[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54628-54629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27777]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP97-690-000]


Florida Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed FGT 24'' Calcasieu Pipeline 
Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

October 15, 1997.
    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 construction and operation of 
the facilities proposed in the FGT 24'' Calcasieu Pipeline Replacement 
Project.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether the project is in the public 
convenience and necessity.
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    \1\ Florida Gas Transmission Company's application was filed 
with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 
157 of the Commission's regulations.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT) proposes to reroute one 
section and replace, within the same right-of-way, two sections of its 
24-inch-diameter mainline pipeline in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The 
sections to be replaced are between mileposts 425.99 and 426.92 
(section 1), 430.53 and 432.09 (section 2), and 432.17 and 432.40 
(section 3).
    Below is an explanation of the work involved.
    Section 1: Abandon, 5,070 feet of existing 24-inch-diameter 
mainline and install about 8,883 feet of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline.
    Section 2: Abandon about 8,236 feet of existing 24-inch-diameter 
mainline and install about 7,586 feet of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
located 10 feet south of the existing pipeline. The remaining 650 feet 
of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline would be north of the existing 
pipeline.
    Section 3: Abandon about 1,239 feet of existing 24-inch-diameter 
mainline, and install about 1,239 feet of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
located 10 feet south of the existing mainline.
    All of the facilities are in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The 
pipeline sections must be replaced to comply with Department of 
Transportation Regulations.
    The proposed facilities would cost about $3,762,161.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\2\ If you are interested in obtaining procedural information, please 
write to the Secretary of the Commission.
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 
First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. 
Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this 
notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The replacement and relocation of the 3 sections of the 24-inch-
diameter mainline pipeline would affect about 23 acres with 7 acres 
being needed for Section 1, 10 acres for Section 2, and 2 acres for 
Section 3. Section 1 would require an additional 4 acres for a new 
permanent right-of-way.
    Temporary work spaces would require about 3 acres. FGT proposes to 
deliver pipeline to the site by truck and string the pipeline directly 
along the construction right-of-way. All other pipe fittings would be 
stored in a leased warehouse facility.

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 
to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. 
We call this ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to 
focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By 
this Notice of Intent, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received 
are considered during the preparation of the EA. State and local 
government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents 
of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.
    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur from the construction 
and operation of the proposed project under these general headings:

<bullet> Geology and soils
<bullet> Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
<bullet> Vegetation and wildlife
<bullet> Public safety
<bullet> Land use
<bullet> Cultural resources
<bullet> Endangered and threatened species

    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending 
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be 
published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for 
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the 
EPA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we 
make our recommendations to the Commission.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provide by FGT. This preliminary list of 
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    <bullet> A horizontal drill would be used to cross the Calcasieu 
River.
    <bullet> A total of 11.9 acres of wetlands would be temporarily 
affected and 2.2 acres of wetlands would be permanently affected.

[[Page 54629]]

    <bullet> Two residences are within 50 feet of the proposed 
construction work area along Section 2.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing your 
specific comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on 
the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to 
the proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or 
lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more 
useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure 
that your comments are received and properly recorded:
    <bullet> Send two copies of your letter to: Lois Cashell, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., 
Room 1A, Washington, D.C. 20426;
    <bullet> Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.2;
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP97-690-000; and
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before November 14, 1997.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceeding or become an 
``intervenor.'' Among other things, intervenor have the right to 
receive copies of case-related Commission documents and filings by 
other intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor must provide copies of its 
filings to all other parties. If you want to become an intervenor you 
must file a motion to intervene according to Rule 214 of the 
Commissions Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) (see 
appendix 2).
    The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late interventions 
must show good cause, as required by Section 385.214(b)(3), why this 
time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed 
as good cause for late intervention.
    You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping comments 
considered.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-27777 Filed 10-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M