[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60186-60187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25863]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-434-000]


Columbia Gulf Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Stanton Compressor 
Replacement and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

October 3, 2000.
    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 Stanton Compressor Replacement 
Project, involving replacement, construction and operation of 
facilities by Columbia Gulf Transmission Company (Columbia Gulf) in 
Stanton County, Kentucky.\1\ These facilities would consist of 
replacing an existing gas-powered turbine and compressor package with a 
new compressor package, constructing two small buildings to house the 
new compressor package and related control equipment, and constructing 
associated yard piping to tie-in the new compressor to the existing 
compressor station. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Columbia Gulf's application was filed with the Commission 
under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Columbia Gulf wants to replace an aging compressor package at its 
existing Stanton Compressor Station. Columbia Gulf seeks authority for 
the following activities:
    <bullet> Abandon by removal one 12,050-horsepower (hp) gas-powered 
turbine compressor and driver, the related compressor and control 
buildings, and associated piping and valves;
    <bullet> Construct and operate a new 14,470-hp gas turbine 
compressor package within a new prefabricated building;
    <bullet> Construct a second prefabricated building to house 
compressor control and communication equipment; and
    <bullet> Construct and operate about 2,300 feet of new 30-inch-
diameter pipeline to tie-in the replacement compressor facilities with 
the existing station piping.
    All of the proposed activities would be conducted within Columbia 
Gulf's existing Stanton Compressor Station yard. The location of the 
project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\ The replacement would not 
change the design day or certificated capacity of the compressor 
station.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's website at the ``RIMS'' link or from the Commission's 
Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. For 
instructions on connecting to RIMS refer to the last page of this 
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving 
this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Abandonment of the existing compressor package and construction of 
the proposed facilities would disturb about 0.7 acre of land. Following 
abandonment and construction activities, all disturbed areas would be 
stabilized and revegetated.

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 
\3\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ ``Us,'' ``we,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
abandonment, 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> Air quality and noise
<bullet> Land use
<bullet> Endangered and threatened species
<bullet> Cultural resources
<bullet> Public safety

    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed 
project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on 
the various resource areas.

[[Page 60187]]

    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 EA 
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make 
our recommendations to the Commission.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section below.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your 
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission. 
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 carefully follow these instructions to ensure that 
your comments are received in time and properly recorded:
    <bullet> Send two copies of your letter to: David P. Boergers, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
    <bullet> Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Group 1, PJ-11.1.
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP00-434-000.
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before November 3, 2000.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an 
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process. 
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 14 copies of its filings to the 
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all 
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. If 
you want to become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene 
according to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rule of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) (see appendix 2). Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they 
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be 
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor 
status to have your environmental comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-0004 or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the ``RIMS'' link to information 
in this docket number. Click on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' 
from the RIMS Menus, and follow the instructions. For assistance with 
access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.
    Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides 
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such 
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website, 
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and 
follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-25863 Filed 10-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M