[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 223 (Monday, November 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57958-57959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28785]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-45-000]


Colorado Interstate Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Valley Line Expansion Project

    November 9, 2001.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Colorado Interstate Gas 
Company (CIG) in the above-referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of facilities to reinforce CIG's existing 
natural gas transmission system, including:
     The 5C Central Loop--about 35 miles of 24-inch-diameter 
loop between CIG's existing Ault Meter Station and the Fort Lupton 
Compressor Station, all in Weld County, Colorado;
     The Valley Line Loop--about 84 miles of 20-inch-diameter 
loop which would generally parallel CIG's existing Valley Line between 
its Watkins Compressor Station in southern Adams County east of Denver 
and a location adjacent to the existing Nixon Power Plant in central El 
Paso County south of Colorado Springs;
     Two new natural gas-fired reciprocating engine-driven 
compressors, totaling 4,450 horsepower, and appurtenant facilities at 
CIG's Fort Lupton Compressor Station in Weld County, Colorado; and
     Appurtenant and ancillary facilities.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport an 
additional 278.8 million cubic feet of natural gas per day (MMcfd) on 
the portion of CIG's system between its Cheyenne Compressor Station in 
northern Weld County and its Watkins Compressor Station in southern 
Adams County, and an additional 344.4 MMcfd on the portion of its 
Valley Line between its Watkins Compressor Station and the vicinity of 
the Nixon Power Plant in central El Paso County south of Colorado 
Springs.
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are 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.
    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA 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 Street, NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 1, PJ11.1.
     Reference Docket No. CP01-45-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before December 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.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.''
    Due to current events, we cannot guarantee that we will receive 
mail on a timely basis from the U.S. Postal Service, and we do not know 
how long this situation will continue. However, we continue to receive 
filings from private mail delivery services, including messenger 
services in a reliable manner. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments in this proceeding.
    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).\1\ Only intervenors have the

[[Page 57959]]

right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \1\ 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 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 Internet web site (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.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-28785 Filed 11-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P