[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 66 (Friday, April 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17153-17155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6443]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF07-1-000]


Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gulf Crossing Project, 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public 
Scoping Meetings

April 2, 2007.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will identify and address the environmental impacts that could result 
from the construction and operation of the Gulf Crossing Project 
proposed by Gulf Crossing Pipeline Company, LLC (Gulf Crossing) and 
Gulf South Pipeline Company, L.P. (Gulf South).
    In order to assist staff with the identification of environmental 
issues and to comply with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), a thirty-day scoping period 
has been opened to receive comments on the proposed project. Please 
note that the scoping period for this project will close on May 4, 
2007.
    Additionally, as part of the scoping process, we will also hold 
four public meetings, as described below, to receive comments on the 
proposed project.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date and time                           Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 23, 2007, 7 p.m..................  Delhi High School Auditorium,
                                          413 Main Street, Delhi, LA
                                          71232.
April 24, 2007, 7 p.m..................  Serepta High School Auditorium,
                                          6041 Highway 2, Serepta, LA
                                          71071.
April 25, 2007, 7 p.m..................  Mt. Pleasant Civic Center, 1800
                                          N. Jefferson, Mt. Pleasant, TX
                                          75455.
April 26, 2007, 7 p.m..................  Bryan County Free Fair, 1901
                                          South 9th Street, Durant, OK
                                          74702.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice is being sent to 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; all of which are 
encouraged to submit comments on the proposed project. Details on how 
to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section of 
this notice.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a Boardwalk, Gulf Crossing or Gulf South representative about the 
acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the 
proposed project facilities. The pipeline company would seek to 
negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the project is 
approved by the FERC, 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.
    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 Internet 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 FERC's proceedings.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Boardwalk, through its subsidiary Gulf Crossing, proposes to 
construct, own and operate approximately 351 miles of new 42-inch-
diameter natural gas transmission pipeline, four (4) new compressor 
stations, four (4) new metering and regulating (M&R) stations and 
associated facilities in Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, Franklin, 
Titus, Morris, and Cass Counties, Texas; Bryan County, Oklahoma; and 
Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Ouchida, Morehouse, 
Richland, and Madison Parishes, Louisiana.
    In addition, as part of the Gulf Crossing Project, Boardwalk, 
through its subsidiary Gulf South, proposed to construct, own and 
operate a 4.5-mile-long 42-inch-diamter pipeline loop (Loop A) in 
Madison Parish, Louisiana; and 11.2-mile-long 42-inch-diameter pipeline 
loop (Loop B) in Hinds, Copiah, and Simpson Counties, Mississippi; as 
well as installing an additional 30,000 horsepower (hp) of compression 
at the proposed Harrisville Compressor Station (Docket Number CP07-32-
000).
    The general location of the proposed pipeline is shown in the 
figure included as Appendix 1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register.
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    Specifically, Boardwalk proposes to construct and operate the 
following facilities:
     Approximately 351 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline 
beginning in Sherman, Texas; northeast through Bennington, Oklahoma; 
and southeast to the proposed Gulf South Tallulah Compressor Station 
near Tallulah, Louisiana;
     Approximately 4.5-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline 
loop line west of the Mississippi River in Madison Parish, Louisiana;
     An approximately 11.2-mile-long, 42-inch-diamter pipeline 
loop line in Hinds, Copiah, and Simpson Counties, Mississippi that 
terminates at the Gulf South Harrisville Compressor Station (Proposed 
in Docket number CP07-32-000);
     A new 35,641 hp compressor station at Milepost (MP) 0.0 
near Sherman, Texas;
     A new 18,940 hp compressor station at MP 72.7 near Paris, 
Texas;
     A new 20,604 hp compressor station at MP 183 near Mira, 
Louisiana;
     A new 25,339 hp compressor station at MP 293 near 
Sterlington, LA;
     An additional 30,000 hp of compression at Gulf South's 
proposed Harrisville Compressor Station (docket CP07-32-000)
     Four (4) meter and regulation (M&R) stations to 
interconnect with Enterprise Texas Pipeline L.P. at MP 0.0 in Grayson 
County, TX, Enogex intrastate pipeline at MP 34.2 in Bryan County, 
Oklahoma, Crosstex North Texas Pipeline at MP 72.7 in Lamar County, 
Texas, and Gulf South at MP 350.7 in Madison Parish, Louisiana;
     4 pig launching/receiving sites, 3 launching only 
facilities, 3 receiving only facilities and 17 mainline valves.
    Boardwalk proposes to have the project constructed and operational 
by October 1, 2008.

[[Page 17154]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    As proposed, the typical construction right-of-way for the project 
pipeline would be 100-feet wide. Following construction, Gulf Crossing 
has proposed to retain a 60-foot-wide permanent right-of-way for 
operation of the project. Additional, temporary extra workspaces beyond 
the typical construction right-of-way limits may also be required at 
certain feature crossings (e.g., roads, railroads, wetlands, or 
waterbodies), in areas with steep side slopes, or in association with 
special construction techniques. In residential areas, wetlands, and 
other sensitive areas, the construction right-of-way width would be 
reduced as necessary to protect homeowners and environmental resources.
    Based on preliminary information, construction and operation of the 
proposed project facilities would affect about 5,650 acres of land. 
Following construction, about 2,709 acres would be maintained as 
permanent right-of-way, and about 44.5 acres of land would be 
maintained as new aboveground facility sites. The remaining 2,896.5 
acres of temporary workspace (including all temporary construction 
rights-of-way, extra workspaces, and pipe storage and contractor yards) 
would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use.

The EIS Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from the approval of an interstate natural gas pipeline. The 
FERC will use the EIS to consider the environmental impact that could 
result if the Gulf Crossing project is authorized under section 7 of 
the Natural Gas Act.
    NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public 
may have about proposals to be considered by the Commission. This 
process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping 
process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important 
environmental issues. With this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff 
is requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. All comments received will be considered during 
preparation of the EIS.
    In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     Water resources;
     Wetlands and vegetation;
     Fish and wildlife;
     Threatened and endangered species;
     Land use, recreation, and visual resources;
     Air quality and noise;
     Cultural resources;
     Socioeconomics;
     Reliability and safety; and
     Cumulative environmental impacts.
    In the EIS, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 
proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations 
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft 
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal, State, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners; 
commentors; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; 
and the FERC's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day 
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will 
consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as 
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We will consider all comments on 
the final EIS before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To 
ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the 
instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.
    Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has 
already initiated its NEPA review under the Commission's Pre-filing 
Process. The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage the 
early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and 
resolve issues before an application is filed with the FERC.
    With this notice, we are asking Federal, State, and local 
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with 
respect to environmental issues, especially those identified in 
Appendix 2, to express their interest in becoming cooperating agencies 
for the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to 
participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their 
responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating 
status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided in 
Appendix 2.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a 
preliminary review of the project site and the facility information 
provided by Boardwalk. This preliminary list of issues may be changed 
based on your comments and our analysis.
     Potential effects on prime farmland and erodable soils.
     Potential impacts to perennial and intermittent 
waterbodies, including waterbodies with federal and/or state 
designations/protections.
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands 
and development of appropriate mitigation.
     Potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including 
potential impacts to federally and state-listed threatened and 
endangered species.
     Potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities on 
surrounding areas.
     Potential impacts and potential benefits of construction 
workforce on local housing, infrastructure, public services, and 
economy.
     Impacts to air quality and noise associated with 
construction and operation.
     Public safety and hazards associated with the transport of 
natural gas.
     Alternative alignments for the pipeline route and 
alternative sites for the compressor stations.
     Potential impacts to Native American lands and cultural 
resources.
     Land use impacts from pipeline easements.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the proposed 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 
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen 
environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful 
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly 
recorded, please carefully follow these instructions:
     Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Philis 
J. Posey, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 3, DG2E.
     Reference Docket No. PF07-1-000 on the original and both 
copies.

[[Page 17155]]

     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 4, 2007.
    Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail 
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include 
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our 
environmental analysis of this project. The Commission strongly 
encourages electronic filing of any comments in response to this Notice 
of Intent. For information on electronically filing comments, please 
see the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov.
    The public scoping meetings are designed to provide another 
opportunity to offer comments on the proposed project. Interested 
groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meetings and to 
present comments on the environmental issues they believe should be 
addressed in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be generated so 
that your comments will be accurately recorded.
    Once Broadwater formally files its application with the Commission, 
you may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an 
``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and 
are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts 
if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor 
formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to 
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the 
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site. 
Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time. 
You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.

Environmental Mailing List

    An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are 
potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily 
for project purposes, or who own homes within distances defined in the 
Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities.
    If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing 
list for this project. If you do not want to send comments at this 
time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the 
Information Request (Appendix 3). If you do not return the Information 
Request, you will be removed from the Commission's environmental 
mailing list.

Availability of Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372). 
Additional information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.ferc.gov. The ``eLibrary link'' on the FERC Web site provides 
access to documents submitted to and issued by the Commission, such as 
comments, orders, notices and rulemakings. Once on the FERC Web site, 
click on the ``eLibrary link,'' select ``General Search'' and in the 
``Docket Number'' field enter the project docket number excluding the 
last three digits (PF07-1). When researching information be sure to 
select an appropriate date range. In addition, the FERC now offers a 
free e-mail 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.
    For assistance with the FERC Web site or with eSubscription, please 
contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll free 
at 1-866-208-3676, or TTY, contact 1-202-502-8659.
    Finally, Boardwalk has established an Internet Web site for this 
project at http://www.gulfcrossing.com. The website includes a 
description of the project, a map of the proposed pipeline route, and 
answers to frequently asked questions. You can also request additional 
information or provide comments directly to Boardwalk at 1-713-544-
5420.

Philis J. Posey,
Acting Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-6443 Filed 4-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P