FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426

OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS 

In Reply Refer To: 

 OEP/DG2E/Gas Branch 1 

FGT Phase VIII Expansion 

Project Docket No. CP09-17-000

TO THE PARTY ADDRESSED: 

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) 

has prepared this 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 the proposed 

project, with the appropriate mitigation measures as recommended, would have limited 

adverse environmental impact. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service (USFS) are cooperating agencies for this 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 

[USC] 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 1506.3 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 [ANF]) 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 will obtain the 

views of the public prior to reaching an easement decision. 
Docket No. CP 09-17-000 - 2 - 

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 multi-diameter looping1

segments 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. 

• construction and operation of about 125.9 miles of three multi-diameter 

segments of greenfield pipeline in Lafayette, Madison, Manatee, DeSoto, 

Highlands, Okeechobee, Martin, and Suwannee Counties, Florida. 

• acquisition from Florida Power & Light Company of one segment of 

pipeline, located in Martin County, Florida, as an “in service” 20-inchdiameter pipeline, about 22.7 miles in length. 

• 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; 

• acquisition of additional property directly adjacent to four existing 

compressor stations for expansion, expansion of four compressor stations 

within their right-of-way, and acquisition of property for one new 

compressor station; and 

• construction and operation of new meter and regulator (M&R) Stations in 

Suwannee, Manatee, and Martin Counties, Florida; upgrade two 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 and newspapers; 

intervenors in the FERC’s proceeding; individuals who provided scoping comments; and 

 

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. 
Docket No. CP 09-17-000 - 3 - 

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 website 

(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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary 

link on the FERC Internet website 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 ANF is 

available from Harold Shenk at 850-926-3561. 

Kimberly D. Bose 

Secretary