[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35864-35866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17238]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF09-12-000]


East Cheyenne Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Planned East Cheyenne Gas Storage 
Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

July 13, 2009.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the East Cheyenne Gas Storage 
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Cheyenne 
Gas Storage, LLC (East Cheyenne) in Logan County, Colorado. This 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 the Commission staff 
determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that 
the scoping period will close on August 12, 2009.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing for this project, which includes affected landowners; federal, 
state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American 
Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. 
Interested parties are encouraged to submit comments on the 
environmental issues they believe should be addressed in the EA. State 
and local government representatives are asked to notify their 
constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on 
their areas of concern.
    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 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

[[Page 35865]]

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 Web site (http://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 Planned Project

    East Cheyenne plans to develop, construct, own and operate a 
natural gas storage facility in two nearly depleted oil production 
fields in Logan County, Colorado. Prior to, and concurrent with 
development of the gas storage fields, East Cheyenne plans to proceed 
with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of petroleum reserves remaining in the 
storage fields. The construction and operation of the EOR facilities 
are under the jurisdiction of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation 
Commission (COGCC). Conversion or plugging of existing wells in the 
fields would be necessary as part of the EOR activities. The Cheyenne 
Gas Storage Project is anticipated to have an initial working gas 
storage capacity of approximately 9.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf), which 
would increase to approximately 18.9 Bcf between 3 and 5 years after 
operation begins.
    The East Cheyenne Storage Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     Ten gas injection/withdrawal wells to be drilled from six 
new well pads;
     A compressor station for injection and withdrawal of 
natural gas;
     Approximately 83,500 feet of 4- to 30-inch-diameter 
pipelines connecting the wellheads to the compressor station and 
associated facilities;
     A natural gas liquids recovery plant;
     Two water injection/disposal wells;
     Dual 24-inch-diameter pipelines to be constructed in a 
single corridor interconnecting with the Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC 
and Trailblazer Pipeline Company interstate natural gas pipelines at a 
site 3.5 miles north of the planned compressor station site;
     A meter station at the interstate pipeline system 
interconnects;
     Gas dehydration facilities;
     Amine treating facilities;
     Support facilities for construction; and
     Ancillary facilities necessary to operate the storage 
facility, flow lines, wells, and compressor facilities.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to 
all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
http://www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    The project would involve storing natural gas in nearly depleted 
reservoirs that underlie an area of approximately 2,400 acres, with an 
additional 3,600 acres serving as a storage buffer area. Construction 
of the planned facilities would disturb about 352.11 acres of land for 
the aboveground facilities and the pipelines. An additional 166.79 
acres would be disturbed for non-jurisdictional facilities associated 
with EOR operations. Following construction, about 127.67 acres would 
be maintained for permanent operation of the gas storage project's 
facilities and 72.36 acres for non-jurisdictional EOR operations; the 
remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to revert to former 
uses. Much of the planned pipeline right-of-way would be parallel to 
existing County Road 39.

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 
\2\ 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, the Commission 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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;
     Hazardous waste; 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 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.
    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 those on our environmental mailing list 
(see discussion of how to remain on our mailing list on page 6). 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.
    With this notice, we are asking 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. Agencies that would like to request cooperating 
agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments 
provided under the Public Participation section of this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified one issue that we think deserves 
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and 
the environmental information provided by East Cheyenne. Blue Sky Gas 
Storage, LLC (Docket No. CP09-428-000) is proposing a storage project 
in the same general area of Logan County as the planned East Cheyenne 
Storage Project. The EA will address potential cumulative impacts 
associated with construction and operation of both storage facilities.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on 
the

[[Page 35866]]

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 written 
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in your comments 
so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before August 12, 
2009.
    For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to 
submit your written comments to the Commission. The Commission 
encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert eFiling 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 at http://www.ferc.gov under the link 
called ``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 that is listed under the ``Documents and Filings'' 
link. 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 to your submission. 
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on the links 
called ``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 with the Commission 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.
    In all instances, please reference the project docket number PF09-
12-000 with your submission. Label one copy of the comments for the 
attention of Gas Branch 1, PJ-11.1.

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 certain distances of 
aboveground facilities (as defined in the Commission's regulations).
    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.

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once East Cheyenne files its application with the Commission, you 
may want to become an ``intervenor'', which is an official party to the 
Commission's 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 the 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 for the 
project is filed with the Commission.

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 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.
    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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-17238 Filed 7-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P