[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49006-49007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24819]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP96-249-000 et al; CP97-238-000]


Portland Natural Gas Transmission System; Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System and: Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.: Notice 
of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed PNGTS Project and PNGTS/Maritimes Phase II Joint Facilities 
Project

September 12, 1997.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 
on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System (PNGTS), and jointly by PNGTS and Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes), in the above referenced 
dockets. The specific facilities addressed in this FEIS are referred to 
as the PNGTS Project and the PNGTS/Maritimes Phase II Joint Facilities 
Project (PNGTS and Phase II Joint Facilities).
    The FEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the 
proposed project would have limited adverse environmental impact if 
constructed as planned with the proposed and recommended mitigation.

[[Page 49007]]

    The FEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation on the following facilities:
    <bullet> The PNGTS Project, which includes:

--About 141.6 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline between Pittsburg, New 
Hampshire and Westbrook, Maine;
--About 0.7 mile of 8-inch-diameter pipeline (Groveton Lateral);
--About 26.9 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Rumford Lateral);
--About 16.6 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Jay Lateral); and
--Three new meter stations and other associated aboveground facilities.

    <bullet> The Phase II Joint Facilities, which include:

--About 35.2 miles of 30-inch-diameter mainline between Wells, Maine 
and Westbrook, Maine;
--About 3.8 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline (Westbrook Lateral); and
--Three new meter stations and other associated aboveground facilities.

    The FEIS will be used in the regulatory decision-making process at 
the Commission. While the period for filing interventions in this case 
has expired, motions to intervene out-of-time can be filed with the 
FERC in accordance with the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure, 18 CFR 385.214(d). Furthermore, anyone desiring to file a 
protest with the FERC should do so in accordance with 18 CFR 385.211.
    The FEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, Room 2A, 888 
First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    A limited number of copies are available at this location.
    Copies of the FEIS have been mailed to Federal, state, and local 
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 
and parties to this proceeding.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 
208-1088.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-24819 Filed 9-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M