[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4415-4416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1943]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP99-21-00]


Northern Border Pipeline Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Project 2000

January 21, 2000.
    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 Northern Border Pipeline 
Company (Northern Border) in the above-referenced docket.
    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 EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project including:
     About 34.4 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline from 
Manhattan, Illinois to North Hayden, Indiana;
     Uprate the existing compressor unit at Compressor Station 
14 (Grundy County, Iowa) from 6,500 horsepower (hp) to 13,000 hp;
     Uprate the existing compressor unit at Compressor Station 
17 (Scott County, Iowa) from 12,000 hp to 15,000 hp;
     Install a 13,000 hp compressor unit at proposed Compressor 
Station 18 (Bureau County, Illinois);
     Construct a new meter station in Lake County, Indiana 
(North Hayden Meter Station);
     Install a regulator at the existing Harper Meter Station 
in Iowa; and
     Install appurtenant facilities, including six mainline 
valves, four

[[Page 4416]]

remote blow downs, anode bed, tee and side valve.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport up to 
544.0 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of gas for Northern Indiana 
Public Service Company.
    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) 2087-1371.
    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: 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-11.2
     Reference Docket No. CP99-21-000; and
    Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC 
on or before February 22, 2000.
    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). Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they 
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be 
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor 
status to have your comments considered.
    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 ``CLIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, 
and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the 
CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-1943 Filed 1-26-00 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M