[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