[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6992-6994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4043]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP95-194-001 and Docket No. CP96-027-000]


Northern Border Pipeline Company and Natural Gas Pipeline Company 
of America; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Northern Border Project, Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

February 16, 1996.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and 
operation of the facilities proposed in the Northern Border Project.\1\ 
These facilities total 500.7 miles of pipeline, 304,750 horsepower of 
compression, meter stations, and other appurtenant facilities. This EIS 
will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to 
determine whether to approve the project.

    \1\ Northern Border Pipeline Company's and Natural Gas Pipeline 
Company of America's applications were filed with the Commission 
under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
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    We are asking a number of Federal agencies to indicate whether they 
wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies 
are listed in appendix 1 and may choose to participate once they have 
evaluated each proposal relative to their agencies' 
responsibilities.\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, 888 
First Street, NE, Room 2A, 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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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Northern Border Pipeline Company (Northern Border) wants to expand 
the capacity of its existing facilities in Montana, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, and extend its system into Illinois, to 
transport up to an additional 1,226.3 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/
d) of natural gas to two interstate pipeline companies and five local 
distribution companies. Northern Border requests Commission 
authorization, in Docket No. CP95-194-001, to construct and operate the 
following facilities needed to transport those volumes:
     181.5 miles of 42- and 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop and 
appurtenant facilities in three segments in Montana, North Dakota, 
South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa;\3\

    \3\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. 
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the pipeline system.
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     243.1 miles of new 36- and 30-inch-diameter pipeline 
extension and appurtenant facilities in Iowa and Illinois;
     eight new compressor stations with a total of 213,000 
horsepower (hp) of compression in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Minnesota, and Iowa;
     modifications at four existing compressor stations with a 
total of 80,000 hp of additional compression, and modifications at 
three existing compressor stations with no additional horsepower in 
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota; and
     nine new meter stations, modifications at one existing 
meter station, five new pig launcher/receivers, and two new side valves 
in Iowa and Illinois.
    Northern Border also proposes to acquire land as sites for four 
future compressor stations in Iowa and Illinois. Northern Border has 
also indicated that new communication towers may be required for remote 
operation of some facilities, but has not identified potential sites 
for these towers.
    Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (Natural) wants to expand 
the capacity of its existing facilities in Iowa and Illinois to 
transport up to an additional 345 MMcf/d of natural gas to one 
interstate pipeline company and four local distribution companies. 
Natural requests Commission authorization, in Docket No. CP96-027-000, 
to construct and operate the following facilities needed to transport 
those volumes:
     76.1 miles of 36-inch-diameter loop in two segments in 
Iowa and Illinois; and
     modifications at two existing compressor stations with a 
total of 11,750 hp of additional compression in Iowa and Illinois.
    The general locations of the project facilities are shown in 
appendix 2. If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a 
specific portion of the project contact Laura Turner at the address 
below. A detailed listing of the facilities is in appendix 3.

Land Requirements for Construction

Pipelines

    The proposed loops would be built adjacent to Northern Border's and 
Natural's existing pipelines, using as much of the existing rights-of-
way as possible. Approximately 77 percent of Natural's proposed loops 
would be installed in a previously used pipeline trench within 
Natural's existing right-of-way.\4\ Northern Border's proposed pipeline 
extension in Iowa and Illinois would be built on entirely new pipeline 
right-of-way, with approximately 25 percent of its route adjacent to or 
within other existing rights-of-way.

    \4\ The old pipeline has been removed from the trench.
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    Northern Border and Natural would use rights-of-way ranging in 
width from 75 to 100 feet for standard pipeline construction. 
Additional temporary work space would generally be used where the 
pipelines would cross roads, railroads, streams, and rivers. An 
estimated 6,080 acres would be disturbed during pipeline construction. 
After construction, the disturbed area would be restored, and a 
permanent right-of-way (0 to 50 feet wide) in addition to existing 
rights-of-way would be maintained. Existing land uses on the remainder 
of the disturbed area, as well as most land uses on the permanent 
rights-of-way, such as agriculture and open areas, would be allowed to 
continue following construction.

Aboveground Facilities

    Construction of new compressor stations would require up to 
approximately 20 acres each beyond the pipeline right-of-way. 
Modifications to existing compressor stations would require from 0 to 
10 acres each within existing station boundaries.
    Construction of new meter stations and launcher/receivers and the 
modification of an existing meter station would require from 1 to 3 
acres each. Construction of new side valves would require up to 0.3 
acre each within the pipeline right-of-way.

The EIS Process/Environmental Issues

    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. The EIS we are 
preparing will give the Commission the information to do that. NEPA 
also requires us to discover and address concerns the public may have 
about proposals. We call this ``scoping''. The main goal of the 

[[Page 6993]]
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS 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 EIS. 
All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 
We encourage State and local government representatives to notify their 
constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on 
their areas of concern.
    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified a number of issues under each topic that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by the applicants. These issues 
are listed below. 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.

     Geology and Soils.
--Seismology and soil liquefaction.
--Prime farmland soils.
--Erosion control.
--Topsoil/subsoil mixing.
--Soil compaction.
--Drain tiles and ditches.
--Revegetation of non-agricultural areas.

     Water Resources.
--204 crossings of waterbodies, canals, and drainages.
--16 crossings of waterbodies and canals 100 feet wide or greater, 
including: the Iowa, Cedar, Mississippi, Rock, Green, Fox, DuPage, and 
Des Plaines Rivers; Spring, Mud, Coal, and a tributary to Oat Creeks; 
and the Illinois and Michigan, and Hennepin Canals.
--Effect on groundwater and surface water supplies.

     Biological Resources.

--Effect on wildlife and fisheries habitat.
--Effect on federally listed endangered and threatened species, 
including Indiana bat, bald eagle, Higgin's eye pearly mussel, eastern 
prairie fringed orchid, and western prairie fringed orchid.
--Effect on wetland habitat.

     Cultural Resources.

--Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.
--Native American and tribal concerns.

     Socioeconomics

--Effect of construction workforce on surrounding areas.
--Impact on property values.

     Land Use.

--Effect on farming.
--Effect on residences and recreation areas.
--Effect on public lands, including areas owned or managed by the 
Bureau of Land Management; Luke's Wetland, the Maynes Grove 
Conservation Area, the Comet Trail, Blanchard Island, the Hennepin 
Canal Parkway State Park, and the Illinois and Michigan Canal State 
Park.
--Effect of above ground facilities on visual aesthetics.

     Air Quality and Noise.

--Effect on local air quality and noise environment as a result of 
construction.
--Effect on local and regional air quality and local noise environment 
and as a result of operation of new and additional compression.

     Reliability and Safety.

--Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas pipelines.

    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 presented in a Draft 
EIS which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for 
these proceedings. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for review 
of the Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and 
revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. The 
Final EIS will include our response to each comment received.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    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 locations and 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, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 
20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP95-194-001;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Laura Turner, EIS 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE, Room 7M-02, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 1, 1996.
    In addition to sending written comments, you may attend public 
scoping meetings. We will conduct public scoping meetings at three 
locations. Meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

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                  Date                                 Time                               Location              
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March 26, 1996.........................  7:00 p.m........................  Channahon, Illinois                  
March 27, 1996.........................  7:00 p.m........................  Princeton, Illinois                  
March 28, 1996.........................  7:00 p.m........................  Walcott, Iowa                        
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    The meeting in Channahon, Illinois will be held at the Channahon 
Junior High School. The meeting in Princeton, Illinois will be held at 
the Bureau County Metro Center. The meeting in Walcott, Iowa will be 
held at the American Legion.
    The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain input from state 
and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have formal 
channels for input into the Federal Process (including separate 
meetings where appropriate) on an interagency basis. Federal agencies 
are expected to transmit their comments directly to the FERC and not 
use the scoping meetings for this purpose.
    Northern Border and Natural will be invited to present a 
description of their proposals at the scoping meetings. Interested 
groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meetings and 
present oral comments on the environmental issues which they believe 
should be addressed in the Draft EIS. The more specific your comments, 

[[Page 6994]]
the more useful they will be. Anyone who would like to make an oral 
presentation at the meeting should contact the EIS Project Manager 
identified at the end of this notice to have his or her name placed on 
the list of speakers. Priority will be given to those persons 
representing groups. A list will be available at the public meetings to 
allow for non-preregistered speakers to sign up. A transcript will be 
made of the meetings and comments will be used to help determine the 
scope of the Draft EIS.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS 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 4).
    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 interventions. You do not need intervenor status 
to have your scoping comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all potential right-of-way 
grantors to solicit focused comments regarding environmental 
considerations related to the proposed project.\5\ As details of the 
project become established, representatives of Northern Border and 
Natural will directly contact landowners, communities, and public 
agencies concerning any other matters, including acquisition of permits 
and rights-of-way.

    \5\ Natural has supplied a preliminary landowner list. This list 
is based on the ownership of the land containing the existing right-
of-way. A supplemental mailing will be made, if necessary, after the 
route has been surveyed.
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    If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to 
keep informed and receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, please 
return the Information Request (appendix 5). If you do not return the 
Information Request you will be taken off the mailing list.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Ms. Laura Turner, EIS Project Manager, at (202) 208-0916.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-4043 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M