[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 111 (Monday, June 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32620-32621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12861]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6251]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and 
a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed Enbridge Southern 
Lights Pipeline Project

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment 
and a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed Enbridge 
Southern Lights Pipeline Project.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact for the 
Proposed Enbridge Southern Lights Pipeline Project.
    On April 19, 2007, Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) L.L.C. 
applied for a Presidential permit to construct, connect, operate, and 
maintain facilities (including a 20-inch diameter 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 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.
    Executive Order 13337 of April 30, 2004, as amended, delegates to 
the Secretary of State the President's authority to receive 
applications for permits for the construction, connection, operation, 
or maintenance of facilities, including pipelines, for the exportation 
or importation of petroleum, petroleum products, coal, or other fuels 
at the border of the United States and to issue or deny such 
Presidential Permits upon a national interest determination. The 
Executive Order directs the Secretary of State to refer the application 
and pertinent information to, and to request the views of, the heads of 
certain agencies before issuing a Permit and authorizes the Secretary 
to consult with other interested federal and state officials, as 
appropriate. The Executive Order also authorizes Federal Register 
notification of receipt of Presidential permit applications and for 
public comments on those applications. The functions assigned to the 
Secretary have been further delegated within the Department of State.
    The Department of State published in the Federal Register a 
Notification of Receipt and Notice of Intent to prepare an Environment 
Assessment (EA) regarding the EPSL Application for a permit on July 27, 
2007 (72 FR 41383). That notification solicited public comment on the 
application for a 45-day period, and announced the Department of State 
would conduct public scoping meetings along the proposed route. The 
Department's Notice of Availability of the draft EA and request for 
public comment was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 
2007 (72 FR 67335), seeking comments by December 28, 2007. The 
Department received public comments in response to its two notices and 
has taken them into account in preparing the Final Environmental 
Assessment on the EPSL Application.
    As required by Executive Order 13337, EPSL's pipeline application 
and a Draft Environmental Assessment were also transmitted to the 
relevant federal agencies for their review and comment on November 29, 
2007. The Department of State received no objections from federal 
agencies regarding the issuance of a permit.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(``NEPA''), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f, the Council of Environmental Quality 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, 40 CFR 
Parts 1500-1508, and the Department's regulations for the 
implementation of NEPA, 22 CFR Part 161, EPSL has prepared a Final 
Environmental Assessment (FEA) under the guidance and supervision of 
the Department, with full public participation, including public 
meetings and ample opportunity for written and oral public comment on 
the project. Based on the FEA and the record created as part of the 
Department's evaluation of the EPSL application, on June 2, the 
Department determined that ``issuance of a Presidential Permit 
authorizing construction of the proposed Southern Lights Pipeline would 
not have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment 
within the United

[[Page 32621]]

States.'' Accordingly, the Department on that date adopted a ``Finding 
Of No Significant Impact'' (FONSI) and determined that an environmental 
impact statement will not be prepared on the EPSL application.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Final Environmental Assessment 
addressing this action is on file and may be reviewed by interested 
parties, along with the Finding of No Significant Impact, at the 
Department of State, 2200 C Street, NW., Room 3535, Washington, DC 
20520 (Attn: Mr. J. Brian Duggan, Tel. 202-647-1291). The above 
documents may also be requested by e-mail at [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 2, 2008.
Stephen J. Gallogly,
Director, Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. E8-12861 Filed 6-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P