[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26493]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket CP94-682-000]

 

Southern Natural Gas Co.; Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Southern Natural Gas Company's 
Proposed Cleveland Branch Pipeline Project and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues

October 20, 1994.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss environmental impacts of the construction and operation of 
facilities proposed in the Cleveland Branch Pipeline Project. This EA 
will be used by the Commission in its decisionmaking process (whether 
or not to approve the individual projects).\1\
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    \1\Southern Natural Gas Company'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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Summary of the Proposed Facilities

    Southern Natural Gas Company (Southern) proposes to construct:
     About 20.2 miles of 12-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline 
in Catoosa and Whitfield Counties, Georgia and Hamilton and Bradley 
Counties, Tennessee. This proposed pipeline, referred to as the 
``Cleveland Branch Line'' would extend from milepost (MP) 101.44 on 
Southern's existing 12-inch Chattanooga Branch Line in Catoosa County, 
Georgia, to a proposed interconnection owned by East Tennessee Natural 
Gas Company (East Tennessee) in Bradley County, Tennessee; and
     One new meter station in Bradley County. The proposed 
meter station would consist of two 6-inch meter runs, pressure 
regulators, flow control valves, about 125 feet of miscellaneous buried 
piping, and an 8-foot by 10-foot instrumentation building. This 
facility would be located adjacent to East Tennessee's existing 
mainline system and would require a site of about 150 feet by 150 feet 
for construction and operation.
    Southern indicates that the proposed pipeline facilities would 
deliver a total firm transportation service of about 11,350 thousand 
cubic feet (Mcf) per day to its customer group, which is comprised of 
various gas distributors and municipalities served exclusively on a 
firm basis by East Tennessee.
    The general location of the project 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 Room, 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

    Southern proposes to use a 75-foot-wide right-of-way for 
construction. Following construction, a 50-foot-wide easement would be 
permanently maintained; the remaining 25 feet would be restored and 
revert back to prior use. About 200.4 acres would be affected by 
construction.
    Additional working space would be required adjacent to the planned 
construction right-of-way at areas of steep side slopes, bored road 
crossings, stream crossings and in most areas where topsoil would be 
segregated (agricultural and residential areas). No new access roads 
would be required.

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.
     Air quality and noise.
     Safety.
    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 Southern. Keep in mind that 
this is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, 
subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. 
Issues are:
     The proposed project would cross 37 waterbodies, three of 
which are perennial. The perennial waterbodies are Little Tiger Creek, 
Tiger Creek and Sugar Creek, all located in Catoosa County, Georgia.
     Some of these waterbodies support valuable riparian 
vegetation, which helps stabilize soil to prevent erosion and provides 
pristine habitat for wildlife. Some creeks may also support fishery 
resources.
     About 79 acres of upland forest would be disturbed.
     About 6 acres of residential land would be affected by 
construction; one residence is located within 50 feet of the proposed 
construction right-of-way.

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., N.E., Washington, 
D.C. 20416;
     Reference Docket No. CP94-682-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Alisa Lykens, EA 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol St., N.E. Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before November 23, 1994.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. Lykens 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 information about the proposed project is available from 
Ms. Alisa Lykens, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0766.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-26493 Filed 10-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M