[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49798-49801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20665]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-232-000]


Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Eastchester 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meeting and Site Visit

August 9, 2000.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Eastchester Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Iroquois Gas 
Transmission System, L.P. (Iroquois).\1\ The EIS 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\ Iroquois' application was filed with the Commission on April 
28, 2000, under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
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    The purpose of the proposed project is to deliver natural gas for 
distribution to the Bronx, New York. These facilities would consist of: 
(1) Approximately 30.3 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline from 
Northport, New York to the Bronx, New York; (2) a new 20,000 horsepower 
(HP) compressor station at Boonville, New York; (3) a new 20,000 HP 
compressor station at Dover, New York; (4) a 3,300 HP increase at the 
existing Wright compressor station; (5) an 11,000 HP increase at the 
existing Croghan compressor station; (6) cooling units at the existing 
Wright and Athens compressor stations; (7) a new point of 
interconnection with the facilities of Consolidated Edison Company of 
New York, Inc. in the Bronx, New York; and (8) other appurtenant 
facilities.
    Iroquois states that the estimated cost of the proposed facilities 
is $170.8 million. Iroquois proposes to place the facilities in service 
in two phases. The first phase would transport up to 70,000 dekatherms 
per day beginning April 1, 2002 and the remaining facilities would

[[Page 49799]]

be placed in service on November 1, 2002. The remaining facilities 
would enable Iroquois to transport about 220,000 to 230,000 dekatherms 
of natural gas per day.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice: (1) project 
location map; (2) agencies invited to cooperate in preparation of 
EIS; (3) how to intervene in Commission proceedings; and (4) request 
to be retained on environmental mailing list or to request specific 
site map, 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, N.E., Washington, D.C. 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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    All entities that provided comments on the proposed project and 
included an address, receive this notice. If you are a landowner 
receiving 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.
    With this notice we are asking a number of federal and state 
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS 
(see appendix 2). These agencies may choose to participate once they 
have evaluated the proposal relative to their agencies' 
responsibilities.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    The proposed project would extend the existing Iroquois Pipeline 
from Northport on Long Island to the Bronx, New York. Additional 
compression to support this extension would be constructed along the 
existing Iroquois Pipeline. New compressor stations would be 
constructed at Boonville and Dover, New York. The capacity of two 
existing compressor stations at Croghan and Wright, New York, would be 
increased and gas coolers would be installed at existing compressor 
stations at Athens and Wright, New York.
    The proposed Boonville compressor station would be located in the 
Town of Boonville, Oneida County, New York on a parcel currently owned 
by Iroquois. The 20.9-acre parcel is between East Road, the Lewis 
County line and the Penn Central railroad tracks. Access to the site 
would be from East Road.
    The proposed Dover compressor station would be located in the Town 
of Dover, Dutchess County, New York on a parcel that Iroquois currently 
has an option to purchase. The 16.4-acre parcel is immediately north of 
Dover Furnace and is contained by the Conrail railroad line and Swamp 
River on the east and a county road on the west. The site has been used 
as a gravel pit.
    The length of the proposed pipeline extension is 30.3 miles. 
Approximately 27.4 miles of the proposed 24-inch diameter pipeline 
would be buried in Long Island Sound. The proposed routing of 
facilities would utilize existing right-of-way and open areas and 
require no displacement of existing homes.
    The Eastchester Project would originate at the existing Iroquois 
Pipeline terminus in Northport, New York and extend north into Long 
Island Sound. In Long Island Sound, the buried pipeline would extend in 
a northwesterly direction from Northport, New York. Just south of the 
Connecticut border, it would turn west-southwest staying in New York 
State waters following the Connecticut and New York state border. It 
would continue in a southwesterly direction generally along the 
boundaries of Westchester, Nassau, and Bronx county lines to landfall 
at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, New York. The pipeline would cross 
Pelham Bay Park, go under the Hutchinson River, cross a New York Bus 
Service parking lot, cross under Connor Street, cut over to Tillotson 
Avenue at approximately Merritt Avenue, and proceed down Tillotson 
Avenue to its terminus and custody transfer station at Steenwick 
Avenue.

The EIS 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 EIS 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 EIS. All comments received 
are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 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 EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:
     Geology, mineral resources, and soils;
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     Coastal and marine resources;
     Vegetation and wildlife;
     Endangered and threatened species;
     Land ownership and land use;
     Recreation and public interest areas;
     Visual resources and aesthetics;
     Cultural resources;
     Air quality and noise;
     Hazardous waste;
     Socioeconomics;
     Pipeline safety; and
     Alternatives.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the draft EIS 
(DEIS) which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, 
public interest groups, affected landowners and other interested 
individuals, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official 
service list for this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be 
allotted for review of the DEIS. We will consider all comments on the 
DEIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. 
The Final EIS will include our response to comments received and will 
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether to approve the proposed project, approve a modified proposal, 
or to deny the application.
    To ensure that your comments are considered, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the public participation section beginning 
on page 6.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. The FERC has 
identified a number of issues that may deserve attention based on a 
preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by Iroquois. Some of these issues are listed 
below. This is a preliminary list of issues and may be changed based on 
your comments and further analysis. Currently identified environmental 
issues for the Eastchester Project include:
     Construction and operational impacts on fisheries and 
harvest in Long Island Sound;

[[Page 49800]]

     Potential impacts associated with directional drilling, 
dredging, jetting, rock berm construction methods, and routing 
alternatives in Long Island Sound;
     Effect on landowners and future land use;
     Consistency with local land use plans and zoning including 
effect on future planned development areas;
     Erosion control and potential for sediment transport to 
water bodies and wetlands;
     Effect of construction on groundwater and surface water 
supplies;
     Effect of construction on coastal wetlands;
     Clearing of trees and maintenance of an access corridor on 
the right-of-way;
     Potential introduction and control of non-native species;
     Effect on wildlife, fisheries including essential fish 
habitat, and rare plant habitats;
     Impacts on federally listed endangered and threatened 
species;
     Effect on historic and prehistoric archaeological sites 
and historic structures;
     Effect on public lands and special use areas including 
Pelham Bay Park;
     Visual effect of aboveground facilities on surrounding 
urban areas;
     Effect on local air quality and noise environment as a 
result of compressor station operations; and
     Combined effect of the proposed project with other 
projects, including other natural gas pipelines, which have been or may 
be proposed in the same region and similar time frames.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    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 EIS and considered by the Commission. 
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative 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., NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of the Comments for the attention of the 
Gas/Hydro Group, PJ 11.3.
     Reference Docket No. CP00-232-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before September 22, 2000.
    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite 
you to attend the public scoping meetings the FERC will conduct in the 
project area. The locations and times for these meetings are listed 
below.

     Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings for the Eastchester Project
                     Environmental Impact Statement
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         Date and time                 Location              Phone
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September 6, 2000; 7:30 pm....  Adirondack Center         (315) 942-9252
                                 School, Boonville,
                                 NY.
September 7, 2000; 7:30 pm....  Dover High School,        (914) 832-4500
                                 Dover, NY.
September 13, 2000; 7:30 pm...  Harry S. Truman High      (718) 904-5400
                                 School, Bronx, NY.
September 14, 2000; 7:30 pm...  Prospect Hill School,     (914) 738-6690
                                 Pelham Manor.
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    The public meetings are designed to provide you with more detailed 
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the 
proposed project. FERC representatives will open the formal meeting, 
discuss the application process, and request public comments. Then the 
comment period will begin. Interested groups and individuals are 
encouraged to attend the meetings and to present comments on the 
environmental issues they believe should be addressed in the DEIS.
    In addition, an Agency Scoping Meeting will be on September 14, 
2000, at the Residence Inn, 35 Lecount Place, New Rochelle at 1:00 pm. 
While the public may attend, the primary purpose of the agency scoping 
meeting is to receive comments from federal, state, and local 
government agency representatives. A transcript of each scoping meeting 
will be made so that all comments are accurately recorded.
    On the dates of the meetings, the staff will also be visiting some 
project areas. Anyone interested in participating in a site visit may 
contact Mr. Paul McKee of the Commission's Office of External Affairs 
at (202) 208-1088 for details and must provide their own 
transportation.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS 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.\3\ 
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 3). Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \3\ The service list is updated routinely. Intervenors should 
consult the service list when a filing is made to ensure all 
appropriate entities are served. Copies of the service list may be 
obtained through the Commission's website or from the Commission's 
Secretary.
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    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.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all identified potential 
right-of-way grantors. As details of the project become established, 
representatives of Iroquois may also separately contact landowners, 
communities, and public agencies concerning project matters, including 
acquisition of permits and rights-of-way.
    All commenters will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not 
want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and 
receive copies of the DEIS and Final EIS, you must return the 
Information Request (appendix 4). If you do not send comments or return 
the Information

[[Page 49801]]

Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
    You may view the application which includes detailed maps of 
proposed Eastchester Project at local public libraries. Alternatively, 
maps may be viewed from the FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us). At the FERC 
website click on ``RAMS'', then click on ``Link to RIMS'', from the 
list in the left column select ``Docket #'', and at the Docket entry 
box type in ``CP00-232''. Maps were filed on April 28, 2000. Adjust the 
date range to include this date and click on ``Search''. The document 
containing maps is ``Iroquois Gas Transmission System, LP's Volume V 
Appendices to Volume II to its application to construct etc the 
proposed Eastchester Extension Project under CP00-232.'' To view the 
document, click on ``I=449'' located next to the document description. 
The first page of the document is displayed. Additional pages may be 
viewed using the arrow keys at the top of the screen or by selecting a 
page number at the upper left of the screen. Maps are found on pages 4 
through 15 of this filing. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222. Finally, you may receive a 
copy of the same map available through RIMS by forwarding a request to 
the Secretary of the Commission using the form attached at appendix 4.
    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.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Mr. Paul McKee of the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 
208-1088.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-20665 Filed 8-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M