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[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27067-27069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13485]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-178-000]

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maritimes & 
Northeast Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues and Notice of Public Meetings (NOI)

May 23, 1996.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and 
operation of the 66.0 miles of pipeline facilities and metering 
proposed in the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Project (Maritimes 
Project).\1\ This EIS will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether to approve the project.
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    \1\ Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.'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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    We are asking a number of Federal agencies to indicate whether they 
wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies 
are listed in appendix 1 and may choose to participate once they have 
evaluated the proposal relative to their agencies' responsibilities.\2\
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    \2\ Appendices 2 through 5 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, 888 
First Street, N.E., Room 2A-1, Washington, DC 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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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (M&NP) wants to build a new 
natural gas transmission system in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and 
southern Maine to transport 60,000 million cubic feet per day of 
natural gas for two shippers. The proposed facilities are Phase I of 
the Maritimes Project, a new high-pressure natural gas pipeline 
delivery system for the Sable Offshore Energy Project. The Phase I 
facilities would be the southernmost segment of a pipeline that would 
eventually extend from Country Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada, to the 
Canadian-U.S. border near Calais, Maine, through Maine and

[[Page 27068]]

New Hampshire and into Massachusetts. M&NP requests Commission 
authorization, in Docket No. CP96-178-000, to construct and operate the 
following Phase I facilities:
     66.0 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline from Dracut, 
Massachusetts to Wells, Maine in Middlesex and Essex Counties, 
Massachusetts (14.4 miles), Rockingham County, New Hampshire (34.7 
miles), and York County, Maine (16.9 miles);
     two meter stations, one in Dracut, Massachusetts and one 
in Newington, New Hampshire;
     one meter and regulator station in Wells, Maine; and
     associated pipeline facilities, such as mainline block 
valves and pig launchers and receivers.
    The information in this NOI is based on the route maps which were 
filed with the Commission on May 16, 1996. The general location of the 
project facilities is shown in appendix 2. The general location of 
other natural gas projects under Commission review occurring in the 
same region and within the same time frame (Granite State Gas 
Transmission, Inc. (Granite State LNG Project, Docket No. CP95-52-000) 
and Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS Project, Docket No. 
CP96-249-000)) are shown in appendix 3. If you are interested in 
obtaining detailed maps of a specific portion of the Maritimes Project, 
contact the EIS Project Manager identified at the end of this notice.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Based on information supplied by M&NP, over about 50 percent of the 
proposed pipeline would parallel existing road, pipeline, or powerline 
rights-of-way. Construction of the pipeline would require a 75-foot-
wide construction right-of-way and would affect about 600 acres of 
land. Following construction, 50 feet of the construction right-of-way 
(about 400 acres) would be retained for operation of the pipeline and 1 
acre would be retained for operation of each meter station. Existing 
land uses on the remainder of the disturbed area, as well as most land 
uses on the permanent right-of-way, would be allowed to continue 
following construction.

The EIS 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 EIS 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 EIS. All comments received 
are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 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 EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already 
identified a number of issues under each topic that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by the applicant. These issues 
are listed below. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based 
on your comments and our analysis.
     Geology and Soils

--About 60 miles of near-surface bedrock may require blasting.
--Effect on exploitable mineral resources.
--Effect on prime farmland soils.
--Erosion control and right-of-way revegetation procedures.

     Water Resources

--Effect on groundwater and surface water supplies.
--About 80 crossings of waterbodies, including 2 crossings of 
waterbodies over 100 feet (Squamscott and Piscataqua Rivers), and 
crossings of the Spickett, Little, Exeter, and Great Works Rivers.
--Consistency with state Coastal Zone Management Programs.

     Biological Resources

--Clearing of upland forest and the permanent conversion of forest to 
open land.
--Effect on wetland habitat, including tidal salt marshes along the 
Squamscott and Piscataqua Rivers.
--Effect on warmwater, coldwater, anadromous, and estuarine fisheries 
habitat.
--Effect on wildlife habitat.
--Effect on Federal threatened and endangered and state special concern 
species.

     Cultural Resources

--Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.
--Native American and tribal concerns.
--Effect on land sacred to the Baha'i Faith in the vicinity of MP 50.1.

     Land Use

--Effect on 107 residences within 100 feet of the proposed pipeline.
--Effect on planned or proposed residential developments.
--Effect on public and recreation land, including conservation land at 
the Exeter River, the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest, the Newington Town 
Forest, and the Peace Development Authority property.

     Socioeconomics

--Effect on construction workforce on surrounding areas.

     Air Quality and Noise

--Effect on local air quality and noise environment as a result of 
construction.

     Reliability and Safety

--Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas pipelines.

     Cumulative Impact

--Assessment of the combined effect of the proposed project with other 
natural gas projects, such as the PNGTS and Granite State Projects, 
occurring in the same region and within the same time frame.

    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 Draft EIS 
which will be 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 45-day comment period will be allotted for review of 
the Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and 
revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. The 
Final EIS will include our response to each comment received and will 
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether to approve the project.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

    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

[[Page 27069]]

your comments are received and properly recorded:
     Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 
20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP96-178-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gerber, EIS 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, N.E., Room 71-40, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 28, 1996.
    In addition to sending written comments, you may attend public 
scoping meetings. We will conduct three public scoping meetings at the 
following times and locations:

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          Date                     Time                  Location       
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June 18, 1996...........  7:00 p.m..............  Methuen,              
                                                   Massachusetts.       
June 19, 1996...........  4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m  Wells, Maine.         
June 20, 1996...........  4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m  Newton, New Hampshire.
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    The meetings in Newton and Wells will also cover the proposed PNGTS 
Project in New Hampshire and Maine. We will send a separate NOI for the 
PNGTS Project to landowners affected by that project. M&NP and/or PNGTS 
will be invited to present a description of their proposals at the 
appropriate meetings. The Newton and Wells meetings will have two 
sessions in order to provide sufficient time to discuss both projects. 
While all are invited to attend either session, we are requesting that 
state and local governments plan on attending a 4:00 p.m. session.
    The meeting in Methuen, Massachusetts will be held at the Great 
Hall, 41 Pleasant Street. The meeting in Newton, New Hampshire will be 
held at the Memorial Grammar School Gymnasium, 31 West Main Street. The 
meeting in Wells, Maine will be held at the Wells High School 
Gymnasium, Sanford Road.
    The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain input from state 
and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have formal 
channels for input into the Federal process (including separate 
meetings which we have arranged) on an interagency basis. Federal 
agencies are expected to transmit their comments directly to the FERC 
at separate meetings or in writing, and not use the scoping meetings 
for this purpose.
    Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the 
meetings and present oral comments on the environmental issues which 
they believe should be addressed in the Draft EIS. Anyone who would 
like to make an oral presentation at the meeting should contact the EIS 
Project Manager identified at the end of this notice to have his or her 
name placed on the list of speakers. Priority will be given to those 
persons representing groups. A list will be available at the public 
meetings to allow for non-preregistered speakers to sign up. A 
transcript will be made of the meetings and comments will be used to 
help determine the scope of the Draft EIS.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceedings 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) (see 
appendix 4).
    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.

Environmental Mailing List

    This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all potential rights-of-way 
grantors. As details of the project become established, representatives 
of M&NP may also separately contact landowners, communities, and public 
agencies concerning project matters, including acquisition of permits 
and rights-of-way.
    All commenters will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not 
want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and 
receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, please return the 
Information Request (appendix 5). If you do not send comments or return 
the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Mr. Jeff Gerber, EIS Project Manager, at (202) 208-1121.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.

Appendix 1--Cooperating Agencies

    The following Federal and state agencies are asked to indicate 
whether they want to be cooperating agencies for purposes of 
producing an EIS:

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Department of Agriculture
    Natural Resources Conservation Service
Department of the Air Force
Department of the Army
    Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Commerce
    National Marine Fisheries Service
Department of Energy
Department of the Interior
    Bureau of Indian Affairs
    Bureau of Mines
    Fish and Wildlife Service
    Geological Survey
Department of Transportation
    Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board
Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Maine Department of Environmental Protection

    These, or any other Federal, state, or local agencies wanting to 
participate as a cooperating agency should send a letter describing 
the extent to which they want to be involved. Follow the 
instructions below if your agency wishes to participate in the EIS 
process or comment on the project:
     Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., 
Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference Docket No. CP96-178-000;
     Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gerber, EIS 
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, N.E., Room 71-40, Washington, DC 20426; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before June 28, 1996.
    Cooperating agencies are encouraged to participate in the 
scoping process and provide us written comments. Agencies are also 
welcome to suggest format and content changes that will make it 
easier for them to adopt the EIS. However, we will decide what 
modifications will be adopted in light of our production constaints.

[FR Doc. 96-13485 Filed 5-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
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