[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49002-49003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23937]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2443]


Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; Finding of No 
Significant Impact: Rio Grande Pipeline Company, Pipeline To Cross the 
U.S.-Mexico Border at El Paso County, TX

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 petroleum products (liquid petroleum gas) across the U.S.-
Mexico border.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rio Grande Pipeline Company has applied for 
a Presidential Permit to authorize construction, connection, operation 
and maintenance of a 8.625 inch diameter pipeline to convey liquid 
petroleum gas (LPG) across the border to Mexico in El Paso County, 
Texas.
    The proposed pipeline will utilize existing pipelines commencing in 
Hardisty County, Texas. Approximately 30 miles of new pipeline will be 
constructed commencing in Hudspeth County, Texas, crossing El Paso 
County, Texas to cross the border south of the town of San Elizario 
into Mexico.
    The pipeline will continue approximately 20 miles into Mexico, with 
a terminus at the Mendez Terminal in Ciudad Juarez. The pipeline will 
initially receive an estimated 16,000 barrels per day for 
transportation with a capacity for approximately 24,000 barrels per 
day. The pipeline will facilitate LPG exports from the United States to 
Mexico at an estimated annual value of 60 to 65 million dollars.

Summary

    In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., The Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, and the 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 Rio Grande Pipeline Company of a LPG pipeline 
across the international boundary in El Paso County south of San 
Elizario, Texas. 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 number 2397, in the Federal 
Register Vol. 61, No. 104, pages 26945-26946.
    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

[[Page 49003]]

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 delivery 
alternatives, truck and rail exports of LPG, as well as alternative 
pipeline routes. National statistics show that pipelines are safer than 
rail and many times safer than trucks for transporting liquid petroleum 
products. LPG exports to Mexico by pipeline are the safer alternative 
than their shipment by rail or truck, especially in the congested 
border crossing areas. Delivery of LPG to Mexico by pipeline produces 
substantially less emissions than does delivery by diesel truck and 
enhances highway safety. The pipeline route corridor selection is based 
on the most direct routing, use of existing rights-of-way, avoidance of 
populated areas, and avoidance of cultural and biological resources. No 
conflicts with active locatable mineral operations, metallic or non-
mettalic, were identified along the proposed pipeline route. Wetlands, 
including jurisdictional wetlands regulated under the Clean Water Act, 
will not be affected by the pipeline as all aquatic features will be 
crossed by boring beneath them. There is no specific habitat for any 
federally listed Endangered or Threatened species identified in the 
area. Any disturbances to land, vegetation, wildlife, and socioeconomic 
resources are expected to be minimal and short-term, arising mainly due 
to initial pipeline construction.
    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, (202) 647-
2887.

    Dated: August 22, 1996.
Herbert Yarvin,
Acting Director, International Energy and Commodities Policy.
[FR Doc. 96-23937 Filed 9-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-M