[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52444-52445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25573]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-720-000]


Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues

October 1, 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 abandonment and construction 
of the facilities proposed in the Louisiana Line 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\ Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America'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

    Natural GAs Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) proposes to abandon 
the 3,800 horsepower (hp) compressor unit at Station No. 139 on its 
Permian Basin Line in Lea County, New Mexico and relocate it to Station 
No. 346 on its Louisiana Line in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The 
compressor unit has not been used since 1993 and is no longer needed at 
Station No. 139. The compressor unit would be upgraded to a 4,500 hp 
rating and equipped with low emissions control technology. The 
additional horsepower would increase the capacity of the Louisiana Line 
by 63 MMcfd. NGPL No. 139. The general location of the project 
facilities are shown in appendix 1.\2\
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    \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, 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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    NGPL also proposes to perform certain activities that it believes 
to be non-jurisdictional. These activities include the re-wheeling of 
three existing compressors at Station No. 346, Cameron Parish, 
Louisiana, to allow them to operate under the proposed operating 
conditions, and certain modifications to station piping at Station No. 
342, Cameron Parish, Louisiana, in order to reduce pressure losses 
through the station when gas is being compressed for movement to the 
east.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Only minor construction activities would be necessary to remove the 
compressor unit at Station No. 139 and install it at Station No. 346. 
All disturbance would occur within the existing compressor station 
sites. Station No. 346 is located on a 15 acre site. Approximately 2 
acres of this site would be disturbed during the construction and 
installation of the compressor unit and associated structures. No 
additional roads would be required and the existing storage yards and 
parking facilities would be able to support contractor vehicles and 
storage areas as needed.

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 whether 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

[[Page 52445]]

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.
     Endangered and threatened species.
     Land use.
     Cultural resources.
     Air quality and noise.
     Public safety.
    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 one issue that we think deserves 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by NGPL. Keep in mind that his 
is a preliminary list:
     Noise impact on the nearest residence located 1,320 feet 
to the north of Station No. 346.
    The list of issues may be added to, subtracted from, or changed 
based on your comments and our analysis.

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, 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, D.C. 
20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP96-720-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Mary Hertling, EA 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., 
N.E., PR-11.1, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before November 7, 1996.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. Hertling 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 late interventions 
must show good cause, as required by section 385.214(b)(3), why this 
time limitations 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. Mary Hertling, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0874.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-25573 Filed 10-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M