[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 5943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2809]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

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


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Availability of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maritimes 
Phase II Project

January 30, 1998.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared this draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS) on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. in the above-referenced dockets and referred 
to as the Maritime Phase II Project.
    The staff prepared the DEIS to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of 
the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures as proposed 
and recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact.
    The DEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of 
construction and operation of the following facilities in Maine:
     A total of about 347.0 miles of pipeline, consisting of 
200.1 miles of 24- and 30-inch-diameter mainline between Westbrook in 
York County and Woodland (Baileyville) in Washington County, and five 
laterals totaling 146.9 miles of 4- to 16-inch-diameter pipeline;
     About 31,160 horsepower of new compression at two new 
compressor stations;
     Twelve new meter stations; and
     Associated aboveground facilities, including 35 block 
valves.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport 
440,000 thousand cubic feet per day of natural gas to existing and new 
natural gas markets in Maine and the northeast. These natural gas 
supplies would come from new reserves being developed in offshore Nova 
Scotia, Canada.

Comment Procedure

Written Comments

    Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. Please follow 
these instructions carefully to ensure that your comments are received 
in time and properly recorded:
     Reference Docket Nos. CP96-809-000 et al.;
     Send two copies to: Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426;
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch II, PR 11.2;
     Mail your comments so that they will be received on or 
before March 23, 1998.

Public Meeting Schedule

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                       Time              Location     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, March 10, 1998.........  7:00 p.m..........  Harrison Middle   
                                                       School Cafeteria,
                                                       McCartney Street 
                                                       (off West Elm    
                                                       Street),         
                                                       Yarmouth, ME     
                                                       (207) 846-2499.  
                                                                        
 Please Note: The location of the Yarmouth Meeting has changed from that
                           given in the DEIS.                           
                                                                        
Wednesday, March 11, 1998.......  7:00 p.m..........  Gardiner Regional 
                                                       Junior High,     
                                                       School Cafeteria,
                                                       161 Cobbossee    
                                                       Avenue, Gardiner,
                                                       ME (207) 582-    
                                                       1326.            
Thursday, March 12, 1998........  7:00 p.m..........  Bangor High School
                                                       Auditorium, 885  
                                                       Broadway, Bangor,
                                                       ME (207) 941-    
                                                       6200.            
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. 98-2809 Filed 2-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M