[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8949-8951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4914]



[[Page 8949]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP97-168-000 and CP97-169-000]


Alliance Pipeline L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Alliance Pipeline 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visit

February 21, 1997.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that 
will address the environmental impacts of the construction and 
operation of approximately 887 miles of natural gas transmission 
pipeline, seven compressor stations, metering and delivery facilities, 
and other appurtenant facilities proposed in the Alliance Pipeline 
Project.\1\ This EIS will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether to approve the project.
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    \1\ Alliance Pipeline L.P.'s applications were filed with the 
Commission under Sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 
157 of the Commission's regulations on December 24, 1996.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Alliance Pipeline L.P. (Alliance) wants to build new natural gas 
pipeline transmission facilities in North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and 
Illinois with an initial capacity to transport 1.3 billion cubic feet 
per day of natural gas from Canada to interconnections with existing 
natural gas pipeline systems in the Chicago, Illinois area. Alliance 
requests Commission authorization, in Docket No. CP97-168-000, to 
construct and operate the following facilities:
    <bullet> 887 miles of 36-inch-diameter mainline pipeline extending 
from the border of the United States (U.S.) and Canada near Sherwood, 
Renville County, North Dakota, to a point near Joliet, Will County, 
Illinois. Of the 887-mile-long mainline, about 324 miles would be in 
North Dakota, 252 miles would be in Minnesota, 189 miles would be in 
Iowa, and 122 miles would be in Illinois.
    <bullet> Seven new compressor stations with a total of 320,000 
horsepower (hp) of compression:

--Towner Compressor Station (40,000 hp) in McHenry County, North 
Dakota.
--Wimbledon Compressor Station (40,000 hp) in Barnes County, North 
Dakota.
--Fairmount Compressor Station (40,000 hp) in Richland County, North 
Dakota.
--Olivia Compressor Station (40,000 hp) in Renville County, Minnesota.
--Albert Lea Compressor Station (40,000 hp) in Freeborn County, 
Minnesota.
--Manchester Compressor Station (40,000 hp) in Delaware County, Iowa.
--Tampico Compressor Station (80,000 hp) in Whiteside County, Illinois.

    <bullet> Five new meter stations located in Grundy and Will 
Counties, Illinois, and a new measurement and pressure control station 
located in Grundy County, Illinois.
    <bullet> A total of 1.1 mile of 36-inch-diameter pipeline 
connecting Alliance's proposed meter stations with existing natural gas 
pipeline facilities in Grundy and Will Counties, Illinois.
    <bullet> Associated pipeline facilities, including 47 mainline 
block valves, seven internal tool launchers/receivers, and permanent 
access roads for access to compressor stations and valves. 
Communication and electric service facilities associated with the 
compressor stations may also be required.
    In addition, Alliance requests in Docket No. CP97-169-000 a 
Presidential Permit authorizing construction, operation and maintenance 
of facilities at the International Border for the importation of 
natural gas. These facilities would consist only of the portion of the 
mainline extending across the border and will be evaluated in the EIS 
as part of the facilities described above.
    In connection with the facilities proposed by Alliance, a natural 
gas liquids (NGL) extraction plant would be constructed near Morris, 
Illinois by Aux Sable Liquid Products L.P. The purpose of the NGL plant 
would be to extract ethane and other natural gas liquids that may be 
present in Alliance's gas stream. For the purpose of comprehensive 
environmental review, the NGL extraction plant will be included within 
the scope of the EIS.
    Alliance also plans to construct a 982-mile-long natural gas 
pipeline system in Canada extending from gas production areas in 
western Canada to the U.S./Canadian border where it would connect with 
Alliance's proposed facilities in the U.S. However, environmental 
review of the Canadian portion of the project will not be included in 
our EIS.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the Alliance Pipeline Project facilities would 
affect a total of about 13,312 acres. Of this total, about 11,313 acres 
would be disturbed by construction of the pipeline. Approximately 814.1 
miles (90 percent) of the new pipeline be installed parallel to various 
existing pipeline rights-of-way occupied by other pipelines. Alliance's 
pipeline would deviate from the existing rights-of-way in several 
locations to avoid environmental or engineering constraints or reduce 
the total length of new pipeline required. Alliance would generally use 
a right-of-way width for construction of 105 feet, with provisions for 
extra temporary work areas for waterbody, highway and railroad 
crossings, additional topsoil storage, and pipe and equipment yards.
    Following construction and restoration of the right-of-way and 
temporary work spaces, Alliance would retain a 60-foot-wide permanent 
pipeline right-of-way. Existing land uses on the remainder of the 
disturbed areas, as well as most land uses on the permanent right-of-
way, would be allowed to continue following construction. Total land 
requirements for the permanent right-of-way would be about 6,449 acres.
    The extra work areas and aboveground facilities, including 
compressor and meter stations, internal tool launchers/receivers, and 
permanent access roads would affect approximately 1,999 acres of land 
during construction. Mainline valves would be built within or adjacent 
to the permanent right-of-way. No locations have been identified for 
the communication and electrical service facilities.
    The NGL extraction plant would be located on a 100-acre parcel 
currently occupied by an abandoned synthetic natural gas plant owned by 
Northern Illinois Gas Company.

The EIS 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. The EIS we are 
preparing will give the Commission the information to do that. 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 EIS 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 EIS. 
All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 
We encourage state and local government representatives to notify their 
constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to comment.

[[Page 8950]]

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified a number of issues that we think deserve attention based on 
a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental 
information provided by Alliance. These issues are listed below. Keep 
in mind that this is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be 
added to, subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our 
analysis.
    <bullet> Soils.

--Temporary and permanent impacts on prime farmland soils.
--Mixing of topsoil and subsoil during construction.
--Compaction of soil by heavy equipment.
--Impacts on drain tiles and irrigation systems.
--Erosion control and restoration of the right-of-way.

    <bullet> Water Resources.

--Crossing of 616 waterbodies, canals and drainages.
--Crossing of 11 rivers or canals 100 feet wide or greater, including 
the James, Chippewa, Minnesota, Bois de Sioux, Wapsipinicon, 
Mississippi, Rock, Fox and Des Planes rivers, and the Illinois and 
Michigan Canals.
--Potential for erosion and sediment transport to the waterbodies.
--Effect of construction on groundwater and surface water supplies.
--Impact on wetlands.

    <bullet> Biological Resources.

--Effect on wildlife and fisheries habitats.
--Effect on federally listed endangered and threatened species.

    <bullet> Cultural Resources.

--Impact on historic and prehistoric sites.
--Native American and tribal concerns.

    <bullet> Socioeconomics.

--Effect of the construction workforce on demands for services in 
surrounding areas.
--Impact on property values.

    <bullet> Land Use.

--Impact on crop production and grazing.
--Impact on residential areas.
--Effect on public lands and special use areas, including: Rural 
Economic and Community Development Services areas, a state game refuge, 
and several proposed segments of the North Country National Scenic 
Trail in North Dakota; a National Waterfowl Production Area, Seven Mile 
Creek County Park, East Minnesota River State Game Refuge, Sakatah 
Singing Hills River State Trail, and Lyle-Austin Wildlife Management 
Area in Minnesota; Price Wildlife Habitat in Iowa; and Camp Hauberg, 
Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Fox River Natural Area, and Illinois 
and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor and State Trail in 
Illinois.
--Impact on future land uses.
--Visual effect of the aboveground facilities on surrounding areas.

    <bullet> Air Quality and Noise.

--Impact on local air quality and noise environment during 
construction.
--Impact on local and regional air quality and local noise environment 
from operation of new compressor stations and the NGL extraction plant.

    <bullet> Reliability.

--Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas pipelines, and 
natural gas liquids extraction operations.

    <bullet> Cumulative Impact.

--Assessment of the combined effect of the proposed project with other 
projects, including other natural gas transmission lines, which have 
been or may be proposed in the same region and similar time frames.

    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 presented in a Draft 
EIS which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service lists for 
these proceedings. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for review 
of the Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and 
revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. The 
Final EIS will include our response to all comments received.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    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 locations and 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> Reference Docket Nos. CP97-168-000 and CP97-169-000.
    <bullet> Send two copies of your comments to: Lois Cashell, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    <bullet> Label one copy for the attention of the Environmental 
Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.1.
    <bullet> Please mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before March 28, 1997.
    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are 
invited to attend one of the four public scoping meetings being held in 
the project area. Meetings will be held at the following times and 
locations:

March 17, 1997
    7:00 pm--Chieftain Motor Lodge, (701) 652-3131, Highway 281, 
Carrington, North Dakota
March 18, 1997
    7:00 pm--Mankato Civic Center, (507) 389-3000, One Civic Center 
Plaza, Mankato, Minnesota
March 19, 1997
    7:00 pm--Falcon Civic Center, (319) 334-2606, 1305 5th Avenue, 
N.E., Independence, Iowa
March 20, 1997
    7:00 pm--Days Inn, (815) 875-3371, (formerly Lincoln Inn), 2238 
North Main Street, Princeton, Illinois

    The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain information from 
state and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have 
formal channels for participating in the process as cooperating 
agencies (including separate meetings, where appropriate). Federal 
agencies are expected to file their written comments directly with the 
FERC and not use the scoping meetings for this purpose.
    Alliance will be present at the scoping meetings to describe their 
proposal. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend 
the meetings and present oral comments on the environmental issues 
which they believe should be addressed in the Draft EIS. A transcript 
will be made of the meetings and the comments will be made part of the 
Commission's record in this proceeding.
    We are asking a number of federal agencies to indicate whether they 
wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies 
may choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal 
relative to their agencies'

[[Page 8951]]

responsibilities. The list of agencies is provided in appendix 2.\2\
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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, Room 2A, or call (202) 
208-1371. Copies of the appendices were 2A, or call (202) 208-1371. 
Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this 
notice in the mail.
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    On the above dates we will also be conducting limited site visits 
to the project area in the vicinity of each scoping meeting location. 
Anyone interested in participating in the site visit may contact the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, identified at the end of this 
notice, for more details and must provide their own transportation.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceedings, known as 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 on the Commission's service lists for 
these proceedings. 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 3).
    The date for filing of timely motions to intervene in these 
proceedings has passed, having ended January 29, 1997. 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. However, you do not need intervenor status to have your 
scoping comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project.
    Anyone offering scoping comments will be automatically kept on our 
environmental mailing list for this project. If you do not want to 
offer comments at this time but still want to keep informed and receive 
copies of the Draft and Final EISs, please return the Environmental 
Mailing List Information (appendix 4). If you do not return the card 
you will be taken off the mailing list.
    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. 97-4914 Filed 2-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M