[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70600-70601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23117]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Environmental Impact Statement: Site Selection for the Expansion 
of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice to reopen the public scoping period and hold a public 
scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: On September 1, 2005, DOE announced its intention to prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for site selection and 
expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as required by the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (70 FR 52088). DOE at that time planned to assess 
the impacts of capacity expansion at three of the four existing storage 
sites and the development of a new storage site in the Gulf Coast 
region. Three scoping meetings were held and the scoping period, which 
was extended in

[[Page 70601]]

response to conditions following Hurricane Katrina, closed on October 
28, 2005 (70 FR 56649; September 28, 2005). On October 27, 2005, the 
Governor of Mississippi requested the Secretary of Energy to include a 
new site at Bruinsburg Salt Dome in the analysis of potential sites and 
environmental impacts for the proposal to expand the storage capacity 
of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In light of this request, DOE has 
reopened the public scoping period and scheduled another scoping 
meeting.

DATES: With the publication of this notice, the public scoping period 
is reopened and will extend through December 19, 2005. DOE invites 
interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members 
of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist in 
identifying significant environmental issues and in determining the 
appropriate scope of the EIS. Written and oral comments will be given 
equal weight, and DOE will consider all comments received or postmarked 
by December 19, 2005, in defining the scope of the draft EIS. Comments 
postmarked after this date will be considered to the degree 
practicable.
    The scoping meeting will be held on December 7, 2005. The location 
of the public scoping meeting was selected based on its proximity to 
the proposed new oil storage site at Bruinsburg and the availability of 
public meeting facilities.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held in Port Gibson, 
Mississippi, on December 7, 2005, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Claiborne 
County Multi-Purpose Building, 1703 Bridewell Lane, Port Gibson, 
Mississippi. Telephone: 601-437-5419.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Comments or suggestions on the scope 
and content of the EIS and requests to speak at the scoping meeting 
should be directed to Donald Silawsky, Office of Petroleum Reserves 
(FE-47), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0301; telephone: 202-586-1892; fax: 202-586-4446; 
or electronic mail at [email protected]. Envelopes and the 
subject line of e-mails or faxes should be labeled ``Scoping for the 
SPR EIS.'' Please note that conventional mail to DOE may be delayed by 
anthrax screening. For information on the proposed project or to 
receive a copy of the Draft EIS when it is issued, contact Donald 
Silawsky by any of the means listed above. Additional information may 
also be found on the DOE Fossil Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve 
proposed expansion Web site at http://fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2005/tl_spr_noi.html.
    For information on the DOE NEPA process, contact Carol M. 
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (EH-42), U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0119; telephone: 202-586-4600 or leave a toll-free message at: 
800-472-2756; fax: 202-586-7031; or electronic mail at 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 16, 2005.
Mark Matarrese,
NEPA Compliance Officer, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 05-23117 Filed 11-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P