[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 57 (Monday, March 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13621-13622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7034]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-4-001; CP01-5-002]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline L.L.C., and Algonquin Gas 
Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Maritimes Phase III/Hubline Project 
Amendments and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

March 18, 2002.
    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 amended Maritimes Phase III/
HubLine Project involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) in Essex County, 
Massachusetts and Algonquin Gas Transmission Company (Algonquin) in 
primarily offshore Essex, Suffolk, Plymouth, and Norfolk Counties, 
Massachusetts.\1\ There would be minor onshore facilities in Essex, 
Suffolk and Norfolk Counties. The amendment would change the diameter 
of the already approved offshore pipeline facilities from 16 to 24 
inches in diameter and from 24 to 30 inches in diameter. This EA will 
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether the amendment is in the public convenience and necessity.
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    \1\ Maritimes' and Algonquin's applications were filed with the 
Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of 
the Commission's regulations.
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    All applicable landowners were informed of the previously approved 
project and had an opportunity to participate in the process which 
resulted in its approval.

Summary of the Proposed Amendment

    Maritimes wants to increase the diameter of its approved Phase III 
facilities from the Salem Meter Station to its connection with 
Algonquin's approved HubLine facilities in Beverly, Massachusetts. 
Maritimes has approval to construct and operate approximately 23.8 
miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline and 1.0 mile of 24-inch-diameter 
pipeline; and appurtenant facilities to include three mainline valves, 
one tap valve, two cathodic protection ground beds, and two meter 
stations. Algonquin has approval to construct and operate approximately 
29.4 miles of 24-inch-diameter offshore mainline pipeline; 
approximately 5.4 miles of 16-inch-diameter offshore lateral pipeline 
to the existing Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Waste 
Water Treatment facility on Deer Island; and one new meter station on 
Deer Island, and a block valve and receiver and regulator facilities 
near the interconnect with the existing I-9 pipeline. Maritimes seeks 
authority to:
     Change the diameter of the approximately 1.0 mile of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline to 30 inches; and
     Modify the Salem Meter Station by deleting the launcher/
receiver and changing some of the metering and piping to accommodate 
the larger diameter pipe.
    Algonquin seeks authority to:
     Change the diameter of the approximately 29.4 miles of 24-
inch-diameter offshore mainline pipeline to 30 inches;
     Change the diameter of the approximately 5.4 miles of 16-
inch-diameter offshore lateral pipeline to the existing Massachusetts 
Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Waste Water Treatment facility on Deer 
Island to 24 inches; and
     Modify the one new meter station on Deer Island, and a 
block valve and receiver and regulator facilities near the interconnect 
with the existing I-9 pipeline to accommodate the larger diameter pipe.

Land Requirements for Construction

    The change in the pipeline diameter would result in no additional 
onshore land requirements from those already approved. Construction of 
the proposed offshore facilities with the larger pipeline diameter 
would disturb about 7 more acres of sea floor than currently approved.

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 
\2\ 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

[[Page 13622]]

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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    \2\ ''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 
construction and operation of the proposed amendment under these 
general headings:
     Sediments
     Cultural resources
     Endangered and threatened species
     Water resources, fisheries
     Vegetation
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed 
modifications, and, if necessary, 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.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section in this NOI beginning 
on page 5.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    No additional environmental concerns beyond those identified in the 
final environmental impact statement \3\ for the approved project have 
been identified for this amendment. As a result we do not anticipate 
revisiting many of the issues already covered by the final 
environmental impact statement prepared for the approved project. We 
also do not anticipate the need to issue the EA for public comment.
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    \3\ Phase III/HubLine Project Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, FERC/EIS-0136, November 2001.
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Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the amendment. 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 
amendment, alternatives to the amendment, 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 an original and two copies of your letter to:
    Magalie R. Salas, 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 
Branch 2.
     Reference Docket Nos. CP01-4-001 and CP01-5-002.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 17, 2002.
    Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail 
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include 
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our 
environmental analysis of this amendment. However, the Commission 
encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions or 
protests to this proceeding. 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.''

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 filings 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 1).\4\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \4\ 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 environmental comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed amendment is available 
from the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1088 
(direct line) or you can call the FERC operator at 1-800-847-8885 and 
ask for External Affairs. Information is also available on the FERC 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 Web site provides 
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such 
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet Web site, 
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) 208-2222.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-7034 Filed 3-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P