[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 98-99]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33324]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP95-194-001, CP95-194-003, CP96-027-000, and CP96-027-
001]


Northern Border Pipeline Company; Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Northern Border Project and Notice of Public 
Meetings

December 26, 1996.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) 
on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Northern Border 
Pipeline Company (Northern Border) and Natural Gas Pipeline Company of 
America (Natural) in the above-referenced dockets, collectively 
referred to as the Northern Border Project.
    The DEIS 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 have 
limited environmental impact.
    The DEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:

Northern Border

     About 390.0 miles of new natural gas pipeline;
     About 303,500 horsepower (hp) of new compression;
     9 new and 1 modified meter stations, 5 new pig launcher/
receivers, 1 new office/warehouse building, and 16 new and 9 modified 
valves; and
     13 new communication towers.

Natural

     About 85.7 miles of new natural gas pipeline;
     About 9,000 hp of new compression; and
     3 new pig launcher/receivers and 17 new or modified 
valves.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport up to 
1,226.3 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from producing 
regions in Canada and the Williston Basin in Montana and North Dakota 
to natural gas shippers and local distribution companies in the 
Midwest, primarily the Chicago area.

Specific Comment Request

    The staff has identified and evaluated two system alternatives to 
the proposed combined facilities between Harper, Iowa and Chicago, 
Illinois, the Amarillo and Iowa/Illinois System Alternatives. To assist 
the staff in its evaluation of the system alternatives, we request 
specific comments on the impacts and benefits of using each of the 
alternatives as compared to the applicants' proposals. Area residents, 
local or state governments, and Northern Border and Natural are asked 
to comment on whether the Amarillo and/or the Iowa/Illinois System 
Alternatives are reasonable and practical and preferable to the 
combined proposed facilities between Harper and Chicago. Comments 
should also specifically address any impacts on project timing and 
related costs/benefits.

Comment Procedure

Written Comments

    Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. Written 
comments must be received on or before February 18, 1997, reference 
Docket No. CP95-194-001, and be addressed to: Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    A copy of the written comments should also be sent to the FERC 
Project Manager identified below.

Public Meeting Schedule

    Three public meetings to receive comments on the DEIS will be held 
at the following times and locations:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                     Time              Location       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 4, 1997...................  7:00 p.m.......  Channahon, IL.        
Feb. 5, 1997...................  7:00 p.m.......  Princeton, IL.        
Feb. 6, 1997...................  7:00 p.m.......  Walcott, IA.          
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The meeting in Channahon, Illinois will be held at the Channahon 
Junior High School. The meeting in Princeton, Illinois will be held at 
the Bureau County Metro Center. The meeting in Walcott, Iowa will be 
held at the American Legion.
    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and 
present oral comments on the environmental impacts described in the 
DEIS. Anyone who would like to speak at the public meetings may get on 
the speakers list by contacting the FERC Project Manager or signing-up 
at the public meetings. Priority will be given to persons representing 
groups. Transcripts will be made of the meetings.
    After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated, and modifications are made to the DEIS, a final 
environmental impact statement (FEIS) will be published and 
distributed. The FEIS will contain the staff's responses to timely 
comments received on the DEIS.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor 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 
Procedures (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.
    The DEIS 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 DEIS have been mailed to federal, state, and local 
agencies,

[[Page 99]]

public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, and parties 
to this proceeding.
    For additional procedural information or a limited number of copies 
of this DEIS contact: Ms. Laura Turner, Environmental Project Manager, 
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch II, Office of Pipeline 
Regulation, 888 First Street, N.E., RM 7M-02, Washington, DC 20426, 
(202) 208-0916.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-33324 Filed 12-31-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M