[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19931-19932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9558]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-141-000]


PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed PG&ENW 2002 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

April 12, 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 PG&ENW 2002 Expansion Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by PG&E Gas 
Transmission, Northwest Corporation (PG&ENW) in several counties in 
Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.\1\ These facilities would consist of 
about 21 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop\2\ and 97,500 
horsepower (hp) of compression. 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\ PG&ENW's application was filed with the Commission under 
section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's 
regulations.
    \2\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipeline that is 
installed parallel to or in the vicinity of an existing pipeline and 
connected to it at both ends in order to increase the volume of gas 
that can be transported through the pipeline system.
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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 PG&ENW 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

    PG&ENW wants to expand the capacity of its facilities in Idaho, 
Washington and Oregon to transport an additional 210,800 decatherms 
(Dth) per day of natural gas annual firm service, including an 
additional 20,380 Dth per day of winter-only service to two customers. 
PG&ENW seeks authority to construct and operate:
     About 21 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop within 
and adjacent to PG&ENW's existing permanent right-of-way at mileposts 
(MP) 87.6 through 108.3 in Kootenai County, Idaho and Spokane County, 
Oregon (Loop C). Loop C would be the third loop along PG&ENW's 
transmission system;
     Various piping, blowdown, and valving additions at Main 
Line Valve (MLV) 5-1; and one new pig receiver and blowdown additions 
at MLV 5-2;
     One new 19,500 hp gas turbine centrifugal compressor; 
three new buildings; and a replacement standby generator at Compressor 
Station 4 in Bonner County, Idaho;
     Two new pig launchers, and tie-in facilities of the 
proposed loop at Compressor Station 5 in Kootenai County, Idaho;
     One new 19,500 gas turbine centrifugal compressor; one new 
building; one new pig receiver; relocation of a gas cooler; and a 
replacement standby generator at Compressor Station 6 in Spokane 
County, Oregon;
     One new 19,500 hp gas turbine centrifugal compressor; one 
new building; additional gas cooling facilities; and one standby 
generator at Compressor Station 8 in Walla Walla County, Washington;
     One new 19,500 hp gas turbine centrifugal compressor; two 
new buildings; relocation of gas cooler; a replacement standby 
generator at Compressor Station 10 in Sherman County, Oregon; and
     One new 19,500 hp gas turbine centrifugal compressor; 
three new buildings; relocation of one building and gas cooler; 
additional gas cooling facilities; and a replacement standby generator 
at Compressor Station 12 in Deschutes County, Oregon.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\ 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 page 5 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

    PG&ENW states that it would not need to obtain additional permanent 
right-of-way for the proposed project, and no existing land uses would 
be converted to utility easement. Construction of the proposed pipeline 
loop facility would require about 152 acres of existing PG&ENW 
permanent easement, and about 77 acres of temporary construction right-
of-way, including about 2.7 acres of temporary workspace at road and 
railroad crossings.
    The construction and installation of above-ground facilities at the 
compressor stations would temporary disturb about 16 acres. All 
compressor stations, with the exception of Compressor Station 12, are 
located on lands owned and maintained by PG&ENW. Compressor Station 12 
is located on the Deschutes National Forest, whose lands are managed by 
the U.S. Forest Service.
    PG&ENW would use an additional 22 acres of land off the right-of-
way for pipe storage and construction headquarters.

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\4\ 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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    \4\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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    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
 Land use

[[Page 19932]]

 Cultural resources
 Air quality and noise
 Public safety

    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 beginning on page 5.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    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 PG&ENW. This preliminary list 
of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     About 17 residences are located within 50 feet of the 
construction right-of-way in the Copper Valley Ranch subdivision 
between MPs 97.0 and 97.2 in Kootenai County, Idaho;
     Outside of the Copper Valley Ranch subdivision, about 
eight more residences are located within 50 feet of the construction 
right-of-way, three of which are within 25 feet.
     The Deschutes National Forest staff is concerned with the 
potential for noxious weed infestations; and that construction 
activities could potentially affect nesting raptors at Compressor 
Station 12 in Deschutes County, Oregon.
     Effects of the increased compression on noise and air 
quality. Compressor Stations 4, 6 and 12 have nearby noise-sensitive 
areas within 0.5 mile.

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/EIS 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 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 1, 
PJ-11.1.
     Reference Docket No. CP01-11-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 14, 2001.
    Comments, protests and interventions 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).\5\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \5\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
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    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. 01-9558 Filed 4-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M