[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56574-56576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23976]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-404-000


Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Columbia Liberty 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Site Visit

September 13, 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 Columbia Liberty Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Texas Eastern 
Transmission Corporation (Texas Eastern) in Chester and Delaware 
Counties, Pennsylvania.\1\ Texas Eastern proposes to expand its 
existing Philadelphia Lateral System to supply 84,000 dekatherms per 
day of natural gas to the Columbia Liberty Plant, a 567.7 megawatt gas-
fired electric power plant presently being constructed in the Borough 
of Eddysburg in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
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    \1\ Texas Eastern's application was filed with the Commission on 
July 13, 2000, 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 Texas Eastern's existing or 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 FERC entitled ``An Interstate Gas Facility 
On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the project 
notice Texas Eastern provided to landowners. This

[[Page 56575]]

fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including 
the use of eminent domain. It is available for viewing on the FERC 
Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us).
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being sent to landowners along Texas 
Eastern's existing and proposed routes; Federal, state, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; regional 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 service 
list and parties to the proceeding. 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 are asking 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 Texas 
Eastern's proposal relative to their agencies' responsibilities. 
Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should follow the 
instructions for filing comments described below.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Texas Eastern proposed to install one 4,000 horsepower electric 
compressor at its existing Eagle Compressor Station; to replace various 
segments of its existing 20-inch-diameter Line No. 1-A; and to 
construction about 0.6 mile of 12-inch-diameter pipeline and associated 
metering facilities to connect with the Columbia Liberty Plant. To 
supply the required volumes to the power plant Texas Eastern proposes 
to increase the operating pressure of Line No. 1-A from 400 pounds per 
square inch gauge (psig) to 656 psig.
    The general location of Texas Eastern's proposed facilities is 
shown on the map attached as appendix 1.\2\
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    \2\ 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 Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the Texas Eastern's proposed facilities would 
affect about 39.3 acres of land. Texas Eastern proposes to use 10.4 
acres for construction of the new Liberty Lateral and 28.9 acres for 
replacing segments on Line 1-A. Following construction, about 3.5 acres 
would be retained as new permanent right-of-way for the new pipeline 
facilities. The remaining 35.8 acres of temporary work space would be 
restored and allowed to revert to its former use.

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 
\3\ 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.
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    \3\ ``Us,'' ``we,'' and ``our'' refer to the environment staff 
of the FERC's Office of Pipeline Regulation.
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    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, 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 alloted 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 we think deserve attention based on 
a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by Texas Eastern. This preliminary list of issues 
may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Biological Resources--Impacts on the bog turtle, a 
Federally listed endangered species.
     Land Use--Impacts to residents within 50 feet of 
construction.
     Noise--Affects from the addition of a 4,000 horsepower 
compressor unit.

Public Participation and Site Visit

    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., NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Gas Group 1, PJ-11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-404-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 13, 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 may be 
removed from the environmental mailing list.]
    On September 29, 2000, the Office of Energy Projects staff will 
conduct a precertification site visit of the project route and possible 
reroutes. All parties may attend. Those planning to attend must provide 
their own transportation. We will be meeting in the parking lot at the 
Ramada Inn in Essington at 8:30 am.
    For further information on attending the site visit, please contact 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-0004.

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

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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 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-0004 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. 00-23976 Filed 9-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M