[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53998-53999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22714]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-6-000]


Gulfstream Natural Gas System, L.L.C.; Notice of Availability of 
the Draft Enrivonmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gulfstream 
Pipeline Project

August 30, 2000.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC of 
Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) 
on natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Gulfstream Natural Gas 
System, L.L.C. (Gulfstream) in the above-referenced docket. The 
application and other supplemental filings in this docket are available 
for viewing on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us). Click on 
the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS menu, and 
following the instructions.
    The DEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that approval of 
the Gulfstream Pipeline Project, with appropriate mitigating measures 
as recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The 
DEIS evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including system 
alternatives, route alternatives, and route variations.
    The DEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the proposed facilities in Mississippi, 
Alabama, and Florida and State and Federal waters in the Gulf of 
Mexico. Gulfstream proposes to construct about 744 miles of various 
diameter pipeline, 128,000 horsepower (hp) of compression, 1 pressure 
regulating station, 20 meter stations, 4 manifold stations, 12 tie-ins, 
26 mainline valve sites, and 26 pig launchers or receivers.
    The purpose of the Gulfstream Pipeline Project is to provide 
natural gas transportation service for up to 1.13 billion cubic feet 
per day (bcf/d) of natural gas from supply areas in Alabama and 
Mississippi, across the Gulf of Mexico, for delivery to new markets in 
central and eastern Florida. The primary market is for natural gas-
fueled electric generation plants that are needed to meet the 
forecasted substantial increases in consumption in Florida driven by 
projected population growth over the next 10 to 20 years.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. Please 
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are 
received in time and properly recorded:
     Send two copies of your comments: Davis Boergers, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-6-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 24, 2000.
    In addition to accepting written comments, five public meetings to 
receive comments on this draft EIS will be held at the following times 
and locations.

Date and Location

    September 26, 2000; 7:00 PM.--Bayou La Batre Community Center, 
12745 Padgett Switch Road, Bayou La Batre, AL 36509, (334) 824-7918, 
(Joint meeting with Buccaneer).

[[Page 53999]]

    September 27, 2000; 7:00 PM.--Manatee High School, 1 Hurricane 
Lane, Bradenton, FL 34205, (941) 714-7300.
    October 3, 2000; 7:00 PM--FLorida Department of Agriculture and 
Consumer Services, 500 3rd Street, N.W., Winterhaven, FL 33881, (863) 
291-5820, (Joint meeting with Buccaneer).
    October 4, 2000; 7:00 PM--Avon Park High School, 700 East Main 
Street, Avon Park, FL 33825, (863) 452-4311.
    October 5, 2000; 7:00 PM--Okeechobee High School, 2800 Hwy 441 
North, Okeechobee, FL 34972, (863) 462-5025.
    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and 
present oral comments on the environmental impacts described in the 
DEIS. Transcripts of the meetings will be prepared.
    After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated, and modifications are made to the DEIS, a final 
environmental impact statement (FEIS) will be published and distributed 
by the staff. The FEIS will contain the staff's responses to timely 
comments received on the DEIS.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person may file a 
motion to intervene on the basis of the Commission staff's DEIS (see 
Title 18 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 385.214). You do not need 
intervenor status to have your comments considered.
    All intervenors, agencies, elected officials, local governments, 
special interest groups, libraries, media, and anyone providing written 
comments on the DEIS will receive a copy of the FEIS. If you do not 
wish to comment on the DEIS but wish to receive a copy of the FEIS, you 
must write to the Secretary of the Commission indicating this request.
    The DEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First 
Street, N.E., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    A limited number of copies are available from the Public Reference 
and Files Maintenance Branch identified above. In addition, the DEIS 
has been mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies; public interest 
groups; individuals, and affected landowners who requested a copy of 
the DEIS; libraries; newspapers; and parties to this proceeding. The 
document is also available for viewing on the FERC website at 
www.ferc.fed.us, using the ``RIMS'' link to information in this docket 
number. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be 
reached at (202) 208-2222.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 
208-1088 or on the FERC website described in the preceding paragraph. 
Access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission with 
regard to this docket, such as orders and notices, is also available on 
the FERC website using the ``CIPS'' link. For assistance with access to 
CIPS, the CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-22714 Filed 9-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M