[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20980-20982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10328]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-154-000]


Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Compressor Station 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

April 20, 2001.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will

[[Page 20981]]

discuss the environmental impacts of the Compressor Station Expansion 
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Maritimes 
& Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) in Sagadahoc and Washington 
Counties, Maine.\1\ Maritimes proposes to install one new 8,311 
horsepower (hp) compressor at its existing Baileyville Compressor 
Station and convert from backup to full time operation an 8,311 hp 
compressor at its Richmond 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\ Maritimes' application was filed with the Commission under 
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's 
regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 Maritimes provided to landowners. This fact sheet 
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including 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

    Maritimes wants to increase its system flexibility and reliability. 
Maritimes states that the expansion would also accommodate increased 
production from the fields in Nova Scotia, Canada. Maritimes seeks 
authority to:
    <bullet> Convert an 8,311 hp compressor from backup to full time 
operation at the Richmond Compressor Station; and
    <bullet> Install an 8,311 hp compressor at the existing Baileyville 
Compressor Station.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 page 5 of this notice. Copies of the 
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    Since the compressor is already in place there would be no 
construction at the Richmond Compressor Station. The new compressor at 
the Baileyville Compressor Station would be installed in the existing 
compressor building. Ground disturbance would be limited to the 
existing station yard.

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\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:

<bullet> Geology and soils
<bullet> Land use
<bullet> Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
<bullet> Vegetation and wildlife
<bullet> Endangered and threatened species
<bullet> Cultural resources
<bullet> Air quality and noise
<bullet> Public safety

    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 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.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified two issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Maritimes. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. 
The two issues are:
    <bullet> Effects of the increased compression on noise and air 
quality.

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. CP01-154-000.
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 21, 2001.
    Comments, protests and interventions may also 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 under the link to the User's 
Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account 
which can be created by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New 
User Account.''

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

[[Page 20982]]

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).\4\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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) 208-1088 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 text 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. 01-10328 Filed 4-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M