[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 62 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16908-16910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7836]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-51-000]


East Tennessee Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Rocky Top Expansion 
Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

March 27, 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 construction, testing, 
operation, and abandonment of facilities proposed in the East Tennessee 
Natural Gas Company (East Tennessee) Rocky Top Expansion Project in 
various counties of Virginia and Tennessee.\1\ These facilities would 
consist of about 15.1 miles of pipeline, about 0.7 mile of pipeline 
replacement at seventeen road crossings, three new meter stations and a 
modification to an existing meter station, mainline valves, uprating of 
four compressor units and four meter stations, hydrostatic testing of 
about 26.7 miles of pipeline to increase the maximum allowable 
operating pressure (MAOP), and the abandonment of about 0.7 mile of 
pipeline. The EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making 
process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience 
and necessity.
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    \1\ East Tennessee's application was filed with the Commission 
on December 13, 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 East Tennessee'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 the FERC entitled ''An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the 
project notice East Tennessee provided to landowners along and adjacent 
to the proposed route. This fact sheet addresses a number of typically 
asked questions, including the use of eniment domain and how to 
participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for 
viewing on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us).
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being sent to landowners of property 
crossed by and adjacent to East Tennessee's proposed route; Federal, 
state, and local agencies; elected officials; 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 the Commission's list of parties to 
the proceeding. State and local 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 \2\ are asking those 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 East Tennessee's proposal relative to their 
agencies' responsibilities. Agencies who would like to request 
cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments 
described below.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environment staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects, part of the Commission staff.
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 Summary of the Proposed Project

    East Tennessee is proposing the Rocky Top Expansion Project to 
satisfy the growing demand for natural gas in the western Virignia and 
eastern Tennessee regions. The project would provide new firm service 
to meet increased market demand of specific customers as well as 
provide system-wide benefits. East Tennessee is requesting 
authorization to increase its pipeline capacity by a total of 35,068 
dekatherms (Dth) per day through the installation of additional 
pipeline, hydrostatic testing to increase MAOP, pipeline replacement, 
compressor horsepower and meter station uprates, and installation of 
additional metering facilities.
    East Tennessee proposes to construct the following new facilities 
on its 3300 and 3100 Lines.
     About 15.1 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline loop \3\ in 
Wythe,

[[Page 16909]]

Smyth, and Washington Counties, Virginia;
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    \3\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent 
to an existing pipeline and connected to it on both ends. The loop 
allows more gas to be moved through the pipeline system.
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     Four new meter stations--the Hawkins Meter Station in 
Greene County, Tennessee; the Lenoir City Meter Station in Roane 
County, Tennessee; the Etowah Meter Station in McMinn County, 
Tennessee; and a bi-directional meter station at the existing Citizens 
Meter Station in Morgan, County, Tennessee;
    East Tennessee proposes to increase the MAOP of several sections on 
its 3100 and 3200 Lines through hydrostatic testing activities and 
pipeline replacements at road crossings:
     Uprate the MAOP of about 12.8 miles of 22-inch-diameter 
pipeline from main line valve (MLV) 3107-1A in Overton County, 
Tennessee to MLV 3108-1 in Fentress County, Tennessee, through 
hydrostatic testing, including pipeline replacements at six road 
crossings, and the installation of pressure control facilities at East 
Tennessee's Monterey Lateral;
     Uprate the MAOP of about 4.6 miles of 22-inch-diameter 
pipeline from MLV 3107-1 to MLV 3107-1A in Overton County, Tennessee, 
through hydrostatic testing of a pipeline replacement at one road 
crossing; \4\
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    \4\ In 1999, as part of the Virginia Expansion Project (Docket 
No. CP98-40-000), this 4.6 mile section was uprated by hydrostatic 
testing and replacing pipeline at all of the road crossings in this 
section, except for one.
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     Uprate the MAOP of about 13.6 miles of 22-inch-diameter 
pipeline from MLV 3105-1 in Smith County, Tennessee to MLV 3105-1E2 in 
Jackson County, Tennessee, through hydrostatic testing, including 
pipeline replacement at ten road crossings, and the installation of 
pressure control facilities at East Tennessee's Carthage Lateral;
     Uprate the MAOP of the 0.3 mile dual 10-inch-diameter 
Tennessee River pipeline crossing in Hamilton County, Tennessee, 
through hydrostatic testing of the crossing, and the relocation of the 
river crossing valve assemblies; and
     Uprate the MAOPs of four existing meter stations on the 
3200 Line in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
    East Tennessee also proposes an uprate of horsepower (hp) at two 
compressor stations:
     Uprate of two turbine units from 1,000 hp to 1,450 hp, and 
one unit from 1000 hp to 1.360 hp at Station 3101 in Robertson County, 
Tennessee, and
     Uprate of the single turbine unit from 1,360 hp to 1,590 
hp at Station 3210 in Marion County, Tennessee.
    East Tennessee also proposes to replace 0.7 mile of pipeline at the 
seventeen road crossings in order to meet the applicable U.S. 
Department of Transportation strength and safety regulations applicable 
to the higher MAOP. As such, East Tennessee proposes to abandon by 
removal 0.6 mile and abandon in place 0.1 mile of pipeline to effect 
this replacement.
    The general location of East Tennessee's proposed facilities is 
shown on the map attached as appendix 1.\5\
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    \5\ 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 Requirement for Construction

    Proposed Pipeline Looping--Virginia: Constructionof East 
Tennessee's proposed pipeline facilities would require about 241 acres 
of land. East Tennessee proposes to use a 100-foot-wide construction 
right-of-way, and retain a 50-foot wide permanent pipeline right-of-
way. Total land requirements for the permanent right-of-way would be 
about 92 acres.
    Proposed MAOP Increase and Hydrotest--Tennessee: The replacement of 
seventeen road crossings associated with the MAOP increase would affect 
about 43 acres of land during construction and would require about 7 
acres of land during operation. The hydrostatic testing of about 26.7 
miles of pipeline would require about 0.1 acre of temporary work space 
to install the proper facilities for testing. About 2.5 acres of land 
would be disturbed during the relocation of the existing valves at the 
Tennessee River crossing, of which about 0.2 acre would be permanently 
affected. All temporary work space would be allowed to revert to its 
original land use.
    Proposed Meter Stations and Pressure Control Facilities--Tennessee: 
Construction and operation of three new meter stations would affect 
about 2 acres of land. About 0.2 acre of land within an existing meter 
station would be affected by the installation of a bi-directional 
meter. East Tennessee would disturb about 1 acre of land in the 
hydrostatic testing of its four existing meter stations, with no 
additional land required for operation. The installation of the 
pressure control facilities would require about 1.5 acres of land 
within the existing permanent right-of-way and would require no 
additional permanent operating acreage.

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 
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.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be 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 
identified a number of issues that was think deserve attention based on 
a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by East Tennessee. This preliminary list of issues 
may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.

 Geology and Soils
    --Potential geologic hazards.
    --Crossing of erosion prone soils.
 Water Resources and Wetlands
    --Impact of groundwater and surface water resources.
    --Impact on wetland hydrology.
 Biological Resources
    --Impact on wildlife and fishery habitats.
    --Potential impact on Federal- and State-listed threatened or 
endangered species.
 Cultural Resources
    --Effect on prehistoric and historic sites.
    --Native American concerns.
 Land Use
    --Impact on residential areas (7 residences within 50 feet of the 
construction work area in Virginia).
    --Impact on public lands and special use areas including the 
Tennessee River Park.

[[Page 16910]]

    --Visual effect of the new aboveground facilities on surrounding 
areas.
 Air and Noise Quality
    --Impacts on local air quality and noise environment as a result of 
the operation of the uprated horsepower units at existing Compressor 
Stations 3101 and 3210.

Public Participation

    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 
Environmental Gas Group 1, PJ-11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-51-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 28, 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 will be 
removed from the environmental mailing list.]

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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-7836 Filed 3-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M