[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30386-30390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11695]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF08-14-000]


Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Phase VIII 
Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and 
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

May 19, 2008.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of Florida Gas Transmission 
Company, LLC's (FGT) proposed Phase VIII Expansion Project. The project 
involves the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline and 
compressor facilities in various counties in Alabama and Florida as 
discussed below.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the proposed project. Your input will help determine which 
issues need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please note that the scoping 
period will close on June 20, 2008.
    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. State and local government 
representatives are asked to notify their constituents along this 
proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
    Comments regarding this project may be submitted in written form or 
verbally. Further details on how to submit written or electronic 
comments are provided in the public participation section of this 
notice. In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, we 
invite you to attend the public scoping meetings we have scheduled as 
follows:

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                   Date                               Location
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST).......  Crestview Community Center,
                                             1446 Commerce Drive,
                                             Crestview, Florida, 850-682-
                                             0647.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST).....  Catholic Church Parish Hall,
                                             2750 S. Byron Butler Pkwy,
                                             Perry, Florida, 850-584-
                                             8853.

[[Page 30387]]

 
Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST)......  Residence Inn by Marriott,
                                             2101 Northpointe Parkway,
                                             Lutz, Florida, 813-792-
                                             8400.
Thursday, June 12, 2008, 7 p.m. (EST).....  Lake Placid Middle School
                                             (Auditorium), 201 Tangerine
                                             Avenue, Lake Placid,
                                             Florida, 863-699-5030.
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    The FERC will be the lead federal agency for the preparation of the 
EIS. The document will satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). In addition, with this notice, 
we \1\ are asking other federal, state, and local agencies with 
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental 
issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These 
agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated FGT's 
proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies that would like 
to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments described later in this notice. Consultations have been 
initiated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, and other state and/or federal wildlife management and 
environmental agencies. Consultations with these and other agencies 
will continue throughout the project review and permitting period.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by an FGT 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 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

    FGT proposes to construct and operate an expansion of the existing 
FGT pipeline system that would increase FGT's certificated capacity by 
about one billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. The Phase VIII 
Expansion Project would consist of looping \2\ portions of their 
existing pipelines; installing horsepower at new or existing compressor 
stations; acquiring an existing lateral; and constructing new laterals. 
The Phase VIII Expansion Project would consist of about 567.6 miles of 
pipeline with ancillary facilities, and an additional 207,900 
horsepower of compression. Specifically, FGT seeks authority to 
construct and operate:
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    \2\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a pipeline connected to another 
pipeline at each end, generally parallel to or located near each 
other, to provide additional capacity and reliability.
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Eleven Pipeline Loop Segments

     Loop 1 would be about 25.5 miles of 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Mobile County, Alabama (milepost [MP] 165.3 to 
Compressor Station [CS] 11).
     Loop 2 would be about 47.6 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Baldwin and Escambia Counties, Alabama and Escambia 
and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida (MP 205.0 to MP 252.6).
     Loop 3 would be about 50.7 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties, Florida 
(CS 12 to MP 310.9). FGT would also remove a previously abandoned 24-
inch-diameter pipeline from about MP 260.2 to MP 273.5.
     Loop 4 would be about 59 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Washington, Bay, and Calhoun Counties, Florida (CS 
13 to MP 383.5). FGT would also remove a previously abandoned 24-inch-
diameter pipeline from about MP 327.6 to MP 340.2.
     Loop 5 would be about 66.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson Counties, Florida (CS 
14 to MP 461.5).
     Loop 6 would be about 35.2 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Taylor, Lafayette, and Suwannee Counties, Florida 
(CS 15 to MP 503.9).
     Loop 7 would be about 12.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Suwannee and Gilchrist Counties, Florida (West Leg 
(WL) MP 0.0 to MP 12.8).
     Loop 8 would be about 46.1 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Levy and Citrus Counties, Florida (WL MP 44.5 to CS 
26).
     Loop 9 would be about 49.3 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Hernando, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties, Florida 
(WL MP 110.9 to CS 27).
     Loop 10 would be about 38.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline located in Hillsborough and Polk Counties, Florida (CS 27 to 
WL MP 199.0).
     Loop 11 (Turkey Point Lateral), would be about 6.7 miles 
of 24-inch-diameter pipeline located in Dade County, Florida (MP 11.3 
to 18.0).

Three Greenfield Pipeline Segments

     The Suwannee Lateral would be about 22.0 miles of 20-inch-
diameter pipeline including about 8 miles of pipeline loop located in 
Lafayette County, Florida and about 14 miles of greenfield route 
located in Madison and Suwannee Counties, Florida (MP 0.0 to 22.0).
     The Arcadia to Florida Power and Light (FPL) Martin Plant 
Lateral would be about 90.6 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline located 
in Desoto, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Martin Counties, Florida.
     The Manatee Lateral would be about 16.5 miles of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline located in Manatee County, Florida.

One Pipeline Acquisition Segment

     FGT would acquire from FPL its Martin Plant to FGT 
Mainline 20-inch-diameter pipeline located in Martin County, Florida. 
This pipeline is about 23.1 miles in length. There would be no new 
construction or ground disturbing activities associated with the 
acquisition of this segment.

Eight Upgrades to Existing Compressor Stations

     Station 11 in Mobile County, Alabama, would have two new 
compressor units installed that would add 40,000 hp.
     Station 12 in Santa Rosa County, Florida, would have one 
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,500 hp.
     Station 13 in Washington County, Florida, would have one 
new compressor unit installed and two existing compressor units 
upgraded that would add 26,000 hp.
     Station 14 in Gadsden County, Florida, would have one new 
compressor unit installed that would add 24,800 hp.
     Station 15 in Washington County, Florida, would have one 
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,000 hp.
     Station 24 in Gilchrist County, Florida, would have one 
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,500 hp.
     Station 26 in Citrus County, Florida, would have one new 
compressor unit installed that would add 20,500 hp.

[[Page 30388]]

     Station 27 in Hillsborough County, Florida, would have one 
new compressor unit installed that would add 20,000 hp.

One New Compressor Station

     Station 29 would be located in Okeechobee County, Florida, 
and would have two compressor units for a total of 15,600 hp.

Three New Metering and Regulation (M&R) Stations

     One new M&R station (Progress Energy (PE) Suwannee M&R 
Station) would be located in Suwannee County, Florida, at the new PE 
Power Plant site.
     One new M&R station (FPL Manatee M&R Station) would be 
located in Manatee County, Florida, at the FPL Manatee Plant site.
     One new M&R station (FPL Martin M&R Station) would be 
located in Martin County, Florida at the FPL Martin Plant site.
    FGT is requesting approval to begin construction of the proposed 
facilities in January of 2010. A general overview map of the major 
project facilities 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 are available on the 
Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) at the 
``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference Room at 
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to 
the end of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice by mail. Requests for detailed maps of 
the proposed facilities should be made directly to FGT (see http://www.panhandleenergy.com/FGT/PhaseVIII/ for contact information).
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the project would require about 7,995 acres of 
land. For pipeline facilities, FGT would obtain a permanent right-of-
way easement that would be typically 50 feet in width, about 3,320 
acres. The remaining 4,675 acres of temporary workspace would be 
restored and allowed to revert to its former use. A majority of the 
pipeline route would parallel existing utility rights-of-way.
    The temporary land requirements for construction of the proposed 
facilities would differ according to the type of terrain encountered 
and the corresponding construction methods that would be used, as 
described below.
    FGT would utilize a typical 75-foot-wide construction right-of-way 
in upland areas to install the 20- and 24-inch-diameter pipelines, a 
100-foot-wide construction right-of-way in upland areas to install the 
30- and 36-inch-diameter looping and greenfield segments, and a 120-
foot-wide construction right-of-way to install the upland 42-inch-
diameter loop. Through unsaturated wetlands, FGT proposes to use a 75-
foot-wide construction right-of-way to install the 20- through 36-inch-
diameter pipelines and 100 feet for the proposed 42-inch-diameter loop.
    Following construction of the proposed facilities, FGT would obtain 
a permanent right-of-way easement that would typically be 50 feet in 
width, centered over the new pipeline. This easement would overlap 
existing pipeline rights-of-way in most looping locations.
    FGT may require temporary extra work spaces where obstacles prevent 
the normal placement of spoil and/or pipe sections immediately adjacent 
to the pipe ditch, additional volumes of spoil would be generated, and 
additional construction operations would be performed (e.g., road and 
railroad crossings, wetland and water body crossings, areas with steep 
side slopes, areas where topsoil segregation would be required, areas 
where rock is encountered, truck turnarounds, crossovers, tie-ins, and 
horizontal directional drill entry and exit points).
    Aboveground facilities along the project include pig \4\ launcher 
and receiver facility sites and mainline valve locations, which would 
typically be located within the permanent right-of-way or adjacent to 
existing aboveground facility locations (e.g., compressor stations or 
mainline valve sites). FGT would add between 10 to 20 acres to existing 
Compressor Stations 11, 12, 13, and 14. Additional land required for 
construction at these existing compressor stations would be retained 
for project operations. FGT would also acquire about 30 acres of land 
for the new Compressor Station 29. Each M&R station site would be 
located on power plant property.
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    \4\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device designed to internally clean 
or inspect the pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an aboveground 
facility where pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
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The EIS Process

    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 under 
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires the Commission 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 EIS on the important 
environmental issues and reasonable alternatives.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the FERC'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.
    As part of our Pre-Filing Process review, representatives from the 
FERC have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss 
their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the 
EIS. In addition, representatives from the FERC participated in FGT 
sponsored public open houses in the project area from April 14-30, 
2008, to explain the environmental review process to interested 
stakeholders and take comments about the project. During early June, 
2008, the FERC staff will conduct interagency scoping meetings in the 
project area to solicit comments and concerns about the project from 
jurisdictional agencies. By this notice, we are formally announcing our 
preparation of the EIS and requesting additional agency and public 
comments to help us focus the analysis in the EIS on the potentially 
significant environmental issues related to the proposed action.
    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; 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 timely comments on the 
draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final 
EIS. To ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the 
instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under the general 
resource headings listed below. 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 
FGT. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your 
comments and our additional analysis.
     Geology and Soils:

--Assessment of potential geologic hazards, including sinkholes.

[[Page 30389]]

--Potential impact on mineral resources and mining operations.
--Effect on hydric soils and soils with a high potential for 
compaction.

     Water Resources and Wetlands:

--Effect on groundwater resources.
--Potential effect on perennial streams, intermittent streams, and 
ponds crossed by or close to the planned route.
--Effect on waterbodies designated under federal or state programs, 
including the Escatawpa, Blackwater, Escambia, Yellow, Shoal, Chipola, 
Apalachicola, Ochlockonee, Aucilla, Suwannee, Sante Fe, Withlacoochee, 
Hillsborough, and Kissimmee Rivers.
--Evaluation of temporary and permanent effects on wetlands, including 
forested wetlands.

     Fisheries, Wildlife, and Vegetation:

--Effect on fisheries, wildlife, and vegetation resources, including 
planted pine and forested habitats.
--Effect on vegetative nuisance species.

     Endangered and Threatened Species and Habitats:

--Potential effect on federal- and state-listed species, including, but 
not limited to, the wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker, everglade 
snail kite, Florida scrub-jay, eastern indigo snake, and gopher 
tortoise.
--Potential effect on Lake Wales Ridge managed lands.

     Cultural Resources:

--Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.

--Native American and tribal concerns.

     Land Use:

--Impact on residential areas, pine plantations, orange groves, mining, 
and irrigation and drainage systems.
--Effect on recreation and public interest areas, including wildlife 
management areas, national forests, state forests, national wildlife 
refuges, canals, and scenic trail systems.
--Visual effect of the aboveground facilities on surrounding areas.

     Air Quality and Noise:

--Effect on local air quality and noise environment from construction 
and operation of the proposed facilities.

     Reliability and Safety:

--Assessment of public safety factors associated with natural gas 
facilities.

     Alternatives:

--Assessment of alternative routes and systems to reduce or avoid 
environmental impacts.
--Assessment of alternative compressor station sites.

     Cumulative Impacts:

--Assessment of the effect of the proposed project when combined with 
other projects that have been proposed in the same region and similar 
time frame.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about FGT's Phase VIII Expansion Project. Your 
comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, 
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. 
To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please 
mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on 
or before June 20, 2008, and 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 the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 1, DG2E; and
     Reference Docket No. PF08-14-000 on the original and both 
copies.
    The public scoping meetings between June 3 and June 11, 2008, are 
designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on the 
proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to 
attend these meetings and to present comments on the environmental 
issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Transcripts of the 
meetings will be made so that your comments will be accurately 
recorded. In addition, we have asked FGT to be available with project 
location maps to answer landowner comments from 5:30 p.m. to the start 
of the meeting at the respective locations.
    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). We will include all comments that we receive within a 
reasonable time frame in our environmental analysis of the project.
    Once FGT 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 ``eFiling'' 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. 
You do not need intervenor status to have your environmental comments 
considered.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you want to remain on our mailing list and receive future 
mailings, please return the ``Remain on Mailing List Form'' included in 
Appendix 2. If you do not return this form, 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) 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 (i.e., PF08-14). Be sure you have selected an 
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, 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 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.

[[Page 30390]]

    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, FGT has established an Internet Web site for its project 
at http://www.panhandleenergy.com/FGT/PhaseVIII/. The Web site includes 
a description of the project and links to related documents.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-11695 Filed 5-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P