[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 17 (Friday, January 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3836-3838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1133]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[ Docket No. CP07-28-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 2007 Alabama Abandonment & 
Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

January 17, 2007.
    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 2007 Alabama Abandonment & 
Replacement Project. This proposal involves abandonment, construction, 
and operation of facilities along approximately 10 miles of Southern 
Natural Gas Company's (Southern) existing natural gas pipeline system 
in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
    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. Your input will help us (the commission staff) 
determine which issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that 
the scoping period will close on February 16, 2007.
    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; and local libraries and newspapers. State and local 
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of 
this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
    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

[[Page 3837]]

to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate 
condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law.
    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.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Southern currently is involved in an extensive pipeline integrity 
program (PIP). As part of the PIP, Southern would replace certain 
sections of pipe which were constructed using a mechanical coupling 
methodology. One of these areas is the North Main Loop Line from 
Milepost (MP) 271.65 to MP 281.23 (9.62 miles) in Tuscaloosa County, 
Alabama.\1\ Specifically, Southern proposes to:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipeline installed adjacent to an 
existing pipeline and which connects to the existing pipeline at 
both ends of the loop. The loop allows more gas to be moved through 
the system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Abandon in place 2.79 miles of its 22-inch-diameter North 
Main Loop Line between MPs 278.48 and 281.23;
     Abandon by removal 6.83 miles of its 22-inch-diameter 
North Main Loop Line between MPs 271.65 and 278.48;
     Construct a 6.83 mile extension of its 24-inch-diameter 
2nd North Main Loop Line between MPs 148.93 and 155.75 (i.e., between 
MPs 271.65 and 278.48 on Southern's 22-inch-diameter North Main Loop 
Line) within the trench of the removed pipeline; and
     Modify certain facilities along its North Main Loop Line 
(e.g., installation of mainline gate valves and crossover connections, 
and disconnecting meter station and field tie-in taps) between MPs 
274.92 and 281.23.
    The general location of Southern's proposed activities is shown on 
the map attached as Appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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 website 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Southern's proposed action would require about 103.26 acres of land 
for the construction right-of-way for the pipeline, temporary 
workspaces, staging areas, and wareyards. The construction right-of-way 
for the project would be within the existing 60- to 150-foot wide 
right-of-way. New permanent easement would include approximately 0.91 
acres.
    Following construction, the permanent right-of-way would be 
maintained in its current condition; temporary work spaces would be 
restored and allowed to revert to their former use.
    Construction access to Southern's project would be via existing 
access roads. Southern has identified 20 existing private access roads 
necessary for the construction of its project. Some of the access roads 
may need to be widened or upgraded for construction use.

The EA Process

    We 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.
    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 and libraries in the project area, 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.

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. CP07-28-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before February 16, 2007.
    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 on-line.

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 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).\3\ Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted

[[Page 3838]]

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.

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. E7-1133 Filed 1-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P