[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 73 (Friday, April 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20154-20155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9308]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-104-000]


Distrigas of Massachusetts Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Domac Vapor Recovery 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

April 10, 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 and operation of 
vapor recovery facilities proposed by Distrigas of Massachusetts 
Company (DOMAC) in Everett, Massachusetts.\1\ These facilities would 
recover natural gas vapor vented to the atmosphere during liquefied 
natural gas (LNG) cargo transfer operations. This 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\ DOMAC's application was filed with the Commission under 
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's 
regulations.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    DOMAC states that its existing vapor handling system adequately 
recovers the natural gas vapor that results from LNG storage. However, 
during cargo transfer, additional vapor is produced, causing 
approximately 18,000-23,000 thousand standard cubic feet (Mscf) of each 
LNG cargo to be vented to the atmosphere in order to maintain design 
pressure in the LNG tanks. DOMAC seeks to recover this additional vapor 
(approximately 830,000 Mscf per year) by installing vapor recovery 
facilities consisting of a turboexpander-driven compressor, a hot water 
pump and heat exchanger, and associated meters and interconnecting 
piping.
    Construction of the proposed facilities would occur completely on 
DOMAC's existing 35-acre LNG plant site. The general location of the 
project facilities is shown on figure 1.\2\
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    \2\ The figures and 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, 
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 figures and appendices were sent to all those receiving this 
notice in the mail.

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[[Page 20155]]

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 Notice of Intent, 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. 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.
    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:
     geology and soils
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
     vegetation and wildlife
     endangered and threatened species
     land use
     cultural resources
     air quality and noise
     public safety
    We will also 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.
    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, public 
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
newspapers, 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.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section below.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by DOMAC. This preliminary list 
of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Noise quality may be affected by the addition of the 
turboexpander-driven compressor.
     Soils (possibly contaminated) may be affected by minor 
ground disturbance during construction. The proposed project area is 
part of a site that has been identified as a ``notice site'' pursuant 
to the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. The former site owner, Boston 
Gas Company, is currently conducting environmental investigations to 
determine the need for soil remediation.

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/EIS and considered by the 
Commission. You should focus on the potential environmental effects of 
the proposal, alternatives to the proposal, 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 Gas 
Group 1.
     Reference Docket No. CP00-104-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 10, 2000.

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 1). 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, 
to 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. 00-9308 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M