[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57501-57503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16002]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[FERC Docket Nos. CP06-61-000; CP01-23-003]


North Baja Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Availability/Completion of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report and Draft Land Use Plan 
Amendment for the Proposed North Baja Pipeline Expansion Project

September 22, 2006.
    The environmental staffs of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC or Commission), the California State Lands Commission 
(CSLC), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (Agency Staffs) have 
prepared the draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact 
report and draft land use plan amendment (draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment) 
to address North Baja Pipeline, LLC's (North Baja) proposed expansion 
of its natural gas pipeline system.
    The draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment was prepared as required by the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental 
Quality Act, and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act. The 
purpose of this document is to inform the public and the permitting 
agencies about the potential adverse and beneficial environmental 
impacts of the proposed North Baja Pipeline Expansion Project (Project 
or proposed Project) and its alternatives, and recommend mitigation 
measures that would reduce the significant adverse impacts to the 
maximum extent possible, and, where feasible, to a less than 
significant level. The Agency Staffs have concluded that if the Project 
is constructed and operated in accordance with applicable laws and 
regulations, North Baja's proposed mitigation, and the Agency Staffs' 
additional mitigation recommendations, it would be an environmentally 
acceptable action.
    The FERC is the lead Federal agency and will use the document to 
consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues North 
Baja a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and a 
Presidential Permit amendment under sections 7 and 3, respectively, of 
the Natural Gas Act. The CSLC is the lead State agency and will use the 
document to consider North Baja's application to amend its existing 
right-of-way lease across the State's Sovereign and School Lands in 
conjunction with the environmental impacts that could result from any 
part of the Project in California.
    The BLM is participating as a cooperating agency in the preparation 
of this document because the Project would cross Federal land under the 
jurisdiction of the Palm Springs-South Coast, El Centro, and Yuma Field 
Offices. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is also a cooperating agency 
in the preparation of this document because lands administered by the 
BOR would be crossed by the Project. Under section 185(f) of the 
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, the BLM has the authority to issue Right-
of-Way Grants for all affected Federal lands. The draft EIS/EIR/plan 
amendment will be used by the BLM to consider whether to amend North 
Baja's existing Right-of-Way Grant and issue Temporary Use Permits for 
the installation of approximately 67.4 miles of pipeline and ancillary 
facilities across Federal lands managed by the BLM, the BOR, and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment 
will also be used by the BLM to consider amending the California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan (as amended), which would be necessary for 
pipeline construction outside of designated utility corridors, as well 
as amending the Yuma District Resource Management Plan, which would be 
necessary for pipeline construction across the Milpitas Wash Special 
Management Area.
    The BLM proposes to adopt the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment per 
Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 1506.3 to meet its 
responsibilities under NEPA and its planning regulations per Title 43 
CFR part 1610. The BLM will present separate Records of Decision for 
the Right-of-Way Grant and the plan amendments for the North Baja 
Pipeline Expansion Project after the issuance of the final 
environmental impact statement/environmental impact report and proposed 
land use plan amendment (final EIS/EIR/proposed plan amendment). The 
concurrence or non-concurrence of the BOR and the FWS would be 
considered in the BLM's decision.
    The existing North Baja system is currently certificated by the 
FERC to transport 512,500 dekatherms per day (Dthd) of natural gas in a 
southbound direction. Once completed, the expanded system would be 
capable of transporting up to 2,932,000 Dthd (2,753 million standard 
cubic feet per day) of natural gas from planned liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) storage and vaporization terminals located on the Baja California 
coast in Mexico in a northbound direction for delivery to customers in 
California and Arizona. In addition to the new volumes from the LNG 
terminals, North Baja would continue to offer southbound gas 
transportation service for several existing shippers.
    The draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment addresses the potential 
environmental effects of the construction and operation of the 
following facilities proposed by North Baja:
     79.8 miles of pipeline loop \1\ (B-Line) adjacent to North 
Baja's existing pipeline (A-Line) consisting of 11.7 miles of 42-inch-
diameter pipeline extending from the existing Ehrenberg Compressor 
Station at milepost (MP) 0.0 in La Paz County, Arizona to the existing 
Rannells Trap at MP 11.7 in Riverside County, California, and 68.1 
miles of 48-inch-diameter pipeline extending from Rannells Trap to an 
interconnection at the U.S.-Mexico border at MP 79.8 in Imperial 
County, California;
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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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     Less than 0.1 mile (about 20 feet) of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline (SoCal Gas Company [SoCal Gas] Interconnect) to connect the B-
Line to the existing SoCal Gas system within the proposed Blythe Meter 
Station site at MP 0.5 in Riverside County;

[[Page 57502]]

     0.6 mile of 10-inch-diameter pipeline lateral \2\ (Blythe 
Energy Interconnect Lateral [BEI Lateral]) extending from the proposed 
Blythe Meter Station site to an interconnection with the existing 
Blythe Energy Facility I supply pipeline in Riverside County;
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    \2\ A lateral pipeline typically takes gas from the main system 
to deliver it to a customer, local distribution system, or another 
interstate transmission system.
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     45.7 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline lateral (Imperial 
Irrigation District [IID] Lateral) extending from MP 74.5 of the B-Line 
near the existing Ogilby Meter Station to the existing IID El Centro 
Generating Station in Imperial County;
     Modifications at its existing Ehrenberg Compressor Station 
and the existing Ogilby Meter Station to allow northbound flow of 
natural gas;
     Metering modifications at its existing El Paso Natural Gas 
Company (El Paso) Meter Station at the Ehrenberg Compressor Station 
site to allow LNG-source gas to be delivered into the El Paso system;
     One meter station (Blythe Meter Station) in Riverside 
County to measure gas delivery from the North Baja system to SoCal Gas 
and the BEI Lateral;
     One odorant facility at the existing Ogilby Meter Station 
to odorize the natural gas before delivery into the SoCal Gas system;
     One meter station (El Centro Meter Station) at the 
existing IID El Centro Generating Station to measure gas delivery from 
the North Baja system to the IID;
     One tap where the IID Lateral would connect to the B-Line 
in Imperial County;
     Three pig \3\ launchers;
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    \3\ 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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     Four pig receivers;
     Nine remote manual valves with automatic shutdown 
capability on the B-Line, adjacent to the existing A-Line valve sites; 
and
     Four remote manual valves with automatic shutdown 
capability on the IID Lateral.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment 
is encouraged to do so. To expedite the Agency Staffs' receipt and 
consideration of your comments, electronic submission of comments is 
strongly recommended. See Title 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions 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 December 28, 2006.
    If you wish to mail comments, please mail your comments so that 
they will be received in Washington, DC on or before December 28, 2006. 
Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments 
are received and properly recorded:
     Send an original and two copies of your comments to: 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket Nos. CP06-61-000 and CP01-23-003;
     Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas 
1, DG2E; and
     Send an additional copy of your letter to:
    Tom Filler, California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Avenue, 
Suite 100 South, Sacramento, CA 95825.
    Your letter to the CSLC should reference CA State Clearinghouse No. 
2006081127.
    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, the FERC, 
the CSLC, and the BLM invite you to attend two public meetings the 
Agency Staffs will conduct in the Project area to receive comments on 
the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m. 
(PST), and are scheduled as follows:

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                   Date                               Location
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Tuesday, December 5, 2006.................  Vacation Inn, 2015
                                             Cottonwood Circle, El
                                             Centro, CA 92243. (760) 352-
                                             9700.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006...............  Blythe City Council Chamber,
                                             235 North Broadway, Blythe,
                                             CA 92225. (760) 922-6161.
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    These meetings will be posted on the FERC's calendar located at 
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx. Interested groups 
and individuals are encouraged to attend and present written or oral 
comments on the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment. Transcripts of the 
meetings will be prepared.
    After the comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are 
investigated, and necessary modifications are made to the draft EIS/
EIR/plan amendment, a final EIS/EIR/proposed plan amendment will be 
published and distributed by the Agency Staffs. The final EIS/EIR/
proposed plan amendment will contain the Agency Staffs' responses to 
comments timely received on the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment.
    Comments will be considered by the FERC, the CSLC, and the BLM, but 
will not serve to make the commenter a formal party to the proceeding. 
Any person seeking to become a formal party to the proceeding must file 
a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the FERC's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (Title 18 CFR part 385.214).
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on the draft EIS/EIR/
plan amendment. You must file your request to intervene as specified 
above.\4\ You do not need intervenor status to have your comments 
considered and responded to.
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    \4\ 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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    The draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment has been placed in the public 
files of the FERC and the CSLC and is available for public inspection 
at:

Federal Regulatory Energy Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First 
St. NE.; Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426; (202) 208-1371.
California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Avenue, Suite 100 South, 
Sacramento, CA 95825; (916) 574-1938.

    The draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment is also available for viewing on 
the FERC and CSLC Web sites at the Internet addresses below.

http://www.ferc.gov
http://www.slc.ca.gov

    A limited number of copies of the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment are 
available from the FERC's Public Reference Room identified above. These 
copies may be requested in hard copy or as .pdf files on compact disk. 
In addition, copies of the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment have been 
mailed to Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; Native American tribes; affected landowners; local libraries 
and newspapers; intervenors to the FERC's proceeding; and other 
interested parties. Hard copies of the draft EIS/EIR/plan amendment can 
be viewed at the following libraries in the Project area:

Yuma County Library District, 350 3rd Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364.
Palo Verde Valley Library, 125 W. Chanslorway, Blythe, CA 92225.
El Centro Public Library, 539 State Street, El Centro, CA 92243.

[[Page 57503]]

Hemet Public Library, 510 E. Florida Avenue, Hemet, CA 92543.
Holtville City Library, 101 E. 6th Street, Holtville, CA 92250.
Imperial Public Library, 200 W. 9th Street, Imperial, CA 92251.
City of Rancho Mirage Public Library, 42-520 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho 
Mirage, CA 92270.
Glen Avon Library, 9244 Galena Street, Riverside, CA 92509.
Palo Verde District Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, Rollins Hills 
Estates, CA 90274.

    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
FERC'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 on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the FERC, 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 the eSubscription 
link on the FERC Internet Web site.
    Information concerning the involvement of the CSLC in the EIS/EIR 
process may be obtained from Tom Filler, Project Manager, at (916) 574-
1938, or on the CSLC Internet Web site at http://www.slc.ca.gov.
    Information concerning the proposed land use plan amendments and 
the involvement of the BLM in the EIS/EIR and plan amendment process 
may be obtained from Lynda Kastoll, Project Manager, at (760) 337-4421.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-16002 Filed 9-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P