[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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