[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7481-7482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1920]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP00-233-000 and CP00-233-001]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed South System Expansion 
Project

Janaury 17, 2001.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Southern Natural Gas 
Company (Southern) in the above-referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of about 67 miles of pipeline loop and about 
54,000 horsepower (hp) of mainline compression at various points along 
Southern existing system in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South 
Carolina. Southern's South System Expansion Project would provide a 
total of 335,800 thousand cubic feet per day (Mcfd) to serve the 
following customers: Southern Company Services Inc. (284,050 Mcfd); 
South Carolina Pipeline Corporation (50,000 Mcfd); and the city of 
LaGrange, Georgia (1,750 Mcfd). Southern proposes to construct the 
project into two phases, with in-service dates proposed for June 1, 
2002 (Phase I), and June 1, 2003 (Phase II).
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and 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.

    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure 
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is 
important that we receive your comments before the date specified 
below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your 
comments are received in time and properly recorded:
     Send an original and two copies of your comments to: 
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, PJ11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-233-000 and CP00-233-001; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 19, 2001.
    Comments may also be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu 
of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the 
Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm under 
the link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments you will 
need to create an account which can be created by clicking on ``Login 
to File'' and then ``New User Account.''
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to 
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene 
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). 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 comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs,

[[Page 7482]]

at (202) 208-1088 or on the FERC Internet websit (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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-1920 Filed 1-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M