[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 208 (Friday, October 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 55288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27384]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-16-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of 
Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Sunbelt 
Expansion Project

October 21, 1996.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Transcontinental Gas Pipe 
Line Corporation (Transco) in the above-referenced docket. For both the 
new Compressor Station 105 in Coosa County, Alabama and the new 
Compressor Station 125 in Walton County, Georgia, the staff is 
requesting specific comments regarding the siting of these new 
compressor stations. We request comments on a potential reasonable 
alternative for each station, the effect of relocating a compressor 
station on the proposed in-service date, the cost of relocating the 
compressor stations and what additional mitigation would be necessary 
at the proposed sites.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The EA addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:
     14.9 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop (Loop D) from 
milepost (MP) 1222.66 to MP 1237.58 in Cherokee County, South Carolina;
     15,000 horsepower (hp) of compression (gas turbine) at a 
new station, to be known as Compressor Station 105 in Coosa County, 
Alabama;
     15,000 hp of compression (gas turbine) at a new station to 
be known as Compressor Station 125 in Walton County, Georgia; and
     15,000 hp of compression (gas turbine) at the existing 
Compressor Station 80 in Jones and Jasper Counties, Mississippi.
    Transco also seeks to uprate:
     A compressor (gas turbine) from 14,100 hp to 15,000 hp at 
Compressor Station 100 in Chilton County, Alabama; and
     One compressor (gas turbine) from 12,600 hp to 15,000 hp 
at each of three stations: Compressor Station 110 in Randolph County, 
Alabama; Compressor Station 130 in Madison County, Georgia; and 
Compressor Station 140 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities is to provide additional 
firm transportation capacity of up to 145,666 thousand cubic feet per 
day of natural gas to nine local distribution companies and one 
electric cogeneration plant.
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First 
Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding.
    A limited number of copies of the EA are available from: Mr. Mark 
Jensen, Environmental Project Manager, Environmental Review and 
Compliance Branch II, Office of Pipeline Regulation, 888 First Street, 
N.E., PR 11.2, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-0828.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Written comments 
must reference Docket No. CP96-16-000 and be addressed to: Office of 
the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington, DC 20426.
    In order to have your comments considered, we request that they be 
filed as soon as possible. Comments must be received no later than 
November 20, 1996, to ensure consideration prior to a Commission 
decision on this proposal. A copy of any comments should also be sent 
to Mr. Mark Jensen, Environmental Project Manager, at the above 
address.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commenter a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to 
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene 
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214).
    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 limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed 
as good cause for late intervention. You do not need intervenor status 
to have your comments considered.
    Additional information about this project is available from Mr. 
Mark Jensen, Environmental Project Manager.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-27384 Filed 10-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M