[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10903-10904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5694]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-361-000]


Northwest Pipeline Corp.; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Grays Harbor Pipeline Project

March 4, 2002.
    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 Northwest Pipeline 
Corporation (Northwest) 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 the proposed gas pipeline and aboveground 
facilities including:
     About 49.0 miles of a 20-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Thurston and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington, which would tie in with 
Northwest's existing mainline and mainline loop south of the Town of 
Ranier in Thurston County, Washington. The pipeline would extend from 
the interconnect with Northwest's existing system to the Satsop 
Combustion Turbine Project that is being constructed in the town of 
Satsop in Grays Harbor County, Washington.
     A meter station adjacent to the Satsop Project plant site 
at the end of the pipeline;
     Upgrades to the existing Tumwater Compressor Station in 
Thurston County, including the addition of a new compressor unit (rated 
3,894 horsepower) and replacement of an existing backup generator with 
a 355 kilowatt backup generator; and
     Other aboveground facilities including two 20-inch-
diameter

[[Page 10904]]

mainline taps, a pig launcher, four 20-inch-diameter block valve 
assemblies; and a new antenna and radio repeater at the existing 
Capitol Peak radio site.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to supply natural 
gas to fully operate Duke Energy Grays Harbor LLC's Satsop Combustion 
Turbine Project in Satsop, Washington. The pipeline would have a design 
capacity of up to 161,500 dekatherms per day. The electricity produced 
by the Satsop Combustion Turbine Project would be sold in the wholesale 
electric market. A portion of the output would be delivered to Energy 
Northwest, and the balance would be delivered to Bonneville Power 
Authority to help satisfy current and projected power demand.
    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, N.E., 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 two copies of your comments to: 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 the 
Office of Energy Projects (Gas Branch 2)
     Reference Docket No. CP01-361-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 3, 2002.
    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.''
    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 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 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-5694 Filed 3-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P