[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 170 (Thursday, August 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53002-53005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22258]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP00-40-000 and -001]


Florida Gas Transmission Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent 
to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed FGT Phase 
V Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meeting and Site Visit

August 25, 2000.
    On August 1, 2000, Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT) filed, in 
Docket No. CP00-40-001, to amend its pending application for the Phase 
V

[[Page 53003]]

Expansion Project.\1\ This amendment reflects facility and routing 
modifications proposed by FGT as a result of community dialog, updated 
survey and engineering information, and market changes.
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    \1\ FGT's original application in Docket No. CP00-40-000 was 
filed with the Commission under Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act 
on December 1, 1999 and consisted of about 215.4 miles of pipeline, 
15.7 miles of rehabilitated mainline, and 89,765 horsepower of 
additional compression.
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    The FERC staff will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
that will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and 
operation of the facilities proposed in the FGT Phase V Expansion 
Project, as amended, in various counties of Mississippi, Alabama, and 
Florida. These facilities would consist of about 191.5 miles of 
pipeline and 125,215 horsepower (HP) of additional compression. This 
EIS will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to 
determine whether the project is in the public convenience and 
necessity.
    If you are a landowner on FGT'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 FGT provided to landowners along and adjacent to the 
proposed route. This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked 
questions, including the use of eminent 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 supplemental notice is being sent to landowners of property 
crossed by and adjacent to FGT's proposed route for the newly proposed 
or modified facilities; 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 
parties that responded to our original Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (NOI) for this project.\2\ 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.
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    \2\ The original NOI for FGT's Phase V Expansion Project was 
issued by the Commission on February 11, 2000, to all potentially 
interested parties.
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    Additionally, with this notice we 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 EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once 
they have evaluated the proposal relative to their agencies' 
responsibilities. Agencies who would like to request cooperating agency 
status should follow the instructions for filing comments described 
below.
    The Southwest Florida Water Management District has already 
expressed an interest in being a cooperating agency for this EIS.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    FGT proposes to build additional new natural gas pipeline and 
compression facilities to transport an annual average of 305,819 
million British thermal units per day of natural gas to serve new 
markets, primarily electric generation facilities, in Florida. FGT 
requests Commission authorization to:
     Construct about 191.5 miles of pipeline including:
    --88.4 miles of looping \3\ on the existing mainline in 
Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida;
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    \3\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. 
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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    --29.1 miles of new lateral in Alabama; and
    --74.0 miles of new laterals and lateral loops in Florida;
     Install a total of about 125,215 hp of compression at 
eight existing, one previously planned \4\, and three new compressor 
stations;
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    \4\ FGT requested and received authorization in Docket No. CP99-
94-000 to construct Compressor Station 24.
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     Construct two regulator stations; and
     Construct one meter station.
    FGT will also acquire from Koch Gateway Pipeline Company (KGPC) an 
interest in KGPC's Mobile Bay Lateral that would give FGT the rights to 
about 50 percent of the available capacity on system. Concurrent with 
FGT's filing in Docket No. CP00-40-000 (December 1, 1999), KGPC filed 
an application in Docket No. CP00-39-000 for approval to abandon by 
sale to FGT the interest in its Mobile Bay Lateral.
    The general location of FGT's proposed project facilities is shown 
on the map attached as appendix 1. A more detailed description of the 
facilities and the changes proposed by FGT is included in appendix 
2.\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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    FGT also made changes in the proposed routing of several 
facilities. FGT has notified all newly affected landowners of its new 
facilities and route changes, and sent copies of its application to the 
Commission and detailed route maps of the Phase V Project to libraries 
in the project area. Appendix 3 lists the libraries where you can view 
these materials. The major routing changes are summarized below.
     Loop G--The right-of-way has been relocated to the east 
side of the existing Florida Power Corporation (FPC) corridor. The 
pipeline is proposed to be 5 feet inside the eastern edge of the FPC 
corridor, southward from Compressor Station 26 to approximate milepost 
(MP) 104.9 where it crosses the FPC corridor and ties in with the 
existing FGT West Leg pipeline. Additional FGT permanent easement will 
be acquired east of the FPC corridor.
     Gulf Power Lateral--The centerline of the route was moved 
westward approximately 20 feet for approximately 7.0 miles (from MP 
16.3 to MP 23.2) to accommodate the proposed expansion of State Highway 
77 in Bay County, Florida. A minor route variation to avoid a parallel 
waterbody (approximate MP 9.0) was also made and resulted in a new 
landowner being affected.
     Compressor Station 16--Up to 10 acres of additional land 
will be purchased for the construction of the new station.
     Compressor Station 31--The layout of Compressor Station 31 
has been modified to avoid placement of above ground facilities in 
onsite wetlands. Additionally, the distance to the nearest noise 
sensitive area has been increased to approximately 900 feet.
     DeBary Regulator--The DeBary Regulator has been relocated 
to the junction of the Sanford and FP&L Laterals at MP 14.6/0.0 in 
Volusia County, Florida.

[[Page 53004]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of FGT's proposed pipeline facilities would require 
about 2,252.8 acres of land including the construction right-of-way, 
extra workspaces, and contractor/pipe yards. In general, FGT proposes 
to use a 75- to 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way. Following 
construction and restoration of the right-of-way and temporary work 
spaces, FGT would retain a 30- to 50-foot-wide permanent pipeline 
right-of-way. Total land requirements for the new permanent right-of-
way would be about 664.1 acres.
    FGT proposes to acquire 80 acres for the construction of the newly 
proposed compressor stations and upgrades to existing facilities, 
although only 28 acres would be used during construction. Once 
construction is complete, the lands used for construction would be 
restored.

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 solicit 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 
NOI, 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.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the Draft EIS 
which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, affected landowners and other interested individuals, 
Indian tribes, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official 
service list for this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be 
allotted for review of the Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on 
the Draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a 
Final EIS. The Final EIS will include our response to each comment 
received on the Draft EIS and will be used by the Commission in its 
decision-making process to determine whether to approve the project.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified a number of issues that we think deserve attention based on 
a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by FGT. These issues are listed below. This is a 
preliminary list of issues and may be changed based on your comments 
and our analysis.
     Soils and Geology
    --Impact on prime farmland soils.
    --Mixing of topsoil and subsoil during construction.
    --Compaction of soil by heavy equipment.
    --Erosion control and right-of-way restoration.
    --Impact on mineral resources.
    --Potential geologic hazards including sinkholes.
     Water Resources
    --Impact on 95 perennial waterbodies including Puppy Creek, Big 
Creek, Little Bear Creek, Clearwater Lake, Globe Creek, Water Oak 
Creek, the Mobile River, the St. John's River, and the Wekiva River.
    --Impact on several Florida state aquatic preserve areas associated 
with the Wekiva and St. John's Rivers.
    --Impact on groundwater and surface water supplies.
    --Impact on areas with shallow groundwater.
    --Effect of crossing waterbodies with contaminated sediments.
    --Potential for erosion and sediment transport to area waterbodies.
    --Impact on wetland hydrology.
     Biological Resources
    --Short- and long-term effects of right-of-way clearing and 
maintenance on wetlands, forests, riparian areas, and vegetarian 
communities of special concern.
    --Impact on wildlife and fishery habitats.
    --Impact on conservation areas.
    --Potential impact on Federal- and state-listed threatened or 
endangered species.
    --Potential impact on U.S. Forest Service-listed sensitive species.
     Cultural Resources
    --Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.
    --Native American concerns.
     Socioeconomics
    --Effect of the construction workforce on demands for services in 
surrounding areas.
     Land Use
    --Impact on residential areas (77 residences within 50 feet of the 
construction work area).
    --Impact on public lands and special use areas including the Lake 
Butler Wildlife Management Area, Ocala National Forest, Seminole State 
Forest, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Lower Wekiva River State 
Reserve, and Williams Road County Park.
    --Impact on future land uses and consistency with local land use 
plans and zoning.
    --Visual effect of the new aboveground facilities on surrounding 
areas.
     Air Quality and Noise
    --Construction impact on local air quality and noise environment.
    --Impact on local air quality and noise environment resulting from 
the installation of new compression equipment and the construction and 
operation of three new compressor stations.
     Pipeline Reliability and Safety
     Cumulative Impact
    --Effect of the Phase V Expansion Project combined with that of 
other projects that have been or may be proposed in the same region and 
similar time frames.
     Nonjurisdictional Facilities
    --Consideration of the effects of construction of the pipeline 
facilities planned by TECO/Peoples Gas System (Peoples) in connection 
with deliveries from FGT for Peoples' Daytona-area customers, and for 
the Jacksonville Electric Authority's Brandy Branch Generating Station.
     Alternatives
    --Evaluation of possible alternatives to the proposed project or 
portions of the project, and identification of recommendations on how 
to lessen or avoid impacts of the various resource areas.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing 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 follow 
these instructions carefully 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 Street, 
N.E., Room 1A, Washington, D.C. 20426.
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Group 1, PJ-11.1;
     Reference Docket Nos. CP00-040-000 and -001; and

[[Page 53005]]

     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before September 25, 2000.
    All commenters will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not 
want to send comments at this time but still want to stay informed and 
receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, you must return the 
attached Information Request (appendix 5). If you do not send comments 
or return the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing 
list.
    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite 
you to attend a public scoping meeting the FERC will conduct in the 
project area.\6\ The location and time for this meeting is: Wednesday, 
September 13, 2000 at 7:00 p.m., Radisson-Hotel Tampa at Sabal Park, 
10221 Princess Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610, (813) 246-7135.
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    \6\ Other scoping meetings were held for this project in 
Prichard, Alabama (February 28, 2000); Southport, Florida (February 
29, 2000); Crystal River, Florida (March 1, 2000); and Sanford, 
Florida (March 2, 2000).
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    The public meeting is designed to provide you with more detailed 
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the 
proposed project. FGT representatives will be present at the scoping 
meetings to describe their proposal. Interested groups and individuals 
are encouraged to attend the meeting and to present comments on the 
environmental issues they believe should be addressed in the Draft EIS. 
A transcript of the meeting will be made so that your comments will be 
accurately recorded.

Site Visit

    On September 13, 14, and 15, 2000, we will also be conducting 
limited site visits to FGT's proposed facility locations in 
Hillsborough, Citrus, Gilchrist, and Hernando Counties, Florida. Anyone 
interested in participating in the site visit may contact the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs identified at the end of this 
notice for more 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. 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 4). 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 the 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.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-22258 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M