[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 104 (Thursday, May 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30367-30369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10449]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF07-7-000]


Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment; For the Proposed Iroquois 08/09 
Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

May 22, 2007.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
address the environmental impacts of the Iroquois 08/09 Expansion 
Project proposed by Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. (Iroquois). 
The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making process to 
determine whether or not to authorize the project. This notice explains 
the scoping process the FERC staff will use to gather input from the 
public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help us 
determine the issues that need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note 
that the scoping period will close on June 29, 2007.
    Comments may be submitted in written or verbal form. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public 
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written 
comments, the FERC staff invite you to attend the public scoping 
meetings we have scheduled as follows:

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               Date and time                          Location
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Monday, June 18, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.     Milford City Hall
 (EST).                                      Auditorium, 110 River
                                             Street, Milford, CT 06460,
                                             Telephone: (203) 783-3230.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.    Brookfield High School, 45
 (EST).                                      Long Meadow Hill Road,
                                             Brookfield, CT 06804,
                                             Telephone: (203) 775-7704.
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    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. We \1\ encourage 
government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by an Iroquois 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

    Iroquois proposes to construct the Iroquois 08/09 Expansion Project 
in three phases which would consist of: Looping its existing pipeline 
system at three locations in New York and Connecticut by November 1, 
2008 (Phase 1); constructing a new compressor station in Milford, 
Connecticut with 20,620 horsepower of compression by January 1, 2009 
(Phase 2); and adding a 10,310 horsepower compressor unit to Iroquois' 
Brookfield Compressor Station in Brookfield, Connecticut by November 1, 
2009 (Phase 3).\2\
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    \2\ The 7,700 horsepower Brookfield Compressor Station was 
approved by the Commission on December 21, 2006, as part of 
Iroquois' MarketAccess Project in Docket No. CP02-31-002. 
Construction of the Brookfield Compressor Station is scheduled to 
commence in the fall of 2007 and operation of the station is 
scheduled to commence in the fall of 2008.
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    The Phase 1 pipeline looping would include construction of 5.8 
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Boonville, New York; 1.0 miles of 
36-inch-diameter pipeline in Wright, New York; and 1.6 miles of 36-
inch-diameter pipeline in Newtown, Connecticut. The new pipeline 
looping segments would be located adjacent to Iroquois' existing 
pipeline and connected to it at both ends.
    The planned project would expand Iroquois existing system to 
deliver up to 200,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas transportation 
service to KeySpan Gas East Corporation at South Commack, Long Island. 
Iroquois plans to file its certificate application in September 2007 
and anticipates receiving a Commission certificate by March 2008.
    A general location of the proposed project is provided in 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 
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of the 
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail. 
Requests for detailed maps of the proposed facilities should be made 
directly to Iroquois.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The Iroquois 08/09 Expansion Project is in the preliminary planning 
stage. The precise facility design, pipeline route, rights-of-way, and 
other details have not yet been finalized. The proposed pipeline loops 
are being planned for routes adjacent to existing rights-of-way. 
Specific information on the proposed project location and the land used 
by it will be made available to the public when it is finalized.
    Construction of the proposed pipeline loop segments would require 
about 176.1 acres of land for construction. Following construction, 
about 90.4 acres would be maintained for Iroquois' ongoing pipeline 
operation. The remaining 85.7 acres of land would be restored and 
allowed to revert to its former use. Construction of the proposed 
Milford Compressor Station would require use of about 4.8 acres of 
land, and operation of the station would require maintaining 4.6 acres 
of the

[[Page 30368]]

affected land. The proposed modifications to the Brookfield Compressor 
Station would increase the compressor station yard area from 1.4 acres 
to 1.8 acres. All of the land required for the proposed Milford 
Compressor Station and the Brookfield Compressor Station modifications 
is currently owned by Iroquois.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action when it considers whether or not an interstate 
natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC will use the EA to 
consider the environmental impact that could result if the Iroquois 08/
09 Expansion 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 EA 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 EA. All comments received will be considered during 
preparation of the EA.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in the EA. 
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.
    The EA 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 30-day comment period will 
be allotted for review of the EA. We will consider all comments on the 
EA 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 its 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, to express their interest in becoming 
cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EA. 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 
below (see Public Participation).

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EA 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 Iroquois. This preliminary list of issues may be changed 
based on your comments and our analysis.
     Potential impacts on perennial and intermittent streams 
and waterbodies.
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands 
and development of appropriate mitigation.
     Potential effect on federally and state-listed species.
     Potential impacts on existing land uses, including managed 
forested lands.
     Potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities on 
surrounding areas.
     Potential impacts to local air and noise quality 
associated with construction and operation.
     Public safety and potential hazards associated with the 
transport of natural gas and the proposed compressor facilities.

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 EA 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: 
Kimberly D. Bose, 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 1, DG2E.
     Reference Docket No. PF07-7-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 29, 2007.
    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 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 submit comments, you will need to 
create a free account, which can be created on-line.
    The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations are listed 
above) 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 EA. A transcript of each 
meeting will be generated so that your comments will be accurately 
recorded.
    Once Iroquois 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 currently on the environmental mailing 
list for this project. If you want to remain on

[[Page 30369]]

our mailing list, please return the attached Information Request 
(Appendix 2). All individuals who provide written comments, attend the 
scoping meetings, or return the Information Request will remain on our 
environmental mailing list for this project.

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., PF07-
7) 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 TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet 
website 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, Iroquois has established an Internet website for this 
project at http://08-09.iroquois.com. The Web site includes a 
description of the project, maps of the proposed pipeline facilities, 
and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also request 
additional information or provide comments directly to Iroquois by 
phone at 1-800-253-5152, or by mail at the following address: Ruth 
Parkins, Public Affairs Manager, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company, 
One Corporate Drive, Suite 600, Shelton, CT 06484. E-mail: [email protected].

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-10449 Filed 5-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P