[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28899-28903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13219]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP01-161-000]
Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed North System Expansion II
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
May 21, 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 North System Expansion II
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Southern
Natural Gas Company (Southern) in Pickens, Jefferson, Shelby, St.
Clair, Talladega, and Calhoun Counties in Alabama, and Noxubee and
Lowndes Counties in Mississippi.\1\ These facilities would consist of
about 4.6 miles of new pipeline loop on Southern's 24-inch diameter 2nd
North Main Line, replacement of about 11 miles of various diameter
pipeline segments in Alabama, and requalifying pipeline segments by
hydrostatic testing, and/or adding, removing, abandoning, replacing,
requalifying and/or modifying appurtenant facilities within the project
area. In addition, Southern proposes to add about 6,000 horsepower (hp)
of compression at the existing Pell City Compressor Station in St.
Clair County, Alabama. 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\ Southern's application was filed with the Commission 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.
[[Page 28900]]
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 Southern 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
Southern wants to uprate its North Main System by adding and
replacing pipeline segments, requalifying pipeline segments by
hydrostatic testing, and/or adding, removing, abandoning, replacing,
requalifying and/or modifying appurtenant facilities within the project
area. Specifically, Southern seeks authorization to:
(a) Construct, own, and operate a total of about 4.6 miles of new
pipeline loop on its 24-inch-diameter 2nd North Main Line extending
from milepost (MP) 123.746 to MP 128.339 in Pickens County, Alabama
(see table 1);
(b) Replace about 11 miles of various segments of the North Main
Line and the Bessemer-Calera Line and Loop in Pickens, Jefferson,
Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Calhoun Counties, Alabama (see table
1). In conjunction with the replacement of segments of these pipelines
certain segments would be tested hydrostatically in order to increase
their maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) (see table 1);
(c) Abandon in place three 12-inch-diameter pipeline crossings of
the Tombigbee River. These river crossings would be replaced by an
existing 20-inch-diameter pipeline connected to both the North Main
Line and North Main Loop Line. These pipelines constitute the river
crossing for the North Main Line (see table 2);
(d) Install one electric-motor-driven 6,000 hp reciprocating
compressor at the existing Pell City Compressor Station in St. Clair
County, Alabama;
(e) Construct an interconnecting facility, the Calhoun Power Tap,
at MP 370.0 on the North Main Line and North Main Loop Line, consisting
of dual 18-inch taps and 1.0 mile of replacement pipeline in Calhoun
County, Alabama, to provide service to Calhoun Power; and
Table 1.--Pipeline Facilities for the North System Expansion II Project
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Facility Type Length (miles) Mileposts County/State
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Jurisdictional--Pipeline
Construction:
North Main Line 22" Replacement.... 1.844 227.381-229.225 Pickens, AL.
(Replacement, A).
North Main Line (Replacement 22" Replacement.... 1.073 240.978-242.051 Pickens, AL.
B).
2nd North Main Line......... New 24" Loop 4.613 123.726-128.339 Pickens, AL.
Pipeline.
Bessemer Calera 12" Line.... 12" Replacement.... 0.017 10.479-10.496 Jefferson, AL.
Bessemer-Calera 8" Loop Line 12" Replacement.... 2.400 12.900-15.300 Jefferson, AL.
Bessemer-Calera 8" Loop Line 12" Replacement.... 0.2 20.900-21.100 Shelby, AL.
(Cahaba River).
North Main Line (Replacement 20" Replacement.... 0.496 354.303-354.799 St. Clair, AL.
C).
North Main Line (Replacement 20" Replacement.... 0.169 355.556-355.725 St. Clair, AL.
D).
North Main Line (Replacement 20" Replacement.... 3.140 356.360-359.500 Talladega, AL.
E).
North Main Line (Replacement 20" Replacement.... 1.717 367.150-368.867 Talladega/Calhoun,
F). AL.
North Main Line (Replacement 20" Replacement.... 1.050 369.650-370.700 Calhoun, AL.
G).
Pipeline Requalification:
Bassemer-Calera 12" Line.... Hydrostatic Test... 2.674 7.972-10.646 Jefferson, AL.
Bessemer-Calera 8" Loop Line Hydrostatic Test... 2.319 21.013-23.332 Shelby, AL.
North Main Line Hydrostatic Test... 0.757 354.799-355.556 St. Clair, AL.
(Requalification 1).
North Main Line Hydrostatic Test... 0.635 355.725-356.360 Talladega, AL.
(Requalification 2).
North Main Line Hydrostatic Test... 1.093 368.710-369.803 Calhoun, AL.
(Requalification 3).
Non-Jurisdictional--Pipeline
Construction:
Calhoun Power Pipeline 16".. New Pipeline....... 1.000 ................. Calhoun, AL.
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Table 2.--Aboveground Facilities for the North System Expansion II Project
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Facility New/modified Type of work Mileposts County/state
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Jurisdictional:
Brooksville Junction........ Modified........... New Feed Line..... 208.478 Noxubee, MS.
M.V.G. Farm Tap 121......... Modified........... Remove Farm Tap... 209.767 Noxubee, MS.
Pugh Tap.................... Modified........... New Check Valve... 217.500 Noxubee, MS.
[[Page 28901]]
Togo Gate................... Modified........... Crossovers........ 220.927 Lowndes, MS.
M.V.G. Farm Tap 123......... Modified........... Over-pressure 223.100 Lowndes, MS.
Protection.
Tombigbee River Crossing Modified........... Disconnect and 224.189-224.350 Lowndes, MS.
(Auxiliary River Crossing abandon line; 224.550-224.606
Line). replace Valves
and Fittings.
Reform Tap.................. Modified........... Over-pressure 241.887 Pickens, AL.
Protection.
Reform Compressor Station... Modified........... Tap, Pigging 242.223 Pickens, AL.
Facilities,
Valves,
Regulators, Over-
Pressure
Protection.
Crossover and Pigging New................ Add New Crossover 123.746 Pickens, AL.
Facility. and Pigging
Facilities.
Pleasant Grove Tap, Gate Modified........... Tap and Tap Line.. 7.972 Jefferson, AL.
Setting and Meter Station.
Dr. Cales Farm Tap Modified........... Remove Taps....... 8.955 Jefferson, AL.
(Abandoned pursuant to
blanket certificate
authorization).
Bessemer Lateral Tap........ Modified........... Check Valve and 10.429 Jefferson, AL.
Blind Flange.
Bessemer Gate and Crossover. Modified........... Replace and Remove 10.646 Jefferson, AL.
Valves.
NATCO Tap................... Modified........... Remove Obsolete 14.655 Jefferson, AL.
Tap.
Bessemer No. 2 Tap and Meter Modified........... Replace Tap and 14.740 Jefferson, AL.
Station. Install New Tap
Line.
Hopewell Block Gate......... Modified........... Test Crossovers... 15.537 Jefferson, AL.
Genery Gap Tap and Meter Modified........... Test or Remove 19.498 Shelby, AL.
Station. Taps.
Cahaba Field Tap............ Modified........... Install Blind 22.200 Shelby, AL.
Flange.
Calera Line Regulatory Modified........... Valve and Tap 23.332 Shelby, AL.
Station. Settings.
Helena-Alagasco Meter Modified........... Relocate Taps..... 23.332 Shelby, AL.
Station and Tap.
Gas Cooler at Tarrant Modified........... Install Electric 321.947 Jefferson, AL.
Compressor Station (2nd Motor Fin Fan
North Mail Line. Cooler.
Compressor at Pell City Modified........... Install 6000 HP 352.478 St. Clair, AL.
Compressor Station (North Electric Driven
Main Line/2nd North Main Compressor.
Line).
Pell City Compressor Station Modified........... Construct 115kV/ ( \1\) St. Clair, AL.
Power Substation. 4160V Capacity
Electrical
Substation.
Vincent Tap and Meter Modified........... Monitor, Regulator 352.700 St. Clair, AL.
Station (North Main Line). and Tap Valve.
Lincoln No. 2 Tap and Meter Modified........... Monitor, Regulator 353.834 St. Clair, AL.
Station. and Tap Valve.
Childersburg No. 2 Tap and Modified........... Monitor, Regulator 358.000 Talladega, AL.
Meter Station. and Tap Valve.
Rowe Block Gate No. 1....... Modified........... Gate Setting, 358.510 Talladega, AL.
blowoff
crossovers.
Lincoln Tap and Meter Modified........... Monitor, Regulator 360.365 Talladega, AL.
Station. and Tap Valve.
Talladega Tap............... Modified........... Monitor, Regulator 361.014 Talladega, AL.
and Tap Valve.
Lincoln Block Gate.......... Modified........... Gate Setting, 361.666 Talladega, AL.
blowoff
crossovers.
Talladega Raceway Tap....... Modified........... Monitor, Regulator 365.385 Talladega, AL.
and Tap Valve.
Eastaboga Gate.............. Modified........... Gate Setting...... 369.078 Calhoun, AL.
Calhoun Power Meter Station. New................ Meter Station..... 370.000 Calhoun, AL.
Anniston No. 3 Tap and Meter Modified........... Monitor and 371.641 Calhoun, AL.
Station. Regulator.
Coldwater Regulator Station. New................ Monitor, Regulator 371.852 Calhoun, AL.
and Block Valves.
Non-Jurisdictional:
Pell City Compressor Station New................ New 115 kV Power ( \1\) St. Clair, AL.
115 kV Power Line. Line.
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\1\ Approximate M.P. 352.478 on Southern's North Main Line.
(f) modify several aboveground facilities in Mississippi and
Alabama (see table 2).
Nonjurisdictional facilities
(a) Calhoun Power would construct certain nonjurisdictional
facilities consisting of a simple cycle power generation plant, a meter
station, and about 1 mile of 16-inch-diameter connecting pipeline
extending from Southern's mainline to its plant. Southern would operate
and maintain this connecting pipeline in Calhoun County, Alabama for
Calhoun Power.
(b) Alabama Power would construct a 0.5-mile-long nonjurisdictional
115 kV transmission line to provide power to the compressor to be
installed at the Pell City Compressor Station. Alabama Power would
coordinate construction of this power line with the construction of the
new compressor.
[[Page 28902]]
The 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,
N.E., Washington, D.C. 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 274.5
acres of land. Following construction, about 92.5 acres of land would
be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. No new permanent
right-of-way is proposed by Southern except for the two new meter
stations (Calhoun Meter Station and Coldwater Regulator Station) which
would require a total of 8.09 acres (0.46 acre permanent and 7.63
existing permanent right-of-way).
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\ ``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
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 several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Southern. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Eight federally listed endangered or threatened species
may occur in the project area (bald eagle, red cockaded woodpecker,
Cahaba shiner, finelined pocketbook mussel, flattened musk turtle,
goldline darter, round rocksnail, and triangular kidneyshell mussel).
With the exception of the bald eagle and red cockaded woodpecker all
other federally listed species occur in the Cahaba River. Southern
proposes to directionally drill the Cahaba river which would avoid
impact on these species.
The project would require three major waterbody crossings
greater than 100 feet in width (Cahaba River, Coosa River, and Blue Eye
Creek).
A total of 72 residences are located within 50 feet of the
construction work area, of which 50 are within 25 feet of the
construction work area.
In addition, the project would involve lands owned by the City of
Bessemer and the University of Alabama, the State of Alabama along the
Bessemer-Calera Lines; and the property of the Alabama Development
Office on the North Main Line. All of these lands are crossed by the
existing pipelines.
Also, we have made a preliminary decision to not address the
impacts of the nonjurisdictional facilities. We will briefly describe
their location and status in the EA.
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 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., N.E., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 2.
Refernce Docket No. CP01-161-000.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 21, 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.''
We may mail the EA for comment. If you are interested in it, please
return the information request (appendix 3).
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.
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\4\ 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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[[Page 28903]]
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. 01-13219 Filed 5-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M