[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19760-19761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10037]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP98-150-000 et al. and CP98-151-000]


Millennium Pipeline Company, L.P., Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Millennium Pipeline Project

April 16, 1999.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared this draft environmental impact statement 
(draft EIS) on natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Millennium 
Pipeline Company, L.P. (Millennium) and Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation (Columbia) in the above-referenced dockets.
    The draft EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of 
the proposed projects, with appropriate mitigating measures as 
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The draft 
EIS also evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including system 
alternatives.
    The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities in New York and 
Pennsylvania:
    Millennium:
     373.5 miles of 36-inch-diameter mainline;
     43.8 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline;
     3 measurement facilities; and
     Associated pipelines facilities, including mainline and 
block valves, pig launchers and receivers, remote blowdown valves, and 
remote cathodic protection rectifier beds.
    The draft EIS also assesses the potential environmental effects of 
abandonment of these facilities by Columbia:
    Abandonment by Conveyance to Millennium:
     6.7 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline in Rockland County, 
New York that would be used for the new mainline system between 
mileposts (MPs) 376.4 and 383.3;
     20.1 miles of laterals and 28 metering and regulation 
stations in New York and Pennsylvania, and one compressor station in 
Pennsylvania; and
    Abandonment in place or by removal:
     222 miles of pipeline, Line A-5, in New York.
    The purpose of the proposed projects would be to transport natural 
gas from Canada to markets in the eastern United States, including New 
York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. Please 
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are 
received in time and are properly recorded:
     Send two copies of your comments to: David Boergers, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP98-150-000 et al.; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 7, 1999.
    In addition to written comments, we will hold ten public meetings 
in the project area to receive comments on the draft EIS. All meetings 
will begin at 7:00 pm, and are scheduled as follows:

May 17, 1999
    Goshen High School, Scottstown Avenue, Goshen, NY, (914) 294-2433
May 18, 1999
    Mark Twain Junior High School, 160 Woodlawn Avenue, Yonkers, NY, 
(914) 376-8540
May 18, 1999
    Chautauqua Lake Central High School, 2 Academy Street, Mayville, 
NY, (716) 753-9305
May 19, 1999
    Horseheads High School, 401 Fletcher Street, Horseheads, NY, (607) 
739-5601
May 20, 1999
    Binghamton High School, 31 Main Street, Binghamton, NY, (607) 762-
8200
May 20, 1999
    Wellsville Elementary School, 50-98 School Street, Wellsville, NY, 
(716) 593-5504

    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and 
present oral comments on the environmental impact described in the 
draft EIS. Transcripts of the meetings will be prepared.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commenter a party to the 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.
    After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated, and modifications are made to the draft EIS as necessary, 
a final EIS will be published and distributed by the staff. The final 
EIS will contain the staff's responses to timely comments received on 
the draft EIS.
    All intervenors, agencies, elected officials, local governments, 
special interest groups, libraries, media, and anyone providing written 
comments on the DEIS will receive a copy of the final EIS. If you do 
not wish to comment on the DEIS but wish to receive a copy of the final 
EIS, you must write to the Secretary of the Commission indicating this 
request. Individuals who do not indicate their desire to receive the 
final EIS will only receive the Executive Summary.
    The draft EIS 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, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    A limited number of copies are available from the Public Reference 
and Files Maintenance Branch identified above. In addition, the draft 
EIS has been mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies; public 
interest groups; individuals who requested a copy of the draft EIS; 
affected landowners; libraries; newspapers; and parties to this 
proceeding.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 
208-1088 or on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the 
``RIMS'' link to information in this docket number. Click on the 
``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the 
instructions. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can 
be reached at (202) 208-2222.
    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.

[[Page 19761]]

For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS helpline can be reached at 
(202) 208-2474.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-10037 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M