[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12459-12463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6524]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP97-315-001, CP97-319-000, CP98-200-000]
Independence Pipeline Company, ANR Pipeline Company, National
Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Independence Pipeline
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of
Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visit
March 9, 1998.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
[[Page 12460]]
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will discuss the
environmental impacts of the construction and operation of
approximately 473 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline, three new
and three modified compressor stations, metering and delivering
facilities, other appurtenant facilities, and abandonment of
approximately 39 miles of pipeline proposed in the Independence
Pipeline Project.\1\ This EIS will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
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\1\ Independence Pipeline Company, ANR Pipeline Company, and
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation's applications were filed with
the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157
of the Commission's regulations.
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If you are a landowner whose property will be crossed by the
proposed project, you may be contacted by a pipeline company
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct,
operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline company may
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement relative to land use
and access. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, the
pipeline has the right to us eminent domain. Therefore, if negotiations
fail to produce an agreement between the pipeline company and
landowner, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings
in accordance with state law. A fact sheet addressing a number of
typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain, is
attached to this notice as appendix 1.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Independence Pipeline Company (Independence) wants to build new
natural gas pipeline transmission facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The facilities would provide transportation services to shippers
seeking to transport natural gas principally from expansion projects
destined for the Chicago, Illinois area to the Leidy, Pennsylvania Hub,
thereby facilitating access to gas markets in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and
throughout the Eastern United States. The proposed facilities would
have a summer design delivery capacity of 916.3 thousand cubic feet per
day (Mcf/d) and a winter design delivery capacity of 1.0 million cubic
feet per day (MMcf/d). Independence requests Commission authorization,
in Docket Nos. CP97-315-000, CP97-315-001, CP97-320-000, and CP97-321-
000 to construct and operate the following facilities:
400.4 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Defiance,
Henry, Wood, Seneca, Huron, Ashland, Wayne, Stark, Summit, and
Columbian Counties, Ohio, and Lawrence, Butler, Armstrong, Clarion,
Jefferson, Elk, Forest, McLean, Cameron, Potter, and Clinton Counties,
Pennsylvania. Of the 400.4 miles of pipeline, about 220.9 miles would
be in Ohio and 179.5 miles would be in Pennsylvania.
Three new compressor stations with a total of 60,000
horsepower (hp) of compression:
--East Defiance Compression Station (30,000 hp) in Defiance County,
Ohio.
--Cannan Compression Station (15,000 hp) in Wayne County, Ohio.
--Porter Compression Station (15,000 hp) in Clarion County,
Pennsylvania.
One pig launcher and receiver located at the proposed
Canaan and Porter Compressor Stations.
Three new meter stations located in Defiance County, Ohio,
and Elk and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania.
Other associated aboveground facilities, including six
taps in Wood (1), Ashland (1), Wayne (2), and Columbiana (1) Counties,
Ohio and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (1).
A total of 28 mainline block valves, 16 located in the
following counties in Ohio: Defiance (1), Henry (1), Wood (2), Seneca
(2), Huron (2), Ashland (1), Wayne (2), Summit (1), Stark (2), and
Columbiana (2); and 12 located in the following counties in
Pennsylvania: Lawrence (2), Butler (1), Armstrong (1), Clarion (1),
Jefferson (2), Elk (1), McKean (1), Cameron (1), Potter (1) and Clinton
(1).
ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) wants to expand its existing Michigan
Leg South and Tieline facilities to provide incremental transportation
between Joliet, Illinois and Defiance, Ohio. This would allow ANR's
existing Northern Zone to become an economical link between the Chicago
Hub and Independence's proposed pipeline facilities. ANR's proposed
facilities would have a design delivery capacity of 750 MMcf/d. ANR
requests Commission authorization, in Docket No. CP97-319-000, to
construct and operate the following facilities:
72.4 miles of 42- and 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop
extending from Joliet, Illinois to Defiance, Ohio:
--Joliet Loop--15.9 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in Kendall and
Will Counties, Illinois.
--St. John West Loop--5.5 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in Will
County Illinois and Lake County, Indiana.
--St. John East Loop--20.9 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in Lake
and Porter Counties, Indiana.
--Bridgman Loop--16.0 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Berrien
County, Michigan.
--Defiance Loop--14.1 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Defiance
County, Ohio.
15,000 hp additional compression at the existing Bridgman
Compressor Station in Berrien County, Michigan, and Modifications not
involving compression change at the existing Lagrange Compressor
Station in Lagrange County, Indiana and Defiance Compressor Station in
Defiance County, Ohio.
Associated aboveground facilities, including the
installation of pig receivers at the St. John and Defiance Compressor
Stations, and at the end of the Bridgman Loop facilities in Berrien
County, Michigan. Also, new pig launchers would be installed at the St.
John and Bridgman Compressor Stations, at the beginning of the Joliet
Loop in Kendall County, Illinois, and on the Defiance Loop in Defiance
County, Ohio.
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (National Fuel) wants to
abandon, primarily by removal, three contiguous sections of its
existing natural gas pipeline facilities in Pennsylvania to facilitate
construction of Independence's proposed pipeline in that area. National
Fuel would also make minor changes to its remaining facilities in that
area to maintain service to existing customers. National Fuel requests
Commission authorization, in Docket No. CP98-200-000, to:
Abandon by removal 13.3 miles of its 12-inch-diameter Line
K, from Eshbaugh to Eldred in Clarion and Jefferson Counties,
Pennsylvania.
Abandon by removal 8.6 miles of its 12-inch-diameter Line
C and 22-inch-diameter Line K-197, from Eldred to Overbeck in Jefferson
County, Pennsylvania.
Abandon by removal 17.4 miles of its 12-inch-diameter Line
C and 22-inch-diameter Line K-197, from Overbeck to Lamont in
Jefferson, Elk and Forest, Counties, Pennsylvania.
Relocate taps, regulator stations, and inlet piping from
Line C to Line K, and install gas heaters and pipeline jumpers, in
Jefferson and Elk Counties, Pennsylvania.
Perform an automation upgrade at its existing Knox
Compressor Station in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
A general location map of the project facilities is shown in
appendix 2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of Independence's proposed facilities would affect a
total of about 3,702 acres. Of this total, about
[[Page 12461]]
3,640 acres would be disturbed by construction of the pipeline. The
remaining 62 acres would be disturbed by construction and operation of
the three compressor stations and two meter stations. Mainline valves
would be built within or adjacent to Independence's permanent right-of-
way. Extra work areas would be needed for pipe installation at roads,
railroads, waterbody and wetland crossings, additional topsoil storage,
pipe and equipment yards, and access roads. Approximately 209.7 miles
(52 percent) of the new pipeline would be installed adjacent to or
within existing rights-of-way. Independence would generally use a 75-
to 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way. Following construction and
restoration of the right-of-way and temporary work spaces, Independence
would retain a 50-foot-wide permanent pipeline right-of-way. Existing
land uses on the remainder of the disturbed areas, as well as most land
uses on the permanent right-of-way, would be allowed to continue
following construction. Total land requirements for the permanent
right-of-way would be about 2,426 acres.
Construciton of ANR's proposed facilities would affect a total of
about 1,222 acres. Of this total, about 1,124 acres would be disturbed
by construction of the pipeline loops. The remaining 98 acres would be
disturbed by extra work areas, contractor yards, and access roads.
Approximately 63.7 miles (88 percent) of the new pipelines loops would
be installed adjacent and parallel to the existing mainline. ANR would
deviate from existing mainline in several locations to avoid
environmental or engineering constraints. Construction of the pipeline
loops would require a 75- to 145-foot-wide construction right-of-way.
ANR would retain a 35- to 50-foot-wide permanent pipeline right-of-way.
Existing land uses on the remainder of the disturbed areas, as well as
most land uses on the permanent right-of-way, would be allowed to
continue following construction. Total land requirements for the
permanent right-of-way would be about 291 acres.
Removal of National Fuel's Lines K, C, and K-197, and modifications
to its existing taps and regulator stations would be entirely within
National Fuel's existing rights-of-way, and entirely within the
construction work areas that would be affected by construction of the
Independence Pipeline. National Fuel's proposed facilities would affect
a total of about 319 acres.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. The EIS we are
preparing will give the Commission the information to do that. NEPA
also requires us to discover and address concerns the public may have
about the proposals. We call this ``scoping''. The main goal of the
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS 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 EIS.
All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EIS.
We encourage state and local government representatives to notify their
constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern. Local agencies are requested to provide
information on other projects, either ongoing or planned, which might
conflict with, or have cumulative effects when considered in
combination with, the Independence Pipeline Project.
To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section on pages 8 and 9 of
this Notice.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have identified a number of issues based upon our preliminary
review of the proposed facilities, the environmental information
provided by Independence, ANR, National Fuel, and interested parties.
Some of these issues are listed below. Keep in mind that this is a
preliminary list, and is not a complete list of site-specific issues.
We may add to, subtract from, or change the list of issues based on
your comments and our analysis.
Geology and Soils:
--Temporary and permanent impact on prime farmland soils.
--Mixing of topsoil and subsoil during construction.
--Crossing of agricultural drainage systems.
--Compaction of soil by heavy equipment.
--Crossing of reclaimed and operating strip mines and abandoned deep
coal mines.
--Crossing of East Ohio Gas Company Storage Fields.
--Effect of blasting during trench excavation.
--Erosion control and restoration of the right-of-way.
Water Resources:
--Crossing of 786 perennial and intermittent waterbodies.
--Crossing of 7 perennial waterbodies over 100 feet wide, including Des
Plain, St. Joseph, Dowagiac, Allegheny, and Clarion Rivers, and
Slippery Rock and Kettle Creeks.
--Effect on water supplies, including 57 private wells within 150 feet
of the construction work area.
--Potentially contaminated sediments at waterbody crossings, including
Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, Ohio.
Vegetation and Wildlife:
--Crossing of 135 acres of wetlands (totaling 13.7 miles).
--Clearing of about 1,290 acres of forest (totaling 169.6 miles) and
removal of stumps, timber, and slash.
--Effect of construction on wildlife and fisheries habitat.
--Effect on federally listed endangered and threatened species,
including bald eagle, Indiana bat, copper-belly watersnake, clubshell
mussel, northern riffleshell mussel, northern monkshood, purple cats
paw, and eastern prairie fringed orchid.
Cultural Resources:
--Impact on historic and prehistoric sites.
--Native American and tribal concerns.
Land Use:
--Use of eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way.
--Impact on crop production.
--Proximity to schools and residential developments.
--Effect on 45 residences within 50 feet of the construction work area.
--Crossings of septic fields and drains.
--Effect on local roads.
--Crossing of scenic highways, including State Routes 424 and 65 in
Ohio.
--Effect on Canton-Akron regional airport, Summit County, Ohio, and
Willard Airport, Huron County, Ohio.
--Control of unauthorized access to rights-of-way.
Recreation and Public Interest Areas:
--Crossing of hiking trails, including the North Country National Trail
System in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the Buckeye Trail in Ohio.
--Crossing of the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania.
--Crossing of the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania.
--Crossing of Illinois and Michigan Canal in Illinois; Independence Dam
State Park in Ohio; Clear Creek, McConnell' Mill, and Elk State Parks
in Pennsylvania; and Elk, Sproul, and
[[Page 12462]]
Susquehannock State Forests in Pennsylvania.
--Crossing of Channahon Community Park in Illinois, Plum Grove Reserve
in Illinois/Indiana, Deep River County Park in Indiana, and F.H.
Dutlinger Preserve in Pennsylvania.
--Crossing of one river included on the National Wild and Scenic River
System (Little Beaver Creek, in Columbiana County, Ohio).
--Crossing of state designated or proposed wild, scenic, and
recreational rivers, including Maumee and Sandusky Rivers in Ohio, and
Allegheny and Clarion Rivers and Slippery Rock and Kettle Creeks in
Pennsylvania.
Socioeconomics:
--Impact on property values.
--Effect of construction workforce on demands for services in
surrounding areas.
Air Quality and Noise:
--Impact on local air quality during construction, and regional air
quality during operation, of pipelines and compressor stations.
--Noise impact on nearby areas from construction and operation of
pipelines and compressor stations.
Reliability and Safety:
--Assessment of hazards associated with national gas pipelines,
including placement in vicinity of schools and residential
developments.
Cumulative Impact:
--Assessment of the combined effect of the proposed project with other
projects which have been or may be proposed in the same region and
similar time frame.
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. A number of
alternatives have been identified to date, both in filings made by the
applicants and in comments received. We will evaluate all feasible
alternatives identified.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in a Draft EIS which
will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public interest
groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers,
libraries, and the Commission's official service list for these
proceedings. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for review of the
Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and revise
the document, as necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. The Final EIS
will treat all comments received on the Draft EIS.
Public Participation and Scoping Meetings
You can make a difference by your specific comments or concerns
about the project. By becoming a commentor, your concerns will be
addressed in the EIS and considered by the Commission. You should focus
on the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to
the proposal (including alternative routes or compressor station
sties), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more
specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please follow the
instructions below to ensure that your comments are received and
properly recorded:
Reference Docket Nos. CP97-315-001, CP97-319-000. and
CP98-200-000.
Send two copies of your comments to: David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St.,
NE., Washington, DC 20426;
Label one copy for the attention of the Environmental
Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.1.
Please mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before April 29, 1998.
In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are
invited to attend one or more of the six public scoping meetings being
held in the project area. An additional meeting(s) may be held in July
or August. Meetings will be held at the following times and locations:
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Date Time Location
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Tuesday, April 7, 1998........ 7:00 p.m.................. Joliet Central High School, Little Theatre, Corner
of Van Buren and Herkimer, (815) 727-6743, Joliet,
Illinois 60432.
Wednesday, April 8, 1998...... 7:00 p.m.................. Buchanan High School Auditorium, 401 W. Chicago,
(616) 695-8403, Buchanan, Michigan 49107.
Monday, April 20, 1998........ 7:00 p.m.................. Tiffin Columbian High School Auditorium, 300 South
Monroe Street, (419) 447-6331, Tiffin, Ohio 44883.
Tuesday, April 21, 1998....... 7:00 p.m.................. Hoover High School, Hoover Hall, 525 Seventh Street,
NE, (330) 497-5600, North Canton, Ohio 44720.
Wednesday, April 22, 1998..... 7:00 p.m.................. Butler Intermediate High School Auditorium, 551
Fairground Hill Road, (724) 287-8721, Butler,
Pennsylvania 16001.
Thursday, April 23, 1998...... 7:00 p.m.................. Royal Inn, US Route 219 Boot Jack Road, (814) 773-
3153, Ridgeway, Pennsylvania 15853.
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The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain input from state
and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have formal
channels for input into the Federal process (including separate meeting
where appropriate). Federal agencies are expected to file their written
comments directly with the FERC and not use the scoping meetings for
this purpose.
Independence, ANR, and National Fuel will be invited to present a
description of their proposals. Interested groups and individuals are
encouraged to attend the meetings and present oral comments on the
environmental issues which they believe should be addressed in the
Draft EIS. A transcript will be made of the meetings and will be made
part of the Commission's record in this proceeding. Written comments
and oral comments will be treated equally in our review.
We are asking a number of Federal agencies to indicate whether they
wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies
may choose to participate once they have evaluated each proposal
relative to their agencies' responsibilities. The list of agencies is
provided in appendix 3.\2\
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\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, Room 2A or call (202) 208-
1371. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail.
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On the above dates we will also be conducting limited site visits
to the project area in the vicinity of each scoping meeting location.
Anyone interested in participating in the site visit may contact the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, identified at
[[Page 12463]]
the end of this notice, for more details and must provide their own
transportation.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding, known as an
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process.
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 14 copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy to all other parties
on the Commission's service lists for these proceedings. 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 4). Only intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding
has passed, having ended February 23, 1998. 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. However, you do not need intervenor status to have your
comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
Anyone offering scoping comments will be automatically kept on our
environmental mailing list for the project. If you do not want to offer
comments at this time but still want to keep informed and receive
copies of the Draft and Final EISs, please return the Environmental
Mailing List Information (appendix 5). If you do not return the card
you will be taken off the mailing list.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-
1088.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-6524 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M