[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47490-47491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23977]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP98-131-000 and CP98-133-000]
Vector Pipeline L.P.; Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Vector Pipeline Project
September 1, 1998.
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 Vector Pipeline L.P.
(Vector) in the above-referenced dockets.
The DEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the
proposed project with the appropriate mitigating measures as
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The DEIS
also analyzed system alternatives, major route alternatives, route
variations, and alternative compressor station sites, and requests
comments on them.
The DEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the following facilities:
266.9 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in Illinois,
Indiana, and Michigan extending from Joliet in Will County, Illinois to
Oakland County, Michigan;
3.7 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in St. Clair
County, Michigan terminating at the border of the United States and
Canada near St. Clair, Michigan;
four meter stations;
[[Page 47491]]
two compressor stations totaling 60,000 horsepower;
20 new mainline values, two internal tool or ``pig''
launchers and one pig receiver; and
permanent roads for access to compressor stations and
valves.
The Vector Pipeline Project also includes the lease of 58.8 miles
of an existing 36-inch-diameter pipeline from Oakland County to St.
Clair County, Michigan.
The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport about
1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Chicago hub to the
Dawn hub; deliver significant volumes of gas to markets in Michigan;
and to provide increased access to the Dawn hub and markets in Canada
and the eastern U.S.
Specific Comment Request
The staff has identified and evaluated in detail two compressor
station alternative sites, and evaluated eight route variations to the
proposed facilities. Of these compressor station alternatives and route
variations, the staff has not recommended the use of any at this time.
Area residents, local or state governments, intervenors, Vector, and
other interested parties are asked to provide specific comments on
whether these alternatives and variations are reasonable, practicable,
and environmentally preferable to the proposed facilities. Comments
should also address any effect on project timing and related cost/
benefits.
Comment Procedures and Public Meeting
Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. To ensure
reconsideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is
important that we receive your comments before the date specified
below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your
comments are received in time and properly recorded:
Send two copies of your comments to: Secretary, 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, PR-11.1;
Reference Docket Nos. CP98-131-000 and CP98-133-000;
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before October 19, 1998.
In addition to accepting written comments, four public meetings to
receive comments on the DEIS will be held at the following times and
locations:
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Date/time Location
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Monday, October 5, 1998 7:00 Leslie High School Auditorium, 4141 Hull
pm. Road, Leslie, MI, (517) 589-8200.
Monday, October 5, 1998 7:00 Milford High School, 2380 S. Milford
pm. Road, Milford, MI, (248) 684-8091.
Tuesday, October 6, 1998 7:00 Three Rivers Community Center, 103
pm. Postage Avenue, Three Rivers, MI, (616)
279-9231.
Tuesday, October 6, 1998 7:00 Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 800 E. 81st
pm. Avenue, Merrillville, IN, (219) 757-
3537.
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Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and
present oral comments on the environmental impacts described in the
DEIS. Transcripts of the meetings will be prepared. Additional
information about the meetings is available from Paul McKee in the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 208-1088.
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
by the staff. The FEIS will contain the staff's responses to timely
comments filed on the DEIS.
Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to
make the commenter a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).
Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this DEIS. You
must file your request to intervene as specified above. You do not need
intervenor status to have your comments considered.
The DEIS 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, NE, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
Copies of the DEIS have been mailed to Federal, State, and local
agencies, public interest groups, individuals who have requested the
DEIS, newspapers, and parties to this proceeding. A limited number of
copies of the DEIS are available from the above address.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-23977 Filed 9-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M