[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35610-35611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16894]



[[Page 35610]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-388-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Momentum Expansion 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

June 29, 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 Momentum Expansion Project 
(Momentum Project) involving construction and operation of facilities 
by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) in several 
counties in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and 
Mississippi.\1\ These facilities would consist of about 99.9 miles of 
42- and 48-inch diameter pipeline, 78,525 horsepower (hp) of additional 
compression, and installation of gas coolers at another compressor 
station. 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\ Transco'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. 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 Transco 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.gov).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Transco wants to expand the capacity of its mainline pipeline 
system in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North 
Carolina to transport an additional 525,896 dekatherms per day of new 
firm transportation capacity. Transco seeks authority to construct and 
operate the following facilities:
     9.22 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from milepost 
(MP) 632.89 on Transco's mainline in Amite County, Mississippi to MP 
642.11 in Pike County, Mississippi (Magnolia Loop).
     7.90 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
732.65 on Transco's mainline in Jones County, Mississippi to MP 740.55 
in Jones County (Seminary Loop).
     16.06 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
756.94 on Transco's mainline in Clarke County, Mississippi to MP 773.00 
in Clarke County, Mississippi (Hale Loop).
     30.00 miles of 48-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
860.78 on Transco's mainline in Perry County, Alabama to MP 890.78 in 
Chilton County, Alabama (Jones Loop).
     3.49 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
905.74 on Transco's mainline in Chilton County, Alabama to MP 909.23 in 
Chilton County, Alabama (Richville Loop).
     21.54 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
926.87 on Transco's mainline in Coosa County, Alabama to MP 948.41 in 
Tallapoosa County, Alabama (Kellyton Loop).
     7.51 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
1,124.74 on Transco's mainline in Madison County, Georgia to MP 
1,132.25 in Elbert County, Georgia (Bowman Loop).
     4.18 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop from MP 
1,201.71 on Transco's mainline in Spartanburg County, South Carolina to 
MP 1,205.89 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina (Greenville Loop).
     The installation of one new 15,00 horsepower compressor at 
Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 90 in Marengo County, 
Alabama.
     The installation of one new 15,000 horsepower compressor 
at Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 105 in Coosa County, 
Alabama.
     The installation of one new 15,000 horsepower compressor 
at Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 110 in Randolph County, 
Alabama.
     The uprating of an existing 18,975 horsepower compressor 
(Unit No. 3) to 22,500 horsepower at Transco's existing Compressor 
Station No. 115 in Coweta County, Georgia.
     The installation of one new 15,000 horsepower compressor 
at Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 125 in Walton County, 
Georgia.
     The installation of gas coolers for existing compressor 
No. 18 at Transco's existing Compressor Station No. 130 in Madison 
County, Georgia.
     The installation of one new 15,000 horsepower compressor 
with gas coolers and the installation of high-pressure fuel injection 
on existing compressor No. 10 at Transco's existing Compressor Station 
No. 160 in Rockingham County, North Carolina.
    The general 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, 
NE., Washington, DC 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 loops would require about 1,110 acres 
of land. Following construction, about 430 acres would be maintained as 
new pipeline right-of-way. The remaining 680 acres of land would be 
restored and allowed to revert to its former use.
    Installation of new facilities at the eight existing compressor 
stations would require a total of about 29 acres within the existing 
facility sites.

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

[[Page 35611]]

construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
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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, 
newspaper, 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 Transco. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.

 Geology and Soils
    -- Erosion control and right-of-way restoration.
    --Potential for mixing of topsoil and subsoil.
 Water Resources and Wetlands
    --A total of 52 perennial waterbodies would be crossed.
    --A total of 249 wetlands, including 20.6 acres of forested and 
35.5 acres of non-forested wetlands along the construction right-of-
way, would be crossed.
 Biological Resources
    --Impacts on 34 federally threatened and/or endangered species that 
may be present in the project area.
    --Impacts on about 484 acres of upland forest and scrub-shrub 
habitat.
 Cultural Resources
    --Impacts on prehistoric and historic sites
    --Native American concerns
 Land Use
    --Impacts on about 504 acres of rangeland.
    --Impact on residential areas.
    --Visual effects of the aboveground facilities on surrounding 
areas.
    --Impacts on 12 residents within 50 feet of the proposed 
construction area.
 Air and Noise Quality
    --Impacts on local air and noise environment as a result of 
operation of the new compressors.
 Alternatives
    --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.
 Nonjurisdictional Facilities
    --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 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/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 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/
Hydro Group.
     Reference Docket No. CP01-388-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before July 30, 2001.
    Comments, protests and interventions may also be filed 
electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site 
at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to the User's Guide. If you have 
not yet established an account, you will need to create a new account 
by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.''
    If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to 
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request 
(appendix 3). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be 
taken off the mailing list.

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 filing 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). 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 preceeding 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.gov) 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 webite 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. 01-16894 Filed 7-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M