[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 6339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3063]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP98-761-000 and CP99-140-000]


Viking Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 1999 Expansion Project

February 3, 1999.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Viking Gas Transmission 
Company (Viking) in the above-referenced docket. The application and 
other supplemental filings in this docket are available for viewing on 
the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us). Click on the ``RIMS'' 
link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the 
instructions.
    Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides 
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such 
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website, 
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and 
follow the instructions.
    The EA 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, would not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities is to provide additional 
firm transportation service of approximately 28 million cubic feet per 
day (MMcfd) of natural gas during the winter months and approximately 
22 MMcfd of natural gas during the summer months along Viking's 
existing route between the Canada-United States border near Emerson, 
Manitoba and North Branch, Minnesota. The proposed facilities would 
also provide reliability and system flexibility benefits to Viking's 
existing customers.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following proposed natural gas 
transmission facilities:
     The construction of five pipeline loops \1\ of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline totaling 45.0 miles;
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    \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipeline installed parallel 
to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends in order to 
increase the volume of gas that can be transported through the 
pipeline system.
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     The construction of eight crossover valves and other minor 
aboveground facilities to connect the loops to Viking's existing 
pipelines;
     The construction of one new meter station; and
     The removal of the existing valve.
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are 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 EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure 
consideration 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: David P. Boergers, 
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, PR11.1;
     Reference Docket Nos. CP98-761-000 and CP99-140-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before March 4, 1999.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor 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).
    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. You do not need intervenor status 
to have your environmental comments considered. Additional information 
about the proposed project is available from Mr. Paul McKee of the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1088 or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the ``RIMS'' link to information 
in this docket number. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222. Access to the texts of 
formal documents issued by the Commission with regard to this docket, 
such as orders and notices, is also available on the FERC website using 
the ``CIPS'' link. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-3063 Filed 2-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M