[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 704-705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-50]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP09-27-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Southern Natural Gas 2008 
Abandonment and Modification Project and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues

December 31, 2008.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the potential environmental impacts of Southern Natural Gas 
Company's (Southern) 2008 Abandonment and Replacement Project involving 
the in-place abandonment of approximately 97 miles of pipeline in 
Mississippi and Alabama. The pipeline, which is part of Southern's 
North Main Loop Line, consists of 18-inch-diameter to 24-inch-diameter 
pipe, would be abandoned in six segments. In addition, Southern 
proposes to abandon three compressor units at the Onward Compressor 
Station in Sharkey County, Mississippi. 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 January 30, 2009. 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 representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries 
and newspapers. State and local government representatives are asked to 
notify their constituents of this proposed project and to encourage 
them to comment on their areas of concern.
    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 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

    The six pipeline segments Southern proposes to abandon are located 
in Sharkey, Yazoo, Winston, Noxubee, and Lowndes Counties, Mississippi 
and Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama. These pipeline segments 
were installed using a mechanical coupling technology in the late 1930s 
and early 1940s. The pipeline, consisting of 18- to 24-inch-diameter 
pipe, would be cut, cleaned, sealed, and abandoned in place. In 
addition, three compressor units are proposed for abandonment at the 
Onward Compressor Station in Sharkey County. The project also includes 
the removal, installation, and modification of various ancillary 
facilities associated with the pipeline segments to be abandoned. Along 
the pipeline right-of-way, 46 work sites would be utilized for the 
abandonment and additional modifications.
    All pipeline abandonment activities would be conducted within the 
existing right-of-way and compressor station areas. No new access roads 
would be required to facilitate the abandonment of the pipeline, 
compressor units, or ancillary facilities.
    A map showing the general location of the proposed project is 
included as 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 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 by calling (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 Southern.
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The EA Process

    We \2\ 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 Southern'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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    \2\ ``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 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, we are requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to 
be addressed in the EA. All comments received will be considered during 
the preparation of the EA.
    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, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
local libraries and newspapers, 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.

[[Page 705]]

    To ensure your comments are received and 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 Southern's 2008 Abandonment and Replacement 
Project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental 
effects of the proposal, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid 
or lessen the environmental impacts. 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 January 30, 2009.
    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 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.

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).\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 environmental comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

    As described above, we may publish and distribute the EA for public 
review and comment. If you are interested in receiving an EA, please 
return the Environmental Mailing List Form (appendix 2). If you do not 
return the Environmental Mailing List Form or comment on the project, 
you will be taken off the mailing list. All individuals who provide 
comments will remain on our environmental mailing list for this 
project.

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 Website (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., CP09-27) 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 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, any public meetings or site visits scheduled for this 
project will be posted on the Commission's calendar at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related 
information. You can also request additional information by calling 
Southern at (205) 325-7696.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-50 Filed 1-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P