[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 159 (Thursday, August 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42422-42423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20796]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-638-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line KA 
Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

August 9, 1996.
    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 Line KA Replacement 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.
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    \1\ Columbia 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

    Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) wants to replace a 
section of pipeline that has extensive corrosion and deterioration to 
the extent that replacement is necessary to maintain service to 
Columbia's existing customers at existing levels and to ensure safe and 
reliable operation. Columbia seeks authority to:
     Construct and operate 5.2 miles of 24-inch-diameter 
replacement pipeline in Wyoming County, West Virginia; and
     Abandon in place 360 feet of 20-inch-diameter pipeline and 
abandon by removal about 5.0 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Wyoming County, West Virginia.
    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 theFederal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 
First 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 facilities would require about 98.0 
acres of land. Following construction, about 31.3 acres would be 
maintained as permanent right-of-way of which 9.9 acres would be new 
permanent right-of-way. The remaining 66.7 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
     Public safety
     Land use
     Cultural resources
     Endangered and threatened species
    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 
interests 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 Columbia. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     One residence is located within 50 feet of the proposed 
construction work area.
     The project may cross properties on or eligible for 
inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

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, 888 First St., N.E., Washington, DC 
20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP96-638-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Dawn Deibert Neumann, 
EA Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
St., N.E., PR-11.2, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before September 16, 1996.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. Neumann 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 timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file

[[Page 42423]]

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. Dawn Deibert Neumann, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1046.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-20796 Filed 8-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M