[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66746-66748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28471]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-471-000]


Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Medicine Bow Lateral Loop 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visit

November 1, 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 Wyoming Interstate Pipeline 
Company, Ltd.'s (WIC) proposed Medicine Bow Lateral Loop Project in 
Weld County, Colorado and Laramie, Platte, and Converse Counties, 
Wyoming.\1\ The Medicine Bow Lateral Loop Project would involve the 
construction and operation of about 155 miles of 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline and addition of about 7,170 horsepower (hp) of compression. 
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\ WIC's application under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act 
and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations was filed on September 
26, 2000.
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    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a WIC representative about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline 
company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable

[[Page 66747]]

agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that 
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if 
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline 
company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with 
state law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' should have been 
attached to the project notice WIC provided to landowners. This fact 
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the 
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's 
proceedings. It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet website 
www.ferc.fed.us.
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) is being sent to landowners along WIC's 
proposed route; Federal, state, and local government agencies; national 
elected officials; regional environmental and public interest groups; 
Indian tribes that might attach religious and cultural significance to 
historic properties in the area of potential effects; local libraries 
and newspapers; and the Commission's list of parties to the proceeding. 
Government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents 
of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern. Additionally, with this NOI we are asking Federal, state, 
local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise 
with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the 
preparation of the EA. These agencies may choose to participate once 
they have evaluated WIC's proposal relative to their agencies' 
responsibilities. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status 
should follow the instructions for filing comments described below.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    WIC's proposed action consists of:
    <bullet> About 155 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline, extending 
south from WIC's existing Douglas Compressor Station in Converse 
County, Wyoming to WIC's existing Cheyenne Compressor Station in Weld 
County, Colorado. This new pipeline would loop \2\ WIC's existing 24-
inch-diameter lateral pipeline;
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    \2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent 
to an existing pipeline and connected to it on both ends. The loop 
allows more gas to be moved through the pipeline system.
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    <bullet> Adding a 7,170 hp Solar Taurus 60S-C404 turbine compressor 
unit to WIC's Douglas Compressor Station; and
    <bullet> Increasing the capacity of WIC's Medicine Bow measurement 
facilities at the Douglas Compressor Station and the Spearpoint 
measurement facilities at the Cheyenne Compressor Station.
    The proposed facilities would allow WIC to increase capacity along 
this portion of its system from 380 million decatherms per day (MDth/d) 
of natural gas to 1,055 MDth/d. The loop would transport coal bed 
methane produced in the Power River Basin south to WIC's existing 
mainline.
    The general location of WIC's facilities is shown on the map 
attached as appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\ 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 File Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE, 
Room 2A, 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

    Construction of WIC's proposed facilities would affect a total of 
about 2,684 acres of land. Following construction, about 939 acres 
would be retained as permanent right-of-way. The remaining 1,745 acres 
of temporary work space would be restored and allowed to revert to its 
former use.
    The nominal construction right-of-way for the loop would be 100 
feet wide, with 50 feet retained as permanent right-of-way. About 87 
percent of the route of the loop would abut or overlap existing 
easements, including the permanent right-of-way for WIC's existing 24-
inch-diameter lateral and adjacent power line rights-of-way. The loop 
would deviate away from existing rights-of-way in multiple segments, 
totaling 36 miles, because of terrain constraints, landowner requests, 
or to avoid impacts on sensitive environmental areas, such as the 
Oregon Trail.
    The proposed aboveground facilities would consist of a new 
compressor unit, to be contained within an extension of the existing 
compressor building at WIC's Douglas Compressor Station. Construction 
for this new unit would disturb about 8 acres, of which 4 acres would 
be required for operation of the facility. The Medicine Bow and 
Spearpoint measurement facilities would be expanded within the existing 
yards for the Douglas and Cheyenne Compressor Stations, respectively, 
with about 1 acre of land disturbed by construction, but no additional 
land required for operation. New pig launcher and receiver facilities 
would be installed within the Douglas and Cheyenne Compressor Station 
yards, and within the permanent right-of-way at Block Valve No. 7. 
Eight other new block valves would be installed within the permanent 
right-of-way for the pipeline.

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 
\4\ 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 NOI, 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.
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    \4\ ``Us,'' ``we,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    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, elected 
officials, affected landowners, regional public interest groups, Indian 
tribes, local newspapers and 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

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
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 WIC. This preliminary list of issues may be 
changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    <bullet> Geology and Soils.

--Shallow topsoil depth
--Erosion prone soils

    <bullet> Water Resources and Wetlands.

--Crossing 26 perennial and 27 intermmittent streams
--Crossing 62 wetlands

    <bullet> Vegetation and Wildlife.

--Crossing 1.5 miles of forest

[[Page 66748]]

--Potential impacts on cold water fisheries

    <bullet> Threatened and Endangered Species

--Potential impacts on 4 federally listed species, including the Bald 
eagle, Black-footed ferret, Preble's meadow jumping mouse, and Ute 
ladies'-tresses

    <bullet> Cultural Resources

--Potential impacts on 72 cultural resources, including the Oregon 
Trail
--Native American concerns

    <bullet> Land Use

--Impacts on about 21 miles of public lands
--Impacts on about 133 miles of rangeland

    <bullet> Air and Noise Quality

--Impacts on local air quality and noise environment as a result of the 
addition of the new compressor unit

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 
or routes), 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 the 
Gas/Hydro Group, PJ-11.3;
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP00-471-000; and
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before December 8, 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.

(If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to 
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request 
(appendix 3). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be 
removed from the environmental mailing list.)

Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visit

    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite 
you to attend the public scoping meetings the FERC will conduct in the 
project area. The locations and times for these meetings are listed 
below.

Monday, December 4, 2000, 7 pm: Best Western Hitching Post Inn, Rm. CCR 
East, 1700 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001, (307) 638-3301
Tuesday, December 5, 2000, 7 pm: 4H Community Bldg., Platte County 
Fairgrounds, 59 Antelope Gap Rd., Wheatland, WY 82201, (307) 322-9504
Wednesday, December 6, 2000, 7 pm: Best Western Douglas Inn, Riverbend 
Ballroom, 1450 Riverbend Rd., Douglas, WY 82633, 307-358-9790

    The public meetings are designed to provide you with more detailed 
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the 
proposed project. WIC representatives will be present at the scoping 
meetings to describe their proposal. Interested groups and individuals 
are encouraged to attend the meetings and to present comments on the 
environmental issues they believe should be addressed in the EA. A 
transcript of each meeting will be made so that your comments will be 
accurately recorded.
    On December 4, 5, and 6, 2000, we will also be conducting a site 
visit to the project area. This would be an on-the-ground inspection, 
conducted by automobile on public roads, or where access to private 
property has been granted (specific locations to be determined later). 
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 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 15 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, ``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. 00-28471 Filed 11-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M