[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58465-58466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29071]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance and 
Environmental Report Preparation Training Seminars

November 15, 2001.
    The Office of Energy Projects (OEP) staff will conduct the first of 
five sessions of its Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance Seminar 
on December 12 and 13, 200 and the remaining four, as well as five 
sessions of the Environmental Report Preparation Seminar, throughout 
2002. Last offered in 1998, these seminars have been updated to reflect 
recent regulatory changes and to open for discussion state-of-the-
industry advances in compliance management techniques. The format of 
both seminars has also been revised to include interactive training 
techniques and increased audience participation. The training seminars 
will be delivered by FERC staff and consultants with significant 
industry experience.
    Details on the content of both seminars and the scheduled training 
locations are provided below. For more information for the courses 
visit the FERC website at http://www.ferc.gov/industry_seminars_home.htm and to register for the courses, visit the 
web site for these training sessions at www.ferc-envtraining.com or 
call (650) 712-6610. Registration for each course will be limited; so, 
although there is no charge for the course, all participants must 
register in advance.

Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance (2-Day Seminar)

    This two-day seminar will cover the FERC's post-certificate 
regulatory process and construction and restoration requirements. The 
seminar will provide each trainee with knowledge of the basic 
environmental requirements of most FERC certificates and will address 
the following compliance topics:
     Preconstruction planning
     Post-certificate filings, including cultural resources 
requirements, implementation plan, threaten and endangered species
     Waterbody crossings
     Wetland construction
     Erosion control
     Residential construction
     Agricultural mitigation
     Variance procedures
     Right-of-way restoration and post-construction activities
    Before each morning of the seminar, we will also offer an ``early-
bird'' session on Pipeline Construction (Day 1) and Effective 
Communications (Day 2) for those participants who fell they would 
benefit. Participants must register for these early-bird sessions when 
registering for the seminar. The Pipeline Construction session will be 
for those who are inexperienced in basic pipeline construction 
practices. The Effective Communications session will discuss how the 
Environmental Inspector and project representatives may best keep 
themselves, agencies, and construction contractors informed of the 
status of the project and various regulatory requirements to avoid 
misunderstandings to the extent possible.
    At the training seminar, we will present updates that are under

[[Page 58466]]

consideration for the Upland Erosion Control, Revegetation, and 
Maintenance Plan (Plan) and the Wetland and Waterbody Construction and 
Mitigation Procedures (Procedures). Seminar participants will have the 
opportunity to provide input and comment on the proposed updates. We 
will also issue separate notice of these potential changes for the 
general public and the regulated industry to comment on outside of the 
training venue.
    Registered participants will receive a certificate of attendance at 
the end of the session and an updated copy of the Natural Gas Pipeline 
Environmental Compliance Workbook.
    The December, 2001, Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance 
Seminar will be held in Houston, Texas at the Sheraton North, 15700 
John F. Kennedy Blvd. Participants must register for this course by 
December 1. Additional courses will be held as shown on the attached 
table. More information on these future courses will be posted on the 
website in January 2002.

Environmental Report Preparation

    This seminar will discuss the environmental documentation required 
for certificate applications prepared under subpart A of 18 CFR 157 and 
sections 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), subpart F 
blanket projects, and section 2.55 replacements. The seminar will 
assist each trainee in preparing the environmental report required for 
filing with FERC applications for project construction or abandonment. 
The presentation will address the information necessary to meet the 
FERC's minimum filing requirements and will cover the following topics:
     General Project Description
     Water Use and Quality
     Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation
     Cultural Resources
     Socioeconomic and Environmental Justice
     Geological Resources
     Soils
     Land Use, Recreation and Aesthetics
     Air and Noise Quality
     Alternatives
     Reliability and Safety
     PCB Contamination
     Information Related to LNG Facilities
     Landowner Notification
    The seminar will also include a discussion of the FERC's efforts to 
enhance stakeholder involvement during the pre-filing process which 
potentially includes beginning the National Environmental Policy Act 
process during the development stage of a project. Participants will 
receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the session and an 
updated copy of the Guidance Manual for Environmental Report 
Preparation.
    The Environmental Report Preparation Seminars will be held as shown 
on the attached table. More information on these future courses will be 
posted on the website in January 2002.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.

                                          Schedule of Training Semianrs
                                                 (FY 2001-2002)
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                 Dates                            Location                             Seminar
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December 12-13.........................  Houston..................  Compliance.
March..................................  Las Vegas................  Compliance.
April..................................  Atlanta..................  Compliance  ER Preparation.
May....................................  Hartford.................  Compliance ER Preparation.
June...................................  Salt Lake................  ER Preparation.
August.................................  Houston..................  ER Preparation.
September..............................  St. Louis................  Compliance; ER Preparation.
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[FR Doc. 01-29071 Filed 11-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P