[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 138 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39617-39619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13972]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP07-398-000, CP07-399-000, CP07-400-000; Docket No. CP07-
401-000, CP07-402-000]


Gulf Crossing Pipeline Company, LLC; Gulf South Pipeline Company, 
LP; Supplemental 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 Site Visit

July 12, 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). On June 19, 2007 Gulf 
Crossing and Gulf South filed a formal application which included 
significant route realignments along the pipeline route.
    On April 2, 2007, the FERC issued a ``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'' (NOI). The NOI was published in the Federal 
Register and was also mailed to interested parties, including Federal, 
state and local officials, agency representatives, conservation 
organizations; Native American groups; local libraries and newspapers; 
and property owners affected by the proposed facilities.
    In order to assist staff with the identification of environmental 
issues associated with the modified facilities 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, as modified. This NOI is necessary due to route 
changes along the pipeline as well as a significant change in the 
pipeline route in Mississippi. Please note that the scoping period for 
this project will close on August 13, 2007.
    Additionally, as part of the scoping process, we will sponsor a 
public site visit of the proposed Mississippi Loop as described below, 
to receive comments on the proposed project. Please note that attendees 
at the site visit must obtain their own transportation for the site 
visit.

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               Date and time                          Location
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July 26, 2007, 9 a.m......................  Terry High School Parking
                                             Lot, 235 W. Beasley St.,
                                             Terry, MS 39170.
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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; 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 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

    Gulf Crossing proposes to construct, own and operate approximately 
353.2 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, 
Delta, Hopkins, 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, Gulf South 
proposed to construct, own and operate a 17.8-mile-long 42-inch-diamter 
pipeline loop (Mississippi Loop) in Hinds, Copiah,

[[Page 39618]]

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, Gulf South and Gulf Crossing proposes to construct 
and operate the following facilities:
     Approximately 353.2 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;
     The newly proposed, approximately 17.8 mile long, 42-inch-
diameter pipeline loop line in Hinds, Copiah, and Simpson Counties, 
Mississippi that would terminate at the Gulf South Harrisville 
Compressor Station (proposed in Docket No. 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 No. 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.
    Gulf Crossing and Gulf South proposes to have the project 
constructed and operational by October 1, 2008.

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 
and Gulf South 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 information provided in the application, construction and 
operation of the renewly proposed Mississippi Loop would affect about 
256.5 acres of land. Following construction, about 129.5 acres would be 
maintained as permanent right-of-way. For the project as a whole; 
construction and operation of the proposed project facilities would 
affect about 5,734 acres of land. Following construction, about 2,741 
acres would be maintained as permanent right-of-way, including about 
42.7 acres of land would be maintained as new aboveground facility 
sites. The remaining 2,993 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

    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 NOI, 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.
    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 EIS. These agencies may 
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to 
their responsibilities.

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, comments filed in response to 
the April 2, 2007 NOI, and the facility information provided by Gulf 
Crossing and Gulf South. 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

[[Page 39619]]

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: 
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 3, DG2E.
     Reference Docket No. CP07-398 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before August 13, 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.

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 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. Among other 
things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of case-related 
Commission documents and filings by other intervenors. 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. 
Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's 
decision.
    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

    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 property 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 2). If you do not return the Information 
Request, you WILL be removed from the Commission's environmental 
mailing list. Please note that Landowners who have previously responded 
to the April 2, 2007 NOI with a request to stay on the mailing list 
need NOT reply again.

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 (CP07-398). When researching information be sure to 
select an appropriate date range. In addition, the FERC now offers a 
free email 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, Gulf Crossing has established an Internet Web site for 
this project at http://www.gulfcrossing.com. You can also request 
additional information or provide comments directly to Gulf Crossing at 
1-713-544-5420.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-13972 Filed 7-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P