[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18596-18597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8936]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP95-233-000]


Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Co.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Billy Creek-
Sheridan Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues

April 6, 1995.
    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 construction and operation of 
the facilities proposed in the Billy Creek-Sheridan Replacement 
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\Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company'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

    Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company (WBI) wants to replace 
13.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline in Johnson and Sheridan 
Counties, Wyoming. WBI states that severe corrosion and leaks have been 
found throughout the Billy Creek-Sheridan Pipeline, and the facilities 
proposed to be replaced represent the final section of replacement for 
the pipeline. WBI would use the facilities to transport up to 15,230 
thousand cubic feet per day of gas.
    The location of the facilities are shown in appendix 1.\2\

    \2\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

    Most of the proposed project would be built within and near 
existing right-of-way, but about 40 percent of the new pipeline would 
be located outside of the existing right-of-way. WBI intends to use a 
construction right-of-way width that would vary between 50 and 100 feet 
during construction. About 85 acres would be disturbed during 
construction.

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 these proposed actions 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> Public safety.
    <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 
the 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 WBI. 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 project would cross seven perennial streams.
    <bullet> The project would cross or be near cultural resources/
archaeological sites.

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: [[Page 18597]] 
    <bullet> Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., N.E., Washington, 
D.C. 20426;
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP95-233-000;
    <bullet> Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Shenot, EA Project 
Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., 
N.E., Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, D.C. on or before May 12, 1995.
    If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one 
from Mr. Shenot 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) (appendix 
2).
    The date for filing of timely motions to intervene in this 
proceeding has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late 
interventions must show good cause, as required by Section 
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 
Mr. Jeff Shenot, EA Project Manager, at (202) 219-0295.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-8936 Filed 4-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M