[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38551-38552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18413]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP95-595-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Brazos River 
Crossing Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Site Visit

July 21, 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 facilities proposed in the Brazos River Crossing 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 Eastern 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 Eastern Transmission Corporation (Texas Eastern) wants to 
abandon about 1.8 miles of its mainline No. 11, and replace it with 
about 1.6 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline, including a new crossing 
of the Brazos River by directional drill, in Austin and Waller 
Counties, Texas. Texas Eastern's 

[[Page 38552]]
existing mainline No. 11 Brazos River crossing has been exposed by 
erosion.
    The location of the project facilities 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, NE., Washington, DC 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 facilities would require about 16.8 
acres of land. An 85-foot-wide right-of-way would be used during 
construction on the land portion of the project, as well as additional 
extra work spaces. Following construction, the permanent right-of-way 
would be 50 feet wide. Extra work spaces and right-of-way beyond the 
50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way would revert to their original land 
uses. Vegetation would be restored in all disturbed 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 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;
     Public safety;
     Land use;
     Cultural resources;
     Air quality and noise;
     Polychlorinated biphenyls.
    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 Texas Eastern. 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 project would cross cropland and rangeland. An 
undetermined amount of prime farmland soils would be temporarily 
affected. The project would also cross an existing pecan orchard, 
ranch, corrals, and the construction right-of-way is within 23 feet of 
a residence.
     Several landowners have stated that an alternative route 
which uses existing right-of-way would be preferable to the proposed 
route.
     The project would affect about 5.8 acres of herbaceous 
wetlands, and about 1.0 acre of forested wetland.

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 following the instructions below to ensure 
that your comments are received and properly recorded:
     Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulation Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP95-595-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gerber, 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 21, 1995.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Mr. Gerber at the above address.

Site Visit

    On August 9, 1995, the FERC staff, accompanied by representatives 
of Texas Eastern, will inspect the proposed location of the facilities. 
All interested parties may attend. Those planning to attend must 
provide their own transporation. For further information, call Mr. Jeff 
Gerber, EA Project Manager, (202) 208-1121.

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 timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
is August 4, 1995. Parties seeking to file late interventions must show 
good cause, as required by Section 385.124(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. Jeff Gerber, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1121.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-18413 Filed 7-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M