[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31295-31296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11583]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-4-000]


Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Evergreen Expansion Project

May 3, 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 (NWP) 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:
     Four 36-inch-diameter loops totaling approximately 27.8 
miles;
     91,580 horsepower of additional compression or other 
modifications at ten different compressor stations; and
     Other aboveground facilities including ten tie-in 
assemblies, each with a block valve and pigging facilities.
    The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to provide firm 
transportation of natural gas to fuel combustion turbine projects under 
construction or planned for installation at five sites in western 
Washington. These turbines would add new electric power generation in 
the Pacific Northwest.
    When existing system capacity and capacity turn back are 
considered, the net increase in system capacity in the Sumas to 
Chehalis corridor is 220,514 Dth/day. The Evergreen Expansion Project 
also would add approximately 57,000 Dth/day of physical north flow 
capacity through the Columbia Gorge corridor of the NWP system to 
replace approximately 52,000 Dth/day of design day displacement 
capacity required for existing long-term firm services and reduce the 
operational flow order risks for existing firm services through that 
corridor.
    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 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/
Hydro Group, PJ-11.3;
     Reference Docket No. CP02-4-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 5, 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 
final order. 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 
a free 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

[[Page 31296]]

CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-11583 Filed 5-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P