[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 9788-9790] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-4909] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP97-774-000] CNG Transmission Corporation; Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Market Area Storage Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues February 20, 1998. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the facilities proposed in the Market Area Storage Project.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether [[Page 9789]] the project is in the public convenience and necessity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ CNG Transmission Corporation's and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation's application was filed with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's regulations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of the Proposed Project CNG Transmission Corporation (CNG) and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation (Texas Eastern) (together referred to as the Applicants) want to expand the capacity of the jointly-owned storage facilities to allow for the storage of an additional 10 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas at the Oakford Storage Field in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Also, the proposed facilities would add about 200 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of injection capability and about 393 MMcf/ d of additional end-of-January withdrawal capability at the Oakford Storage Field. The Applicants seek authority to construct and operate these facilities in spring 1998:12,000 horsepower (hp) of additional electric motor-driven compression and related piping and appurtenant facilities at the existing Oakford Compressor Station in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; About 6 miles of new and replacement storage field well lines of various sizes and lengths; Various valves, piping, filter separators, buildings, and appurtenant facilities at the Oakford Compressor Station; A replacement dehydration system at the Oakford Compressor Station capable of processing an additional 400 MMcf/d; and 325 feet of 10-inch-diameter suction line at the Lincoln Height Compressor Station in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania replacing an 8-inch-diameter pipeline and related aboveground facilities. A nonjurisdictional 138 kilovolt (kV) electric substation would be installed at the Oakford Compressor Station by Allegheny Power Company. The Substation would be constructed on a 0.75 acre site on compressor station property along the south side and outside of the existing fence line. It would consist of a 138 kV transformer, poles, breakers, and a 30-foot-long access road all within the existing compressor station facility. About 2 miles of transmission lines would be constructed to the substation. CNG also seeks authority to increase the deliverability of its Greenlick Compressor Station in Potter County, Pennsylvania, from 912 MMcf/d to 1,062 MMcf/d by modifying certain facilities and constructing and operating related facilities in spring 1999. These activities would include: Reworking 4 existing crossover heaters by adding a new electronic panel board, electronic ignition system, and heat turbulator; Installing 1 new vertical filter/separator; Reworking six 10-inch ANSI 1500# Ball Valves; Replacing two 10-inch ANSI 1500# Ball Valves; Removing and installing a new Regan Pump of the same size; Reworking nine-12-inch-diameter existing orifice runs; and Installing new beads in the existing towers. The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the Commission's 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirement for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 110.4 acres of land. Following construction, about 21 acres would be maintained as new aboveground facility sites (mostly within the existing compressor stations) and about 34.6 acres would be within pipeline rights-of-way. The remaining 54.8 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. The EA Process The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to taken 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 EA 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 EA. All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EA. 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 EA 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 the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be published and mailed to Federal, state and local agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission. Currently Identified Environmental Issues We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by CNG and Texas Eastern. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. The addition of 12,000 hp of compression may increase the noise level near the Oakford Compressor Station. A high-quality cold-water fishery, Beaver Run, would be crossed near milepost 0.65 on storage pipeline JP-302, about 2 miles upstream from the headwaters of Beaver Run Reservoir which is the main drinking water source for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Public Participation 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 locations or routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded: Send two copies of your letter to: David P. Boergers, Acting Secretary, [[Page 9790]] Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., 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; Reference Docket No. CP97-774-000; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before March 23, 1998. If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request (appendix 3). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list. If you are interested in obtaining procedural information please write to the Secretary of the Commission. Becoming an Intervenor In addition to involvement in the EA 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 and filings by other intervenors. 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 2). 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. Your do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. David P. Boergers, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-4909 Filed 2-25-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M