[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2213-2216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-286]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-1-000]


CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Carthage to 
Perryville Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

January 6, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will address the environmental impacts of the Carthage to Perryville 
Project proposed by CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission (CEGT). The 
Commission will use the EIS in its decisionmaking process to determine 
whether or not to authorize the project. This notice explains the 
scoping process we \1\ will use to gather input from the public and 
interested agencies on the project. Your input will help us determine 
the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please note that the 
scoping period will close on February 10, 2006.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    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, we invite you to attend the public scoping meetings we have 
scheduled as follows:

[[Page 2214]]



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             Date and time                           Location
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Tuesday, January 24, 2006, 7 p.m. to 9   Texas Country Music Hall of
 p.m. (CST).                              Fame, 300 West Panola Street,
                                          Carthage, TX 75633. Telephone:
                                          (903) 693-3869.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 7 p.m. to   Quitman High School Auditorium,
 9 p.m. (CST).                            181 Wolverine Drive, Quitman,
                                          LA 71268. Telephone: (318) 259-
                                          2698.
Thursday, January 26, 2006, 7 p.m. to 9  Delhi Civic Center, 232 Denver
 p.m. (CST).                              Street, Delhi, LA 71232.
                                          Telephone: (318) 878-3792.
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    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, State, 
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. We encourage government 
representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project 
and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a CEGT representative about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed project facilities. The 
pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable 
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the FERC, that 
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if 
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline 
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?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). This fact 
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the 
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the FERC's proceedings.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    CEGT proposes to construct, own, operate, and maintain a natural 
gas pipeline to provide new pipeline capacity to transport domestic 
onshore gas supplies from the Barnett Shale and Bossier Sand production 
areas in eastern Texas, as well as the Elm Grove and Vernon Field 
production areas in Louisiana. CEGT indicates that the proposed 
facilities would facilitate the transport of natural gas to the Midwest 
and Northeastern regions of the United States and help satisfy demand 
in those markets. The proposed pipeline would originate from receipt 
points near Carthage in Panola County, Texas, and extend to a terminus 
at interconnections with four existing interstate pipelines located 
within CEGT's Perryville Hub, near Delhi in Richland Parish, Louisiana. 
The general location of the proposed pipeline is shown in the figure 
included as Appendix 1.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other 
than Appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site 
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference 
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the 
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of the 
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail. 
Requests for detailed maps of the proposed facilities should be made 
directly to CEGT.
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    The Carthage to Perryville Project facilities under FERC 
jurisdiction would include:
     171.6 miles of 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in 
Panola County, Texas, and Caddo, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, 
Jackson, Ouachita, and Richland Parishes, Louisiana;
     Two compressor stations, the Panola and Vernon Compressor 
Stations, located in Panola County, Texas, and Jackson Parish, 
Louisiana, respectively (phased construction with initially installed 
gas turbine-driven compression of 10,310 horsepower (hp) to be expanded 
to 20,620 hp at each station by October 2008);
     Two meter and regulator stations at receipt points with 
three intrastate pipelines, including:

--Energy Transfer Fuels Meter/Regulator Station in Panola County, Texas
--Duke Energy Field Services-Enbridge Meter/Regulator Station in Panola 
County, Texas;

     Four new meter and regulator stations at interconnects 
with existing interstate pipelines, including:

--Texas Gas Meter/Regulator Station in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
--ANR Meter/Regulator Station in Richland Parish, Louisiana
--Trunkline Meter/Regulator Station in Richland Parish, Louisiana
--Columbia Gulf Meter/Regulator Station in Richland Parish, Louisiana; 
and

     10 mainline valves.
    The project would be designed and constructed to receive and 
transport about 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. CEGT 
proposes to have the project constructed and operational by February 
2007.

Land Requirements for Construction

    As proposed, the typical construction right-of-way for the project 
pipeline would be 100 feet wide. Following construction, CEGT would 
retain a 60-foot-wide permanent right-of-way for operation of the 
project. Additional, temporary extra workspaces beyond the typcial 
construction right-of-way limits would be required at certain feature 
crossings (e.g., roads, railroads, wetlands, or waterbodies), in areas 
with steep side slopes, or in association with special construction 
techniques.
    Based on preliminary information, construction of the proposed 
project facilities would affect a total of about 2,398.4 acres of land. 
Following construction, about 1,247.9 acres would be maintained as 
permanent right-of-way, and about 56.8 acres of land would be 
maintained as new aboveground facility sites. The remaining 1,093.7 
acres of temporary workspace (including all temporary construction 
rights-of-way, extra workspaces, and pipe storage and contractor yards) 
would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use.

The EIS Process

    NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental 
impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or 
not an interstate natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC 
will use the EIS to consider the environmental impact that could result 
if the CEGT project is authorized under section 7 of the Natural Gas 
Act. NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public 
may have about proposals to be considered by the Commission. This 
process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping 
process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important 
environmental issues. With this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff 
is requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. All comments received will be considered during 
preparation of the EIS.
    In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:

[[Page 2215]]

     Geology and soils;
     Water resources;
     Wetlands and vegetation;
     Fish and wildlife;
     Threatened and endangered species;
     Land use, recreation, and visual resources;
     Air quality and noise;
     Cultural resources;
     Socioeconomics;
     Reliability and safety; and
     Cumulative impacts.
    In the EIS, 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 affected resources.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft 
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal, State, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners; 
commentors; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; 
and the FERC's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day 
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will 
consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as 
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We will consider all comments on 
the final EIS before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To 
ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the 
instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.
    Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has 
already initiated its NEPA review under its NEPA Pre-filing Process. 
The purpose of the 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.
    With this notice, we are asking Federal, State, and local 
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with 
respect to environmental issues, especially those identified in 
Appendix 2, to express their interest in becoming cooperating agencies 
for the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to 
participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their 
responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating 
status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided in 
Appendix 2.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a 
preliminary review of the project site and the facility information 
provided by CEGT. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based 
on your comments and our analysis.
     Potential effects on prime farmland soils and soils with a 
high potential for compaction.
     Potential impacts to perennial and intermittent streams 
and waterbodies.
     Potential effects on waterbodies designated under Federal 
and/or State programs, including Saline Bayou and Black Lake Bayou.
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands 
and development of appropriate mitigation.
     Potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including 
waterbird nesting areas along major river crossings.
     Potential effect on federally and State-listed species, 
including the red-cockaded woodpecker, bald eagle, pallid sturgeon, 
least tern, pine snake, and Louisiana black bear.
     Potential impacts to existing land uses, including 
agricultural and managed forested lands.
     Potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities on 
surrounding areas.
     Potential impacts and potential benefits of construction 
workforce on local housing, infrastructure, public services, and 
economy.
     Potential impacts to local air and noise quality 
associated with construction and operation.
     Assessment of potential cultural resources along the 
pipeline route.
     Native American and tribal concerns.
     Public safety and potential hazards associated with the 
transport of natural gas.
     Alternative alignments for the pipeline route and 
alternative sites for the compressor stations.
     Assessment of the effect of the proposed project when 
combined with other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable future 
actions in the project area.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the proposed project. By becoming a 
commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by 
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative 
facility sites and pipeline routes), 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 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 your comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 3, DG2E.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-1-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 10, 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 in response to 
this Notice of Intent. For information on electronically filing 
comments, please see 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, as well as information in 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii). 
Before you can submit comments you will need to create a free account, 
which can be created on-line.
    The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations are listed 
above) are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on 
the proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged 
to attend the meetings and to present comments on the environmental 
issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of 
each meeting will be generated so that your comments will be accurately 
recorded.
    Once CEGT formally files its application with the Commission, you 
may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an 
``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and 
are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts 
if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the 
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site. 
Please note that you may not request

[[Page 2216]]

intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a formal 
application is filed with the Commission.

Environmental Mailing List

    An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are 
potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily 
for project purposes, or who own homes within distances defined in the 
Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities.
    If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing 
list for this project. If you do not want to send comments at this 
time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the 
Information Request (Appendix 3). If you do not return the Information 
Request, you will be removed from the Commission's environmental 
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 Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary 
link.'' Click on the eLibrary link, select ``General Search'' and enter 
the project docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF06-
1) 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 TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. 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 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.
    Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx 
along with other related information.
    Finally, CEGT has established an Internet Web site for this project 
at http://www.centerpointenergy.com/carthagetoperryville/. The Web site 
includes a description of the project, a map of the proposed pipeline 
route, and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also request 
additional information or provide comments directly to CEGT at 1-888-
641-8326 or carthagetoperryville@CenterPoint Energy.com.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-286 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P