[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54880-54881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26258]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP99-94-000]


Florida Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed FGT Phase 
Expansion Project

October 4, 1999.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared this draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS) on natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Florida Gas 
Transmission Company (FGT) in the above-referenced docket.
    The DEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that approval of 
the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures as 
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The DEIS 
also evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including system 
alternatives.

    Note: On August 23, 1999, FGT amended its application and 
withdrew the entire 45.1 miles of a new 16-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Lake, Seminole, and Volusia Counties in Florida (called the New 
Smyrna Beach Lateral) and its associated Duke Energy meter station; 
the entire 5.5 miles loop of the existing 30-inch-diameter pipeline 
in Suwannee and Columbia Counties in Florida (Mainline Loop 1); 7.9 
out of the original 14.0 miles loop of the existing 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline in Bradford County, Florida (Mainline Loop 2) so that 6.1 
miles of the loop are still proposed; the entire 6.0 mile loop of 
the existing 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Marion County, Florida 
(Mainline Loop 3); restaging of two compressor units and adding a 
gas scrubber and gas cooler at Compressor Station 11A in Mobile 
County, Alabama; addition of compression at the existing Compressor 
Station 13A in Washington County, Florida; and restaging of one 
compressor unit at the existing Compressor Station 15A in Taylor 
County, Florida. This DEIS has been updated to exclude those 
facilities from the proposed project.

    The proposed action involves construction of pipeline, a new 
compressor station, and addition of compression at various existing 
compressor stations in Florida and Mississippi. FGI proposes to 
construct about 139.5 miles of pipeline. The DEIS assesses the 
potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of 
the following facilities in Florida and Mississippi:
     15.4 miles of loop on FGT's existing mainline;
     113.0 miles of new pipeline called the West Leg Extension;
     11.1 miles of pipeline loop and extension on FGT's lateral 
systems;
     Install about 10,350 horsepower (hp) of compression at one 
new compressor station;
     Add 27,870 hp of additional compression at three existing 
compressor stations;
     Construct two new meter stations; and
     Miscellaneous facilities, including mainline valves, tie-
ins, a crossover, two interconnections, and a tap valve and tie-in.
    The purpose of the proposed project is to deliver natural gas 
largely for electric power generation.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS 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., NE, 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Reference Docket No. CP99-94-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before November 22, 1999.
    In addition to written comments, we will hold three public meetings 
in the project area to receive comments on the DEIS. All meetings will 
begin at 7:00 p.m., and are scheduled as follows:

Date and Location

November 1, 1999
    Holiday Inn in Lake City, Banquet Room, 4517 US Hwy West, Lake 
City, FL 32056, (904) 752-3436
November 2, 1999
    City of Arcadia, Parks and Recreation Department, Margaret Way 
Building, 23 Pock Avenue, Arcadia, FL 34266, (941) 494-2000
November 3, 1999
    1914 High School, 605 N. Collins Street, Plant City, FL 33566, 
(813) 757-9226

    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and 
present oral comments on the environmental impact

[[Page 54881]]

described in the DEIS. Transcripts of the meetings will be prepared.
    Previously public scoping meetings were held in Gainesville, 
DeLand, Fort Myers, and Bartow, Florida. On August 23, 1999, FGT 
deleted some of the project facilities. Meeting locations have been 
selected to represent the project area and consequently, no meeting 
will be held in the DeLand area.
    After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated and modifications are made to the DEIS 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 
DEIS.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person may file a 
motion to intervene on the basis of the Commission Staff's DEIS (see 
Title 18 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 380.106 and 385.214). You 
do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
    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.
    The DEIS 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 DEIS 
has been mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies; public interest 
groups; individuals, and affected landowners who requested a copy of 
the DEIS; 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 website (www.ferc.fed.us), using the ``RIMS'' 
link to information on this docket number. For assistance with access 
to RIMS, the RIMS helpine 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 helpine can be reached at (202) 208-2474.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-26258 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M