[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28020-28022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13438]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP96-809-000, CP96-810-000]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maritimes 
Phase II Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

May 16, 1997.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and 
operation of about 350 miles of natural gas pipeline and compression 
called the Maritimes Phase II Project.\1\ The facilities consist of 196 
miles of 24- and 30-inch-diameter mainline between Westbrook and the 
Canadian border at Woodland, 149.9 miles of 4- to 16-inch diameter 
laterals, and 31,160 horsepower (hp) of compression. This EIS will be 
used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity.
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    \1\ Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.s application was 
filed with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and 
Part 157 of the Commissions regulations.
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    We are asking a number of Federal and state agencies to indicate 
whether they wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. 
These agencies are listed in appendix 1 and may choose to participate 
once they have evaluated each proposal relative to their agencies' 
responsibilities.\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 
Commissions Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First 
Street NE., 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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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) wants to provide 
markets in Maine and other parts of New England with access to new 
natural gas supplies from Canada which are being developed for the 
Sable Offshore Energy Project. The proposed facilities would have a 
design delivery capacity of 440,000 million British thermal units per 
day and would provide natural gas supply to four local distribution 
companies, one electric company, nine pulp and paper companies, and 
three natural gas marketing companies. Maritime seeks authority to 
construct and operate:

1998 Facilities

     17.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline in Cumberland 
County, Maine;
     12.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter lateral (Cousins Island 
Lateral) in Cumberland County, Maine; and
     associated aboveground facilities, including a meter 
station, pig launcher/receiver, and block valves.

1999 Facilities

     176.7 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline in Androscoggin, 
Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Penobscot, and 
Washington Counties, Maine;
     1.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter mainline in Washington 
County, Maine;
     31,160 hp of compression at two compressor stations on the 
mainline (compressor Station 2 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County and 
Compressor Station 1 in Baileyville, Washington County, Maine);
     41.1 miles 4- to 8-inch-diameter lateral pipeline (the 
Skowhegan Lateral

[[Page 28021]]

in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine);
     8.6 miles of 6-inch-diameter lateral (the Bucksport 
Lateral in Penobscot and Hancock Counties, Maine);
     83.9 miles of 4- to 10-inch diameter lateral (the Old 
Town/Millinocket Lateral in Penobscot County, Maine);
     4.2 miles of 4-inch-diameter lateral (Woodland Lateral in 
Washington County, Maine); and
     associated aboveground facilities, including meter 
stations, pig launcher/receivers, and block valves.

    The general location of the project facilities is shown in figure 1 
(appendix 2). If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a 
specific portion of the project, please use the request form provided 
(appendix 4). For procedural information, please write to the Secretary 
of the Commission.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Maritimes would use a 75-foot-wide construction right-of-way to 
install the mainline and Cousins Island Lateral. A 65-foot-wide 
construction right-of-way would be used to install the other laterals. 
About 47 percent of the mainline and 67 percent of the laterals would 
be constructed adjacent to or within existing rights-of-way. 
Construction of the pipeline rights-of-ways would require about 2,977.5 
acres of land. We estimate that about an additional 312 acres would be 
needed for extra work areas for pipe installation at roads, railroads, 
and wider rivers and wetlands. However, this is only our estimate and 
workspace sizes and locations have not yet been identified by the 
applicant.
    Following construction, all disturbed areas would be restored and a 
permanent right-of-way of 50 feet would be maintained for operation of 
the mainline and Cousins Island Lateral. The other laterals would be 
maintained on a 40-foot-wide permanent right-of-way. All land used for 
temporary construction right-of-way and extra work areas would revert 
to previous uses entirely. Some land uses on the permanent right-of-way 
would also be allowed to continue following construction.
    Maritimes would acquire about 20 acres for Compressor Station 1 and 
about 100 acres for Compressor Station 2. Actual construction and 
operation of these facilities would disturb only a portion of these 
sites. Other above ground facilities would be on sites of less than 1 
acre, either within or immediately adjacent to the permanent right-of-
way.

Facilities Included in Related EISs

    Figure 2 (appendix 2) shows the proposed facilities for related 
natural gas projects which the Commission staff has either prepared or 
is preparing other environmental impact statements.
    On February 10, 1997, Maritimes and Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission Systems (PNGTS) filed an application in Docket No. CP97-
238-000 to construct and operate the PNGTS/Maritimes Joint Facilities 
Project (Joint Facilities Project) between Dracut, Massachusetts and 
Westbrook, Maine.
    The Commission staff has published a DEIS on April 25, 1997 which 
analyzes the 66.1 miles which constitute the Phase I Joint Facilities 
Project between Dracut, Massachusetts and Wells, Maine. Comments on the 
project are due June 9, 1997.
    The PNGTS and PNGTS/Maritimes Phase II Joint Facilities Project 
DEIS that is also under preparation includes all joint facilities 
between Wells and Westbrook, Maine, including the Westbrook Lateral 
(Phase II Joint Facilities), and all facilities between Westbrook and 
the U.S./Canada border at Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, including 
laterals.

The EIS 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 EIS 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 EIS. All comments received 
are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 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 EIS 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.
     Public safety.
     Land use.
     Cultural resources.
     Air quality and noise.
     Hazardous waste.
    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 a Draft EIS which 
will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public interest 
groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, 
libraries, and the Commission's official service list for these 
proceedings. A 45-day comment period will be allowed for review of the 
Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and revise 
the document, as necessary before issuing a Final EIS. The Final EIS 
will include our responses to the comments received.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities, 
interventions received, and the environmental information provided by 
Maritimes. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your 
comments and our analysis.

     Effects on watersheds, including Floods Pond (Bangor Water 
District), Hatcase Pond (Brewer Water District), and Sheetscot River;
     Clearing of about 2,150 acres of forest;
     Waterbody crossings over 100 feet wide including Casco 
Bay, Androscoggin River, Sabattus River, Kennebec River (3 crossings), 
Sheepscot River, Penobscot River (6 crossings), West Branch Union 
River, St. Croix River, Sebasticook River, Passadumkeag River, West 
Branch Penobscot River, tributary to the West Branch Sheepscot River, 
Marsh Stream, Jordan Brook, Otter Stream, and Trout Brook;
     16 river segments listed on both national and state 
inventories (Abagadasset, West Branch Sheepscot, Sheepscot, St. George, 
West Branch Union, Narragaugus, and Machias Rivers), or only on state 
inventories (St. Croix, West Branch Machias, Middle Branch Union, 
Kennebec, Penobscot, Passadumkeag, and Sebasticook Rivers; and 
Millinocket and Marsh Streams);
     150 coldwater fisheries crossed;
     Effect on anadromous fisheries (including Atlantic 
salmon), and waterfowl and wildlife habitat (including Sunkhaze Meadows 
National Wildlife Refuge);

[[Page 28022]]

     2 federally listed species (bald eagle and shortnose 
sturgeon);
     11 gravel pits adjacent to the right-of-way;
     A total of 44.7 miles of wetlands crossed;
     112 residences potentially within 100 feet of the pipeline 
centerline;
     Crossing of tribal land (Penobscot Indian Nation) and 
impact on fishing rights (Passamaquoddy Natural Resources Committee);
     Crossing of recreational areas including the Katahdin 
Scout Reservation; and
     Alterntive routes making greater use of existing rights-
of-way such as near Richmond, Maine and the mainline crossing of the 
Kennebec River; and alternate alignments on private property.
    Maritimes has stated that there are no nonjurisdictional facilities 
that would be built as a direct result of this project.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    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 or compressor station 
sites), 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 two copies of your comments to: Lois Cashell, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP96-089-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 20, 1997.
    In addition to sending written comments, you may attend public 
scoping meetings that we will conduct at three locations. Meetings will 
be held at the following times and locations:

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              Date                       Time              Location     
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Tuesday, June 3, 1997..........  7:00 p.m...........  Woodland          
                                                       Elementary       
                                                       School, Fourth   
                                                       Avenue, Woodland 
                                                       (Baileyville),   
                                                       Maine.           
Wednesday, June 4, 1997........  7:00 p.m...........  Hichborn Middle   
                                                       School, Cross    
                                                       Street, Howland, 
                                                       Maine.           
Thursday, June 5, 1997.........  7:00 p.m...........  Richmond High     
                                                       School, Route    
                                                       197, Richmond,   
                                                       Maine.           
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    The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain input from state 
and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have formal 
channels for input into the Federal process (including separate 
meetings where appropriate) on an interagency basis. Federal agencies 
are expected to transmit their comments directly to the FERC and not 
use the scoping meetings for this purpose. Local agencies are requested 
to provide information on other plans and projects which might conflict 
with, or have cumulative effects, when considered in combination with 
the Maritimes Phase II Project.
    Maritimes will present a description of their proposals at the 
scoping meeting. Interested groups and individuals encouraged to attend 
the meetings and present oral comments on the environmental issues 
which they believe should be addressed in the Draft EIS.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS 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 such as data 
requests and filings by other intervenors. We will provide our EIS to 
anyone who follows the instructions which appear later in this NOI. 
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 3).
    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.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all potential right-of-way 
grantors (i.e., landowners whose property would be crossed) to solicit 
focused comments regarding environmental considerations related to the 
proposed project.
    If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to 
remain on our mailing list and receive a copy of our DEIS, please 
return the Information request (appendix 4). If you do not send 
comments on the NOI or return the Information Request, you will be 
taken off the mailing list.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-13438 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M