[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32071-32073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8596]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP06-143-000]


Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Algonquin Cape Cod Project; 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Site Visit

May 26, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Algonquin Cape Cod Project 
(Project) involving construction, and operation of facilities by 
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin) in Barnstable County, 
Massachusetts. The project would provide firm transportation service 
for new deliveries of natural gas to KeySpan Energy Delivery Services 
Company of New England (Keyspan) to ensure reliability and meet future 
demand. The project would provide up to 38,000 dekatherms per day (dth/
d) of transportation capacity. In general, the project consists of 
about 3.5 miles of new pipeline and other auxiliary facilities.
    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 June 26, 2006.
    This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners; 
Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other 
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local 
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of 
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.

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    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 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 Commission's proceedings. 
It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an 
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. 
The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable 
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, 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.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Algonquin proposes to construct and operate \1\ approximately 3.5 
miles of 18-inch-diameter pipeline in the towns of Bourne and Sandwich 
in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The line would commence at the 
Mirant Energy Generation Facility and terminate at a new proposed meter 
station west of Route 130 in Sandwich. Algonquin also proposes to 
construct a pig \2\ launcher upstream of the proposed facilities in the 
town of Bourne at the beginning of the G-24 pipeline and a pig receiver 
at the proposed meter station.
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    \1\ Algonquin's application was filed with the Commission under 
section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's 
regulations.
    \2\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device used to clean or inspect the 
pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an aboveground facility where 
pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
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    The general location of Algonquin's proposed facilities is shown on 
the map attached as Appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\ 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 
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of Algonquin's proposed facilities would require about 
45.35 acres of land for the construction right-of-way for the 
pipelines, additional temporary workspaces, staging areas, and access 
roads. The construction right-of-way for the pipelines would typically 
be 75 feet wide. Following construction, a 50-foot wide permanent 
right-of-way would be maintained.
    Construction access to Algonquin's project would be via existing 
public and private roads. Algonquin has identified 19 existing access 
roads necessary for the construction of its project.

The EA Process

    We \4\ are preparing the EA to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which 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. 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.
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    \4\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'', refer to the environmental 
staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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    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 
should follow the instructions for filing comments below.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending 
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be 
published and mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies, 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 if the EA 
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make 
our recommendations to the Commission.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    In the EA, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the project. We will also evaluate 
possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the 
project.
    We have already identified some issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Algonquin. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Impact of crossing the Shawme-Crowell State Forest and 
Massachusetts Military Reservation.
     Disturbance of 20.39 acres of forest land.

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 will 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 will 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 1.
     Reference Docket No. CP06-143-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 26, 2006.
    Please note that 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 
create an account which can be created online.

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''. 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 e-Filing system) or 14

[[Page 32073]]

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).\5\ Only 
intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's 
decision.
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    \5\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
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    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.

Site Visit

    On June 20, 2006, the OEP staff will conduct a pre-certification 
site visit of the planned Cape Cod Project.
    We will view the proposed route and variations that are being 
considered for the planned pipeline. Staff will view the area by 
automobile and on foot. Representatives of Algonquin will be 
accompanying the OEP staff.
    All interested parties may attend the site visit on June 20, 2006. 
Those planning to attend must provide their own transportation. If you 
are interested in attending the site visit, please meet us at 9 a.m. in 
the parking lot of ENSR, 95 State Road, Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts.
    If you plan on attending and will be entering the Massachusetts 
Military Reservation along with FERC on the site visit, it will be 
necessary that you provide certain information no later than Monday, 
June 12, 2006. We will attempt to get pre-approval for anyone 
attending. Please e-mail the following information to [email protected]: 
Name; Drivers License Number; Agency/Affiliation; Vehicle make, model, 
color, year, and license plate number of vehicle entering the base.
    Anyone attending who will be entering the Massachusetts Military 
Reservation needs to be pre-approved and must bring a Photo ID to gain 
access.
    For additional information, please contact the Commission's Office 
of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC (3372).

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. E6-8596 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P