[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2217-2220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-277]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-8-000]


Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Golden Pass Optimized 
Pipeline Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

January 6, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that 
discusses the environmental impacts of Golden Pass Pipeline LP's 
(Golden Pass)

[[Page 2218]]

proposed Optimized Pipeline Project (OP Project or Project) which 
involves design and route changes to the pipeline facilities previously 
approved as part of the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline 
Project.\1\ In the OP Project, Golden Pass proposes the following 
changes to the previously authorized facilities: (1) Replace the dual 
36-inch-diameter pipelines (mainline and loop) with a single 42-inch-
diameter pipeline and (2) incorporate a route change that would replace 
about 20.4 miles of pipeline with about 11.6 miles of pipeline, thus 
reducing the total length of the pipeline by about 8.8 miles.
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    \1\ On July 6, 2005, the Commission approved the Golden Pass LNG 
Terminal and Pipeline Project in Docket Nos. CP04-386-000, CP04-400-
000, CP04-401-000, and CP04-402-000. The Golden Pass LNG Terminal 
and Pipeline Project included a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal 
and associated LNG facilities, 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
mainline pipeline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter looping pipeline 
that would be constructed adjacent to the mainline, and associated 
pipeline facilities.
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    The OP Project is currently in the preliminary stages of design and 
at this time a formal application has not been filed with the 
Commission. For this project, the Commission is initiating the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving the formal 
application. This allows interested stakeholders to become involved 
early in the project planning and to identify and resolve issues before 
a formal application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF06-8-
000) has been established to place information filed by Golden Pass and 
related documents issued or received by the Commission, into the public 
record.\2\ Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new 
docket number will be established.
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    \2\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions 
for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice.
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    This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will 
be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested 
agencies on the Project. Please note that the scoping period will close 
on February 6, 2006. Details on how to submit comments are provided in 
the Public Participation section of this notice.
    This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners along 
the OP Project route; Federal, State, and local government agencies; 
elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native 
American tribes; and local libraries and newspapers.
    With this notice, we \3\ are asking Federal, State, and local 
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. 
These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the 
proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies which would like 
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments described later in this notice. We encourage government 
representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project 
and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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    Some affected landowners may be contacted by a project 
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, 
operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline. If so, the company should 
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event that 
the Project is certificated by the Commission, that approval conveys 
the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the pipeline. 
Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the 
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?'' 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

    In the Commission's July 6, 2005 Order, Golden Pass was authorized 
to construct and operate approximately 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
mainline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter loop, and 1.8 miles of 24-
inch-diameter pipeline and related pipeline facilities. These 
facilities (or the Authorized Pipeline) would be used to transport 
natural gas on an open-access basis from the proposed Golden Pass LNG 
Terminal on the Port Arthur ship channel to various interstate and 
intrastate pipelines in Texas and Louisiana.
    Golden Pass proposes in the OP Project to construct and operate a 
single 42-inch-diameter pipeline, in place of the 42.8 miles of dual 
36-inch-diameter pipelines and shorten the pipeline route. This 
proposal would involve only those pipeline facilities in Jefferson and 
Orange Counties, Texas. Authorized Pipeline facilities in Newton 
County, Texas, and Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, would not be affected 
by the proposed OP Project. A map illustrating the authorized 
facilities and the proposed OP Project is provided in Appendix 1.\4\
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    \4\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) at the 
``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference and 
Files Maintenance Branch at 1-202-502-8371. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary refer to the Additional Information section 
of this notice.
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Non-Jurisdictional Facilities

    There are no proposed non-jurisdictional facilities associated with 
this proposal.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the OP Project would reduce the total acreage of 
land impacted by the Authorized Pipeline as a result of the design 
change (from two 36-inch-diameter pipelines to one 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline) and the route change (from 20.4 miles to 11.6 miles). The 
typical overland construction right-of-way width would be reduced from 
125 feet to 100 feet, and the operating right-of-way width would be 
reduced from 75 feet to 50 feet. The typical open water construction 
right-of-way width would be reduced from 375 feet to 300 feet, and the 
operating right-of-way width would be reduced from 125 feet to 50 feet. 
The 225-foot-wide construction right-of-way and the 125-foot-wide 
operating right-of-way along horizontal directional drills would be 
reduced to 150 feet and 50 feet, respectively. The OP Project would be 
approximately 8.8 miles shorter than the corresponding segment of the 
Authorized Pipeline.

The EA Process

    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 under 
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. 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 staff requests public comments on 
the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments received are 
considered during the preparation of the EA. By this notice, we are 
also asking 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

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should follow the instructions for filing comments below.
    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed Project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils
     Land use
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
     Cultural resources
     Vegetation and wildlife
     Air quality and noise
     Endangered and threatened species
     Hazardous waste
     Public safety
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed Project 
or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Our independent analysis of the issues is included in the EA. 
Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA 
would be published and mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies, 
Native American tribes, public interest groups, interested individuals, 
affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's 
official service list for this proceeding. A comment period would be 
allotted for review of the EA. All comments received on the EA would be 
considered before we make our recommendations to the Commission. The EA 
is used by the Commission in its decisionmaking process to determine 
whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section described later in 
this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have identified several issues that we think deserve attention 
based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the 
environmental information provided by Golden Pass. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    [rtarr8] Water Resources
     Impact on water quality.
     Impact on wetlands.
    [rtarr8] Endangered and Threatened Species
     Impact on essential fish habitat.
    [rtarr8] Reliability and Safety
     Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas 
pipelines.
    [rtarr8] Air Quality and Noise
     Impacts from construction of the pipeline on residences.

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 may be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission. 
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations 
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The 
more specific your comments, the more useful they may be. 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 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 2.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-8-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 6, 2006.
    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 open a free account which can be 
created on-line.

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''. However, there is no procedure for parties to become 
intervenors during the pre-filing process. You may request intervenor 
status after Golden Pass files its formal certificate application with 
the Commission and is assigned a ``CP'' docket number.
    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 send one electronic copy (using the Commission's 
eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to 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). Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    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

    If you do not want to send comments at this time, but still want to 
remain on our mailing list, please return the attached Mailing List 
Retention Form (Appendix 3). If you do not return the form, you will be 
taken off the mailing list.

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, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact 1-202-502-8659. The eLibrary link 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. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/

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EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-277 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P