[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 185 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55779-55780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15666]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-13-000]


Downeast LNG, Inc.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Downeast LNG Project 
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

September 18, 2006.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) and 
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard (Coast 
Guard) are preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Downeast Liquefied Natural Gas 
(LNG) Project proposed by Downeast LNG, Inc. (Downeast). The FERC and 
the U.S. Coast Guard will be the lead federal agencies in the 
preparation of the EIS, but will prepare the EIS in coordination with 
their cooperating agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration National Marine Fisheries Service. The document will 
satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
    This notice supplements the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an 
EIS issued on March 13, 2006. The NOI provided information about the 
proposed project and the environmental review process and requested 
comments on the scope of issues to address in the EIS. The comment 
period for the NOI closed on April 17, 2006.
    Since the NOI dated March 13, 2006, the natural gas sendout 
pipeline routes have been analyzed in greater technical detail by 
Downeast. Originally, Downeast evaluated three options for the sendout 
pipeline route. Option 3 has been eliminated from further consideration 
because of significant residential impacts and the lack of available 
land area adjacent to roadways. Downeast has identified two additional 
route options (Route Options 4 and 5). The previous transmittal 
identified Route Option 1 as the preferred alternative for the pipeline 
route. Among the route option alternatives now available and evaluated, 
Option 4 is now the preferred route for the following reasons:
     Shorter pipeline length by 3 miles (28 miles long);
     Follows existing transmission corridors for 57 percent of 
its length;
     Reduced potential for wetlands impact;
     Reduced number of residences within 50 feet of the 
construction ROW;
     Reduced acreage of Significant Wildlife Habitat within 250 
feet of the construction ROW;
     An inability to receive irrevocable license agreements 
from the Maine Department of Transportation for use of the existing but 
inactive railroad and other roadways;
     The potential for re-activation of the railway would 
require reconstruction of the rail bed and straightening of rail line 
segments which could require relocation of the proposed gas pipeline; 
and
     On-going discussions with the staff at the Moosehorn 
National Wildlife Refuge regarding minimization of pipeline routing 
through the refuge.
    A map depicting the current preferred route and alternative route 
locations is included in Appendix 1 \1\. We \2\ are specifically 
requesting comments on the new preferred Route Option 4. Your input 
will help identify the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS. The 
scoping period for this Notice ends on October 18, 2006.
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's Web site (excluding maps) at the ``eLibrary'' link or 
from the Commission's Public Reference Room or call (202) 502-8371. 
For instructions on connecting to e-Library refer to the end of this 
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving 
this notice in the mail.
    \2\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the planned 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 
pipeline routes), and measures to avoid

[[Page 55780]]

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 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 OEP/
DG2E/Gas Branch 3.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-13-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 18, 2006. Appropriate copies will 
be provided to the Coast Guard.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any 
comments in response to this NOI. 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 file comments you will need to create a free account, 
which can be accomplished on-line.

Becoming an Intervenor

    Because the NEPA Pre-Filing Process occurs before an application to 
begin a proceeding is officially filed, petitions to intervene during 
this process are premature and will not be accepted by the Commission. 
When Downeast files its application for authorization to construct the 
proposed facilities, the Commission will publish notice of the 
application in the Federal Register and establish a deadline for 
interested persons to intervene in the proceeding.
    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). Intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be 
electronically submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at 
http://www.ferc.gov. Persons without Internet access should send an 
original and 14 copies of their motion to the Secretary of the 
Commission at the address indicated previously. Persons filing Motions 
to Intervene on or before the comment deadline indicated above must 
send a copy of the motion to the Applicant. All filings, including late 
interventions, submitted after the comment deadline must be served on 
the Applicant and all other intervenors identified on the Commission's 
service list for this proceeding. Persons on the service list with e-
mail addresses may be served electronically; others must be served a 
hard copy of the filing.
    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.

Environmental Mailing List

    All commentors will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not 
want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and 
receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, you must return the 
Information Request (Appendix 2). Also, indicate on the form your 
preference for receiving a paper version in lieu of an electronic 
version of the EIS on CD-ROM. If you do not return this form, we will 
remove your name from our mailing list.
    Please note, if you have previously submitted comments or returned 
an Information Request, you are already on our mailing list and do not 
need to re-submit comments or an Information Request.

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-
13) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an 
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary 
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-
mail at [email protected]. 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 rule makings.
    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, Downeast has established an Internet Web site for this 
project at http://www.downeastlng.com/index.htm. The Web site includes 
a project overview, status, potential impacts and mitigation, and 
answers to frequently asked questions. You can also request additional 
information by calling Downeast directly at 207-214-5926.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-15666 Filed 9-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P