[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 227 (Monday, November 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70996-70998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27812]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF08-27-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed TEMAX and TIME III Projects 
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

November 18, 2008.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
identify and address the potential environmental impacts that could 
result from the construction and operation of the TEMAX and TIME III 
Projects (Projects) planned by Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas 
Eastern). The EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making 
process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience 
and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. Your input will help determine which issues 
need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period 
will close on December 19, 2008. Details on how to submit comments are 
provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.
    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, State, 
and local government agencies; elected officials; Native American 
groups; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. 
State and local government representatives are asked to notify their 
constituents of this planned project and to encourage them to comment 
on their areas of concern. If you are a landowner receiving this 
notice, you may not be affected by construction of facilities, but may 
be affected by the planned increase in the maximum allowable operating 
pressure (MAOP) on Texas Eastern's existing pipeline where no 
construction would occur.
    As a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted by a 
Texas Eastern representative about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the project 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 federal or state 
law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' 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 Projects

    The planned Projects consist of the replacement of 25.9 miles of 
various diameter pipeline, construction of 9.6 miles of loop,\1\ use of 
0.8 mile of existing pipeline, and construction of 26.5 miles of new 
pipeline lateral. In addition, Texas Eastern plans to add 85,633 
horsepower (hp) of compression at four existing compressor stations and 
abandon 9,500 hp of compression at one compressor station, resulting in 
a net increase of 76,133 hp of compression for the project. Texas 
Eastern also plans to uprate the MAOP of its Lines 1 and 2 from 1,000 
to 1,112 pounds per square inch gauge for 268 miles between its 
Uniontown and Marietta Compressor Stations. The facilities are located 
in Greene, Bedford, Franklin, Adams, Lancaster and York Counties, 
Pennsylvania.
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    \1\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe installed adjacent 
and parallel to an existing pipeline system that is connected to the 
system at both ends. A loop allows more gas to be moved through that 
portion of the pipeline system or functions as a backup system.
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    More specifically, Texas Eastern plans the following:

The Holbrook Discharge

     Construct 0.5 mile of 36-inch-diameter loop as an addition 
onto the existing Line 30;
     Replace 9.2 miles of the existing 20-inch-diameter Line 2 
and 24-inch-diameter Line 1 with 36-inch-diameter pipeline; and
     Construct 9.1 miles of 36-inch-diameter loop.

The Uniontown Discharge

     Replace 3.7 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 
with 36-inch-diameter pipeline.

The Bedford Discharge

     Replace 6.8 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 
with 36-inch-diameter pipeline.

The Chambersburg Discharge

     Replace 2.1 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 
with 36-inch-diameter pipeline.

The Heidlersburg Discharge

     Replace 2.4 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 
with 36-inch-diameter pipeline.

The Marietta Extension

     Replace 1.7 miles of the existing 24-inch-diameter Line 1 
with 36-inch-diameter pipeline;
     Utilize 0.8 mile of existing 36-inch-diameter pipeline 
crossing the Susquehanna River; and
     Construct 26.5 miles of new 30-inch-diameter pipeline to 
the interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Corporation 
(Transco).

The Holbrook Compressor Station

     Abandon one 2,000-horsepower (hp) reciprocating gas-
powered compressor unit; and
     Install a 13,333-hp turbine-driven centrifugal compressor.

The Uniontown Compressor Station

     Install a 20,000-hp electric-powered compressor unit.

The Bedford Compressor Station

     Install pressure regulators on Line 1 and 2.

The Chambersburg Compressor

     Abandon three reciprocating gas-powered compressor units 
totaling 7,500 hp;
     Install a new 27,000-hp electric-powered compressor unit; 
and
     Add 3,330 hp to the existing electric-powered compressor 
unit.

The Heidlersburg Compressor Station

     Install a 22,000-hp electric-powered compressor unit.
    The purpose of the Projects is to provide additional natural gas 
transportation capacity of 395,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) from a

[[Page 70997]]

receipt point with the Rockies Express Pipeline LLC in Clarington, 
Ohio, and 60,000 Dth/d from a receipt point in Oakford, Pennsylvania, 
to an interconnect with Transco in York County, Pennsylvania.
    The general location of the planned facilities is shown in appendix 
A.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices 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 ``Additional Information'' 
section of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail. Requests for detailed maps 
of the proposed facilities should be made directly to Texas Eastern.
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The EA Process

    We \3\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the Commission to take 
into account the environmental impact that could result if it 
authorizes Texas Eastern's proposal. By this notice, we are also asking 
Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special 
expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate 
with us in the preparation of the EA. Agencies that would like to 
request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided below.
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    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    NEPA also requires the FERC to discover and address concerns the 
public may have about the proposal. 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, we are requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to 
address in the EA. All comments received will be considered during the 
preparation of the EA.
    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the Projects under these general 
headings:
     Geology and soils.
     Land use and visual quality.
     Water quality and wetlands.
     Cultural resources.
     Vegetation and wildlife (including threatened and 
endangered species).
     Air quality and noise.
     Reliability and safety.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the Projects or 
portions of the Projects, where necessary, and make recommendations on 
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resources.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented 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; Native American groups; interested individuals; 
affected landowners; local newspapers and 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.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the Projects. Your comments should focus on 
the potential environmental effects of the proposal, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The 
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure 
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in 
your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or 
before December 19, 2008.
    For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to 
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please 
reference the project docket number with your submission. The docket 
number can be found on the front of this notice. 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.''
    (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 Street, NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 1, PJ-11.1, and
     Reference Docket No. PF08-27-000 on the original and both 
copies.

Environmental Mailing List

    As described above, we may publish and distribute the EA for 
comment. If you are interested in receiving an EA for review and/or 
comment, please return the Environmental Mailing List Form (appendix 
B). All individuals who either return the Environmental Mailing List 
Form or provide written scoping comments will remain on our 
environmental mailing list for this project. If you do not return the 
Environmental Mailing List Form or file comments, you will be taken off 
the mailing list.

Additional Information

    Once Texas Eastern 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 ``e-filing'' 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.
    Additional information about the Projects 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, then on ``General Search'' and enter 
the docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF08-27) 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

[[Page 70998]]

Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission 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. You can also 
request additional information by calling Texas Eastern at 1-800-831-
0043.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-27812 Filed 11-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P