Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 98 / Monday, May 22, 1995 / Notices 27091

under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal

Advisory Committee Act.

DATES AND TIMES: June 9, 1995, from 9

a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (closed); and from

11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open).

ADDRESSES: Quality Hotel-Capitol Hill,

415 New Jersey Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Charles Karelis, Director, Fund for the

Improvement of Postsecondary

Education (FIPSE), 7th & D Streets SW.,

Washington, DC 20202. Telephone:

(202) 708–5750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

National Board of the Fund for the

Improvement of Postsecondary

Education (National Board) is

established under Section 1003 of the

Higher Education Act of 1965, as

amended (20 U.S.C. 1135a–1). The

National Board of the Fund is

authorized to recommend to the

Director of FIPSE and the Assistant

Secretary for Postsecondary Education

priorities for funding and approval or

disapproval of grants submitted to

FIPSE.

On June 9, 1995, from 11:30 a.m. to

5:00 p.m. the Board will meet in open

session. The proposed agenda for the

open portion of the meeting will include

a review of the Comprehensive Program

priorities, an update on FIPSE targeted

competitions, an update on FIPSE’s FY

1996 budget, and a review and

discussion of priorities introduced at

the Leadership Conference held in

February, 1995.

On June 9, 1995, from 9:00 a.m. to

11:30 a.m., the meeting will be closed to

the public for the purpose of reviewing

and recommending grant applications

submitted to the Comprehensive

Program and the Innovative Projects for

Community Service Program. This

portion of the meeting will be closed

under the authority of Section 10(d) of

the Federal Advisory Committee Act

(Pub. L. 92–463; 5 U.S.C.A. Appendix 2)

and under exemptions (4) and (6) of the

Government in the Sunshine Act (Public

Law 94–409, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) (4) and

(6)). The review and discussions of the

applications and the qualifications of

proposed staff to work on these grants

are likely to disclose trade secrets and

commercial or financial information

obtained from a person and privileged

or confidential, and to disclose

information of a personal nature where

disclosure would constitute a clearly

unwarranted invasion of personal

privacy if conducted in open session.

A summary of the activities at the

closed session and related matters

which are informative to the public

consistent with the policy of Title 5

U.S.C. 552b will be available to the

public within fourteen days of the

meeting.

Records are kept of all Board

proceedings, and are available for public

inspection at the Office of the Fund for

the Improvement of Postsecondary

Education, Room 3100, Regional Office

Building #3, 7th & D Streets SW.,

Washington, DC 20202 from the hours

of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dated: May 16, 1995.

David A. Longanecker,

Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary

Education.

[FR Doc. 95–12454 Filed 5–19–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Intent To Prepare an Environmental

Assessment of Decommissioning the

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Weeks

Island Facility, Iberia Parish, Louisiana

AGENCY: Strategic Petroleum Reserve

(SPR), Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an

environmental assessment and to

conduct public scoping.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

(DOE) has determined that, pursuant to

the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA), an Environmental Assessment

(EA) should be prepared to assess the

potential environmental consequences

of decommissioning the Strategic

Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Weeks Island

Facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. A

groundwater leak has compromised the

containment integrity of the facility,

which currently stores 73 million

barrels of crude oil underground in a

salt dome. In December 1994, DOE

concluded that the integrity of the

Weeks Island mine cannot be assured

and that it is unsuitable for continued

crude oil storage. The agency plans to

move Weeks Island’s crude oil

inventory to other SPR storage sites in

Louisiana and Texas beginning in

October 1995 and then decommission

the facility, completing in June 1999.

The range of proposed decommissioning

actions and associated environmental

issues that have been identified are

described below. DOE is requesting

comments, suggestions, and any

information that interested parties may

have that would assist the agency in

identifying additional alternatives and

environmental issues to consider in the

EA.

DATES: A public meeting will be held in

New Iberia, Louisiana on Thursday,

June 8, 1995, at 7 p.m. Speakers may

pre-register in writing, by telephone or

by facsimile by close of business June 1,

1995. Written comments must be

received by June 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the New Iberia Senior High School

auditorium, 1301 East Admiral Doyle

Drive, New Iberia, Louisiana. Inquiries,

written comments and suggestions, and

requests to speak at the scoping

meeting, to review the draft EA when it

becomes available, and/or to receive the

approved EA should be labeled ‘‘Weeks

Island EA’’ and submitted to Ms.

Durinda L. Robinson, Office of Public

Affairs (FE–445.2), Department of

Energy, 900 Commerce Road East, New

Orleans, Louisiana 70123. Requests to

speak will also be accepted by

telephone at (504) 734–4312 between

the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

CDT, Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays, or by facsimile, (504)

734–4427.

A transcript of the meeting will be

prepared and will be made available for

inspection at the following locations:

• New Iberia Public Library, 445 E.

Main Street, New Iberia, Louisiana

70560 (ATTN: Ms. Vicki Chrisman)

• Dupre Library, 302 East St. Mary

Blvd., U. of Southwestern Louisiana,

Lafayette, Louisiana 70504 (ATTN: Ms.

Sandy Himel)

• New Orleans Public Library,

Louisiana Division, 219 Loyola Avenue,

New Orleans, Louisiana 70140

• DynMcDermott Petroleum

Operations Co., Technical Library, 800

Commerce Rd. W., Suite 102, New

Orleans, Louisiana 70123 (ATTN: Ms.

Cindi Nelson)

• Freedom of Information Reading

Room, Department of Energy, Forrestal

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE DOE

NEPA PROCESS, CONTACT: Ms. Carol

Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA

Policy and Assistance (EH–4.2),

Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone

(202) 586–4600 or toll-free (800) 472–

2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The SPR Weeks Island Facility is in

Iberia Parish, Louisiana, about 15 miles

south of the city of New Iberia. It is a

conventional room-and-pillar salt mine

in a salt dome that was converted by

DOE for the long-term storage of crude

oil. It was filled to capacity with 73

million barrels of oil and has been in a

standby mode since 1982. The mine and

surface property were acquired from the
27092 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 98 / Monday, May 22, 1995 / Notices

Morton Salt Company who continues to

mine salt adjacent to DOE on the salt

dome.

In May 1992, a sinkhole was

discovered which was vertically aligned

above the southeast boundary of the

upper level of the storage chamber. The

sinkhole was backfilled with sand and

monitored through 1993. An intensive

geotechnical investigation was

conducted through 1994 which

confirmed that a subsurface crevasse

extends into the salt formation and that

groundwater was leaking into the mine.

In December 1994, DOE concluded

that the integrity of the Weeks Island

mine cannot be assured and that it is

unsuitable for continued crude oil

storage. DOE decided to move the oil to

other SPR sites in Texas and Louisiana

and decommission the facility. As an

interim measure, DOE has implemented

a groundwater control program which

includes freezing the ground around the

sinkhole to interdict groundwater flow

into the crevasse. In February 1995,

DOE determined that in accordance

with NEPA and with 10 CFR 1021, DOE

NEPA Implementing Procedures, an EA

of the decommissioning actions should

be prepared to determine whether a

Finding of No Significant Impact is

supported or an Environmental Impact

Statement will be required.

Preliminary Description of Alternatives

1. Proposed Action

The proposed action consists of

stabilizing the storage chambers by

filling them with brine, sealing off the

underground facilities, and

decommissioning (i.e., removing from

SPR service) the onsite surface facilities

and the 36-inch-diameter 67-mile crude

oil pipeline to DOE’s St. James Terminal

in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Project

completion is scheduled for June 1999.

• Underground Facilities

DOE would flood the storage

chamber, drifts (i.e., connecting

tunnels), and manifold room with brine.

The Markel mine, an adjacent

abandoned Morton salt works which is

accessible from Weeks Island mine,

would also be flooded unless it is

decided to maintain it for inspection of

the seal separating Weeks Island from

Morton’s active mine. The production

and service shafts, vent hole, and both

fill holes would be plugged in

accordance with State regulations. If it

is decided to keep the Markel mine

accessible for inspections, the

production shaft would be kept open for

access.

Three alternatives are being

considered for obtaining the 80 million

barrels of brine that are needed. One

alternative is to produce brine by

leaching existing DOE salt caverns at the

SPR Bayou Choctaw Facility in Iberville

Parish, Louisiana, 13 miles southwest of

Baton Rouge. The brine would be

transported via DOE’s 36-inch-diameter,

37-mile crude oil pipeline from Bayou

Choctaw to St. James Terminal, thence

by DOE’s crude oil pipeline from St.

James to Weeks Island. Weeks Island

brine fill at 200,000 barrels per day

would take about 13 months with an

additional two months required for oil

skimming and recovery.

An alternative that will be assessed is

a services contract to produce brine

from a new well on Morton property on

Weeks Island salt dome. Water for

leaching would be obtained from the

adjacent Intracoastal Waterway.

Construction and operation of

temporary water and brine pipelines of

up to nominally one mile each would be

required. The third alternative is to

award a competitive contract for brine

from another source. This alternative is

unassessable because of its undefined

character. If DOE intends to pursue this

alternative further, NEPA compliance

would be addressed separately under

the competitive procurement provisions

of 10 CFR 1021.216.

• Surface Facilities

It was suggested at a March 2, 1995,

public meeting in New Iberia that the

site be donated for salt dome geological

research with a special interest in ‘‘post

closure’’ uses for Louisiana’s coastal salt

domes where subsidence and other

geophysical concerns have occurred

subsequent to mineral extraction. The

alternative to a DOE-directed donation

of the property would be to transfer it

to the General Services Administration

(GSA). Improvements that could be

transferred to GSA include paved roads

and parking lots, central plant fencing,

fire protection and sanitation systems,

and central plant buildings with their

associated electrical distribution

systems, such as the administration

building, control center, laboratory,

warehouse, pumphouses, and guard

house.

Usable equipment, spare parts and

materials would be transferred to other

SPR sites. All mechanical and electrical

process systems and equipment for

crude oil handling would be removed

and transferred to other DOE facilities or

salvaged. Associated piping, cable, and

conduit above and below grade within

the fenced perimeter and oily water

handling systems would be removed

and disposed at an approved facility.

Buildings associated with the shafts

would be demolished. Surface

decommissioning operations are

estimated to require 27 months.

• Crude Oil Pipeline

At least part of the Weeks Island-toSt. James crude oil pipeline potentially

has value as either a private or a

common carrier pipeline because of its

interconnection with the commercial

crude oil distribution network. If DOE

could not sell it, the pipeline would be

abandoned in place in accordance with

Federal and State regulations.

2. The No Action Alternative

The no action alternative will be

assessed to provide a baseline for

comparison with the environmental

effects of the proposed action. Under the

no action alternative, the mine would

not be refilled with oil, brine, or other

fluid and no other stabilizing actions

would be taken. Efforts to control

groundwater flow would continue. To

the extent that these fail to stop the leak,

the mine would be allowed to fill

naturally. Actions would be taken as

necessary to maintain the mine at

acceptable pressure. DOE would staff

and maintain the surface facilities in a

standby state in perpetuity.

Identification of Environmental Issues

DOE has identified the issues listed

below as topics to be addressed in the

EA. Public scoping may identify

additional issues.

1. Risk of long-term oil contamination

of Vermilion Bay and the Gulf of Mexico

that could impact the human

environment.

2. Risk of contaminating groundwater

adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico with

residual oil after the mine is filled with

brine.

3. Risk of surface subsidence on

Morton Salt Company’s adjacent mining

operations.

4. Brine spill risk in sensitive

environments, especially in the

Atchafalaya floodway.

5. Potential impacts on the protected

Louisiana black bear.

A November 1994 study concluded

that the ultimate loss of the site’s

approximately 100 permanent jobs

would have a negligible socioeconomic

impact on the region. DOE has not

identified any involvement of the

project with floodplains or wetlands. As

the site is located within the Louisiana

Coastal Zone, a determination of

consistency with the Louisiana Coastal

Resources Program may be required.

Public Scoping Meeting and Invitation

To Comment

In the spirit of improving the quality

of the agency’s decisions, DOE believes

that, for the circumstances of this

proposed action, it is appropriate to

enhance public participation in the EA
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 98 / Monday, May 22, 1995 / Notices 27093

process with a public scoping meeting.

DOE invites written and oral comments

on the scope from all interested parties.

Preregistration to speak and written

comments should be submitted

according to the instructions provided

above under DATES and ADDRESSES.

Written and oral comments will be

given equal weight in defining the scope

of the EA.

A separate registration is required for

each speaker. Registrants should

confirm the time they are scheduled to

speak at the registration desk at the

meeting. Persons who have not

preregistered may register at the door

and will be accommodated on a firstcome, first-served basis to the extent

time allows. To ensure that as many

persons as possible have the

opportunity to speak, five minutes will

be allotted to each.

Basic procedures for conducting the

meeting will be announced by the

presiding officer at the start of the

meeting. A brief presentation will be

made by DOE officials on the proposed

action and the EA process. The meeting

will not be an evidentiary hearing ;

there will be no cross-examination of

speakers. However, DOE officials

conducting the meeting will be

permitted to ask clarifying questions of

statements made at the meeting.

Issued in Washington, D.C. on May 17,

1995.

Patricia Fry Godley,

Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.

[FR Doc. 95–12490 Filed 5–19–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. ER95–713–000, et al.]

American Electric Power Service

Corporation, et al., Electric Rate and

Corporate Regulation Filings

May 12, 1995.

Take notice that the following filings

have been made with the Commission:

1. American Electric Power Service

Corporation

[Docket No. ER95–713–000]

Take notice that on May 5, 1995, the

American Electric Power Service

Corporation (AEPSC) amended its filing

in the above-referenced Docket to

modify the method by which AEPCS

will determinate the cost of emission

allowances.

A copy of the filing was served upon

the parties affected by the amendment

and the affected state regulatory

commissions.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

2. Southern California Edison Company

[Docket Nos. ER95–830–000 ER95–831–000

ER95–832–000]

Take notice that on April 28, 1995,

Southern California Edison Company

tendered for filing a supplement to its

initial filing in the above three dockets.

Copies of this filing were served upon

the Public Utilities Commission of the

State of California and all interested

parties.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

3. New England Power Company

[Docket No. ER95–992–000]

Take notice that on May 1, 1995, New

England Power Company, tendered for

filing a transmission contract for service

to Louis Dreyfus Electric Power Inc.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

4. Florida Power & Light Company

[Docket No. ER95–993–000]

Take notice that on May 1, 1995,

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL),

tendered for filing proposed Service

Agreement with the Reedy Creek

Improvement District for transmission

service under FPL’s Transmission Tariff

Nos. 2 and 3.

FPL requests that the proposed

Service Agreements be permitted to

become effective on April 1, 1995, or as

soon thereafter as practicable.

FPL states that this filing is in

accordance with Part 35 of the

Commission’s Regulations.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

5. Florida Power & Light Company

[Docket No. ER95–994–000]

Take notice that on May 1, 1995,

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL),

tendered for filing proposed Service

Agreements with the City of Lake Worth

for transmission service under FPL’s

Transmission Tariff Nos. 2 and 3.

FPL requests that the proposed

Service Agreements be permitted to

become effective on May 1, 1995, or as

soon thereafter as practicable.

FPL states that this filing is in

accordance with Part 35 of the

Commission’s Regulations.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

6. Florida Power & Light Company

[Docket No. ER95–995–000]

Take notice that on May 1, 1995,

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL),

tendered for filing proposed Service

Agreements with the Jacksonville

Electric Authority for transmission

service under FPL’s Transmission Tariff

Nos. 2 and 3.

FPL requests that the proposed

Service Agreements be permitted to

become effective on April 4, 1995, or as

soon thereafter as practicable.

FPL states that this filing is in

accordance with Part 35 of the

Commission’s Regulations.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

7. Southern California Edison Company

[Docket No. ER95–999–000]

Take notice that on May 1, 1995,

Southern California Edison Company

(Edison), tendered for filing the

following Supplemental Agreement

(Supplemental Agreement) to the 1990

Integrated Operations Agreement (IOA)

with the City of Riverside (Riverside),

FERC Rate Schedule No. 250, and

associated Firm Transmission Service

Agreement

Supplemental Agreement Between Southern

California Edison Company and City of

Riverside for the Integration of The

Washington Water Power—Riverside Power

Sale Agreement

Edison-Riverside, Washington Water Power,

Firm Transmission Service Agreement

The Supplemental Agreement and FTS

Agreement set forth the terms and

conditions by which Edison will

integrate Riverside’s Washington Water

Power resource and provide bidirectional firm transmission service.

Copies of this filing were served upon

the Public Utilities Commission of the

State of California and all interested

parties.

Comment date: May 26, 1995, in

accordance with Standard Paragraph E

at the end of this notice.

Standard Paragraphs

E. Any person desiring to be heard or

to protest said filing should file a

motion to intervene or protest with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

825 North Capitol Street, N.E.,

Washington, D.C. 20426, in accordance

with Rules 211 and 214 of the

Commission’s Rules of Practice and

Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 18 CFR

385.214). All such motions or protests

should be filed on or before the

comment date. Protests will be

considered by the Commission in

determining the appropriate action to be