[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6870-6873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2865]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF09-1-000]


Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the 300 Line Project, Request for Comments 
on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

February 4, 2009.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts that could result from the 
construction and operation of the 300 Line Project. The project is 
planned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (TGP) to expand the natural 
gas transportation capacity of its existing 300 Line pipeline in 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) announces the opening of the scoping 
process used to gather input from the public and interested agencies on 
the project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine which 
issues need to be evaluated in the EA. The staff will also use the 
scoping process to determine whether preparation of an environmental 
impact statement is more appropriate for this project based on the 
anticipated level of impacts. Please note that the scoping period will 
close on March 6, 2009.
    Comments may be submitted in written or verbal form. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public 
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of or in addition to 
sending written comments, we invite you to attend the public scoping 
meetings scheduled as follows.

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            Date and time                           Location
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 7 p.m.     Walnut Ridge Primary School, 625
 (EST).                                 County Route 517, Vernon, New
                                        Jersey.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 7 p.m.   Montrose High School, 50 High
 (EST).                                 School Road, Montrose,
                                        Pennsylvania.
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 7 p.m.    Mansfield University, Room G3,
 (EST).                                 Allen Hall, 135 Stadium Drive,
                                        Mansfield, Pennsylvania.
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    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the 
meetings and to present comments on the environmental issues they 
believe should be addressed in the EA. A transcript of the meetings 
will be generated so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state, 
and local

[[Page 6871]]

government representatives and agencies; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties in 
this proceeding; and local libraries and newspapers. We \1\ encourage 
government representatives to notify their constituents of the planned 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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    \1\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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    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 planned 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?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov). 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.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    TGP is requesting authorization to construct, own, and operate the 
facilities necessary to increase natural gas delivery capacity to the 
northeast region of the United States by approximately 300,000 
dekatherms per day. In addition to increasing natural gas delivery 
capacity in the region, TGP would also upgrade certain existing 
compressor units to improve overall system reliability.
    The 300 Line Project would consist of the following facilities:
     Installation of approximately 128.4 miles of new 30-inch-
diameter pipeline in seven separate looping \2\ segments ranging in 
length from 14.6 miles to 22.5 miles in Potter, Tioga, Bradford, 
Susquehanna, Wayne, and Pike Counties, Pennsylvania; and Sussex and 
Passaic Counties, New Jersey;
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    \2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is usually installed 
adjacent to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. 
The loop allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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     Construction of a new 15,000 horsepower (hp) compressor 
station (Station 303) in Venango County, Pennsylvania;
     Construction of a new 15,400 hp compressor station 
(Station 310) in McKean County, Pennsylvania;
     Modification to an existing meter station in Bergen 
County, New Jersey;
     Modifications to seven existing compressor stations in 
Potter (Station 313), Tioga (Station 315), Bradford (Station 317 and 
319), Susquehanna (Station 321), and Pike Counties (Station 323), 
Pennsylvania, and Sussex County (Station 325), New Jersey, resulting in 
increased hp at five of the seven existing stations; and
     Installation of associated appurtenant aboveground 
facilities including mainline valves and pig \3\ launchers and 
receivers.
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    \3\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry 
a pipeline and/or to inspect it for damage or corrosion.
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    The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.\4\
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    \4\ 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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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the 300 Line Project would require about 2,091.7 
acres of land including pipeline, aboveground facilities, appurtenant 
facilities, and pipe storage and contractor yards. Following 
construction, about 1,149.9 acres would be used for operation of the 
project facilities. The area disturbed during construction but not 
required for operation would generally be allowed to revert to pre-
construction condition.
    The planned pipeline loops would be located within and directly 
adjacent to the existing 300 Line right-of-way and at a typical offset 
of 25 feet from the existing pipeline to the extent practicable. 
Construction and operation of the two new compressor stations would 
occur within larger land tracts to be acquired by TGP, and the proposed 
modifications to existing compressor stations would occur within the 
existing fenceline of the facilities.

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 NOI, the Commission staff requests 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. 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 will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     Land use;
     Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     Cultural resources;
     Vegetation and wildlife;
     Air quality and noise;
     Endangered and threatened species; and
     Public safety.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's Pre-Filing Process. 
The purpose of the Pre-Filing Process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an 
application is filed with the FERC. As part of our Pre-Filing Process 
review, we have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to 
discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of 
the EA. In addition, representatives from the FERC participated in 
public open houses sponsored by TGP in the project area in December 
2008 and January 2009, to explain the environmental review process to 
interested stakeholders.
    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

[[Page 6872]]

Commission. To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section below.
    With this NOI, we are 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. These agencies may choose to participate once they have 
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Additional 
agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should 
follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public 
Participation section of this NOI.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities, 
comments made to us at TGP's open houses, preliminary consultations 
with other agencies, and the environmental information provided by TGP. 
This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments 
and our analysis:
     Compatibility with the Wallkill River National Wildlife 
Refuge in Sussex County, New Jersey, where proposed Loop 325 would 
cross the refuge for approximately 0.8 mile;
     Compatibility of the planned Loop 325 on lands under 
jurisdiction of the New Jersey Highlands Council;
     Potential impacts on nearby residences including wells and 
septic systems, land use restrictions, and property values;
     Aesthetic impacts, including the loss of trees in 
residential areas;
     Potential impacts on threatened or endangered species 
including the Indiana bat and the Bog turtle;
     Noise concerns associated with the new compressor stations 
(Stations 303 and 310); and
     Assessment of alternatives including alternatives that 
would avoid or reduce impacts on the Wallkill River National Wildlife 
Refuge and Long Pond Iron Works State Park, and alternative compressor 
station locations.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the 300 Line Project. Your comments 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 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 
March 6, 2009.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your written comments to the Commission. In all instances please 
reference the project docket number PF09-1-000 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 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 
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 1, 
PJ-11.1.

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once TGP formally files its application with the Commission, you 
may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to the 
proceeding. 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 ``eFiling'' link on the Commission's Web site. 
Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time; 
you must wait until the formal application is filed with the 
Commission.

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 planned 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.
    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 2). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be 
taken off the mailing list.

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 (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 www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 
with other related information.
    Finally, to request additional information on the project or to 
provide comments directly to the project sponsor, you can contact TGP 
directly be calling toll free at 1-866-208-3676. Also, TGP has 
established an Internet Web site at www.elpaso.com/TGP300LineExpansion/default.shtm. The Web site includes a description of the Project, an 
overview map of the

[[Page 6873]]

proposed facilities, and links to related documents. TGP will update 
the Web site as the environmental review of its project proceeds.

 Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E9-2865 Filed 2-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P