[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18316-18318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5289]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-19-000]


Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Wamsutter Expansion 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meeting

April 3, 2006.

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
discusses the environmental impacts of the proposed Wamsutter Expansion 
Project (the Project). This project involves the construction and 
operation of facilities by Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company 
(Overthrust) in Lincoln and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming. These 
facilities would include approximately 77 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
natural gas pipeline, two new compressor stations, two new receipt 
points, and one new delivery point.
    The Wamsutter Expansion Project is a necessary and supporting 
component of the overall Rockies Express Pipeline Project, Western 
Phase, currently under review in the Commission's Pre-Filing Process in 
Docket No. PF06-3-000. Therefore, the environmental analysis for the 
Wamsutter Expansion Project will be incorporated into the EIS being 
prepared for the Rockies Express Pipeline Project. The EIS will be used 
by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether 
the proposed facilities are in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice explains the scoping process that will be used to 
gather input from the public and interested agencies on the Project. 
Your input will help FERC staff determine which issues/impacts 
associated with the Project need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please 
note that the scoping period for the Project will close on May 5, 2006.
    Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. In lieu of 
or in addition to sending written comments, you are invited to attend 
the public scoping meeting that has been scheduled in the Project area. 
One scoping meeting is scheduled for April 24, 2006, in Rock Springs, 
Wyoming. Further instructions on how to submit written comments and 
additional details of the public scoping meeting are provided in the 
public participation section of this notice.
    The Wamsutter Expansion 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 proposal, the Commission is 
initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to 
receiving the application. This allows interested stakeholders to 
become involved early in Project planning and to identify and resolve 
issues before an application is filed with the FERC. A docket number 
(PF06-19-000) has been established to place information filed by 
Overthrust and related documents issued by the Commission into the 
public record. \1\ Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a 
new docket number will be established.
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    \1\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions 
for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice.
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    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS because the Project 
would cross Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Rawlins, Rock 
Springs, and Kemmerer

[[Page 18317]]

Field Offices. The EIS will be used by the BLM to meet its NEPA 
responsibilities in considering Overthrust's application for the 
portion of the Project on Federal land.
    With this notice, we \2\ are asking other Federal, State, and local 
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues in the Project area to formally cooperate with us 
in 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 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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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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    This notice is being sent to landowners within 0.5 mile of the 
proposed compressor stations; landowners along the pipeline route under 
consideration; Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American 
tribes; local libraries and newspapers; and other interested parties.
    Some affected landowners may be contacted by a Project 
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, 
operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. If so, Overthrust and 
the affected landowners 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 facilities. Therefore, if easement 
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, Overthrust could initiate 
condemnation proceedings in accordance with Wyoming 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

    Overthrust proposes to construct and operate the following 
facilities as part of its proposed Wamsutter Expansion Project:
     Construct approximately 77 miles of buried 36-inch-
diameter pipeline extending from the eastern terminus of Overthrust's 
existing transmission system at Kanda in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, to 
an interconnect with the Entrega Gas Pipeline, Inc. (Entrega) system 
near Wamsutter in Sweetwater County.
     Construct two new compressor stations:
     [cir] Roberson Compressor Station--20,000 horsepower (hp) in 
Lincoln County.
     [cir] Rock Springs Compressor Station--15,000 hp in Sweetwater 
County.
     Install two new receipt points with metering facilities in 
Lincoln County and one new delivery point in Sweetwater County.
    Maps depicting the general location of the Project facilities are 
shown in appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commisson's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, at (202) 
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the 
last page of this Notice.
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    Overthrust is requesting approval such that the facilities are 
completed and placed into service by December 31, 2007. Construction of 
the facilities would take about 8 months.

The EIS 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 identify and 
address concerns the public would have about proposals. This process is 
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to 
focus the analysis in the EIS on important environmental issues and 
reasonable alternatives. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff 
requests agency and public comments on the scope of the issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. All comments received are considered during the 
preparation of the EIS.
    We have already started to meet with Overthrust, agencies, and 
other interested stakeholders to discuss the Project and identify 
issues/impacts and concerns. On April 6, 2006, FERC staff will 
participate in the public open house sponsored by Overthrust in the 
Project area to explain the NEPA environmental review process to 
interested stakeholders and take comments about the Project.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in the 
draft EIS. The draft EIS will 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 will be allotted for review of the draft 
EIS. We will consider all timely comments on the draft EIS and revise 
the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section beginning on page 5.

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 
information provided by Overthrust. This preliminary list of issues may 
be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Soils:
--Erosion control.
--Introduction or spread of noxious weeds.
     Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation:
--Impact on migratory birds and big game species.
--Impact on fish from stream crossings.
     Endangered and Threatened Species:
--Potential impact on federally listed species.
     Cultural Resources:
--Impact on known and undiscovered cultural resources.
--Native American and tribal concerns.
     Air Quality and Noise:
--Effects on local air quality and ambient noise from construction and 
operation of the proposed facilities.

    We will make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on 
these and other resource areas and evaluate possible alternatives to 
the proposed Project or portions of the Project.

Public Participation

    You are encouraged to become involved in this process and provide 
your specific comments or concerns about Overthrust's proposal. Your 
comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, 
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. 
To expedite the receipt and consideration of your comments, electronic 
submission of comments is strongly encouraged. See Title 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions

[[Page 18318]]

on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the eFiling 
link and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can submit comments 
you will need to create a free account by clicking on ``Sign-up'' under 
``New User.'' You will be asked to select the type of submission you 
are making. This type of submission is considered a ``Comment on 
Filing.'' Comments submitted electronically must be submitted by May 5, 
2006.
    If you wish to mail comments, 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 the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 1.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-19-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 5, 2006.
    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite 
you to attend the public scoping meeting we will conduct in the Project 
area. The location and time for this meeting is as follows:
    April 24, 2006 (7 p.m.) Quality Inn, 1670 Sunset Dr., Rock Springs, 
WY 82901, 307-382-9490.
    The public scoping meeting is designed to provide State and local 
agencies, interested groups, affected landowners, and the general 
public with another opportunity to offer your comments on the proposed 
Project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the 
meeting and to present comments on the environmental issues they 
believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of the meeting 
will be made so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
    All public meetings are posted on the Commission's calendar located 
at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other 
related information.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing 
list for this Project and will continue to receive Project updates 
including the draft and final EISs. If you want your contact 
information corrected or you do not want to remain on our mailing list, 
please return the Correct or Remove From Mailing List Form included as 
Appendix 2.
    To reduce printing and mailing costs the draft and final EISs will 
be issued in both CD-ROM and hard copy formats. The FERC strongly 
encourages the use of the CD-ROM format in its publication of large 
documents. If you wish to receive a paper copy of the draft EIS instead 
of a CD-ROM, you must indicate that choice on the return postcard 
(Appendix 2).

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 (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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-5289 Filed 4-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P