be considered together because the construction of 
the Gresham Loop is common to both applications.2 The facilities 
proposed in Docket No. CP93-613-001 include the increase in compression 
at the Washougal Compressor Station; the construction of the Gresham 
Loop, 1.3 miles of the Salem Loop (milepost 64.1 to 65.3), and the 
Johnson Creek Meter Station; and the upgrading of six existing meter 
stations. The remaining facilities are part of Docket No. CP93-673-000.
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    \2\The length and location of the Gresham Loop is the same in 
both applications; however, in Docket No. CP93-613-001 Northwest 
proposes using 20-inch-diameter pipeline, while Docket No. CP93-673-
00 proposes using 30-inch-diameter pipeline.
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    The termination of all contracts that called for Northwest to 
deliver gas to Paiute effectively severs the connection between 
Northwest's and Paiute's proposals; therefore, only Northwest's 
proposed facilities will be included in the EA.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from a major Federal action whenever it considers the issuance 
of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Our EA will give 
the Commission the information it needs to do that. If the EA concludes 
that the projects would result in significant environmental impacts, we 
will prepare an environmental impact statement. Otherwise we will 
prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact.
    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, and to separate these from issues that are 
insignificant and do not require detailed study. Local scoping meetings 
have already been held for the original projects. Additional scoping 
meetings are not planned. We are asking for comments only on those 
portions of the projects where the routing has been changed or the 
facilities were not part of the original proposal.
    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed projects under these general 
subject headings:
     Geology and paleontology
     Endangered and threatened species
     Visual resources
     Water resources
     Vegetation
     Land use
     Air quality and noise
     Wetland and riparian habitat
     Cultural resources
     Fish and wildlife
     Socioeconomics
     Soils
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the projects, or 
portions of the projects, and make recommendations on how to lessen or 
avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will result in the 
publication of the EA which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected 
landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official 
service list for these proceedings.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by sending a letter with your specific 
comments or concerns about the projects. You should focus on the 
potential environmental effects of the new portions of the proposal. 
You do not need to re-submit comments if you have already done so. We 
are particularly interested in alternatives to the proposals (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 Nos. CP93-613-001 and/or CP93-673-001;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol St., NE., Room 7312, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so they will be received in Washington, 
DC, on or before August 11, 1994.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceedings or 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) which is attached as appendix 
3. You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping comments 
considered.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you don't want to send comments at this time but still want to 
receive a copy of the EA, please return the Information Request (see 
appendix 4). If you have previously returned the Information Request 
you don't need to do so again.
    Additional information about the proposed projects is available 
from Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0325.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-16763 Filed 7-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P