[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14007-14008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6410]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3255]


Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; Finding of No 
Significant Impact: Dakota Gasification Company at Bismarck, North 
Dakota

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of a finding of no significant impact with regard to an 
application to construct, operate and maintain a pipeline to transport 
carbon dioxide across the U.S.-Canada border.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has conducted an environmental 
assessment of the proposed construction by Dakota Gasification Company 
of a pipeline for the transport of carbon dioxide crossing the 
international boundary near Crosby, North Dakota. In the course of the 
Department of State's review of the Environmental Assessment, the

[[Page 14008]]

applicant was requested to provide additional information on the issues 
of environmental justice and alternative pipeline routes. A number of 
the other U.S. Government agencies involved in the approval process 
also requested additional information. Dakota Gasification Company 
provided this information which has been included in the environmental 
assessment package. This information may be viewed upon request in the 
Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy at the Department 
of State.
    Based on this information, the Department of State has concluded 
that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing construction of the 
pipeline will not have a significant effect on the existing vegetation 
and wildlife, water resources, land use, air quality and human 
population within the United States. In reaching this conclusion, the 
Department of State considered several alternatives, including a no-
action alternative. In accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. section 4321 et seq., Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations, 40 CFR 1501.4 and 1508.13 and Department of State 
Regulations, 22 CFR 161.8 (C), an environmental impact statement will 
not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PIPELINE PERMIT APPLICATION, CONTACT: 
Bill Memler, Office of International Energy Policy, Room 3535, U.S. 
Department of State, Washington, DC, 20520, (202) 647-4557.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dakota Gasification Company is a corporation 
formed under the laws of the State of North Dakota, with its principal 
place of business in Bismarck, North Dakota. On July 7, 1999, the 
Department of State published a Notice of Application for a 
Presidential Permit in the Federal Register. No public comments were 
received and concerned agencies expressed no opposition to issuing the 
permit. A finding of no significant impact is adopted, and an 
environmental impact statement will not be prepared.

    Dated: March 7, 2000.
Peter E. Bass,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy, and Commodities.
[FR Doc. 00-6410 Filed 3-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-U