[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67335-67336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23135]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5997]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the Proposed Enbridge Southern Lights Pipeline Project

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 67336]]

    A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Proposed Enbridge 
Southern Lights Pipeline Project has been prepared on behalf of the 
Department of State by Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) LLC 
(``EPSL''). On April 9, 2007, The Department of State received an 
application from EPSL for a Presidential permit, pursuant to Executive 
Order 13337 of April 30, 2004, as amended, to construct, connect, 
operate, and maintain facilities (including a 20-inch diameter crude 
oil and liquid hydrocarbon pipeline) at the U.S.-Canadian border at 
Neche, Pembina County, North Dakota, for the purpose of transporting 
liquid hydrocarbons and other petroleum products between the United 
States and Canada. EPSL has stated that it seeks this authorization in 
connection with its Southern Lights Pipeline Project (``LSr Project''), 
which is designed to transport Canadian crude oil from the Western 
Canadian Sedimentary Basin (``WCSB'') to existing refinery markets in 
the Midwest region of the United States.
    The Secretary of State is designated and empowered to receive all 
applications for Presidential permits, as referred to in Executive 
Order 13337, as amended, for the construction, connection, operation, 
or maintenance, at the borders of the United States, of facilities for 
the exportation or importation of petroleum, petroleum products, coal, 
or other fuels to or from a foreign country.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 27, 2007, the Department of State 
published in the Federal Register a Notification of Receipt and intent 
to prepare an Environment Assessment (EA). [** public comments were 
received in connection with that notice.] In accordance with Section 
102(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4332(C)) and implementing regulations promulgated by the Council 
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and the Department of 
State (22 CFR part 161), including in particular 22 CFR 161.7(c)(1), a 
draft environmental assessment (EA) was prepared by EPSL on behalf of 
the Department of State to determine if there are any potential 
significant impacts and to address alternatives to the proposed action.
    The U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers was a Federal cooperating agency 
for the development of this EA. Cooperating agencies either have 
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental impacts assessed in connection with the proposal and are 
involved in the Department's analysis of those environmental impacts.
    The draft EA addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the United States portion of the Southern 
Lights Pipeline Project. EPSL is a limited liability company, organized 
under the laws of the State of Delaware. EPSL is a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, 
and an indirectly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., a corporation 
organized under the laws of Canada. EPSL's primary U.S. business 
address is 1100 Louisiana St., Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 7702. 
According to the description in EPSL's application, the proposed new 
border crossing would consist of approximately forty (40) feet of 
pipeline on each side of the international boundary, which would be 
buried to a minimum depth of three (3) feet below ground level; the 
border crossing would be part of the LSr Project, which would consist 
in the U.S. of 136 miles of 20-inch diameter pipeline from the U.S.-
Canadian border at Pembina County, North Dakota, to the existing 
Enbridge Clearbrook tank farm and terminal facilities in Clearwater 
County, Minnesota.
    Comment Procedures: Any person wishing to comment on the draft EA 
may do so. To ensure consideration of comments prior to a Department of 
State decision on the application, it is important that we receive your 
comments by no later than December 28, 2007. Options for submitting 
comments on the Draft EA are as follows:
     By mail to: Jeff Izzo, U.S. Department of State, EEB/ESC 
Room 4843, Washington, DC 20520. Please note that Department of State 
mail can be delayed due to security screening.
     Fax to: (202) 647-4037, attention Jeff Izzo.
     E-mail to: [email protected].
    After comments are reviewed, significant new issues (if any) are 
investigated, and modifications (if any) are made to the draft EA, a 
final EA will be made available by the Department of State, along with 
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), if such a determination is 
made. The final EA will contain the Department's response to timely 
comments received on the draft EA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed 
project or a CD-ROM copy of the draft EA contact Jeff Izzo, EEB/ESC 
Room 4843, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, or by 
telephone (202) 647-1291, or by fax at (202) 647-4037.

Matthew T. McManus,
Acting Director, International Energy and Commodity Policy, Department 
of State.
 [FR Doc. E7-23135 Filed 11-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P