[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 236 (Monday, December 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74482-74483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28924]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed J-2 Loop Project

December 2, 2008.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared this environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Algonquin Gas Transmission, 
LLC (Algonquin) in the above-referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The FERC staff concludes that 
approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, 
would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of Algonquin's proposed J-2 Loop Project. 
This project would involve construction of about 2.3 miles of 14-inch-
diameter loop \1\ pipeline and associated facilities within the cities 
of Medford and Somerville in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The J-2 
Loop Project would commence at an existing meter station adjacent to 
the Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford and travel in a generally 
southeast direction mostly within road rights-of-way to its terminus at 
an interconnection with NSTAR Gas Company's (NSTAR) system along the 
McGrath Highway in Somerville. A meter station and pig \2\ launching 
facility would be constructed in Medford at the existing meter station 
and a valve would be constructed at the interconnect with NSTAR. A 
temporary pig launcher would be set at the valve on a temporary basis 
when pigging would be conducted.
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    \1\ A loop is a segment of pipeline installed adjacent and 
parallel to an existing pipeline system, and connected to the 
pipeline system at both ends to allow more gas to be moved through 
the pipeline system or to function as a backup system.
    \2\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device designed to internally clean 
or inspect the pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is typically an 
aboveground facility where pigs are inserted or retrieved from the 
pipeline.
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    The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited 
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public 
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference 
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-
8371.
    Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local 
agencies; public interest groups; interested individuals and affected 
landowners; local newspapers and libraries; Native American groups; and 
parties to this proceeding.
    Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure 
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is 
important that we receive your comments before the date specified 
below.
    Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic 
filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. 
See Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 
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 as a file on your computer's 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 email address. All comments submitted 
under either eFiling or the Quick Comment option are placed in the 
public record for the specified docket.
    If you are filing written comments, 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 comments to: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP08-256-000;
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Gas Branch 1, PJ-11.1; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before January 2, 2009.
    Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to 
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to 
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene 
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).\3\ Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \3\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
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    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted 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 comments considered.
    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 (i.e., CP08-256) 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 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. To register for this service, go to the eSubscription 
link on the

[[Page 74483]]

FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm).

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-28924 Filed 12-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P