[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47937-47938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22477]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP09-68-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission, LP; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed TEMAX and TIME III Projects

September 11, 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 Texas Eastern Transmission, 
LP (Texas Eastern) in the above-referenced docket.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Pennsylvania 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources participated as 
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EA. Cooperating agencies 
have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources 
potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA 
analysis. The projects would require a permit from the USACE pursuant 
to section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 United States Code 1344).
    The EA assesses the potential environmental affects resulting from 
two distinct projects known as the Texas Eastern Market Area Crossing 
(TEMAX) and Texas Eastern Incremental Market Area Expansion III (TIME 
III) Projects, in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that 
approval of the proposed projects, with appropriate mitigating 
measures, would not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment.
    These projects consist of replacement of 25.9 miles of various 
diameter pipeline, construction of 9.6 miles of loop,\1\ use of 0.8 
mile of existing pipeline, and construction of 26.5 miles of new 
pipeline lateral. In addition, Texas Eastern requests authorization to 
add 85,633 horsepower (hp) of compression at four existing compressor 
stations and abandon 9,500 hp of compression at one compressor station, 
resulting in a net increase of 76,133 hp of compression for the 
projects. Texas Eastern also requests authorization to uprate the 
maximum allowable operating pressure of its existing Lines 1 and 2 from 
1,000 to 1,112 pounds per square inch gauge for 268 miles between its 
Uniontown and Marietta Compressor Stations. The proposed facilities are 
located in Greene, Bedford, Franklin, Adams, Lancaster and York 
Counties, Pennsylvania.
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    \1\ A pipeline ``loop'' is a segment of pipe installed adjacent 
and parallel to an existing pipeline system that is connected to the 
system at both ends. A loop allows more gas to be moved through that 
portion of the pipeline system or functions as a backup system.
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    The TEMAX Project would provide additional natural gas 
transportation capacity of 395,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) from a 
receipt point with the Rockies Express Pipeline LLC in Clarington, 
Ohio, to an interconnect with Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, 
LLC (Transco) in York County, Pennsylvania. The TIME III Project, would 
provide additional transportation capacity of 60,000 Dth/d from a 
receipt point in Oakford, Pennsylvania to the same interconnect with 
Transco.
    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; interested groups and individuals; local newspapers and 
libraries in the project areas; 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.
    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the TEMAX and TIME III Projects. 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 October 13, 2009.
    For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use 
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please 
reference the project's docket number CP09-68-000 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 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 Street, NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
    If you choose the option to mail your comments, label one copy of 
the comments for the attention of the Gas Branch 1, PJ-11.1.
    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).\2\ Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decisions.
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    \2\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion of 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

[[Page 47938]]

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 projects 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, then on ``General Search'' and enter the 
docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number 
field (i.e., CP09-68). 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 on the FERC Internet Web site 
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 
notifications 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. E9-22477 Filed 9-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P