[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 130 (Monday, July 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38444-38446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15219]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP02-229-004]


SG Resources Mississippi, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southern Pines Energy Center 
Expansion Project II and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

June 27, 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 Southern Pines Energy Center 
Expansion Project II involving construction and operation of facilities 
by SG Resources Mississippi, L.L.C. (SGRM) in Greene County, 
Mississippi.
    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

[[Page 38445]]

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 
July 31, 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 SGRM 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

    SGRM is proposing to expand its currently certificated Southern 
Pines Energy Center Gas storage field. SGRM is proposing to provide a 
total of 40 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of working gas capacity, supported 
by 11.4 Bcf of cushion gas capacity, for a total storage field capacity 
of 51.4 Bcf. The expanded facilities would be capable of injecting and 
withdrawing gas at a maximum rate of 1.8 Bcf per day and delivering gas 
at a maximum rate of 0.9 Bcf per day. SGRM seeks authority to undertake 
the following construction-related activities in Greene County, 
Mississippi:
     Enlarge the working gas capacity of each of the three 
currently certificated gas storage caverns from 8 Bcf to 10 Bcf, and 
cushion gas capacity from 2.1 Bcf to 2.8 Bcf.
     Develop a fourth 10 Bcf working gas capacity gas storage 
cavern with a cushion gas capacity of 2.8 Bcf.
     Drill two additional brine disposal wells.
     Construct the 3.13-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter Destin 
Lateral Loop pipeline.
     Construct a 200-foot-long, 24-inch diameter 
interconnecting pipeline that would connect the proposed Destin Lateral 
Loop pipeline to meter stations owned by Destin Pipeline Company, LLC 
and Southeast Supply Header, LLC.
     Install two additional 8,000 horsepower engine driven 
compressors.
    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 nonjurisdictional facilities associated with this 
project.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 45.2 
acres of land which includes 37.9 acres for a 100-foot-wide pipeline 
construction right-of-way (ROW), of which a 50-foot-wide strip consists 
of a previously certificated permanent ROW. Following construction, 
about 1.1 acres would be maintained as new aboveground facility sites 
and permanent rights-of-way. The remaining 44.1 acres of land would be 
restored and allowed to revert to its former use.

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 reasonable 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 SGRM. This preliminary list 
of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     The federally listed threatened gopher tortoise may be 
affected by the project.
     The project may have increased air emissions and noise 
impacts.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the Southern Pines Energy Center Expansion 
Project II. Your comments

[[Page 38446]]

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 timely and proper recording, please send in your comments so 
that they will be received in Washington, DC, on or before July 31, 
2008.
    For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use 
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please 
reference the project docket number CP02-229-004 with your submission. 
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has 
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258 
or [email protected].
    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick 
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site 
at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick 
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only 
comments on a project;
    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site at 
http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling 
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if 
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard 
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. 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. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on 
a Filing;'' or
    (3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by 
sending 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 3, 
PJ11.3.

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 June 
6, 2008, identified the date for the filing of interventions as June 
27, 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. E8-15219 Filed 7-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P