[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65301-65302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27996]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-13-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Albany Compressor Station 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

October 26, 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 Albany Compressor Station 
Project involving the operation of facilities by Southern Natural Gas 
Company (Southern) in Dougherty County, Georgia.\1\ The proposal 
consists of returning to full time operation an existing backup 
compressor unit at the Albany 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.
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    \1\ Southern'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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    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the 
project notice Southern provided to landowners. This fact sheet 
addresses a number of typically asked questions and how to participate 
in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for viewing on the 
FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Southern wants to reinstate a 1,232 horsepower reciprocating 
compressor unit at the Albany Compressor Station to full time service. 
At this time the unit is only used as a backup unit that is available 
in the event other facitlities on the system are taken out of service 
for maintenance or repair.
    The location of the Albany Compressor Station is shown in appendix 
1.\2\
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    \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, 
NE., Washington, DC 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.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The compressor unit was installed at the Albany Compressor Station 
in 1982. No ground disturbance would be required. All activities would 
be confined to the existing Albany Compressor Station.

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

[[Page 65302]]

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.
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    \3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
change in the operation of the Albany Compressor Station. In particular 
the EA will focus on the changes in noise and air emissions resulting 
from the increased operation of the compressor unit.
    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.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending 
on the comments received during 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.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    Because the compressor unit has already been installed, we have 
identified only two issues that we think deserve additional attention 
based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the 
environmental information provided by Southern. This preliminary list 
of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    <bullet> Increase in air emissions caused by operating the 
compressor unit full time.
    <bullet> Increase in noise from the compressor station.

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 (including alternative 
locations), 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 an original and two copies of your letter to: David 
P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
    <bullet> Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 2.
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP01-13-000.
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before November 27, 2000. Beginning November 1, 
2000, comments and protests may be filed electronically via the 
internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.

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 Rules 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 Menu, 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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-27996 Filed 10-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M