[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 43 (Friday, March 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11567-11569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5027]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP99-163-000; CA Clearinghouse No. SCH99041103]


Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company; Notice of Availability, 
Route Inspection, and Public Meetings on a Joint Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed Questar 
Southern Trails Pipeline Project

February 25, 2000.
    The staffs of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and 
the California State Lands Commission (CSLC) have prepared a joint 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/
R) on natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Questar Southern 
Trails Pipeline Company (QST) in the above-referenced docket.
    The EIS/R was prepared as required by the National Environmental 
Policy Act and the California Environmental Policy Act. Its purpose is 
to inform the public and the permitting agencies about the potential 
adverse and beneficial environmental impacts of the proposed project 
and its alternatives, and recommend mitigation measures which would 
reduce any significant adverse impact to the maximum extent possible 
and, where feasible, to a less-than-significant level. The staffs 
conclude that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate 
mitigating measures as recommended, would have limited adverse 
environmental impact.

Proposed Project

    The Southern Trails Pipeline Project involves the conversion of an 
existing crude oil pipeline to natural gas service, and the 
construction of new pipeline, compressor station, and related 
facilities. The Draft EIS/R assesses the potential environmental 
effects of the conversion, construction, and operation of the following 
facilities in California, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico:
     About 675 miles of existing pipeline to be converted from 
crude oil to natural gas service (592 miles of 16-inch, 80 miles of 12-
inch, and 3 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline);

[[Page 11568]]

     Five new pipeline extensions totaling about 43.2 miles;
     Four reroutes/realignments of the existing pipeline 
totaling about 9.6 miles;
     39 replacement segments of the existing pipeline totaling 
about 7.3 miles;
     240 excavation sites along the existing pipeline totaling 
about 5.1 miles; and
     Seven new compressor stations (six of which would be 
located on existing oil pump stations sites--three sites in California; 
two sites in Arizona; one site in Utah; and one site in New Mexico).
    The proposed project would transport 80 to 90 million cubic feet 
per day (MMcfd) of natural gas to customers east of California and 120 
MMcfd to customers in southern California.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any persons wishing to comment on the Draft EIS/R may do so. To 
ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal in the Final EIS/
R, it is important that we receive your comments before the date 
specified below. Please follow these instructions carefully to ensure 
that your comments are received in time and properly recorded:
     Send your comments to: Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP99-163-000;
     Send a copy of your comments to the following individuals:

Branch Chief, PR-11.1, Environmental Review & Compliance Branch, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, 
DC 20426.
Daniel Gorfain, Division of Environmental Planning & Management, 
California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 South, 
Sacramento, CA 95825-8202.

     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 17, 2000.
    In addition to written comments, the staffs will hold public 
meetings in the project area to receive comments on the Draft EIS/R. 
Meetings are scheduled for Banning, Fullerton, and Long Beach in 
southern California; Upper Moenkopi and Kayenta in Arizona; and 
Farmington, New Mexico during the period April 3-11, 2000. Specific 
meeting places and times are identified in table at the end of this 
notice. Interested groups and individuals  are encouraged to attend and 
present oral comments on the Draft 
EIS/R. Priority will be given to commenters who represent groups. 
Transcripts of the meetings will be prepared.
    After comments are reviewed, any significant new issues 
investigated, and modifications made to the Draft EIS/R, a Final EIS/R 
will be published and distributed. The Final EIS/R will contain the 
staffs responses to comments timely filed on the Draft EIS/R.
    Comments will be considered by the FERC 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 pursaunt to 
Rule 214 of the FERC's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 
385.214).
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this Draft EIS/R. 
You must file your request to intervene as specified above. You do not 
need intervener status to have your comments considered.
    The Draft EIS/R has been placed in the public files of the FERC and 
CSLC 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.
California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100-South, 
Sacramento, CA 95825-8202, (916) 574-1889.

    Copies also are available for reading at the following libraries:

California

Canyon Hills, Library, 400 Scout Trail, Anaheim, 92807
Euclid Branch Library, 1340 S. Euclid Street, Anaheim, 92804
Banning Public Library, 21 W. Nicholet Street, Banning, 92220
Beaumont District Library, 125 East 8th Street, Beaumont, 92223
Cabazon Library, 50171 Ramona Avenue, Cabazon, 92230
Cocoran Library, 650 South Main, Corona, 91720
Cypress Library, 5331 Orange Avenue, Cypress, 90630
Joshua Tree Branch Library, 6465 Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree, 92252
Angelo M Iacaboni Library, 4990 Clark Avenue, Lakewood, 90712
George Nye, Jr. Library, 6600 Del Amo Boulevard, Lakewood, 90713
Dominguez Library, 2719 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, 90810
Taft Library, 740 E. Taft Avenue, Orange, 92665
Yucca Valley Branch Library, 57098 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, 
92284

Arizona

Mohave County Library, 3260 North Burbank. Kingman, 86401
Kayenta Unified School #27, Kayenta, 86033

Utah

San Juan County Library, 25 West 300 South, Blanding, 84511

New Mexico

Farmington Public Library, 100 West Broadway, Farmington, 87401
Bloomfield Public Library, 333 South First, Bloomfield, 87413

    A limited number of copies are available from the FERC's Public 
Reference and Files Maintenance Branch identified above. In addition, 
the Draft EIS/R has been mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies; 
public interest groups; individuals who have requested the Draft EIS/R; 
libraries; newspapers; and parties to this proceeding.

Route Inspection

    On April 4, 2000, the FERC staff will conduct a ground inspection 
of portions of the existing pipeline right-of-way in the area between 
Tuba City and the Tonalea Pump Station site in Coconino County, 
Arizona. Anyone interested in participating in the inspection 
activities may contact the FERC's Office of External Affairs 
(identified at the end of this notice) for more details and must 
provide their own transportation.

Additional Questions

    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the FERC's Office of External Affairs ((202) 208-1088)); 
Daniel Gorfain at the CSLC ((916) 574-1889)); 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 help line can be reached at (202) 208-2222.
    Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides 
access to the text of formal documents issued by the FERC, 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 
help line can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

Daniel Gorfain,
Project Manager, California State Lands Commission.

David Boergers,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

[[Page 11569]]



               Schedule for Draft EIS/EIR Public Meetings
  [Note: All meetings will last for 1 hour, or until the submission of
         public comments is concluded (whichever occurs later).]
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          Date & time               Community             Location
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Monday, April 3, 2000, 1:30 pm   Upper Moenkopi,   Moenkopi Community
                                 AZ.                Building.
Wednesday,\*\ April 5, 2000,    Kayenta, AZ......  Kayenta Chapter
 5:00 pm.                                           House.
Thursday, April 6, 2000, 7:00   Farmington, NM...  Holiday Inn, 600 East
 pm.                                                Broadway, Animas
                                                    Room.
                                Fullerton, CA....  Four Points Sheraton,
                                                    1500 South Raymond
                                                    Avenue, Crown 1
                                                    Room.
Monday, April 10, 2000, 7:00    Long Beach, CA...  Los Cerritos
 pm.                                                Elementary School,
                                                    515 West San Antonio
                                                    Drive, Auditorium.
Tuesday, April 11, 2000, 6:00   Banning, CA......  Banning Council
 pm.                                                Chambers, 99 East
                                                    Ramsey Street.
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\*\ Date and time subject to final approval of the Kayenta Chapter.
  Local media and on-site announcements will advise residents of any
  changes to the Kayenta meeting schedule.

[FR Doc. 00-5027 Filed 3-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M