[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30182-30184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14010]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP01-360-000]


Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company; Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Dracut Expansion Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

May 30, 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 Dracut Expansion Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Tennessee Gas 
Pipeline Company (Tennessee) in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.\1\ 
Tennessee proposes to replace approximately 11.9 miles of 16-inch-
diameter pipeline with approximately 11.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter 
replacement pipeline and 0.4 mile of 16-inch-diameter replacement 
pipeline, and construct appurtentant facilities. 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\ Tennessee'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 presence of an existing 
pipeline easement. The majority of the existing pipeline has an 
associated 30-foot-wide permanent right-of-way and the majority of the 
new pipeline would not require an expansion of permanent right-of-way. 
However, in several areas where deviations may be necessary, such as 
major roadway crossings or where removal would create additional 
environmental impacts, the existing pipeline would be abandoned in-
place.
    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 Tennessee 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.gov.)

[[Page 30183]]

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Tennessee wants to uprate its existing pipeline system for the 
transportation of additional volumes of natural gas within the towns of 
Burlington, Billerica, Tweksbury, and Dracut, Massachusetts. 
Specifically, Tennessee seeks authority to:
    <bullet> Replace approximately 11.5 miles of 16-inch-diameter 
pipeline with a 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Middlesex County, 
Massachusetts;
    <bullet> Replace approximately 0.4 mile of 16-inch-diameter 
pipeline with a new 16-inch-diameter pipeline in Middlesex County, 
Massachusetts;
    <bullet> Modify the existing Bedford Street Regulation Station in 
Burlington, Massachusetts; and
    <bullet> Construct a new regulation station and pig launcher and 
receiver facilities in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
    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, 
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

    Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 93.8 
acres of land. The typical construction right-of-way would consist of 
the 30-foot-wide permanent right-of-way and between 25 and 60 feet of 
temporary workspace, but in certain areas, may be limited to the 
permanent 30-foot easement.

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 Tennessee. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
    <bullet> The project would cross a total of 26 streams and 38 
wetlands.
    <bullet> Two federally listed endangered or threatened species and 
two state-protected species may occur in the project area.
    <bullet> A total of 130 residences are located within 50 feet of 
the construction work area, of which 108 are within 25 feet of the 
construction area.

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 Gas/
Hydro.
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP01-360-000.
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before July 2, 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.gov under the link to the User's Guide. Before you 
can file comments you will need to create an account by clicking on 
``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.''
    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 
taken off the mailing list.

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

[[Page 30184]]

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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    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.gov) 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. 01-14010 Filed 6-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M