[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18767-18768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8856]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP00-40-000, -001, and -002]


Florida Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed FGT Phase V 
Expansion Project

April 5, 2001.

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) 
to assess the environmental impact associated with the construction of 
facilities proposed by Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT) and 
referred to in this draft EIS as the FGT Phase V Expansion Project in 
the above-referenced docket. The application, the draft EIS 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 follow the instructions.
    The draft EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that 
approval of the FGT Phase V Expansion Project, with appropriate 
mitigating measures as recommended, would have limited adverse 
environmental impact. The draft EIS evaluates alternatives to the 
proposal, including system alternatives, route alternatives, and route 
variations.
    The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the proposed facilities in Mississippi, 
Alabama, and Florida.
    The purpose of the FGT Phase V Expansion Project is to transport up 
to 112,487 million cubic feet (MMcf) per day of natural gas on an 
annual basis to seven electric generation customers and others in 
Florida. Three of these customers, representing 94 percent of proposed 
transportation capacity, are in the process of developing and 
constructing additional gas-fired electric generating capacity to serve 
the growing market for electricity in Florida. FGT estimates the total 
cost of its Phase V Expansion Project at $452 million.
    FGT proposes to construct and operate an interstate natural gas 
pipeline and associated aboveground facilities under section 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Title 18, CFR, Part 157. FGT proposes to 
expand its existing 5,225-mile-long natural gas pipeline transmission 
system by the

[[Page 18768]]

construction of approximately 167.1 miles of pipeline loops and 
laterals, 132,615 horsepower (hp) of additional compression at nine 
existing and three new compressor stations, and other associated 
auxiliary facilities in various locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and 
Florida.
    In addition, FGT proposes to 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 that 
system. Concurrent with FGT's filing, 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. However, the environmental analysis 
of this action qualifies as a categorical exclusion and is not included 
in the EIS.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. Please 
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are 
received in time and properly recorded:
     Send original and two copies of your comments to: David 
Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP00-40-000; and
     Comments must be received in Washington, DC on or before 
May 29, 2001.
    You may mail your comments or file them 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.''
    In addition to accepting written and electronically filed comments, 
four public meetings to receive comments on this draft EIS will be held 
at the following times and locations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Date                               Location
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Monday, May 7, 2001....................  University of Mobile, Moorer
                                          Auditorium, Thomas T. Martin
                                          Fine Arts Building, Main
                                          Campus, College Parkway,
                                          Prichard, AL 36663-0220
Tuesday, May 8, 2001...................  Holiday Inn, Panama City, 2001
                                          North Cove Blvd., Panama City,
                                          FL 32405
Wednesday, May 9, 2001.................  Radisson--Hotel Tampa at Sabal
                                          Park, 10221 Princess Palm
                                          Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610
Thursday, May 10, 2001.................  Seminole County Commission
                                          Chambers, 1101 East First
                                          Street, Sanford, FL 32771
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    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and 
present oral comments on the environmental impacts described in the 
draft EIS. Transcript of the meetings will be prepared.
    After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated, and modifications are made to the draft EIS, a final EIS 
will be published and distributed by the staff. The final EIS will 
contain the staff's responses to timely comments received on the draft 
EIS.
    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 draft EIS 
(see Title 18 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 380.106 and 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 draft EIS will receive a copy of the final EIS. If you 
did not wish to comment on the draft EIS but wish to receive a copy of 
the final EIS, you must write to the Secretary of the Commission 
indicating this request.
    The draft EIS 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, NE., 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 draft 
EIS has been mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies; public 
interest groups; individuals, and affected landowners who requested a 
copy of the draft EIS; libraries; newspapers; and parties to this 
proceeding. As previously mentioned, 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 
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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-8856 Filed 4-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M