[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51697-51699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25284]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP96-545-000; CP96-545-001; CP96-671-000; CP96-721-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; National Fuel Gas 
Supply Corporation; Tennessee Gas Pipe Line Company; Notice of Intent 
To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Seaboard 
Expansion and 1997 Niagara Expansion Projects, Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues

September 27, 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 SeaBoard Expansion Project and 1997 
Niagara Expansion 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\ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation's, National Fuel 
Gas Supply Corporation's, and Tennessee Gas Pipe Line Company'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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Summary of the Proposed Projects

    Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) wants to 
expand the capacity of its facilities in

[[Page 51698]]

Pennsylvania and New Jersey to transport an additional 115 million 
cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of natural gas to customers in Pennsylvania, 
Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. To transport those volumes, Transco 
requests Commission authorization, in Docket Nos. CP96-545-000 and 
CP96-545-001, to:
     Construct and operate 10.6 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop \2\ in Clinton and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania 
(Haneyville Loop);
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    \2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. A 
loop allows more gas to be moved through that part of the pipeline 
system.
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     Construct and operate 6.7 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania (Williamsport Loop);
     Construct and operate 5.5 miles of 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline loop in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey (New Jersey 
Mainline Loop);
     Replace 6.3 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline with 6.3 
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Burlington County, New Jersey 
(Trenton-Woodbury Replacement);
     Install a 12-inch-diameter tap in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania (Delaware Power & Light Lateral Hot Tap);
     Install 15,000 additional horsepower (hp) at Compressor 
Station 205 in Mercer County, New Jersey;
     Operate six existing compressors at an uprated horsepower 
for a total of 1,740 hp at Compressor Station 200 in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania; and
     Modify the Linden Regulator Station in Union County, and 
the Milltown Regulator Station (and install a new pig launcher/receiver 
assembly) in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
    National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (National Fuel) wants to 
transport up to 48,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day (Dthd) (about 
48 MMcfd) from the Niagara import point to the interconnections between 
the National Fuel and Transco facilities at Leidy and Wharton, 
Pennsylvania. To transport those volumes, National Fuel requests 
Commission authorization, in Docket No. CP96-671-000, to:
     Increase the hp of 5 compressor units for a total of 1,300 
hp at its existing Concord Compressor Station in Erie County, New York;
     Abandon 4 compressor units, totalling 1,290 hp and install 
1 new 2,250 hp compressor at its existing Ellisburg Compressor Station 
in Potter County, Pennsylvania; and
     Increase the maximum allowable operating pressure of its 
existing Line X-North and Line XM-2 from 720 to 780 pounds per square 
inch gauge (psig) by installing or replacing valves, pressure control 
devices, and station piping at 7 existing metering and regulating 
stations in Erie and Niagara Counties, New York.
    Tennessee Gas Pipe Line Company (Tennessee) operates the Lockport 
Compressor Station in Niagara County, New York which is jointly-owned 
with National Fuel. for National Fuel to transport additional volumes 
proposed in its 1997 Niagara Expansion Project, Tennessee requests 
Commission authorization, in Docket No. CP96-721-000, to:
     Uprate an existing compressor unit by 1,000 hp at its 
existing Lockport Compressor Station (CS 230C) in Niagara County, New 
York to expand the capacity of National Fuel's and Tennessee's jointly-
owned Niagara Spur Loop Line.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1. Figure 1 shows the general location of Transco's proposed SeaBoard 
Expansion Project and Figure 2 shows the general location of National 
Fuel's proposed 1997 Niagara Expansion Project which includes 
Tennessee's proposed Niagara Spur Loop Line Project.\3\
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    \3\ 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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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of Transco's proposed facilities would affect about 
326.5 acres of land. Of this amount about 89.2 acres (27 percent) would 
be within existing, cleared rights-of-way. Following construction, 
about 253.1 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to 
its former use and 73.4 acres would be maintained as new permanent 
pipeline right-of-way. Extra temporary work spaces would be required at 
various locations, including road, stream, and large wetland crossings. 
In addition, equipment staging and storage areas would be needed.
    Construction of the pipelines would require a 75-foot-wide right-
of-way. The Haneyville and Williamsport Loops would be constructed at 
an offset of 25 feet from existing pipelines and would require about 
44.8 and 26.1 acres of new permanent right-of-way, respectively. The 
Trenton-Woodbury Replacement would be installed in the same location as 
the existing 12-inch-diameter pipeline after it is removed and would 
not require any new permanent right-of-way. For about 3.8 miles of the 
New Jersey Mainline Loop no new permanent right-of-way would be 
required because it would be constructed entirely within existing 
Public Service Electric & Gas or Transco rights-of-way. About 0.6 mile 
of the New Jersey Mainline Loop would require about 2.5 acres of new 
permanent right-of-way.
    Additions or expansions at Compressor Station 200, the Linden 
Regulator Station, and the Milltown Regulator Station would be within 
existing fence lines and would not require additional land. An existing 
4.5-acre fenced area at Compressor Station 205 may be expanded and 
require an additional 0.3 acre of land. Installation of the Delaware 
Power & Light Lateral Hot Tap would temporarily affect 0.5 acre of land 
all of which would be located in Transco's existing right-of-way.
    Construction of National Fuel's and Tennessee's proposed facilities 
would occur within existing fence lines and would not require 
additional land. Increase in the maximum allowable operating pressure 
on National Fuel's Line X--North and Line XM-2 pipelines would not 
require any ground disturbance.

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
     Land use
     Water resources and wetlands
     Vegetation and wildlife
     Threatened and endangered species
     Cultural resources
     Hazardous waste
     Air quality and noise

[[Page 51699]]

    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 Transco, National Fuel, and 
Tennessee. 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. For Transco's proposed SeaBoard Expansion 
Project the issues are:
     Effects of blasting on water wells, structures, septic 
systems, and other utilities;
     Crossing of Pine and Lycoming Creeks, two of the largest 
waterbodies crossed in Pennsylvania;
     Crossing of high quality, trout stocked or coldwater 
fisheries in Pennsylvania, including North Fork Tombs Run, Lower Pine 
Bottom Run, and Staver Run;
     Crossing of significant wetlands associated with 
Woodbridge Creek, Marshes Creek, and Rahway River in New Jersey;
     Clearing of trees and disturbance of wildlife habitat;
     Construction through Tiadaghton State Forest and State 
Game Land No. 89 in Pennsylvania;
     Crossing of potential geologic and soil hazard areas, 
including areas of severe erosion (slopes greater than 6 percent grade) 
or areas prone to rock failure in Pennsylvania;
     Potential to expose contaminated soils in New Jersey;
     Potential to encounter acid soils in New Jersey;
     Crossing of a property eligible for the National Register 
of Historic Places;
     Construction in heavily congested residential, commercial, 
and industrial areas; and
     Potential to increase noise levels.
    For National Fuel's proposed 1997 Niagara Expansion Project, which 
includes Tennessee's proposed Niagara Spur Loop Line Project, the 
issues are:
     Construction in residential, commercial, and industrial 
areas; and
     Potential to increase noise levels.

Public Participation and Scoping Meeting

    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 Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426;
     Reference Docket Nos. CP96-545-000 and CP96-545-001 for 
Transco's SeaBoard Expansion Project; CP96-671-000 for National Fuel's 
1997 Niagara Expansion Project; and CP96-721-000 for Tennessee's 
Niagara Spur Loop Line Project.
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, EA 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE., Room 72-57, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 28, 1996.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. O'Donnell 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 of 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 intervention. You do not 
need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0325.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-25284 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M