[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77770-77771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32013]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


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

December 13, 2002.
    The Office of Energy Projects (OEP) staff will conduct five 
sessions of its Environmental Report Preparation Seminar, as well as 
five sessions of the Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance Seminar, 
throughout 2003. 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 Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/gas/industry_seminars_home.htm and to register for the courses, visit the Web site for these 
training sessions at http://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.

Environmental Report Preparation (1-Day Seminar)

    This one-day 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 are covered in 
the manual but will not be discussed during the seminar. The seminar 
will assist each trainee in preparing the environmental report required 
for filing applications with FERC 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:

1. General Project Description
2. Water Use and Quality
3. Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation
4. Cultural Resources
5. Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice
6. Geological Resources
7. Soils
8. Land Use, Recreation, and Aesthetics
9. Air and Noise Quality
10. Alternatives

    The seminar will also include a general background discussion of 
the FERC's environmental process as well as efforts to enhance 
landowner and other 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 detailed information on these courses will 
be posted on the Web site referenced above.

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

[[Page 77771]]

will provide each trainee with knowledge of the basic environmental 
requirements of most FERC certificates and the Upland Erosion Control, 
Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan (Plan) and the Wetland and Waterbody 
Construction and Mitigation Procedures (Procedures) and will address 
the following compliance topics:
[sbull] Preconstruction planning
[sbull] Post-certificate filings, including cultural resources 
requirements, implementation plan, threatened and endangered species
[sbull] Waterbody crossings
[sbull] Wetland construction
[sbull] Erosion control
[sbull] Residential construction
[sbull] Agricultural mitigation
[sbull] Variance procedures
[sbull] Right-of-way restoration and post-construction activities

    In the morning before each day of the seminar begins, we will also 
offer an ``early-bird'' session on Pipeline Construction (Day 1) and 
Recent Changes to the FERC Plan and Procedures (Day 2) for those 
participants who feel 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 Recent Changes to the 
FERC Plan and Procedures session will be of special interest to those 
individuals who are familiar with the old versions of these documents 
which were dated December, 1994.
    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 Post-Certificate Environmental Compliance Seminars will be held 
as shown on the attached table. More detailed information on these 
courses will be posted on the Web site referenced above.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Deputy Secretary.

Schedule of Training Seminars (FY 2003)

Dates, Location, and Seminar (Day 1) (Days 2 & 3)

January 28, 29-30, Houston, ER Preparation Compliance
February 25, 26-27, Las Vegas, ER Preparation Compliance
March 18, 19-20, Atlanta, ER Preparation Compliance
April 22, 23-24, Pittsburgh, ER Preparation Compliance
May 20, 21-22, Houston, ER Preparation Compliance

[FR Doc. 02-32013 Filed 12-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P