[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 39832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19451]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP97-238-000 and CP96-347-000]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System; Granite State Gas Transmission, Inc.; Notice of 
Availability, Final Environmental Impact Statement, PNGTS/Maritimes 
Phase I Joint Facilities Project

July 18, 1997.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared this Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) on natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. and Portland Natural Gas Transmission System 
in the above-referenced docket. The FEIS also includes certain 
facilities to be abandoned by Granite State Gas Transmission Inc. in 
the above-referenced docket. The specific facilities addressed in this 
FEIS are referred to as the PNGTS/Maritimes Phase I Joint Facilities 
Project (Phase I Joint Facilities).
    The FEIS 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 as recommended, 
would have limited adverse environmental impact.
    The FEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:
     about 66.1 miles of 30-inch-diameter mainline between 
Dracut, Massachusetts and Wells, Maine;
     about 0.8 mile of 20-inch-diameter pipeline (Haverhill 
Lateral);
     about 1.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline (Newington 
Lateral);
     five meter stations, three taps, and other associated 
aboveground facilities; and
     abandonment of 15.3 miles of 6-inch-diameter pipeline and 
two 375 horsepower compressor units in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
    The FEIS will be used in the regulatory decision-making process at 
the FERC. While the period for filing interventions in this case has 
expired, motions to intervene out-of-time can be filed with the FERC in 
accordance with the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures, 18 
CFR 385.214(d). Further, anyone desiring to file a protest with the 
FERC should do so in accordance with 18 CFR 385.211.
    The FEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 
888 First Street, N.E., Room 2A, Washington, D.C. 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.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 
208-1088.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-19451 Filed 7-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M