[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60906-60907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26814]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Interim Direction for Processing Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline 
Proposals on National Forest System Lands

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of agency directive.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is issuing an interim directive to guide 
its employees in processing proposals for interstate natural gas 
pipeline projects. This interim directive is designed to supplement 
existing direction in the Forest Service Manual chapter 2720, 
consistent with a May 2002 interagency agreement between the Department 
of Agriculture and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The 
agreement establishes procedures for responding to and processing 
applications for interstate natural gas pipeline projects when the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be the lead agency in 
conducting the required environmental and historic preservation 
reviews.

DATES: This interim directive is effective October 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: This interim directive (ID 2720-2003-2) is available 
electronically from the Forest Service via the World Wide Web/Internet 
at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives. Single paper copies of the ID 
are also available by contacting Melissa Hearst, Lands Staff (Mail Stop 
1124), Forest Service, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-1124 (telephone 202-205-1196).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Hearst, Lands Staff (202-205-
1196).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is issuing an interim 
directive (ID) to Forest Service Manual (FSM) chapter 2720 to guide its 
employees in the streamlining of proposal and application procedures 
for interstate natural gas pipelines certified by the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) and adopted in a May 2002 agreement 
between the FERC, the Department of Agriculture, and other Federal 
agencies.
    The May 2002 agreement entitled ``Interagency Agreement on Early 
Coordination of Required Environmental and Historic Preservation 
Reviews Conducted in Conjunction with the Issuance of Authorizations to 
Construct and Operate Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines Certificated by 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission'' eliminates overlapping and 
duplicative environmental processes required by the numerous Federal 
agencies having jurisdiction in the permitting of interstate natural 
gas pipeline projects. Minimizing the duplication and overlap of 
procedures shortens the cumulative processing time for evaluating 
applications and making decisions on these projects. The ID to FSM 2720 
provides Forest Service field officers with specific procedures to 
ensure that

[[Page 60907]]

the agency carries out the streamlining processes in the agreement and 
directs that field officers fully engage as a cooperating agency in the 
FERC's processing of these types of applications.
    The interim directive to FSM 2720 is issued as ID number 2720-2003-
2.

    Dated: October 16, 2003.
Sally Collins,
Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 03-26814 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P