[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 92 (Monday, May 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26979-26981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10459]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP08-100-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare An 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed; Northern Bridge Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

May 5, 2008.
    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 Texas Eastern Transmission, LP 
(Texas Eastern) involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Texas Eastern Richhill Township, Greene County and Uniontown Township, 
Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we will 
use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the 
project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine which 
issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping 
period will close on June 4, 2008.
    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state, 
and local government representatives and agencies; environmental and 
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties in this proceeding; and local libraries and newspapers. We 
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of 
this planned 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 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?'' was attached to the 
project notice BBS provided to landowners. 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. It is 
available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    The proposed project would involve modifications of the Holbrook 
Compressor Station (Holbrook CS) and the Uniontown Compressor Stations 
(Uniontown CS) as described below.

Holbrook CS

    The Holbrook CS is an existing facility located in Rich Hill 
Township,

[[Page 26980]]

Greene County, Pennsylvania. The entire compressor station site is 47.0 
acres and is surrounded by the Ryerson Station State Park. The station 
has been in operation since the mid 1950's, and since that time no 
issues with surrounding landowners have occurred. The proposed Holbrook 
CS consists of three main components: (1) The installation of a new 
Solar Mars 100 13,333 horsepower (hp) turbine-driven centrifugal 
compressor package; (2) the uprate of an existing Solar Mars 100 unit, 
resulting in a 1,083 hp increase; and (3) the abandonment of four 
existing reciprocating gas compressor units, resulting in a 5,400 hp 
reduction. The new compressor unit will include a new compressor 
building and all necessary support infrastructure. The project 
components are detailed below.
     New 36-inch suction and 30-inch discharge tie-ins to the 
existing Texas Eastern pipeline(s)
     Install new suction scrubber
     Install one new Solar Mars 100 13,333 hp turbine driven 
centrifugal compressor
     Horsepower upgrade of an existing turbine compressor
     Install station emergency shutdown (ESD) system with blow-
down
     Install one ventilated Compressor Building
     Install new electrical equipment building
     Install skid Auxiliary Building
     Tie-into the existing source control and recovery system
     Develop site including site grading, foundations, paving, 
yard stone, fencing, and access road to the new building
     Install 129 volts direct current uninterruptible power 
supply system
     Install Fire and Gas detection system in the Compressor 
Building
     Install facility security system(s)
     Install underground pipe cathodic protection system
     Abandon four existing GMV-10S reciprocating gas compressor 
units (5,400 hp reduction)
     Isolate aboveground components of the abandoned units
     All suction, discharge and fuel gas lines will be isolated

Uniontown CS

    The Uniontown CS is an existing facility located in Fayette County, 
Pennsylvania. This station includes the uprate of an existing Solar 
Mars 100 compressor unit, resulting in an increase of 1,650 hp of 
compression. The uprate at Uniontown will not involve the modification 
of any facilities at Uniontown or cause any earth disturbance.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.\1\
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    \1\ 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 
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Nonjurisdictional Facilities

    There are no non-jurisdictional facilities associated with this 
project.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 4.6 
acres of land at the Holbrook CS. Following construction, about 0.3 
would be maintained as new aboveground facility sites and pipeline 
right-of-way. The remaining 4.3 acres of land would be restored and 
allowed to revert to its former use on the existing compressor station 
property. The work proposed for the Uniontown CS would not involve any 
new land disturbance because the modifications would be done within the 
existing compressor building.

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 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. State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify 
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern.
    In the EA we \2\ will discuss impacts that could occur as a result 
of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:
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    \2\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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     Geology and soils
     Land use
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
     Cultural resources
     Vegetation and wildlife
     Air quality and noise
     Endangered and threatened species
     Hazardous waste
     Public safety
    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 the various resource areas.
    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, libraries, 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.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section below.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Texas Eastern This 
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and 
our analysis.
     Cultural resources may be affected by the project.
     The project may have air emissions and noise impacts.
     The Holbrook CS may have changed visual impacts.

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/EIS and considered by the 
Commission. You should focus on the potential environmental effects of 
the proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative 
locations/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: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory

[[Page 26981]]

Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 2.
     Reference Docket No. CP07-451-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 4, 2008.
    The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments. See 18 
Code of Federal Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on 
the Commission's Internet Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the 
link to ``Documents and Filings'' and ``eFiling.'' eFiling is a file 
attachment process and requires that you prepare your submission in the 
same manner as you would if filing on paper, and save it to a file on 
your hard drive. New eFiling users must first create an account by 
clicking on ``Sign up'' or ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select 
the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered a 
``Comment on Filing.'' In addition, there is a ``Quick Comment'' option 
available, which is an easy method for interested persons to submit 
text only comments on a project. The Quick-Comment User Guide can be 
viewed at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/quick-comment-guide.pdf. Quick Comment does not require a FERC eRegistration account; 
however, you will be asked to provide a valid e-mail address. All 
comments submitted under either eFiling or the Quick Comment option are 
placed in the public record for the specified docket or project 
number(s). Comments submitted electronically must be submitted by June 
4, 2008.

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. By this 
notice we are also asking governmental agencies, especially those in 
Appendix 2, to express their interest in becoming cooperating agencies 
for the preparation of the EA.
    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 
taken off the mailing list.

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 eFiling 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). Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    The Notice of Application for this proposed project issued on April 
15, 2008 identified the date for the filing of interventions as April 
30, 2008. However, affected landowners and parties with environmental 
concerns may be granted late 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.

Availability of 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. Finally, 
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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-10459 Filed 5-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P