[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24997-24998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12367]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2391]


Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; Finding of No 
Significant Impact: Portal Pipe Line Company, Pipeline to Canadian 
Border Near Portal, ND

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of a finding of no significant impact with regard to an 
application to construct, connect, operate and maintain a pipeline to 
transport crude oil across the U.S.-Canada border.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Portal Pipe Line Company has applied for a 
Presidential Permit to authorize construction, connection, operation 
and maintenance of a 12 inch diameter pipeline to convey crude oil 
cross the border with Canada near Portal, North Dakota.
    The proposed pipeline would extend approximately 8 miles inside the 
United States and convey crude oil from Canada to Portal's existing 
pipeline system in the United States. The pipeline will initially 
receive an estimated 30,000 barrels per day for

[[Page 24998]]

transportation with a capacity for approximately 56, barrels per day. 
The pipeline will facilitate crude oil imports from Canada.

summary: In accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq., The Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 
Department's regulations for implementation of NEPA (22 CFR Part 161), 
the Department of State has conducted an environmental assessment of 
the proposed construction by Portal Pipe Line Company of a crude oil 
pipeline across the international boundary near Portal, North Dakota. 
The Department of State is charged with the issuance of Presidential 
Permits authorizing construction of such international pipelines under 
Executive Order 11423 (1968), as amended by Executive Order 12847 
(1993). Several federal agencies cooperated in preparation of the 
environmental assessment, reviewing and commenting on the analysis and 
conclusions presented therein. Agencies participating in this process 
together with the Department of State included: the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Departments of Defense, Treasury, Interior, 
Commerce, Transportation, the Attorney General, the Chairman of the 
Surface Transportation Safety Board, and the Director of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency.
    Interested parties were invited to comment on the proposed 
application in a Federal Register Notice, 60 FR 56384 (November 8, 
1995).
    Based on the final environmental assessment, which included a 
preliminary environmental assessment, comments received from interested 
agencies and responses to those comments, the Department of State has 
concluded that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing 
construction of the proposed pipeline (as described in the final 
environmental assessment) will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment within the United States. Therefore, 
in accordance with CEQ's NEPA regulations 40 CFR 1501.4 and 1508.13 and 
with State Department Regulations, 22 CFR 161.8 (c) an environmental 
impact statement will not be prepared.

Factors Considered

    The environmental assessment carefully considered the route 
alternative that minimized environmental and human impacts while 
offering the most direct and economic route. The proposed pipeline 
would allow the U.S. to move an additional 30,000 barrels a day of oil 
to major population centers in the Midwest through the construction of 
an 8 mile pipeline. The pipeline is also being constructed along an 
existing pipeline right-of-way for most of its length. The proposed 
pipeline also offers likely advantages over a no action alternative. 
The U.S. depends heavily on oil imports and other means of importing an 
additional 30,000 barrels of oil per day could involve greater 
incremental environmental risks than the proposed pipeline, such as 
increased shipments by tanker or new pipeline capacity of greater 
length or through more heavily populated or environmentally sensitive 
areas.
    Further analysis and reasoning supporting the pipeline routing are 
presented in the original pipeline application. Copies of supporting 
information for this finding and the final environmental assessment can 
be obtained from the State Department's Office of International Energy 
and Commodities Policy, 202-647-2875.

Environmental Justice

    In addition to the analysis conducted in accordance with NEPA, the 
Department of State addressed environmental justice considerations 
pursuant to Executive Order 12898 of February 11, 1994 (``Federal 
Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and 
Low-Income Populations''). Based on its examination of environmental 
justice considerations, the Department has determined that the proposed 
pipeline will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health 
or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations. The 
analysis supporting this determination can be obtained from the State 
Department, Office of International Energy and Commodities Policy, 202-
647-2887.

for further information on the pipeline permit application contact: 
Susan Phillips, Office of International Energy and Commodities Policy, 
Room 3529, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, 20520, (20) 647-
2887.


    Dated: April 4, 1996.
Stephen J. Gallogly,
Acting Director, International Energy and Commodities Policy.
[FR Doc. 96-12367 Filed 5-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-M