[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5824-5825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3036]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP97-176-000]


Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Terra Alta Storage 
Field Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

February 3, 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 
about 2.6 miles of various diameter pipeline to replace about 2.9 miles 
of pipeline which would be abandoned as proposed in the Terra Alta 
Storage Field 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\ Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation'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

    Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) wants to upgrade 
and modernize facilities at its Terra Alta Storage Field in Preston 
County, West Virginia. Columbia seeks authority to construct and 
operate approximately:
    (1) 1.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing and abandoning about 1.4 miles of 8-, 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-
inch-diameter pipeline and appurtenances on Line X-76-F-1);
    (2) 105 feet of 4-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing and abandoning about 1,143 feet of 4-inch-diameter pipeline 
on Storage Well Line X-76-W-7375);
    (3) 0.4 mile of 16-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing and abandoning about 0.4 mile of 8-, 10-, and 12-inch-
diameter storage pipeline on Line X-76-F-2);
    (4) 0.4 mile of 8-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing by abandonment about 0.4 mile of 6-, and 12-inch-diameter 
storage pipeline on Line-X-76-F-4);
    (5) 0.2 mile of 10-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing by abandonment about 0.2 mile of 8-, 10- and 12-inch-
diameter storage pipeline on Line X-76-F-6);
    (6) 26 feet of 10-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing by abandonment about 26 feet of 8-inch-diameter storage 
pipeline on Storage Well Line X-76-W-7394); and
    (7) 0.1 mile of 6-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances 
(replacing by abandonment about 0.1 mile of 4-inch-diameter storage 
pipeline on Line X-76-W-7380).
    Columbia would also abandon about 0.2 mile of 6-inch-diameter 
pipeline referred to as Storage Well Line X-76-W-7379.
    In addition, under Section 2.55 of the Commission's regulations, 
Columbia plans to remove drips; replace mainline tees and methanol 
lines; and install launching and receiving valves. These actions would 
provide more efficient operation and maintenance of the storage field 
as well as restore deteriorated facilities and will also be examined in 
the EA.
    The 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 appendixes were sent to all those receiving this 
notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 40.5 
acres of land. No new right-of-way would be required. Temporary work 
areas and abandoned right-of-way would be restored and allowed to 
revert to their former use.

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. 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 as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:

<bullet> geology and soils

[[Page 5825]]

<bullet> water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
<bullet> vegetation and wildlife
<bullet> endangered and threatened species
<bullet> public safety
<bullet> land use
<bullet> cultural resources
<bullet> air quality and noise
<bullet> hazardous waste

    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, 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 EA 
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 provided by Columbia. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    <bullet> The project follows the course of Saltlick Creek, a high 
quality warmwater fishery, and crosses it numerous times.
    <bullet> A total of 13 wetlands (.92 acre) would be affected by the 
project.
    <bullet> A number of residences are in the vicinity and two 
residences are within 50 feet of the proposed construction area.
    <bullet> Construction of related pig launching and receiving 
facilities may have visual impacts.

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, 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> Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., Washington, DC 
204265:
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP97-176-000;
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before March 6, 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, intervenors 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 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) (see 
appendix 2).
    You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-3036 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M