[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32534-32535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-1317]



[[Page 32534]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF04-12-000]


Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Central New 
Jersey Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
and Notice of Scoping Meeting

June 4, 2004.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line 
Corporation's (Transco) planned Central New Jersey Expansion Project 
located in Burlington County, New Jersey. This notice announces the 
opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input 
from the public and interested agencies on the projects. Your input 
will help the Commission staff determine which issues need to be 
evaluated in the EA. The Commission will use the EA in its decision-
making process to determine whether or not to authorize the project. 
Please note that the scoping period will close on August 27, 2004.
    Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the public 
participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written 
comments, you are invited to attend the public scoping meeting that is 
scheduled as follows: Tuesday, June 29, 2004, 7 p.m. (e.s.t.), Ramada 
Inn, Bordentown, 1083 Route 206 North, Bordentown, NJ 08505, 609-298-
3200. This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, State, 
and local government representatives and agencies; environmental and 
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers in this proceeding. We \1\ 
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of 
these planned projects and advise them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Transco proposes to construct and operate about 3.5 miles of 36-
inch-diameter pipeline that would loop \2\ Transco's existing Trenton 
Woodbury Line, located in Bordentown and Mansfield Townships in 
Burlington County, New Jersey. The expansion would add an additional 
105,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity to Transco's 
existing system. Transco proposes to place the Central New Jersey 
Expansion facilities into service by November 1, 2005, and requests a 
certificate approval from the Commission by February 1, 2005.
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    \2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent 
to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. The loop 
allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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    A map depicting Transco's proposed facilities and alternate routes 
is provided in 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 on the 
Commission's website at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room or call (202) 502-8371. For 
instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the end of this 
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving 
this notice in the mail.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    Transco has initially identified five route variations, of which 
have several issues that we think deserve attention based on a 
preliminary review of the planned facilities. This preliminary list of 
issues may be changed based on our analysis:
     Two variations (Alternates A and B) may have land use 
conflicts with regards to commercial and/or private development;
     Two variations (Alternates B and C) may have land use 
conflicts with regards to transportation development; and
     Two variations (Alternates D and E) bisect Farmland 
Preservation Property.
    The siting of the pipeline loop in proximity to residential 
neighborhoods and commercial businesses; and public safety have also 
been raised by concerned citizens.

The EA Process

    The FERC will use the EA to consider the environmental impact that 
could result if it issues Transco a Certificate of Public Convenience 
and Necessity.
    This notice formally announces our preparation of the EA and the 
beginning of the process referred to as ``scoping.'' We are soliciting 
input from the public and interested agencies to help us focus the 
analysis in the EA on the potentially significant environmental issues 
related to the proposed action.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in an EA 
that will be prepared for the project. Our evaluation will also include 
possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the 
project, and we will make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid 
impacts on the various resource areas of concern.
    The EA will be mailed to Federal, State, and local government 
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; 
Native American tribes; affected landowners; other interested parties; 
local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's official service list 
for this proceeding. A 30-day comment period will be allotted for 
review of the EA. We will consider all comments submitted on the EA in 
any Commission Order that is issued for the project.
    Although no formal application for authorizing these natural gas 
facilities has been filed, the FERC staff is initiating its NEPA review 
now. The purpose of the FERC's pre-filing process is to encourage the 
early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and 
resolve issues before an application is filed with the FERC.
    We are currently involved with discussions with other 
jurisdictional agencies to identify their issues and concerns. These 
agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 
and the U.S. Department of Transportation. By this notice, we are 
asking these and other federal, state, and local agencies with 
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental 
issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. 
Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should follow 
the instructions for filing comments provided below.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the proposals. Your comments should focus on 
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives and 
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific 
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your 
comments are timely and properly recorded, please mail your comments so 
that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before August 27, 
2004, and carefully follow these instructions:
     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 Gas 
Branch 1, DG2E;

[[Page 32535]]

     Reference Docket No. PF04-12-000 on the original and both 
copies;
    Please note that the Commission encourages electronic filing of 
comments. 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 
``eFiling'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Prepare your 
submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper and save 
it to a file on your hard drive. Before you can file comments you will 
need to create an account by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then 
``New User Account.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing 
you are making. This filing is considered a ``Comment on Filing.''
    When Transco submits its application for authorization to construct 
and operate the Central New Jersey Expansion Project, the Commission 
will publish a Notice of Application in the Federal Register and will 
establish a deadline for interested persons to intervene in the 
proceeding. Because the Commission's pre-filing process occurs before 
an application to begin a proceeding is officially filed, petitions to 
intervene during this process are premature and will not be accepted by 
the Commission.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you wish to remain on the environmental mailing list, please 
return the Mailing List Retention Form included in Appendix 2. If you 
do not return this form, you will be taken off our mailing list.

Availability of Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208 FERC (3372) or on 
the FERC Internet website (http://www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' 
link, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the 
selected date range and ``Docket Number'' (i.e., PF04-12-000), and 
follow the instructions. Searches may also be done using the phrase 
``Central New Jersey Expansion'' in the ``Text Search'' field. For 
assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at 1-
866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov. 
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 rule makings.
    In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called 
eSubscription that allows you to 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. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Finally, Transco has established an Internet Web site for its 
project at http://centralnj.williams.com. The website includes a 
project overview, contact information, regulatory overview, and 
construction procedures.

Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E4-1317 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P