[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14126]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP96-153-000; Docket No. CP97-343-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company, Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas 
Company; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed North Alabama Pipeline Project

May 23, 1997.
    The Staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) 
on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Southern Natural Gas 
Company (Southern) in Docket No. CP96-153-000.
    The staff prepared the FEIS to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that, approval 
of Southern's project, with the appropriate mitigating measures as 
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact if 
constructed as planned and with the recommended mitigation. The FEIS 
evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including an alternative 
project that is proposed by Alabama-Tennessee Natural Gas Company 
(Alabama-Tennessee) under Docket No. CP97-343-000. This project is 
called the Alabama-Tennessee System Alternative and, based solely on 
environmental considerations, it is environmentally preferred. The FEIS 
also examines major route alternatives and route variations.
    The FEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following Southern facilities:
     About 118.0 miles of new natural gas pipeline (109.5 miles 
of 16-inch-diameter pipeline and 8.5 miles of 12.75-inch-diameter 
pipeline);
     About 6,300 horsepower of new compression at two existing 
compressor stations; and
     Two new meter stations, and related facilities.

Facilities required by two local distribution companies are also 
examined.
    The purpose of Southern's proposed facilities would be to transport 
about 74,850 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas to five 
customers in Alabama and Georgia.
    The staff has also identified and evaluated in detail one major 
route alternative, the Tarrant Alternative, and 101 other variations in 
chapter 6 of the FEIS. We have accepted/recommended the use of most of 
the variations.
    The FEIS 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, Room 1A, 888 
First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    Copies of the FEIS 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 FEIS 
are available from the Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch 
identified above.
    The date for filing timely motions to intervene in these 
proceedings has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late 
interventions must show good cause, as required by Rule 214 of the 
FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214).
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-14126 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
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