[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 146 (Monday, August 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18639]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 1, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP94-641-000]
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 1994 Line A-5 Replacement
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
July 26, 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
associated with the replacement of facilities proposed in the 1994 Line
A-5.1 This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether an environmental impact statement
is required and whether or not to approve the project.
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\1\Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation's application was filed
with the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) wants Commission
authorization to:
replace 4.8 miles of 12-inch-diameter Line A-5 pipeline in
Broome County, New York;
replace 0.1 mile of Line A-5 across Owego Creek, in Tioga
County, New York, and Nanticoke Creek and an unnamed tributary to
Crocker Creek in Broome County, New York because the pipeline is
exposed; and
hydrostatically test 0.60 mile of existing Line A-5 under
Interstate 81, the Chenango River, Chenango Street, and State Route 7
in Broome County, New York; and
replace two existing above ground valves and one below
ground valve at milepost 2.48.
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
The proposed replacement pipeline would be built within or adjacent
to existing pipeline right-of-way. For a portion of the project the
pipeline would be offset between 10 to 50 feet and would be in the same
location as the original pipeline for the remainder of the project.
Typically, Columbia would use a 50-foot-wide construction right-of-way,
part of which would overlap existing right-of-way, and it would use a
50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way. Columbia would require some
temporary right-of-way clearing in certain areas.
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 Columbia. 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 own
analysis. Issues are:
The replacement pipeline would cross within 50 feet of 12
residences and 2 businesses.
The pipeline would cross six perennial streams and nine
wetlands.
The pipeline may cross or be near archeological sites.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by sending a letter with 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 Street NE., Washington,
D.C. 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP94-641-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. John Wisniewski, EA
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North
Capitol Street., NE. Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, D.C. on or before August 10, 1994.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one
from Mr. Wisniewski 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. You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping
comments considered.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. John Wisniewski, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1073.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-18639 Filed 7-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P