[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59728-59729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25095]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


San Bernardino National Forest, California, Proposed North-South 
Project EIR/EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact 
Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the North-South Project.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the 
San Bernardino National Forest (Forest Service), together with the 
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), intend to prepare a 
joint Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIR/EIS) for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) and San 
Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) proposed North-South Project.

DATES: All scoping comments must be received by November 23, 2015. The 
draft environmental impact statement is expected June 2016 and the 
final environmental impact statement is expected December 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to Eric Chiang, California Public 
Utilities Commission, and Jody Noiron, Forest Supervisor, San 
Bernardino National by any of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected].
    Mail: Public Scoping Comments, RE: North-South Project, 505 Sansome 
Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94111.
    Fax: (415) 398-5326.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information can be requested by 
leaving a voice message at (844) 277-2475, or by checking the project 
Web site at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/ene/n-s/northsouth.html.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The primary components of the Proposed 
Project include the construction of a 36-inch-diameter natural gas 
transmission pipeline and the rebuilding of the Adelanto Compressor 
Station. The pipeline would be primarily constructed within existing 
public and private rights-of-way. The Adelanto to Moreno pipeline would 
be approximately 65 miles in length and would begin at the Adelanto 
Compressor Station in the high desert city of Adelanto and would 
proceed in a southerly direction through the Cajon Pass and the San 
Bernardino National Forest, terminating at the Moreno Pressure Limiting 
Station in the City of Moreno Valley. Approximately eight miles of the 
proposed pipeline and associated temporary construction areas cross 
lands subject to Forest Service jurisdiction. The balance of the 
alignment crosses through non-federal land in San Bernardino and 
Riverside Counties along public roads.
    The Adelanto Compressor Station would be rebuilt with approximately 
30,000 horsepower (HP) of compression in order to accommodate the 
design throughput. Additional Proposed Project components include: (i) 
Installation of additional pressure limiting equipment at Moreno 
Pressure Limiting Station and Whitewater Pressure Limiting Station, 
(ii) installation of pressure limiting equipment at the proposed Shaver 
Summit Pressure Limiting Station near the City of Indio and at the 
Desert Center Compressor Station near the community of Desert Center, 
and (iii) installation of 16 main line block valves.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service must respond to SoCalGas and SDG&E's application 
for a new natural gas transmission pipeline in the Cajon Pass 
designated utility corridor in a manner that is consistent with the 
Forest Service special use regulations (36 CFR part 251 Subpart B), the 
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and the Land Management Plan 
(LMP). The Forest Service purpose and need will guide the development 
of alternatives considered on National Forest System lands.
    The Cajon Pass corridor has a long history of serving as a major 
utility and transportation corridor into southern California. It was 
designated as a utility corridor when the LMP was revised in 2006, and 
was included as a ``Section 368'' corridor by the LMP amendment signed 
by the Natural Resources and Environment Under Secretary of Agriculture 
in 2009. Designated corridors are the primary agency alternative for 
siting energy transmission projects.
    Permits issued by the Forest Service are required by law to be 
consistent with the LMP. The LMP identifies suitable uses within 
various land use zones, describes desired conditions based on the LMP 
goals and objectives, and sets resource management standards. The joint 
EIR/EIS will evaluate the consistency of the proposed project and any 
alternatives with the LMP. Based on an initial review of the proposed 
project, project specific LMP amendments may be required to resolve 
potential conflicts with the plan Land Use Zones and the plan standards 
associated with riparian areas, scenery management, and the Pacific 
Crest Trail.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposed action would authorize the 
construction, operation, and maintenance of a 36-inch-diameter natural 
gas transmission line, associated valve stations, and access roads on 
National Forest System lands within the San Bernardino National Forest. 
Temporary work areas or areas needed for pre-construction surveys, 
including geological explorations, would also be authorized. The 
pipeline Right-of-Way would be authorized by a 50 year permit or 
easement under the authority of the Mineral Leasing Act.

Possible Alternatives

    The EIR/EIS will describe and evaluate the comparative merits of a 
reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives 
to be analyzed in the EIR/EIS will be developed during the 
environmental review process and will consider input received during 
scoping, and will include the no action alternative as required by law.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for the Forest Service decision is Randy 
Moore, Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region. Jody Noiron, Forest 
Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, will be the Forest Service 
official responsible for conducting the environmental review.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The CPUC has independent jurisdiction over the entire project, and 
will determine if SoCalGas' and SDG&E's application for authority to 
recover North-South Project revenue requirements in customer rates, and 
for approval of related cost allocation and rate design proposals, is 
in the public interest, and if so, under what conditions the authority 
would be granted. If the CPUC approves the proposed project, the Forest 
Service will decide whether or not to authorize the portions of the 
project on National Forest System lands, and if so, under what 
conditions.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service and CPUC have identified potential issues and 
impacts to the existing environment that require a detailed analysis in 
the EIR/EIS. Those

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issues and impacts include aesthetics, air quality, biological 
resources, heritage resources, paleontological resources, greenhouse 
gas emissions, fire, water quality, land use, noise, public services, 
recreation, socioeconomics and environmental justice, roadless areas 
(Cajon Roadless Area), and transportation. No determinations have yet 
been made as to the significance of these potential impacts; such 
determinations will be made in the environmental analysis conducted in 
the EIR/EIS after the issues are considered thoroughly. This overview 
is presented to assist the public and agencies in preparing written 
scoping comments.

Permits or Licenses Required

    SoCalGas and SDG&E would be required to obtain any applicable 
discretionary and ministerial permits from federal, state, and local 
agencies prior to construction of the project. Those permits could 
include, but are not limited to, permits or certificates required by 
the Clean Water Act and administered by the United States Army Corps of 
Engineers and the State and Regional Water Resource Control Boards, 
permits related to the Clean Air Act administered by the State or 
Regional Air Quality Control Boards, and wildlife and habitat related 
permits administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and 
California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Invitation to Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service invites federal, state, or local agencies and 
tribes to join as cooperating agencies. Requests for cooperating agency 
status may be submitted to Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron, San 
Bernardino National Forest, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 
92408.

Scoping Process

    The CPUC and Forest Service are initiating the joint CEQA/NEPA 
scoping process with this Notice of Intent and associated Joint Notice 
of Preparation/Scoping Notice. The comments received during scoping 
will help guide the development of the EIR/EIS. Three public meetings 
will be held during the scoping process to answer questions about the 
proposed project and to accept comments on the scope of the analysis. 
Meetings will be held at the following dates and locations:
    1. October 27, 2015 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at San Gorgonio High 
School, 2299 Pacific Street, San Bernardino, CA
    2. October 28, 2015 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott, 
9619 Mariposa Road, Hesperia, CA
    3. October 29, 2015 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Moreno Valley 
Conference and Recreation Center, 14075 Frederick Street, Moreno 
Valley, CA
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the CPUC and Forest Service 
preparation of the EIR/EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided 
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate 
the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received during scoping, including names and addresses of 
those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed 
project. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the Forest 
Service with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents and will not provide the respondent standing to 
participate in subsequent administrative or judicial review of the 
Forest Service decision. This project will follow the predecisional 
administrative review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B.

    Dated: September 28, 2015.
Jody Noiron,
Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, USDA Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25095 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P