[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29839-29840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13728]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP95-341-000]


Texas Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Herbert-Cannelton Looping 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

May 31, 1995.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of 
the facility proposed in the Herbert-Cannelton Looping Project.\1\ This 
EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to 
determine whether an environmental impact statement is necessary and 
whether to approve the project.

    \1\ Texas Gas Transmission Corporation's application was filed 
with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 
157 of the Commission's regulations.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Texas Gas Transmission Corporation (Texas Gas) wants to expand the 
capacity of its facilities in Ohio and Hancock Counties, Kentucky to 
transport 500 million British thermal units per day of natural gas to a 
local distribution company. Texas Gas requests Commission authorization 
to construct and operate 0.93 mile of 8-inch-diameter pipeline in Ohio 
and Hancock Counties. Kentucky needed to transport those volumes.
    The general location of the project facility is shown in appendix 
1.\2\

    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance 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

    Construction of the proposed facility would disturb about 24.66 
acres of land. Following construction, about 2.82 acres would be 
maintained as new right-of-way. About 4.53 acres are located within an 
existing right-of-way. The remaining 17.33 acres of land would be 
restored and allowed to revert to its former use.

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 considered during the preparation of the EA. State and local 
government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents 
of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
    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. [[Page 29840]] 
     Land use.
     Cultural resources.
     Air quality and noise.
     Public 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 two issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Texas Gas. 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:
      Two federally listed endangered or threatened species may 
occur in the proposed project area.
      Two proposed workspace areas may be located within 50 
feet of a residence, one of which may directly impact an adjacent 
building.

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 Capital Street NE., Washington, 
D.C. 20426;
      Reference Docket No. CP95-341-000;
      Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Amy Olson, 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 June 30, 1995.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. Olson 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) (see 
appendix 2).
    The date for filing of 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. Amy Olson, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1199.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-13728 Filed 6-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M