[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 30852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14696]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP96-249-000, et al. and Docket No. CP97-238-000]


Portland Natural Gas Transmission System, Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice 
of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed PNGTS Project and PNGTS/Maritimes Phase II Joint Facilities 
Project and Notice of Meeting Site Change

May 30, 1997.
    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 Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System (PNGTS), and jointly by PNGTS and Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) in the above referenced dockets. 
The specific facilities addressed in this DEIS are referred to as the 
PNGTS Project and the PNGTS/Maritimes Phase II Joint Facilities Project 
(PNGTS and Phase II Joint Facilities).
    The DEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project would have limited adverse environmental impact if 
constructed as planned with the proposed and recommended mitigation.
    The DEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:
     The PNGTS Project, which includes:

--About 141.6 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline between Pittsburg, New 
Hampshire and Westbrook, Maine;
--About 0.7 mile of 8-inch-diameter pipeline (Groveton Lateral);
--About 26.9 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Rumford Lateral);
--About 16.6 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Jay Lateral); and
--Three new meter stations and other associated aboveground facilities.

     The Phase II Joint Facilities, which include:

--About 35.2 miles of 30-inch-diameter mainline between Wells, Maine 
and Westbrook, Maine;
--About 3.8 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Westbrook Lateral); and
--Three new meter stations and other associated aboveground facilities.

Comment Procedure

Written Comments

    Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. Please 
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are 
received in time and properly recorded:
     Reference Docket Nos. CP96-249-000 and CP97-238-000;
     Send two copies of your comments to: Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Mail your comments so they will be received on or before 
July 21, 1997.

Public Meeting Schedule

    Three public meetings to receive comments on the DEIS will be held 
at the following times and locations (please note that the date for the 
meeting in Colebrook, New Hampshire has changed):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                       Time              Location     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 7, 1997....................  7:00 p.m..........  The Warren        
                                                       Library, 479     
                                                       Maine Street,    
                                                       Westbrook, Maine.
July 8, 1997....................  7:00 p.m..........  Town and Country  
                                                       Inn, Route 2,    
                                                       Gorham, New      
                                                       Hampshire.       
July 9, 1997....................  7:00 p.m..........  Colebrook Public  
                                                       Library, 149     
                                                       Maine Street,    
                                                       Colebrook, New   
                                                       Hampshire.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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.
    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, NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    A limited number of copies are available at this location.
    Copies of the DEIS have been mailed to Federal, state, and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding. Any person may file a motion to 
intervene on the basis of the Commission staff's DEIS (see 18 CFR 
380.106 and 385.214). You do not need intervenor status to have your 
comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 
208-1088.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-14696 Filed 6-4-97; 8:45 am]
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