[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6598-6599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3045]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-47-000]


Trans-Union Interstate Pipeline, L.P.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Trans-Union 
Interstate Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues, and Notice of Site Visit

February 4, 2000.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Trans-Union Interstate 
Pipeline Project involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Trans-Union Interstate Pipeline, L.P. (Trans-Union) in Claiborne and 
Union Parishes, Louisiana and Union County, Arkansas.\1\ These 
facilities would consist of about 41.7 miles of 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline, two mainline values, and launcher/receiver facilities at the 
beginning and end of the pipeline.
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    \1\ Trans-Union's application was filed with the Commission on 
December 10, 1999, under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 
157 of the Commission's regulations.
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    If you are a landowner on Trans-Union's proposed route and receive 
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 
approved 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 prepared by FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas 
Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the 
project notice Trans-Union provided to landowners. This fact sheet 
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of 
eminent domain. It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet 
website (www.ferc.fed.us).
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being sent to landowners along 
Trans-Union's proposed route; Federal, state, and local government 
agencies; elected officials; regional environmental, and public 
interest groups; Indian tribes that might attach religious and cultural 
significance to historic properties in the area of potential effects; 
local libraries and newspapers; and Commission's service list and 
parties to the proceeding. Government representatives are encouraged to 
notify their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern. Additionally, with this NOI we are 
asking Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction 
and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to 
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may 
choose to participate once they have evaluated Trans-Union's proposal 
relative to their agencies' responsibilities. Agencies who would like 
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments described below.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Trans-Union proposes to construct 41.7 miles of 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline to transport natural gas from the Sharon Hub in Claiborne 
Parish, Louisiana to the proposed nonjurisdictional electric power 
generation facility being developed by Union Power Partners (UPP) in 
Union County Arkansas. The pipeline would supply 430,000 decatherms per 
day of natural gas to UPP.
    The general location of Trans-Union's proposed facilities is shown 
on the map attached 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, NE, 
Room 2A, Washington, DC 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.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction Of the Trans-Union's proposed facilities would affect 
about 538 acres of land. Following construction, about 186 acres would 
be retained as permanent right-of-way. The remaining 352 acres of 
temporary work space would be restored and allowed to revert to its 
former use.
    Trans-Union proposes to use a pipeline construction right-of-way of 
95 feet, including 50 feet which would become permanent right-or-way 
and 45

[[Page 6599]]

feet of temporary extra work space. There also would be about 22.4 
acres used as additional temporary extra work spaces at stream, 
utility, and road crossings.

The EA 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 
\3\ 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 EA on the important 
environmental issues. By this NOI, the Commission requests public 
comments on the scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All 
comments received are considered during the preparation of the EA.
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    \3\ ``Us,'' ``we,'' and ``our'' refer to the environment staff 
of the FERC's Office of Pipeline Regulation.
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    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending 
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be 
published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, elected 
officials, affected landowners, regional public interest groups, Indian 
tribes, local newspapers and libraries, and the Commission's official 
service list for this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for 
review if the EA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA 
before we make our recommendations to the Commission.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues.

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
indentified a number of issues that we think deserve attention based on 
a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by Trans-Union. This preliminary list of issues 
may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
 Nonjurisdictional Facilities
    --Gulf States Pipeline Company's proposal to construct 31.5 miles 
of 20-inch diameter pipeline in Claiborne County, Louisiana under 
Section 311(a)(2) of the Natural Gas Policy Act.
 Soils
    --Crossing about 15.2 miles of soils having a poor revegetation 
potential.
    --Crossing about 12.3 miles of erosion prone soils.
 Water Resources and Wetlands
    --Crossing 32 perennial streams.
    --Crossing 52 areas classified as wetlands.
 Biological Resources
    --Impacts on about 360 acres of forest or woodlands.
    --Impacts on the red-cockaded woodpecker, a Federally listed 
endangered species.
 Land Use
    --Permanent loss of timber land as permanent maintained right-of-
way.
 Alternatives
    --Evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project or 
portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or 
avoid impacts on the various resource areas.

Public Participation and Site Visit

    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 EA and considered by the Commission. 
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations 
or 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-11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-47-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before March 6, 2000.
    [If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to 
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request 
(appendix 3). If you do not return the Information Request, you may be 
removed from the environmental mailing list.]
    On March 9, 2000, the Office of Energy Projects staff will conduct 
a precertification site visit of the project route and possible 
reroutes. All parties may attend. Those planning to attend must provide 
their own transportation.
    For further information on attending the site visit, please contact 
Paul McKee at (202) 208-1088.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA 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 2). 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 environmental comments considered.
    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 CIPS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-3045 Filed 2-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M