[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19764-19765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9418]



[[Page 19764]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-115-000]


Transwestern Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Red Rock Mainline Expansion 
Project and Request for Comments on Environment Issues

April 11, 2001.
    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 Red Rock Mainline Expansion 
Project involving abandonment, construction and operation of facilities 
by Transwestern Pipeline Company (Transwestern) in Mohave, Coconino, 
and Apache Counties, Arizona.\1\ Transwestern proposes to install one 
new 41,500 horsepower (hp) compressor unit at each of four existing 
compressor stations. These units would replace the existing three 
compressor units, ranging from 4,000 to 4,500 hp each, of the four 
compressor stations. To facilitate the transition, Transwestern has 
also requested authorization to continue operating the existing units 
at the compressor stations for up to six months after installing the 
new units. After the transition period, Transwestern proposes to 
abandon the old compressor units in place. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Transwestern's application was filed with the Commission 
under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 Transwestern provided to landowners. This fact sheet 
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including 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

    Transwestern wants to expand the capacity of its facilities in 
Arizona to transport an additional 1,240,000 million cubic feet per day 
of natural gas to the California border. Transwestern seeks authority 
to:

Abandon in Place

     Three 4,000 hp compressor units and associated facilities 
at Station 1 in Mohave County, Arizona;
     Three 4,000 hp compressor units and associated facilities 
at Station 2 in Coconino County, Arizona;
     Three 4,500 hp compressor units and associated facilities 
at Station 3 in Coconino County, Arizona; and
     Three 4,000 hp compressor units and associated facilities 
at Station 4 in Apache County, Arizona.

Install

     One 41,500 hp compressor unit and associated facilities at 
Station 1 in Mohave County, Arizona.
     One 41,500 hp compressor unit and associated facilities at 
Station 2 in Coconino County, Arizona;
     One 41,500 hp compressor unit and associated facilities at 
Station 3 in Coconino County, Arizona; and
     One 41,500 hp compressor unit and associated facilities at 
Station 4 in Apache County, Arizona.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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, 
N.E., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. For instructions 
on connecting to RIMS refer to page 5 of this notice. Copies of the 
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction at each of the compressor stations would be limited to 
about 5 acres within the fence line of the existing compressor station.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impact 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:
     Geology and soils.
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands.
     Vegetation and wildlife.
     Endangered and threatened species.
     Public safety.
     Land use.
     Cultural resources.
     Air quality and noise.
     Hazardous waste.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    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.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section below.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified two issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Transwestern. This 
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and 
our analysis. The two issues are:
     Effects of the increased compression on noise and air 
quality.

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), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact.

[[Page 19765]]

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 an 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 2.
     Reference Docket No. CP01-115-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 10, 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.''

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 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).\4\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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) 208-1088 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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-9418 Filed 4-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M