[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9027-9029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3845]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP95-75-000]


Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed MS-1 Pipeline Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

February 10, 1995.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of 
facilities proposed in the MS-1 Pipeline Project.\1\ This EA will be 
used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether an environmental impact statement is necessary and whether to 
approve the project.

    \1\Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation'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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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation (Texas Eastern) wants to 
[[Page 9028]] expand its facilities to transport natural gas to and 
from nonjurisdictional storage facilities (MS-1 Storage Facilities) 
that would be constructed in Copiah County, Mississippi by Copiah 
County Storage Company (Partnership).\2\ The MS-1 Storage Facilities 
would be leased by MS-1 Distribution & Storage Corporation (MS-1 
Distribution), a nonjurisdictional company, from Partnership. Texas 
Eastern proposes to construct pipeline facilities that would be capable 
of transporting up to 600,000 thousand cubic feet of natural gas per 
day (Mcfd). Texas Eastern wants Commission authorization to construct 
and operate the following facilities in Copiah County, Mississippi:

    \2\Copiah County Storage Company is a partnership composed of 
Mistex Gas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tejas Power 
Corporation, and Flex Star Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of 
Panhandle Eastern Corporation.
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    <bullet> 1.88 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline extending from 
Texas Eastern's existing Line Nos. 14 and 18 near milepost 264 to the 
MS-1 Storage Facilities; and
    <bullet> A tap and filter separator located at the MS-1 Storage 
Facilities.
    The storage facilities are being constructed by Copiah County 
Storage Company, currently a nonjurisdictional company, and as such may 
not fall within the Commission's jurisdiction.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\3\

    \3\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, Room 
3104, 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or 
call (202) 208-1371. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those 
receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Texas Eastern's pipeline would be constructed on a new right-of-
way. Texas Eastern proposes to use an 85-foot-wide construction right-
of-way that would extend through a pine plantation and mixed oak-
hickory forest. Clearing would be required along the entire 
construction right-of-way. Texas Eastern would retain a 50-foot-wide 
permanent right-of-way after construction is complete. Following 
construction, the disturbed area would be restored and the 35 feet of 
construction right-of-way not included in the permanent right-of-way 
could be allowed to revert to its former land use.
    Additional right-of-way width would be required at steep side 
slopes. Additional working space would be required adjacent to streams.

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 
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.
    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> Land use.
    <bullet> Cultural resources.
    <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 
recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project.

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 Texas Eastern. Keep in mind 
that this is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, 
subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. 
Issues are:
    <bullet> The proposed project would require clearing of forest 
along a new right-of-way.
    <bullet> The proposed project may affect forested wetlands.
    <bullet> The proposed project would require an 85-foot-wide 
construction right-of-way.
    Also, we have made a preliminary decision not to address the 
impacts of the facilities described as nonjurisdictional. We will 
briefly describe their location and status in the EA and do a more in 
depth analysis in a subsequent document if appropriate.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing your 
specific comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on 
the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to 
the proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or 
lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more 
useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure 
that your comments are received and properly recorded:
    <bullet> Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., Washington, 
D.C. 20426.
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP95-75-000.
    <bullet> Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Jennifer Goggin, EA 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol Street NE., Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before March 20, 1995.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Ms. Goggin at the above address.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceeding or become an 
``intervenor''. 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 copies of its 
filings to all other parties. 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) attached 
as appendix 2.
    The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
has passed. [[Page 9029]] Therefore, parties now seeking to file late 
interventions must show good cause, as required by Sec. 385.214(b)(3), 
why this time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have 
been viewed as good cause for late intervention. You do not need 
intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Ms. Jennifer Goggin, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-2226.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-3845 Filed 2-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M