[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 77 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20893-20894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1901]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP04-34-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice Of Availability of 
the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line 1278 Replacement 
Project

April 15, 2005.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) in cooperation with the National Park Service has prepared 
an environmental assessment (EA) on the natural gas pipeline facilities 
proposed by Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) in the 
above referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.
    The EA assesses the potential effects of the proposed 43.4 miles of 
abandonment of Columbia's existing 14-inch-diameter pipeline, Line 
1278, and its replacement with 20-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Northampton, Monroe, and Pike Counties, Pennsylvania mostly within 
Columbia's existing right-of-way. Columbia is under mandate from the 
United States Department of Transportation to replace deteriorated 
sections of its existing 14-inch-diameter Line 1278. The replacement 
would take place in two phases in 2005 and 2006. No volume increases 
are proposed.
    Columbia would also abandon and replace one 12-inch-diameter and 
eight 14-inch-diameter valve settings with 20-inch-diameter valve 
settings along the replaced pipeline. The existing 14-inch-diameter pig 
launcher presently located at the Easton Compressor Station would be 
removed and relocated to the northern terminus of the project at 
Columbia's Weber Road Lot for use on Line 1278 at the north end of the 
replacement in Pike County. A new 20-inch-diameter receiver and a 12-
inch-diameter regulator setting would also be installed at the Weber 
Road Lot.
    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public 
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference 
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-
8371; Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, River Road, 
Bushkill, PA 18324, (570) 588-2452.
    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, libraries, 
newspapers, and parties to this proceeding.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure 
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is 
important that we receive your comments before the date specified 
below. 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 comments to: 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 1, 
PJ-11.1;
     Reference Docket No. CP04-34-000
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 16, 2005.
    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 ``e-
Filing'' 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.''
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make

[[Page 20894]]

the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to become a 
party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to 
Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 
385.214).\1\ Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the 
Commission's decision.
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    \1\ 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 comments considered.
    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 Web site (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., CP04-34) and follow 
the instructions. Searches may also be done using the phase ``Line 1278 
Replacement'' in the ``Text Search'' field. 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 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-1901 Filed 4-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P