[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28899-28903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13219]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-161-000]


Southern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed North System Expansion II 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

May 21, 2001.
    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 North System Expansion II 
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Southern 
Natural Gas Company (Southern) in Pickens, Jefferson, Shelby, St. 
Clair, Talladega, and Calhoun Counties in Alabama, and Noxubee and 
Lowndes Counties in Mississippi.\1\ These facilities would consist of 
about 4.6 miles of new pipeline loop on Southern's 24-inch diameter 2nd 
North Main Line, replacement of about 11 miles of various diameter 
pipeline segments in Alabama, and requalifying pipeline segments by 
hydrostatic testing, and/or adding, removing, abandoning, replacing, 
requalifying and/or modifying appurtenant facilities within the project 
area. In addition, Southern proposes to add about 6,000 horsepower (hp) 
of compression at the existing Pell City Compressor Station in St. 
Clair County, Alabama. 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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    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a pipeline company 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 
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that 
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain.

[[Page 28900]]

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?'' was attached to the 
project notice Southern 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).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Southern wants to uprate its North Main System by adding and 
replacing pipeline segments, requalifying pipeline segments by 
hydrostatic testing, and/or adding, removing, abandoning, replacing, 
requalifying and/or modifying appurtenant facilities within the project 
area. Specifically, Southern seeks authorization to:
    (a) Construct, own, and operate a total of about 4.6 miles of new 
pipeline loop on its 24-inch-diameter 2nd North Main Line extending 
from milepost (MP) 123.746 to MP 128.339 in Pickens County, Alabama 
(see table 1);
    (b) Replace about 11 miles of various segments of the North Main 
Line and the Bessemer-Calera Line and Loop in Pickens, Jefferson, 
Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Calhoun Counties, Alabama (see table 
1). In conjunction with the replacement of segments of these pipelines 
certain segments would be tested hydrostatically in order to increase 
their maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) (see table 1);
    (c) Abandon in place three 12-inch-diameter pipeline crossings of 
the Tombigbee River. These river crossings would be replaced by an 
existing 20-inch-diameter pipeline connected to both the North Main 
Line and North Main Loop Line. These pipelines constitute the river 
crossing for the North Main Line (see table 2);
    (d) Install one electric-motor-driven 6,000 hp reciprocating 
compressor at the existing Pell City Compressor Station in St. Clair 
County, Alabama;
    (e) Construct an interconnecting facility, the Calhoun Power Tap, 
at MP 370.0 on the North Main Line and North Main Loop Line, consisting 
of dual 18-inch taps and 1.0 mile of replacement pipeline in Calhoun 
County, Alabama, to provide service to Calhoun Power; and

                     Table 1.--Pipeline Facilities for the North System Expansion II Project
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            Facility                      Type          Length  (miles)       Mileposts          County/State
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jurisdictional--Pipeline
 Construction:
    North Main Line               22" Replacement....              1.844    227.381-229.225  Pickens, AL.
     (Replacement, A).
    North Main Line (Replacement  22" Replacement....              1.073    240.978-242.051  Pickens, AL.
     B).
    2nd North Main Line.........  New 24" Loop                     4.613    123.726-128.339  Pickens, AL.
                                   Pipeline.
    Bessemer Calera 12" Line....  12" Replacement....              0.017      10.479-10.496  Jefferson, AL.
    Bessemer-Calera 8" Loop Line  12" Replacement....              2.400      12.900-15.300  Jefferson, AL.
    Bessemer-Calera 8" Loop Line  12" Replacement....                0.2      20.900-21.100  Shelby, AL.
     (Cahaba River).
    North Main Line (Replacement  20" Replacement....              0.496    354.303-354.799  St. Clair, AL.
     C).
    North Main Line (Replacement  20" Replacement....              0.169    355.556-355.725  St. Clair, AL.
     D).
    North Main Line (Replacement  20" Replacement....              3.140    356.360-359.500  Talladega, AL.
     E).
    North Main Line (Replacement  20" Replacement....              1.717    367.150-368.867  Talladega/Calhoun,
     F).                                                                                      AL.
    North Main Line (Replacement  20" Replacement....              1.050    369.650-370.700  Calhoun, AL.
     G).
Pipeline Requalification:
    Bassemer-Calera 12" Line....  Hydrostatic Test...              2.674       7.972-10.646  Jefferson, AL.
    Bessemer-Calera 8" Loop Line  Hydrostatic Test...              2.319      21.013-23.332  Shelby, AL.
    North Main Line               Hydrostatic Test...              0.757    354.799-355.556  St. Clair, AL.
     (Requalification 1).
    North Main Line               Hydrostatic Test...              0.635    355.725-356.360  Talladega, AL.
     (Requalification 2).
    North Main Line               Hydrostatic Test...              1.093    368.710-369.803  Calhoun, AL.
     (Requalification 3).
Non-Jurisdictional--Pipeline
 Construction:
    Calhoun Power Pipeline 16"..  New Pipeline.......              1.000  .................  Calhoun, AL.
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                   Table 2.--Aboveground Facilities for the North System Expansion II Project
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            Facility                  New/modified        Type of work         Mileposts         County/state
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Jurisdictional:
    Brooksville Junction........  Modified...........  New Feed Line.....            208.478  Noxubee, MS.
    M.V.G. Farm Tap 121.........  Modified...........  Remove Farm Tap...            209.767  Noxubee, MS.
    Pugh Tap....................  Modified...........  New Check Valve...            217.500  Noxubee, MS.

[[Page 28901]]

 
    Togo Gate...................  Modified...........  Crossovers........            220.927  Lowndes, MS.
    M.V.G. Farm Tap 123.........  Modified...........  Over-pressure                 223.100  Lowndes, MS.
                                                        Protection.
    Tombigbee River Crossing      Modified...........  Disconnect and        224.189-224.350  Lowndes, MS.
     (Auxiliary River Crossing                          abandon line;        224.550-224.606
     Line).                                             replace Valves
                                                        and Fittings.
    Reform Tap..................  Modified...........  Over-pressure                 241.887  Pickens, AL.
                                                        Protection.
    Reform Compressor Station...  Modified...........  Tap, Pigging                  242.223  Pickens, AL.
                                                        Facilities,
                                                        Valves,
                                                        Regulators, Over-
                                                        Pressure
                                                        Protection.
    Crossover and Pigging         New................  Add New Crossover             123.746  Pickens, AL.
     Facility.                                          and Pigging
                                                        Facilities.
    Pleasant Grove Tap, Gate      Modified...........  Tap and Tap Line..              7.972  Jefferson, AL.
     Setting and Meter Station.
    Dr. Cales Farm Tap            Modified...........  Remove Taps.......              8.955  Jefferson, AL.
     (Abandoned pursuant to
     blanket certificate
     authorization).
    Bessemer Lateral Tap........  Modified...........  Check Valve and                10.429  Jefferson, AL.
                                                        Blind Flange.
    Bessemer Gate and Crossover.  Modified...........  Replace and Remove             10.646  Jefferson, AL.
                                                        Valves.
    NATCO Tap...................  Modified...........  Remove Obsolete                14.655  Jefferson, AL.
                                                        Tap.
    Bessemer No. 2 Tap and Meter  Modified...........  Replace Tap and                14.740  Jefferson, AL.
     Station.                                           Install New Tap
                                                        Line.
    Hopewell Block Gate.........  Modified...........  Test Crossovers...             15.537  Jefferson, AL.
    Genery Gap Tap and Meter      Modified...........  Test or Remove                 19.498  Shelby, AL.
     Station.                                           Taps.
    Cahaba Field Tap............  Modified...........  Install Blind                  22.200  Shelby, AL.
                                                        Flange.
    Calera Line Regulatory        Modified...........  Valve and Tap                  23.332  Shelby, AL.
     Station.                                           Settings.
    Helena-Alagasco Meter         Modified...........  Relocate Taps.....             23.332  Shelby, AL.
     Station and Tap.
    Gas Cooler at Tarrant         Modified...........  Install Electric              321.947  Jefferson, AL.
     Compressor Station (2nd                            Motor Fin Fan
     North Mail Line.                                   Cooler.
    Compressor at Pell City       Modified...........  Install 6000 HP               352.478  St. Clair, AL.
     Compressor Station (North                          Electric Driven
     Main Line/2nd North Main                           Compressor.
     Line).
    Pell City Compressor Station  Modified...........  Construct 115kV/               ( \1\)  St. Clair, AL.
     Power Substation.                                  4160V Capacity
                                                        Electrical
                                                        Substation.
    Vincent Tap and Meter         Modified...........  Monitor, Regulator            352.700  St. Clair, AL.
     Station (North Main Line).                         and Tap Valve.
    Lincoln No. 2 Tap and Meter   Modified...........  Monitor, Regulator            353.834  St. Clair, AL.
     Station.                                           and Tap Valve.
    Childersburg No. 2 Tap and    Modified...........  Monitor, Regulator            358.000  Talladega, AL.
     Meter Station.                                     and Tap Valve.
    Rowe Block Gate No. 1.......  Modified...........  Gate Setting,                 358.510  Talladega, AL.
                                                        blowoff
                                                        crossovers.
    Lincoln Tap and Meter         Modified...........  Monitor, Regulator            360.365  Talladega, AL.
     Station.                                           and Tap Valve.
    Talladega Tap...............  Modified...........  Monitor, Regulator            361.014  Talladega, AL.
                                                        and Tap Valve.
    Lincoln Block Gate..........  Modified...........  Gate Setting,                 361.666  Talladega, AL.
                                                        blowoff
                                                        crossovers.
    Talladega Raceway Tap.......  Modified...........  Monitor, Regulator            365.385  Talladega, AL.
                                                        and Tap Valve.
    Eastaboga Gate..............  Modified...........  Gate Setting......            369.078  Calhoun, AL.
    Calhoun Power Meter Station.  New................  Meter Station.....            370.000  Calhoun, AL.
    Anniston No. 3 Tap and Meter  Modified...........  Monitor and                   371.641  Calhoun, AL.
     Station.                                           Regulator.
    Coldwater Regulator Station.  New................  Monitor, Regulator            371.852  Calhoun, AL.
                                                        and Block Valves.
Non-Jurisdictional:
    Pell City Compressor Station  New................  New 115 kV Power               ( \1\)  St. Clair, AL.
     115 kV Power Line.                                 Line.
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\1\ Approximate M.P. 352.478 on Southern's North Main Line.

    (f) modify several aboveground facilities in Mississippi and 
Alabama (see table 2).

Nonjurisdictional facilities

    (a) Calhoun Power would construct certain nonjurisdictional 
facilities consisting of a simple cycle power generation plant, a meter 
station, and about 1 mile of 16-inch-diameter connecting pipeline 
extending from Southern's mainline to its plant. Southern would operate 
and maintain this connecting pipeline in Calhoun County, Alabama for 
Calhoun Power.
    (b) Alabama Power would construct a 0.5-mile-long nonjurisdictional 
115 kV transmission line to provide power to the compressor to be 
installed at the Pell City Compressor Station. Alabama Power would 
coordinate construction of this power line with the construction of the 
new compressor.

[[Page 28902]]

    The location of the project facilities 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, 
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.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 274.5 
acres of land. Following construction, about 92.5 acres of land would 
be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. No new permanent 
right-of-way is proposed by Southern except for the two new meter 
stations (Calhoun Meter Station and Coldwater Regulator Station) which 
would require a total of 8.09 acres (0.46 acre permanent and 7.63 
existing permanent right-of-way).

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.
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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 
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> Endangered and threatened species
<bullet> Public safety
<bullet> Land use
<bullet> Cultural resources
<bullet> Air quality and noise
<bullet> Hazardous waste

    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 several issues that we think deserve 
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> Eight federally listed endangered or threatened species 
may occur in the project area (bald eagle, red cockaded woodpecker, 
Cahaba shiner, finelined pocketbook mussel, flattened musk turtle, 
goldline darter, round rocksnail, and triangular kidneyshell mussel). 
With the exception of the bald eagle and red cockaded woodpecker all 
other federally listed species occur in the Cahaba River. Southern 
proposes to directionally drill the Cahaba river which would avoid 
impact on these species.
    <bullet> The project would require three major waterbody crossings 
greater than 100 feet in width (Cahaba River, Coosa River, and Blue Eye 
Creek).
    <bullet> A total of 72 residences are located within 50 feet of the 
construction work area, of which 50 are within 25 feet of the 
construction work area.
    In addition, the project would involve lands owned by the City of 
Bessemer and the University of Alabama, the State of Alabama along the 
Bessemer-Calera Lines; and the property of the Alabama Development 
Office on the North Main Line. All of these lands are crossed by the 
existing pipelines.
    Also, we have made a preliminary decision to not address the 
impacts of the nonjurisdictional facilities. We will briefly describe 
their location and status in the EA.

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 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:
    Send an original and two copies of your letter to: David P. 
Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
St., N.E., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
    <bullet> Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 2.
    <bullet> Refernce Docket No. CP01-161-000.
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 21, 2001.
    Comments 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.''
    We may mail the EA for comment. If you are interested in it, please 
return the information request (appendix 3).

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).\4\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.

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[[Page 28903]]

    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 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. 01-13219 Filed 5-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M