[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 117 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29204-29205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14452]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP09-36-000; Docket No. CP09-40-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company, Southeast Supply Header, LLC; 
Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 
South System Expansion III Project and Joint Pipeline Expansion Phase 
II Project

June 12, 2009.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Southern Natural Gas 
Company (SNG) for the South System Expansion III Project (SSE III 
Project) and by Southeast Supply Header, LLC (SESH) for the Joint 
Pipeline Expansion Phase II Project (JPE Phase II Project) in the 
above-referenced dockets.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The 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 the proposed natural gas pipeline 
facilities including:

SSE III Project

     The Thomaston-Griffin Branch Third Loop (Thomaston-Griffin 
Loop), 31.2 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Upson, Lamar, 
and Spalding Counties, Georgia;
     The South Atlanta-Austell Replacement, replacement of 10.9 
miles of the existing 18-inch-diameter pipeline with 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline in Fulton and Clayton Counties, Georgia, and construction of 
the Plant McDonough Meter Station in Fulton County;
     The South Main Third Loop Line (Gwinville Loop), 12.0 
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Jefferson Davis and Simpson 
Counties, Mississippi;
     The South Main Third Loop Line (Enterprise Loop), 7.7 
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Lauderdale County, 
Mississippi, and Choctaw and Sumter Counties, Alabama;
     An additional 10,310 horsepower (hp) of compression and 
associated ancillary facilities installed at SNG's existing Bay Springs 
Compressor Station in Jasper County, Mississippi;
     The South Main Third Loop Line (Bay Springs Loop), 2.4 
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Clarke County, Mississippi;
     The South Main Fourth Loop Line (Gallion Loop), 5.2 miles 
of 36-inch-diameter pipeline loop in Hale and Perry Counties, Alabama;
     The South Main Replacement (Elmore Replacement), 
replacement of 11.7 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline with 42-inch-
diameter pipeline in Elmore County, Alabama; and
     An additional 7,000 hp of compression and associated 
ancillary facilities at the existing Ellerslie Compressor Station in 
Harris County, Georgia.
    SNG would construct its proposed facilities in three phases 
beginning in the first quarter of 2010, and all facilities would be in 
service by the second quarter of 2012.

JPE Phase II Project

     An additional 12,891 hp (15,000 hp nominal) of compression 
and associated ancillary facilities at the existing Delhi Compressor 
Station near Delhi, Richland Parish, Louisiana; and
     An additional 12,712 hp (15,000 hp nominal) of compression 
and associated ancillary facilities at the existing Gwinville 
Compressor Station near Gwinville, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.
    SESH would begin construction in October 2009, and proposes an in-
service date in July 2010.
    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; Native American tribes; newspapers and libraries; 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.
    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the SSE III Project or the JPE Phase II 
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 July 13, 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 numbers CP09-36-000 or CP09-40-000 with 
your submission. The docket numbers 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;'' 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 2, 
PJ11.2.
    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

[[Page 29205]]

Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).\1\ Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \1\ 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 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-14452 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P