[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53157-53159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22863]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-49-002]


Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the Amended Everett Delta 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

September 3, 2003.
    On October 25, 2001, the Commission issued Northwest Pipeline 
Corporation (Northwest) a certificate of public convenience and 
necessity for the Everett Delta Lateral Project (Order). We \1\ 
prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and on August 10, 2001, we 
issued a notice of availability for comment on the EA. Comments 
received on the EA were addressed in the Order authorizing construction 
and operation of the Everett Delta Project, subject to Northwest's 
compliance with the environmental conditions. As currently 
certificated, the Everett Delta Lateral Project in Snohomish County, 
Washington,\2\ includes approximately 9 miles of 20-inch-diameter 
lateral pipeline, two delivery stations, and related facilities to 
provide transportation deliveries from Northwest's mainline to serve a 
planned Northwest Power Company power plant in Everett, Washington, and 
to provide additional service to a local distribution company, Puget 
Sound Energy (PSE). After issuance of the Order for the project, the 
new power plant that was the anchor market for the project was canceled 
and the facility agreements underlying this project were terminated. 
Northwest and PSE then negotiated new commercial arrangements for a 
revised Everett Delta Lateral Project designed to serve only PSE's 
distribution system.
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    \1\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
    \2\ (Northwest's) application was filed with the Commission 
under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
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    Northwest now requests the Commission to amend the certificate for 
the project to authorize Northwest to construct approximately 9.19 
miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline (on the certificated route with some 
variations), instead of 20-inch-diameter pipeline, one meter station, 
two delivery taps and related facilities designed to provide 
approximately 113 million decatherms per day of firm transportation 
service for PSE. The facility differences in the amendment versus the 
certificated project are: smaller diameter pipeline; 0.19 miles longer 
pipeline; one less meter station; and small changes to related 
facilities. We will study the amendments and determine if they are 
environmentally preferred over the certificated route.
    The primary route change involves the certificated route crossing 
of Catherine Creek by horizontal directional drill (HDD) between 
mileposts (MPs) 1.2 and 1.52. Geotechnical investigations and site 
analysis subsequent to the Order have determined that the route through 
this area has less than a 25 percent probability of success, due to the 
amount of subsurface gravels and cobbles that would be encountered 
along the path of the HDD. Northwest has identified a route that would 
avoid the use of the Catherine Creek HDD--designated the Holly Lane 
Reroute. The reroute affects the proposed alignment between MPs 1.16 
and 1.78 and crosses Catherine Creek at MP 1.32 where a culvert has 
already been installed. The majority of the reroute would be within the 
right-of-way of Callow Road and Holly Lane.
    This Notice of Intent is to inform the public that staff of the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare 
a supplemental EA that will discuss the environmental impacts of the 
Everett Delta Lateral involving construction and operation of 
facilities by Northwest in Snohomish County, Washington. The EA will 
focus on the amendments to determine if they affect our original 
conclusion that the project does not constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 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.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a pipeline company 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, the pipeline 
company 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?'' was attached to the 
project notice Northwest 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).

Summary of the Proposed Project as Amended

    Northwest proposes to construct:
    [sbull] Approximately 9.19 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Snohomish County, Washington, which would tie-in with Northwest's 
existing mainline and mainline loop at milepost (MP) 1411.3 north of 
the City of Lake Stevens. The 16-inch-diameter lateral would extend 
from the interconnect with Northwest's existing system at MP 0.0 and 
extend to PSE in Everett, Washington;

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    [sbull] The Everett Delta Meter Station (MP 0.0);
    [sbull] Two downstream delivery taps: the Soper Hill Tap (MP 4.4) 
and the Everett Tap (MP 9.19); and
    [sbull] A pig launcher and two 12-inch mainline taps (MP 0.0), 
block valve assembly (MP 4.4), and a pig receiver (MP 9.19).
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\3\ If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a specific 
portion of the project, send in your request using the form in appendix 
3.
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    \3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other 
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site 
at the `` eLibrary `` link or from the Commission's Public Reference 
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary 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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Land Requirements for Construction

    In total, construction of the project would result in approximately 
89 acres of disturbance. Permanent easement for the entire project 
would result in approximately 50 acres with the remaining 39 acres of 
land allowed to revert to its former use. A permanent easement is 
needed for long-term operation and maintenance requirements. Northwest 
would require a 50-foot-wide permanent easement for the project. The 
aboveground facilities would need a total of 0.95 acre. The amendments 
cause an increase in land use of 1.29 acres for construction 
(temporary) and 0.35 acre for operation (permanent easement) 
Construction of the lateral would primarily use a 75-foot-wide 
construction right-of-way. However, a number of areas would require the 
construction right-of-way to be reduced to less than 75 feet in width. 
In addition to the typical 75-foot-wide construction right-of-way, 
additional temporary extra work areas at specific locations such as 
road and railroad crossings, and waterbody and wetland crossings are 
required.

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. 
This process is referred to as ``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 government representatives are encouraged to notify 
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern.
    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:
    [sbull] Geology and soils
    [sbull] Land use
    [sbull] Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
    [sbull] Cultural resources
    [sbull] Vegetation and wildlife
    [sbull] Air quality and noise
    [sbull] Endangered and threatened species
    [sbull] Hazardous waste
    [sbull] Public safety
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed changes 
in the project, and 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. Depending 
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be 
published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
newspapers, 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.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section below.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The environmental issues for the certificated route were addressed 
in the August 10, 2001 EA. We have identified several additional issues 
that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the 
amended facilities and the environmental information provided by 
Northwest. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your 
comments and our analysis.
    [sbull] The project would be within 50 feet of 4 additional 
residences; and
    [sbull] The crossing of Catherine Creek in the new proposed 
location.

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 change 
to the original proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including 
alternative routes), measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact, 
and how you believe these changes affect the original analysis. 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:
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 2.
    [sbull] Reference Docket No. CP01-49-002.
    [sbull] Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 3, 2003.
    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 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 online.
    We may mail the EA for comment. If you are interested in receiving 
it, please return the Information Request (appendix 4). 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

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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 2). \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.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all identified potential 
right-of-way grantors.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the 
FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov)using the eLibrary link. 
Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and 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 eLibrary, the eLibrary helpline can be reached at 1-
866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at [email protected]. The 
eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called 
eSubscription which allows you too keep track of all formal issuances 
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time 
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with 
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to 
the documents. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-22863 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P