[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 186 (Monday, September 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49374-49375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23283]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP09-17-000]


Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC; Notice of Availability of 
the Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Phase VIII 
Expansion Project

September 18, 2009.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline facilities 
proposed by Florida Gas Transmission Company, LLC (FGT) in the above 
referenced docket. FGT's Phase VIII Expansion Project (Project) would 
be located in various counties in southern Alabama and throughout 
Florida.
    The final EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The FERC staff 
concludes that approval of the proposed project, with the appropriate 
mitigation measures as recommended, would have some adverse 
environmental impact. However, most of these impacts would be reduced 
to less-than significant levels with the implementation of the 
applicant's proposed mitigation measures and the additional measures we 
recommend in the EIS.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) participated as cooperating agencies 
in the preparation of the EIS. 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 
Project would require permits from the COE pursuant to Section 404 of 
the Clean Water Act (33 United States Code [U.S.C.] 1344) and Section 
10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 USC 403). The COE would adopt the 
EIS per Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.3 if, 
after an independent review of the document, it concludes that its 
comments and suggestions have been satisfied. The USFS manages all 
federal lands (the Apalachicola National Forest) that would be crossed 
by this Project. A special-use permit would be issued by the USFS for 
the existing right-of-way for two existing pipelines (a 30-inch and a 
36-inch-diameter) and the proposed additional 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline. This additional pipeline would require an additional 40 feet 
of right-of-way adjacent to the existing right-of-way. By participating 
as a cooperating agency, the USFS has obtained the views of the public 
prior to reaching an easement decision.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following facilities:
     Construction and operation of about 357.3 miles of looping 
\1\ various diameters of pipeline in Mobile, Baldwin, and Escambia 
Counties, Alabama and Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, 
Washington, Jackson, Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Taylor, 
Lafayette, Suwannee, Gilchrist, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, 
Hillsborough, and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida;
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    \1\ 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 and operation of about 125.9 miles of 20, 24, 
and 30-inch-diameter pipelines in Lafayette, Madison, Manatee, DeSoto, 
Highlands, Okeechobee, Martin, and Suwannee Counties, Florida;
     Acquisition from Florida Power & Light Company of a 22.7-
mile-long, 20-inch-diameter pipeline located in Martin County, Florida;
     Installation of a total of about 198,000 horsepower (hp) 
of compression at 8 existing compressor stations;
     Installation of one new 15,600 hp compressor station in 
Highlands County, Florida; and
     Construction and operation of three new meter and 
regulator (M&R) Stations in Suwannee, Manatee, and Martin Counties, 
Florida; upgrade two existing M&R Stations in Mobile County, Alabama 
and Martin County, Florida; and construct one new regulator station in 
Lafayette County, Florida.
    The final EIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and 
the COE and is available for public inspection at:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First 
Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8371.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, 701 San Marco 
Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. 904-232-1472.
U.S. Forest Service, Apalachicola National Forest, 57 Taft Drive, 
Crawfordville, Florida 32327. 850-926-3561.

    Copies of the final EIS have been mailed to Federal, State, and 
local government agencies; elected officials; Native American Tribes; 
local libraries

[[Page 49375]]

and newspapers; intervenors in the FERC's proceeding; individuals who 
provided scoping comments; and individuals who requested to remain on 
the environmental mailing list. Hard copy versions of this EIS were 
mailed to those specifically requesting them, and all others received a 
CD-ROM. A limited number of hard copies and CD-ROMs are available in 
the Public Reference Room identified above.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on 
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). Using the 
``eLibrary'' link, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, 
enter the selected date range and ``Docket Number,'' excluding the last 
three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP09-17), and follow the 
instructions. You may also search using the phrase ``FGT Phase VIII 
Expansion Project'' in the ``Text Search'' field. For assistance with 
access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY 
(202) 502-8659, or at [email protected]. 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 that 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. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Information concerning the involvement of the COE is available from 
Beverlee Lawrence at (904) 232-2517, and information concerning the 
involvement of the Apalachicola National Forest is available from 
Harold Shenk at (850) 926-3561.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-23283 Filed 9-25-09; 8:45 am]
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