[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69253-69258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32008]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Commission


Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gulfstream 
Pipeline Project, Request for comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visit

December 6, 1999.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) that will discuss the 
environmental impacts of the Gulfstream Pipeline Project involving 
construction and operation of facilities by Gulfstream Natural Gas 
System, L.L.C. (Gulfstream) in Alabama, Mississippi, the Gulf of 
Mexico, and Florida.\1\ These facilities would consist of about 744 
miles of various diameter pipeline, 120,000 horsepower (hp) of 
compression, a pressure regulating station, 20 meter stations, 3 
manifold stations, 5 take-off stations, 25 mainline valve sites, and 17 
pig launchers or receivers. 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. Due to the division of proposed 
facilities between onshore and offshore areas, the FERC will focus on 
analysis on onshore issues. The MMS will have primary responsibility 
for offshore analysis and will coordinate with the Army Corps of 
Engineers regarding state waters review. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Gulfstream's application was filed with the Commission on 
October 15, 1999, under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 
157 of the Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. General information about the MMS and detailed 
information regarding the Gulf of Mexico can be accessed at the MMS 
Internet website (www.mms.gov).
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, 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 would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable 
agreement. However, if the project is approve by the Commission, that 
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if 
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, 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.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's website at the ``RIMS'' link or from the Commission's 
Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. For 
instructions on connecting to RIMS refer to the last page of this 
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving 
this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FERC is the lead agency and the MMS is a federal cooperating 
agency for this project because the MMS has jurisdiction by law as well 
as special expertise regarding the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the portion of the proposed pipeline that would be 
installed on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Additionally, with this notice we are asking a number of Federal 
and state agencies (see appendix 2) with jurisdiction and/or special 
expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in 
the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate 
once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their agencies' 
responsibilities.
    The FERC is concurrently issuing a Notice of Intent to prepare an 
EIS for the Buccaneer Project, Docket No. CP00-14-000. The gulfstream 
and Buccaneer Projects share a similar point of origin, cross the Gulf 
of Mexico, and reach landfall near Tampa, Florida. Furthermore, the two 
projects could potentially serve some of the same markets in central 
Florida, particularly in Polk County. For these reasons we are asking 
your help on how to evaluate these projects. We are soliciting comments 
on whether to prepare a single EIS for both projects, or a separate EIS 
for each project. We will hold joint scoping meetings at locations 
where we believe there is a reasonable amount of overlap of the 
potentially affected parties. Maps showing the proposed Gulfstream 
project are in appendix 3 and maps showing the locations of both 
projects are included in appendix 4.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Gulfstream's proposed project would transport to Florida up to 1.13 
billion cubic feet per day of natural gas from sources in Alabama and 
Mississippi. The State of Florida is experiencing a substantial 
increase in demand for electric power that is tied to the growth of 
population in the state.
    The proposed Gulfstream project would traverse southeast 
Mississippi and southwest Alabama, the Gulf of Mexico, and Florida. The 
natural gas supply line would originate at a supply meter station in 
Jackson County, Mississippi. Gulfstream seeks authority to construct 
and operate the following:
     About 11.5 miles of 36-diameter pipeline in Jackson County 
and in offshore waters of Mississippi;
     About 37.6 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Mobile 
County and in offshore waters of Alabama;
     About 378.2 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in federal 
waters of the Gulf of Mexico and 24.4 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline in waters of the State of Florida;
     About 52.7 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Manatee, 
Hardee, and Polk Counties, Florida;
     About 122.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Hardee, 
Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee, and Polk Counties, Florida, and about 
101.0 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Hardee, Polk, Osceola, 
Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach Counties, Florida;
     About 15.8 miles of 16-inch-diameter sublateral pipeline 
in Hardee and Polk Counties, Florida;
     20 metering stations in Jackson county, Mississippi, 
Mobile County, Alabama and Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, 
Palm Beach, and Polk Counties, Florida;
     A 120,000-horsepower compressor station in Mobile County, 
Alabama; and
     Pig launching and/or receiving facilities, a pressure 
regulator station, and 25 mainline valves at various locations.
    Overall, the Gulfstream project would consist of approximately 744 
miles of new pipeline. See tables 1 and 2 for a listing of project 
facilities. The general location of the project facilities is shown in 
appendix 3. If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a 
specific portion of the project send in your request using the form in 
appendix 6.

[[Page 69254]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the onshore portion of the Gulfstream Pipeline 
Project would affect a total of about 4,922 acres of land including 
4,843 acres required for pipeline construction, extra workspace, 
contractor, pipe storage, and warehouse yards and 79 acres for 
construction of the aboveground facilities. Total land requirements for 
the permanent right-of-way would be about 1,811 acres. An additional 44 
acres for the operation of the new aboveground facilities would be 
required. The remaining 3,067 acres of land affected by construction 
would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. The offshore 
portion of the Gulfstream Pipeline Project affect a total of about 
9,169 acres of Federal waters and 1,423 acres of state waters during 
construction and operation.
    Approximately 235 miles (77 percent) of the new onshore pipeline 
would be installed parallel to various existing utility rights-of-way. 
Gulfstream would typically use a 110-foot-wide construction right-of-
way width for 30-inch- and 36-inch-diameter pipeline, a 95-foot-wide 
construction right-of-way width for 24-inch-diameter pipeline and an 
80-foot-wide construction right-of-way width for 16-inch-diameter 
pipeline. Additional extra temporary work areas may be necessary for 
water body, highway and railroad crossings, additional topsoil storage, 
and pipe storage and equipment yards.
    Following construction and restoration of the right-of-way and 
temporary work spaces, Gulfstream would retain a new 50-foot-wide 
permanent easement for 24-inch-to 36-inch-diameter pipeline, an 75-
foot-wide permanent easement for dual 36-inch-diameter pipelines, and a 
new 30-foot-wide permanent easement for 16-inch-diameter pipeline. The 
remaining portion of the construction right-of-way would be temporary 
and returned to landowners for their use without restrictions after 
appropriate reclamation efforts are successful.

                   Table 1.--Proposed Pipeline Facilities for the Gulfstream Pipeline Project
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Mileposts
              State                     County         Pipeline    Diameter  ------------------------  Length a
                                                       line No.    (inches)      Begin        End       (miles)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi.....................  Jackson...........         060          36         0.0         5.4         5.4
                                  Offshore..........         060          36         5.4        11.5         6.1
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ..................  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........        11.5
                                                     ===========================================================
Alabama.........................  Mobile............         060          36        22.9        26.7         3.8
                                                             010          24         0.0         0.1         0.1
                                                             040          36         0.0         0.2         0.2
                                                             100          36         0.0         1.5         1.5
                                                             200          36         0.0         3.8         3.8
                                  Offshore..........      60/200          36        11.5        22.9        11.5
                                                             200          36         3.8        20.5        16.7
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ..................  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........        37.6
                                                     ===========================================================
Federal.........................  Offshore..........         200          36        20.5       398.7       378.2
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ..................  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........       378.2
                                                     ===========================================================
Florida.........................  Offshore,                  200          36       398.7       432.0        24.4
                                   Hillsborough.
                                  Manatee...........         200          36       423.0       429.5         6.5
                                  Manatee...........         300          36         0.0        28.1        28.4
                                  Hardee............         300          36        28.1        44.3        16.0
                                  Hardee............         310          16         0.6         0.7         0.1
                                  Hardee............         320          16         0.0         0.9         0.9
                                  Hardee............         330          24         0.0         2.1         2.1
                                  Hardee............         500          30         0.5        17.7        17.2
                                  Highlands.........         500          30        17.7        56.9        39.5
                                  Martin............         500          30        87.9        88.9         1.8
                                  Martin............         600          24         0.0         6.5         6.4
                                  Martin............         700          24         0.0        14.5        14.3
                                  Okeechobee........         500          30        56.9        87.9        30.4
                                  Osceolo...........         450          24        22.3        26.0         3.6
                                  Palm Beach........         700          24        14.5        37.8        23.4
                                  Palm Beach........         710          24         0.0         6.4         6.3
                                  Polk..............         300          36        44.3        45.9         1.8
                                  Polk..............         310          16         0.0         0.6         0.6
                                  Polk..............         330          24         2.1         9.1         7.0
                                  Polk..............         400          30         0.0        33.2        33.4
                                  Polk..............         450          24         0.0        22.3        22.3
                                  Polk..............         410          16         0.0         6.2         6.1
                                  Polk..............         430          16         0.0         1.1         1.2
                                  Polk..............         440          16         0.0         6.9         6.9
                                  Polk..............         500          30         0.0         0.5         0.5
                                  St. Lucie.........         600          24         6.5        22.1        15.6
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................  ..................  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........       316.7
                                                     ===========================================================
        Project Total...........  ..................  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........       744.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a Mileage based on actual lengths determined in the field. Distances between mileposts vary.


[[Page 69255]]


                 Table 2.--Summary of Aboveground Facilities for the Gulfstream Pipeline Project
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Approximate
             State                     County           Facility a      Line No.    milepost     Description b
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi....................  Jackson..........  Station 055......        060         0.0   36'' PL/Meters.
                                                    MLV 060-1........        060         5.4   36'' MLV.
Alabama........................  Mobile...........  Station 100......        100         1.5   36'' PL/36'' PR/
                                                                             060        26.7    Compressors.
                                                                             200         0.0
                                                    Station 005......        010         0.0   Meters.
                                                    Station 035......        040         0.0   Meters.
                                                    Station 015......        100         0.0   Meters.
                                                    Station 050......        100         0.0   Manifold.
                                                    MLV 060-2........        060        23.7   36'' MLV
                                                    MLV 200-1........        200         3.8   36'' MLV
                                 Federal..........  MLV 200-2........        200        57.3   36'' MLV/Subsea
                                                                                                Valve.
                                 Federal..........  MLV 200-3........        200       371.3   36'' MLV/Subsea
                                                                                                Valve.
Florida........................  Manatee..........  Station 200......        200       429.5   36'' PL/36'' PR/
                                                                             300         0.0    Pressure.
                                                    MLV 200-4........        200       424.4   36'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 300-1........        300        13.6   36'' MLV.
                                 Hardee...........  Station 310......        310         0.7   Meters/Heater.
                                                    Station 320......        320         0.9   Meters/Heater.
                                                    Station 305......        300        36.6   24'' PL/Tie Ins.
                                                                             330         0.0
                                                    Station 315......        330         1.2   Side Value Only/
                                                                             320         0.0    Tie Ins.
                                                    MLV 300-2........        300        28.8   36'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 300-3........        300        36.6   36'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 305.
                                 Highlands........  Station 515......        500        37.7   Meters/Tie Ins/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    MLV 500-1........        500        20.0   30'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 500-2........        500        27.5   30'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 500-3........        500        34.0   30'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 500-4........        500        37.7   30'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 515.
                                                    MLV 500-5........        500        52.1   30'' MLV.
                                 Okeechobee.......  Station 505......        500        81.6   Meters/Tie Ins.
                                                    MLV 500-6........        500        71.7   30'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 500-7........        500        81.6   30'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 505.
                                 Martin...........  Station 500......        500        88.9   24'' & 24'' PL/
                                                                                                30''.
                                                                             700         0.0
                                                                             600         0.0
                                                    MLV 700-1........        700        11.9   24'' MLV.
                                 St. Lucie........  Station 600......        600        22.1   24'' PR/Meters.
                                                    MLV 600-1........        600        11.0   24'' MLV.
                                 Palm Beach.......  Station 700......        700        37.8   24'' PR/24'' PL/
                                                                                                Tie.
                                                                             710         0.0
                                                    Station 710......        710         6.4   24'' PR/Heater/
                                                                                                Meters.
                                                    MLV 700-2........        700        24.5   24'' MLV.
                                 Polk.............  Station 330......        330         9.1   24'' PR/Meters/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 410......        410         6.2   16'' PR/Meters/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 415......        410         2.4   Meters/Tie Ins/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 430......        430         1.1   16'' PR/Meters/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 435......        400        12.4   Meters/Tie Ins/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 440......        440         6.9   16'' PR/Meters/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 445......        400        21.9   Meters/Tie Ins/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 455......        450        18.1   Meters/Tie Ins/
                                                                                                Heater.
                                                    Station 300......        300        45.9   30'' & 30'' PL/
                                                                                                36''.
                                                                             400         0.0
                                                                             500         0.0
                                                    Station 400......        400        33.2   16'' & 24'' PL/
                                                                                                30''.
                                                                             440         0.0
                                                                             450         0.0
                                                    Station 325......        330         2.1   Side Valve Only/
                                                                                                Tie Ins.
                                                                             310         0.0
                                                    Station 405......        400         7.0   16'' PL/Tie Ins.
                                                                             410         0.0
                                                    Station 425......        400        29.1   16'' PL/Tie Ins.
                                                                             430         0.0
                                                    MLV 400-1........        400         7.0   30'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 405.
                                                    MLV 400-2........        400        16.0   30'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 400-3........        400        21.9   30'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 445.
                                                    MLV 400-4........        400        29.1   30'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 425.
                                                    MLV 450-1........        450         6.8   24'' MLV.
                                                    MLV 450-2........        450        18.1   24'' MLV in
                                                                                                Station 455.

[[Page 69256]]

 
                                 Osceola..........  Station 450......        450        26.0   24'' PR/Meters/
                                                                                                Heater.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a MLV=Mainline Valve.
b PL=Pig Launcher, PR=Pig Receiver.

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. NEPA also requires us 
to discover and address concerns the public may have about 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. State and local 
government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents 
of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:

 Geology, mineral resources, and soils
 Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
 Coastal and marine resources
 Vegetation and wildlife
 Endangered and threatened species
 Land ownership and land use
 Recreation and public interest areas
 Visual resources and aesthetics
 Cultural resources
 Air quality and noise
 Hazardous waste
 Socioeconomics
 Pipeline safety
 Alternatives

    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the Draft EIS 
which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, affected landowners and other interested individuals, 
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for 
this proceeding. 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 include our response to each comment received and will 
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether to approve the project.
    To ensure that your comments are considered, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the public participation section beginning 
on page 10.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. The FERC and MMS 
have already identified a number of issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Gulfstream. Some of these 
issues are listed below. This is a preliminary list of issues and may 
be changed based on your comments and our analysis. Currently 
identified environmental issues for the Gulfstream Pipeline Project 
include;

--Construction and operational impacts on sea grasses, mangroves, live 
bottom habitat, and organism migration in Tampa Bay;
--Potential impacts associated with directional drilling, dredging, 
jetting, rock berm construction methods, and routing alternatives in 
Tampa Bay;
--Impact on about 77 residences potentially within 50 feet of the 
construction right-of-way;
--Effect on landowners and future land use;
--Consistency with local land use plans and zoning including effect on 
future planned development areas such as Developments of Regional 
Impact, Interstate 4 expansion, Highway 570 development, Port Manatee 
development, and Saddle Creek Road expansion;
--Construction through or along the edge of active phosphate surface 
mines;
--Potential for sinkhole formation;
--Effect of construction on the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi Sound, and 
on 231 perennial waterbody crossings, including 8 waterbodies 100 feet 
wide or greater;
--Erosion control and potential for sediment transport to waterbodies 
and wetlands;
--Effect of construction on groundwater and surface water supplies;
--Effect of construction on 516 wetland crossings, including about 99 
acres of permanent alteration of wetlands;
--Clearing of about 272 acres of upland forest and 217 acres of 
forested wetlands;
--Effect on sensitive areas and habitats of concern including Terra 
Ceia, Green Swamp, Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem, Kissimmee River, Trail 
Ridge, Barley Barber Swamp, and Dupuis Reserve;
--Potential introduction and control of non-native species;
--Effect on specialty crops such as citrus groves and sugar cane;
--Compatibility with the ongoing and proposed restoration projects 
along the Kissimmee River;
--Effect on wildlife, fisheries including essential fish habitat, and 
rare plant habitats;
--Impacts on 58 federally endangered and threatened species including 
the Florida panther, Louisiana black bear, West Indian manatee, 
American alligator, bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, and Atlantic 
gulf sturgeon;
--Effect on historic and prehistoric archeological sites and historic 
structures;
--Effect on public lands and special use areas including Terra Ceia, 
Little Manatee River Watershed, the Beker property (potential State 
preserve), Duette Regional Park, Peace River Watershed/Peace River, 
Charlie Creek Watershed, Tenoroc Fish Management Area, Green Swamp Area 
of Critical Concern, Arbuckle Creek, Kissimmee River/COE Restoration 
Project Boundary, Trail Ridge, Barley Barber Swamp, Dupuis Reserve, 
Everglades Agricultural Area, the Florida National Scenic Trail, and 
the Sun N' Lakes Preserve, Silver Lake Site, and Carter Creek 
Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) Property;
--Visual effect of aboveground facilities on surrounding areas;
--Effect on local air quality and noise environment as a result of 
compressor station operations; and

[[Page 69257]]

--Combined effect of the proposed project with other projects, 
including other natural gas pipelines, which have been or may be 
proposed in the same region and similar time frames.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    You can make a difference by providing us with 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), 
and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific 
your comments, the more useful they will be. Please carefully follow 
these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time 
and properly recorded:
     Send two copies of your letter to: David P. Boergers, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.2.
     Reference Docket No. CP00-6-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before January 21, 2000.
    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite 
you to attend the public scoping meetings the FERC will conduct in the 
project area. The locations and times for these meetings are listed 
below.

 Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings for the Gulfstream Pipeline Project
                     Environmental Impact Statement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Date and time                 Location              Phone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 4, 2000; 7 p.m........  Mobile Convention         (334) 208-2128
                                 Center,\1\ 1 South
                                 Water Street,
                                 Mobile, Alabama.
January 6, 2000; 7 p.m........  Manatee High School,      (941) 714-7300
                                 One Hurricane Lane,
                                 Bradenton, Florida.
January 11, 2000; 7 p.m.......  Florida Dept. of          (863) 291-5820
                                 Agriculture, and
                                 Consumer Services,
                                 The Florida Room,
                                 500 3rd St. NW,
                                 Winter Haven,
                                 Florida \3\.
January 12, 2000; 7 p.m.......  Indiantown Civic          (561) 597-5222
                                 Center, 15675 S.W.
                                 Osceola Street,
                                 Indiantown, Florida.
January 13, 2000; 7 p.m.......  Sebring High School,      (863) 471-5500
                                 3514 Kenilworth
                                 Boulevard, Sebring,
                                 Florida.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Scoping meetings at Mobile, Alabama, and Winter Haven, Florida would
  involve joint meetings for the Buccaneer and Gulfstream Projects.

    The public meetings are designed to provide you with more detailed 
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the 
proposed project. Prior to the start of the meetings, company 
representatives will be available to informally discuss the project. At 
7:00 p.m. each company will provide a summary discussion of the project 
(about 10 minutes each). Then the comment period will begin. Interested 
groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meetings and to 
present comments on the environmental issues they believe should be 
addressed in the Draft EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be made 
so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
    On the dates of the meetings, the staff will also be visiting some 
project areas. Anyone interested in participating in a site visit may 
contact the Commission's Office of External Affairs identified at the 
end of appendix 1 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 of its filings to all 
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. 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 5). 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. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late intervenors 
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.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all identified potential 
right-of-way grantors. As details of the project become established, 
representatives of Gulfstream may also separately contact landowners, 
communities, and public agencies concerning project matters, including 
acquisition of permits and rights-of-way.
    All commenters will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not 
want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and 
receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, you must return the 
Information Request (appendix 6). If you do not send comments or return 
the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
    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. 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. For assistance with access to CIPS, the

[[Page 69258]]

CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-32008 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M