[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4956-4957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2187]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP99-284-000]


Koch Gateway Pipeline Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Index 1 Pipeline and Laterals 
Abandonment Project

January 27, 2000.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
abandonment of the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Koch 
Gateway Pipeline Company (Koch) 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 proposed 
abandonment of the pipelines and appurtenant facilities including:
     Abandon in place about 72.4 miles of 10-, 16-, 18-, and 
20-inch-diameter Index 1 Pipeline in Kaufman, Dallas, and Tarrant 
Counties, Texas;
     Abandon in place the following lateral pipeline totaling 
about 29.2 miles in Dallas and Tarrant Counties, Texas:
     7.3 miles of 12-inch-diameter Index 1-31 pipeline;
     0.9 mile of 18-inch-diameter Index 1-37 pipeline;
     5.6 miles of 20-inch-diameter Index 1-37 pipeline;
     10.6 miles of 16-inch-diameter Index 4 pipeline;
     4.7 miles of 20-inch-diameter Index 6 pipeline; and
     0.1 mile of 4-inch-diameter Index 808 pipeline.
     Construct and operate 39 ``pig'' launching and receiving 
facilities to clean out the pipelines proposed for abandonment; and
     Abandon by removal appurtenant facilities consisting of 6 
meter stations, 39 blow-off assemblies, 12 by-pass valves, 15 block 
valves, 8 tap valves, 40 segments of pipeline of various diameters 
totaling about 429 feet, about 1,690 feet of pipeline of various 
diameters at four waterbody crossings, 1,648 feet of exposed pipeline, 
62 farm taps, 5 industrial taps, and certain other minor facilities.
    Koch seeks authority to abandon these facilities due to rising 
operating and

[[Page 4957]]

maintenance costs, the number of encroachments, and increasing number 
of requests to relocate portions of the pipeline.
    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, N.E., 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: 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-11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP99-284-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 26, 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).
    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 don't 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 ``CIPS'' 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. 00-2187 Filed 2-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M