[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58601-58603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23567]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-416-000]


Williams Gas Pipelines Central Incorporated; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southwest Missouri 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

September 11, 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 Williams Gas Pipelines Central 
Incorporated's (Williams) proposed Southwest Missouri Expansion Project 
in Cherokee County, Kansas, and Jasper and Newton Counties, 
Missouri.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether the project is in the public 
convenience and necessity.
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    \1\ Williams' application was filed under section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations on July 
31, 2002.
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    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a Williams representative about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline 
company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. 
However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that approval 
conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement 
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, Williams could initiate 
condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' should have been 
attached to the project notice Petal provided to landowners. This fact 
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the 
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's 
proceedings. It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site 
(http://www.ferc.gov).
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being sent to landowners along 
William's proposed pipeline route; Federal, state, and local government 
agencies; national elected officials; regional environmental and public 
interest groups; Indian tribes that might attach religious and cultural 
significance to historic properties in the area of potential effects; 
local libraries and newspapers; and the Commission's list of parties to 
the proceeding. Government representatives are encouraged to notify 
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern. Additionally, with this NOI we \2\ 
are asking Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction 
and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to 
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may 
choose to participate once they have evaluated William's proposal 
relative to their agencies' responsibilities. Agencies who would like 
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments described below.
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    \2\ ''We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Williams proposes to construct, expand, own, operate and maintain 
certain natural gas facilities in order to increase incremental firm 
transportation service to two existing customers: Empire District 
Electric Company and Kansas Gas Service. The action would include: 
Constructing 15.67 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline, beginning at the 
end of William's existing Southern Trunk 20-inch-diameter FR pipeline 
in Cherokee County, Kansas, and ending at Williams' existing meter 
station for the Empire Power Plant in Jasper County, Missouri; removing 
and relocating the pig trap currently at the end of the Southern Trunk 
20-inch-diameter FR pipeline to the end of the new 15.67-mile-long 20-
inch-diameter pipeline at the Empire Power Plant meter station; and 
upgrading piping at Williams' existing Saginaw Compressor Station in 
Newton County, Missouri to increase maximum allowable operating 
pressure from 820 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) to 900 psig. The 
general location of the facilities proposed by Williams is shown on the 
map attached as appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available for review at 
the Commission's Public Reference Room during normal business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. Eastern time) at 888 First Street, NE., Room 
2A, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371, or on the FERC 
Internet website (www.ferc.gov) using the FERRIS link. For 
instructions on connecting to FERRIS refer to the last page of this 
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving 
this notice in the mail.

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[[Page 58602]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the facilities proposed by Williams would affect a 
total of about 143 acres of land. About 95 acres would be converted 
into new permanent right-of-way. The remaining land would only be used 
temporarily, and after construction would be restored to its previous 
condition and use. About 58 percent of the pipeline route would 
parallel existing pipeline, railroad, or overhead electric power line 
rights-of-way.

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 
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 NOI, 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.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. We will 
also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed action, or portions 
of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid 
impacts on various environmental resources.
    Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the 
EA may be published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, 
elected officials, affected landowners, regional public interest 
groups, Indian tribes, local newspapers and libraries, and the 
Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A comment 
period will be allotted for review if the EA is published. We will 
consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations to 
the Commission.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified a number of issues that we think deserve attention based on 
a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by Williams. This preliminary list of issues may 
be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Geology and Soils
--Crossing 8.6 miles of soils with potential for erosion.
--Pipeline construction could affect 44 acres of agricultural land.
Water Resources and Wetlands
--Crossing 5 perennial waterbodies within Spring River drainage.
--Pipeline construction could affect about 2 acres of wetlands.
Vegetation and Wildlife
--Pipeline construction could affect about 6 acres of forest.
--5 areas containing habitat for sensitive state species would be 
crossed.
Cultural Resources
--6 archaeological sites identified in the project vicinity.
--Native American concerns.
Public Participation
    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the project. 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 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations 
or routes), 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 the Gas/Hydro Branch, PJ-11.3; Reference Docket No. 
CP02-416-000; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 18, 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 project. However, the Commission 
strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments, interventions or 
protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's Internet 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.''
    We might mail the EA for comments. If you are interested in 
receiving it, please return the Information Request (appendix 2). If 
you do not return the Information Request, you will be taken off the 
mailing list.
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).\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
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC or on the 
FERC Internet website (www.ferc.gov) using the FERRIS link.
    Click on the FERRIS link, enter the docket number excluding the 
last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected 
an appropriate date range. For assistance with FERRIS, the FERRIS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 502-8222, TTY (202) 502-8659. The 
FERRIS link on the FERC Internet website also provides access to the 
text of formal documents issued by the

[[Page 58603]]

Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-23567 Filed 9-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P