[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17089-17092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4873]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-17-000]


Gulf South Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed East Texas Expansion 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

March 28, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
the East Texas Expansion Project proposed by the Gulf South Pipeline 
Company (Gulf South). This notice describes the proposed project, the 
EIS process and how the public can participate in our \1\ analysis.
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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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    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 proposed project 
and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    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 would like to remain on our mailing list, 
please return the Information Request (Appendix 2). If you do not 
return the Information Request, you will be removed from the

[[Page 17090]]

Commission's environmental mailing list.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Gulf South proposes to construct, operate and maintain 
approximately 146 miles of natural gas pipeline in Desoto, Red River, 
Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita and Richland Parishes, Louisiana. This 
pipeline would have the capacity to deliver approximately 1.5 billion 
cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas per day and would interconnect with 
three existing interstate natural gas pipeline facilities. Gulf South 
is also proposing to expand its existing natural gas compressor station 
in Panola County, Texas; and construct a new natural gas compressor 
station in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
    According to Gulf South, the purpose of this project is to 
transport natural gas from production fields in east Texas and northern 
Louisiana to markets in the Gulf Coast, Midwestern, Northeastern and 
Southeastern United States. Gulf South has also stated that the East 
Texas Expansion Project will satisfy the growing demand for natural gas 
in the United States.
    Specifically, Gulf South is proposing to construct, operate and 
maintain:
     146.3 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline beginning near 
Keatchie, Louisiana and extending easterly through Desoto, Red River, 
Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita and Richland Parishes until connecting 
with existing pipeline facilities near Delhi, Louisiana.
     An additional 40,000 horsepower (HP) of compression at the 
existing Carthage Junction Compressor Station in Panola County, Texas.
     A new 26,830 HP compressor station (Vixen Compressor 
Station) near pipeline mile post 98.3 in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
     Meter and regulation stations, mainline block valves, and 
pigging facilities.
    A general location of the proposed pipeline and compressor stations 
is provided in 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 Gulf South.
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Land Requirements

    Construction of the proposed 42-inch-diameter pipeline would 
generally require the use of a 100 foot construction right-of-way 
(ROW). The exact size of the construction ROW would vary depending on 
land type and construction method. Additional temporary work spaces 
(ATWS), access roads, pipe storage and contractor yards would also be 
required during construction of the 42-inch-diameter pipeline. 
Expansion of the Carthage Junction Compressor Station would be 
conducted within the fenced boundaries of the station. Construction of 
the proposed Vixen Compressor Station would require the purchase and 
temporary disturbance of approximately 20 acres of land. Approximately 
2,500 acres of land would be temporarily affected by construction of 
the proposed project.
    Operation of the proposed 42-inch-diameter pipeline would require 
the use of a 60 foot permanent ROW. Operation of the expanded Carthage 
Junction Compressor Station would not require the use of additional 
lands. Operation of the proposed Vixen Compressor Station would require 
the use of approximately 10 acres of land. Approximately 950 acres of 
land would be permanently affected by operation of the proposed 
project.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a Gulf South 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.

The EIS Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from the approval of an interstate natural gas pipeline. The 
FERC will use the EIS to assess the environmental impact that could 
result if the East Texas Expansion 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 under consideration 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. Please note that the scoping period will close 
on April 27, 2006.
    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:
     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 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 this notice, we are also asking federal, state and local 
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with 
respect to environmental issues 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

[[Page 17091]]

like to request cooperating status should send a letter expressing that 
interest and expected level of involvement to the Secretary of the 
Commission at the address provided in the public participation section 
of this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed project. We 
have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention 
based on a preliminary review of the project site, interaction with the 
public during the pre-filing process and information provided by Gulf 
South. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your 
comments and our analysis.
     The minimization of construction rights-of-way and 
associated construction impacts.
     Potential effects on prime farmland and soils with a high 
potential for compaction.
     Potential impacts to existing land uses, including 
residences, suburban housing developments, agricultural and managed 
forested lands.
     Potential increases in noise resulting from the 
construction of pipeline compression.
     Potential impacts to perennial and intermittent 
waterbodies, including waterbodies with federal and/or state 
designations.
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands 
and development of appropriate mitigation.
     Potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including 
potential impacts to federally and state-listed threatened and 
endangered species.
     Potential impacts to wildlife management areas.
     Potential impacts and benefits of construction workforce 
on local housing, infrastructure, public services and economy.
     Public safety and potential hazards associated with the 
transport of natural gas.
     Alternative alignments for the pipeline route.
     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 impacts. 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 2, DG2E.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-17-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 27, 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. 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; before you can submit comments you will need to create a 
free account.
    Public scoping meetings are designed to provide another opportunity 
to offer comments on the proposed project. The FERC will announce plans 
for public scoping meetings in the vicinity of the proposed project 
once Gulf South has filed additional information with the Commission. 
Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend these 
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 comments are accurately recorded.
    Once Gulf South 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 intervenor status at this time. 
You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.

Availability of Additional Information

    Gulf South has established an Internet Web site for this project at 
http://www.gulfsouthpl.com. This 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 Gulf South at 1-877-972-8533 or by e-mail at 
easttexasexpansionproject @gulfsouthpl.com.
    Additional information about this project can also be obtained by 
contacting the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208--
FERC (3372). Additional information is also available on the Internet 
at http://www.ferc.gov. The ``eLibrary link'' on the FERC Web site 
provides access to documents submitted to and issued by the Commission, 
such as comments, orders, notices and rulemakings. Once on the FERC 
website, click on the ``eLibrary link,'' select ``General Search'' and 
in the ``Docket Number'' field enter the project docket number 
excluding the last three digits (PF06-17). When researching information 
be sure to select an appropriate date range. In addition, the FERC now 
offers a free email 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.
    For assistance with the FERC Web site or with eSubscription, please 
contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll free 
at 1-866-208-3676, or TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.

Appendix 2--Information Request

[Docket No. PF06-17-000]

[ballot] Please keep my name on the mailing list for the East Texas 
Expansion Project.
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[ballot] Please send me a paper copy of the environmental document 
instead of an electronic copy (compact disc).
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ATTN: OEP--Gas 2, PJ--11.2, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
(Docket No. PF06-17-000)
Staple or Tape Here

 [FR Doc. E6-4873 Filed 4-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P