[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36573-36574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17455]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP01-4-000, CP01-5-000, CP01-8-000]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C., Algonquin Gas 
Transmission Company and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Notice 
of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Phase III/Hubline Pipeline Project

July 6, 2001.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes), and Algonquin Gas Transmission 
Company (Algonquin) (collectively the Applicants) in the above-
referenced docket.
    The DEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project with the appropriate mitigating measures as 
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The DEIS 
also evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including major route 
alternatives; and route variations, and requests comments on them.
    The DEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:
     About 24.8 miles of new, primarily onshore natural gas 
pipeline (23.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline and 1.0 miles of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline) referred to as the Maritimes Phase III 
pipeline;
     About 29.4 miles of new, primarily offshore natural gas 
pipeline (24-inch-diameter pipeline) referred to as the HubLine 
pipeline;
     About 5.4 miles of new, primarily offshore natural gas 
pipeline (16-inch-diameter pipeline) referred to as the Deer Island 
Lateral; and
     Three new meter stations, four mainline valves, and 
related facilities.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport about 
150,500 dekatherms per day of natural gas to five customers in 
Massachusetts and Connecticut. In addition, the project would provide 
leased capacity of 80,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas for Texas 
Eastern Transmission Corporation.

Joint State and Federal Review

    On January 16, 2001, the Secretary of the Executive Office of 
Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued a 
Certificate on the Environmental Notification Form (state Certificate) 
for these projects. The Secretary determined that the projects require 
the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the 
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA).
    In order to accomplish the goal of addressing the requirements of 
both the state and the Federal government in a ``single'' document, the 
Applicants intend to file the DEIS with the MEPA office along with 
supplemental materials (Supplement) that will respond to specific 
issues identified in the state Certificate and in the comments 
submitted on the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) that may not 
have been identified or specifically addressed in the DEIS. The 
Supplement will include an appendix containing ENF comment letters with 
indexed and narrative responses by the Applicants. The Supplement and 
the DEIS are collectively intended to comprise the Draft EIR for 
purposes of review under MEPA.
    The Applicants intend to file the Supplement with the MEPA office 
and the Commission as soon as practicable following the issuance of the 
DEIS so as to match as closely as possible the state and Federal 
comment periods. The Applicants have stated that they will consider, at 
the appropriate time, requesting an extension of either comment period 
so that commentors will have the opportunity to file a single set of 
comments with both the Commission and MEPA.
    This DEIS has been distributed to the commentors and others listed 
in the state Certificate.

Comment Procedures and Public Meeting

    Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. To ensure 
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is 
important that we receive your comments before the date specified 
below. 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 comments to: 
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, 
PJ11.2;
     Reference Docket Nos. CP01-4-000, CP01-5-000 and CP01-8-
000; and

[[Page 36574]]

     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before August 27, 2001.\1\
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    \1\ The front material in the DEIS incorrectly identifies 
September 3, 2001 as the end of the comment period.
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    Comments, protests and interventions may 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.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and 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 will announce in a future notice, the location and time of at 
least one local public meeting to receive comments on the DEIS.
    After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated, and modifications are made to the DEIS, a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be published and distributed 
by the staff. The FEIS will contain the staff's responses to timely 
comments filed on the DEIS.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to 
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene 
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this DEIS. You 
must file your request to intervene as specified above. \2\ You do not 
need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
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    \2\ 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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    The DEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for distribution and 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, copies of 
the DEIS have been mailed to Federal, state and local agencies, public 
interest groups, individuals who have requested the DEIS, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding. It has also been distributed to the 
commentors and others listed in the state Certificate.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 208-1088 or on 
the FERC Internet 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 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. 01-17455 Filed 7-11-01; 8:45 am]
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