[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18085]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 26, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-282-000]
Northwest Pipeline Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northwest Hood River Pipeline
Loop and Extension and Site Visit
July 20, 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 Northwest Hood River Pipeline Loop and
Extension.1 This EA will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine whether or not to approve the
project.
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\1\Northwest Pipeline Corporation's application was filed with
the Commission pursuant to section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part
157 of the Commission's regulations.
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On August 2, 1994, OPR staff will conduct a site visit with
representatives of Northwest for the facilities proposed in Klickitat
County, Washington. Parties to the proceeding may attend. Those
planning to attend must provide their own transportation.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Northwest Pipeline Corporation wants Commission authorization to
construct and operate about 5.3 miles of 6-inch-diameter pipeline to
partially loop and extend its existing Hood River Lateral in Klickitat
County, Washington, and to construct a new delivery meter station, the
KEP Meter Station. The proposed facilities will be used to provide
about 11,000 million British thermal units per day of natural gas to
the planned Klickitat Energy Partners cogeneration facility in
Klickitat County, Washington.
The Klickitat Energy Partners will build a pipeline to connect the
cogeneration facility to the KEP Meter Station. The Department of
Energy is preparing an environmental assessment for the cogeneration
facility.
The general location of these facilities is shown in appendix
1.2
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\2\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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Land Requirements for Construction
Northwest proposes to use a 75-foot-wide construction right-of-way
along the looped portions of the pipeline and a 60-foot-wide
construction right-of-way along the pipeline extension. Through
residential and commercial areas, the width of the right-of-way would
be reduced to minimize disturbance to residences and commercial
buildings. Construction in residential streets would be confined to the
existing road pavements.
Eleven work areas outside the construction right-of-way would be
required at road and railway crossings that are proposed to be bored,
at the beginning and end of the pipeline loop and extension, and at the
top of the steep slope located about 600 feet north and uphill of the
White Salmon Meter Station. Each of these extra work areas would occupy
an additional 0.1 to 0.25 acre of land. A 0.1 acre pipe storage area
and contractor yard would be located on the SDS Lumber Company
property. Access to the pipeline during construction would be along
existing public and private roads and the existing pipeline right-of-
way.
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.
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 soils
endangered and threatened species
vegetation and wildlife
land use
air quality and noise
water resources, fisheries and wetlands
cultural resources
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.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by sending a letter with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. 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., N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP94-282-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Robert Kopka, Project
Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St.,
N.E., Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
Mail your comments so they will be received in Washington
D.C. on or before August 9, 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
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 information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. Robert Kopka, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0282.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-18085 Filed 7-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P