[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 227 (Friday, November 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62300-62302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28394]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF09-14-000]


Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company, LLC; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Turtle Bayou 
Natural Gas Storage Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues

November 20, 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 Turtle Bayou Natural Gas 
Storage Project involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Turtle Bayou Gas Storage Company, LLC (Turtle Bayou) in Liberty County, 
Texas. The 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 staff 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 December 21, 2009.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list 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. 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 
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

    Turtle Bayou plans to construct and operate a new natural gas 
storage facility in a solution-mined salt dome in Liberty County, 
Texas. The Turtle Bayou Natural Gas Storage Project would provide about 
12.0 billion cubic feet of working gas storage and would be integrated 
into the regional gas transmission system through interconnects with 
existing and planned interstate pipelines. According to Turtle Bayou, 
its project would store natural gas from Gulf Coast producers, 
liquefied natural gas import terminals, and new gas pipeline projects 
through interconnects with Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America 
(NGPA) and Texas Eastern Transmission Company (Texas Eastern). The 
planned storage facility would provide needed deliverability to end 
users in the eastern United States. Additionally, Turtle Bayou's 
planned project would provide its customers with flexibility to 
contract for varying levels of deliverability by interconnecting with 
other pipeline systems throughout the region.
    The Turtle Bayou Natural Gas Storage Project would consist of the 
following facilities:
     Two salt storage caverns, wells, and well pads;
     A 17,000-horsepower compressor station;
     Two meter stations and tie-in facilities (one for NGPA and 
one for Texas Eastern);
     Two sections of 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline 
totaling about 13 miles (8 and 5 miles); and
     Three sections of 18-inch-diameter water and brine 
pipeline totaling about 1.8 miles (1.6, 0.1, and 0.1 miles).
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
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    \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.

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[[Page 62301]]

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 375 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, about 27 acres would be maintained for 
permanent operation of the aboveground facilities and 102 acres would 
be maintained for the pipeline facilities. The remaining acreage would 
be restored and allowed to revert to former uses. The planned pipeline 
route generally parallels existing utility rights-of-way.

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.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    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 5). 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. To ensure your comments are considered, please 
carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section 
below.
    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.

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 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 
December 21, 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 (i.e., 
PF09-14-000) 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 Turtle Bayou 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 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 
website. 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,

[[Page 62302]]

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 (i.e., PF09-14). Be sure you have selected 
an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected] or toll free at (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 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.
    Further, any 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.
    Finally, Turtle Bayou has established a Web site for its project at 
http://www.turtlebayougasstorage.com and a toll-free number at (877) 
558-4521. The Web site includes a description of the project, 
frequently asked questions, and other information.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-28394 Filed 11-25-09; 8:45 am]
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