[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19495-19496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5561]



[[Page 19495]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP05-388-000; CP06-1-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Florida Gas Transmission Company; 
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Cypress Pipeline Project and Phase VII Expansion Project

April 7, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on 
the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Southern Natural Gas 
Company (Southern) and Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT) in the 
above-referenced dockets. Southern's Cypress Pipeline Project would be 
located in various counties in southern Georgia and northern Florida. 
FGT's Phase VII Expansion Project (FGT Expansion Project) would be 
located in various counties in northern and central Florida.
    The final EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that 
the proposed projects, with the appropriate mitigation measures as 
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) has participated as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS because the projects 
would require permits pursuant to section 404 of the Clean Water Act 
(33 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1344) and section 10 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. 403). The COE would adopt the EIS per Title 40 
Code of Federal Regulations Part 1506.3 if, after an independent review 
of the document, it concludes that its comments and suggestions have 
been satisfied.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:

Cypress Pipeline Project

     About 166.9 miles of new 24-inch-diameter mainline 
pipeline (mainline) in Effingham, Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, Long, 
McIntosh, Glynn, Camden, and Charlton Counties, Georgia, and Nassau, 
Duval, and Clay Counties, Florida;
     About 9.8 miles of new 30-inch-diameter pipeline loop 
(loop) \1\ in Chatham and Effingham Counties, Georgia;
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    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. 
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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     About 0.1 mile of 12-inch-diameter lateral pipeline in 
Duval County, Florida;
     Three new 10,350 horsepower (hp) gas-turbine-driven 
compressor stations in Liberty and Glynn Counties, Georgia, and in 
Nassau County, Florida;
     Four new meter stations in Glynn County, Georgia, and in 
Nassau, Duval, and Clay Counties, Florida;
     Modifications at two existing meter stations in Chatham 
and Cobb Counties, Georgia, and expansion of one meter station in 
Effingham County, Georgia;
     16 new block valves including 14 associated with the new 
mainline and two associated with the new loop; and
     Four new pig \2\ launcher/receiver facilities, including 
two in Effingham County, Georgia, one in Glynn County, Georgia, and one 
in Clay County, Florida, each collocated with new or existing meter 
stations or new compressor station sites.
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    \2\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry 
a pipeline and/or to inspect it for damage or corrosion.
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    Southern proposes to construct its pipeline facilities in three 
phases. Construction of Phase I would begin in October 2006 and be in 
service by May 2007. Construction of Phase II would begin in fall 2008 
and be in service by May 2009. Construction of Phase III would begin in 
fall 2009 and be in service by May 2010.

FGT Phase VII Expansion Project

     About 32.6 miles of new 36-inch-diameter pipeline in three 
separate loops in Gilchrist, Levy, and Hernando Counties, Florida;
     Replacement and upgrades to existing compressors for a net 
increase of about 7,800 hp at FGT's Compressor Station no. 26 in Citrus 
County, Florida;
     Replacement of an existing compressor to add about 2,000 
hp at FGT's existing Compressor Station no. 24 in Gilchrist County, 
Florida;
     Miscellaneous modifications and upgrades to existing 
compressors with no increases in hp at FGT's Compressor Station nos. 
16, 17, and in Bradford, Marion, and Hillsborough Counties, Florida, 
respectively;
     A new interconnection with Southern's new mainline in Clay 
County, Florida;
     Modifications to five existing metering and/or regulation 
stations in Clay, Polk, Bradford, and Duval Counties, Florida; and
     New remote blowdown piping associated with the new 
pipeline loops at two locations in Levy County and two locations in 
Hernando County, Florida.
    FGT proposes to construct its pipeline facilities in two phases. 
Construction of Phase I would begin in October 2006 and be in service 
by May 2007. Phase II is planned to begin in October 2008 and be in 
service by May 2009.
    The final EIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and 
the COE and is available for public inspection at:
    Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 
First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. 202-502-8371.
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 701 San Marco 
Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. 904-232-1472.
    A limited number of copies are available from the FERC's Public 
Reference Room identified above. In addition, copies of the final EIS 
have been mailed to Federal, state, and local government agencies; 
elected officials; Native American tribes; local libraries and 
newspapers; intervenors in the FERC's proceeding; individuals who 
provided scoping comments; and affected landowners and individuals.
    In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) 
regulations implementing the NEPA, no agency decision on a proposed 
action may be made until 30 days after the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes a notice of availability of a final EIS. 
However, the CEQ regulations provide an exception to this rule when an 
agency decision is subject to a formal internal appeal process which 
allows other agencies or the public to make their views known. In such 
cases, the agency decision may be made at the same time the notice of 
the final EIS is published, allowing both periods to run concurrently. 
The Commission's decisions for these proposed actions are subject to a 
30-day rehearing period.
    Additional information about the projects 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, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, 
enter the selected date range and ``Docket Number,'' excluding the last 
three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP05-388 and/or CP06-1), 
and follow the instructions. You may also search using the phrase 
``Cypress Pipeline Project'' or ``FGT Phase VII Expansion Project'' in 
the ``Text Search'' field. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the 
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at 
[email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web 
site also provides access to the texts of

[[Page 19496]]

formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and 
rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission 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.
    Information concerning the involvement of the COE is available from 
Jon Soderberg at 202-761-7763.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-5561 Filed 4-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P