[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62346-62347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26693]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-422-000]


El Paso Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for The Proposed Line No. 2000 Project and Request For 
Comments on Environmental Issues

October 12, 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 Line No. 2000 Project 
involving acquisition, construction and operation of facilities by El 
Paso Natural Gas Company (El Paso) extending from a point near 
Ehrenberg, Arizona to McCamey, Texas.\1\ These facilities would consist 
of about 785 miles of an existing crude oil transmission pipeline to be 
acquired by El Paso and converted to a natural gas transmission 
pipeline as well as certain connecting pipelines and extensions to 
permit the line to be contiguous and integrated into El Paso's system. 
El Paso would also abandon in place existing mainline compression 
facilities at six compressor stations, totaling 119,750 horsepower. 
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\ El Paso's application was filed with the Commission on July 
31, 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 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.
    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 El Paso provided to landowners. 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).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    El Paso proposes to improve the operating characteristics of its 
system by abandoning certain existing mainline compressor facilities on 
its South System and concurrently integrating into its system pipeline 
facilities to replace the abandoned compression. El Paso seeks 
authority to:
     Abandon in place five compressor stations (Deming in Luna 
County, New Mexico; San Simon and Benson in Cochise County, Arizona; 
Tucson in Pima County, Arizona; and Gila in Maricopa County, Arizona) 
which are presently in operation and the horsepower comprising the 
``A'' and ``B'' Plants at the El Paso Compressor Station in El Paso 
County, Texas, all located on its South System;
     Acquire and clean approximately 785 miles of an existing 
crude oil transmission pipeline from its subsidiary EPNG Pipeline 
Company and convert it to a natural gas transmission pipeline;
     Construct a total of approximately 0.81 mile of new 
pipeline segments to bypass ten oil pump station sites;
     Construct new pipeline at two tie-in and four crossover 
locations;
     Construct a total of 2.78 miles of 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline to tie in Line No. 2000 to seven existing compressor stations 
(Guadalupe, Cornudas, Afton, Florida, Lordsburg, Casa Grande, and 
Wenden) on its South System and remove a total of approximately 0.68 
mile of Line No. 2000 at these tie-ins;
     Replace four segments of Line No. 2000, totaling 8.16 
miles, with 30-inch-diameter pipeline to meet U.S. Department of 
Transportation requirements;
     Install 38 new valves;
     Remove 29 plug vent valves;
     Remove seven check valve segments, fourteen gate valve 
segments, and a fee and gate valve and replace them with 30-inch-
diameter pipeline;
     Install pigging facilities and flow measurement equipment 
(under section 2.55 of the Commission's regulations).
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in 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., 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 proposed facilities would require about 320 
acres of land. Following construction, about 3 acres would be 
maintained as new above-ground facility sites. The remaining 317 acres 
of land would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use, 
although some periodic vegetation maintenance may occur in some areas.

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 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.
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    \3\ ``Us'', ``we'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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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, 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.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. 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 El Paso. This preliminary list issues may be 
changed based on your comments and our analysis.

[[Page 62347]]

     Threatened and endangered species;
     Residences within 50 feet of construction work areas; and
     Public safety.

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 and considered by the Commission. 
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative 
locations/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 original and 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 Gas 1, 
PJ-11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-422-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before November 13, 2000.
    If you do not want to send comments at this time but want to remain 
on our mailing list, please return the Information Request (appendix 
3). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be taken off 
the mailing list.

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 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 2). Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns maybe 
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 (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, notice, 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. 00-26693 Filed 10-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M