[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 130 (Friday, July 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35208-35209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17134]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP95-194-001, and CP96-027-000 and CP96-027-001, 
Respectively]


Northern Border Pipeline Company and Natural Gas Pipeline Company 
of America; Notice of Additional Facilities by Natural Gas Pipeline 
Company of America To Be Included in The Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Northern Border Project and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues

June 28, 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 facilities proposed in the Northern Border Project.\1\ 
The original notice was issued February 16, 1996. The purpose of this 
supplemental notice is to inform the public of additional facilities 
which will be included in the EIS.
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    \1\ Northern Border Pipeline Company's and Natural Gas Pipeline 
Company of America's applications were filed with the Commission 
under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
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    On June 18, 1996, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (Natural) 
amended its application to add 9.6 miles of loop in Louisa and 
Muscatine Counties, Iowa and to increase the amount of new compression 
at Compressor Station 110 in Henry County, Illinois from 7,250 
horsepower (hp) to 9,000 hp. This addition is because Natural no longer 
proposes to add compression at Compressor Station 199 in Muscatine 
County, Iowa. Maps showing the location of the newly proposed loop are 
in appendix 1.
    This EIS will be used by the Commission in its decisionmaking 
process to determine whether to approve the project.\2\
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    \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, 888 
First Street, NE, Room 2A, 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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Land Requirements for Construction

Pipeline

    The additional 9.6-mile-long loop would be built adjacent to 
Natural's existing pipeline, using as much of the existing right-of-way 
as possible. Natural would use a right-of-way ranging in width from 75 
to 100 feet. Additional temporary work space would generally be used 
where the pipeline crosses roads, streams, and rivers. An estimated 
87.3 acres would be disturbed during construction. After construction, 
the disturbed area would be restored, and a 25-foot-wide permanent 
right-of-way in addition to the existing right-of-way would be 
maintained. Existing land uses on the remainder of the disturbed area, 
as well as most land uses on the permanent right-of-way, such as 
agriculture and open areas, would be allowed to continue following 
construction.

Aboveground Facilities

    All construction at Compressor Station 110 would take place within 
the existing fenced station yard.

The EIS Process/Environmental Issues

    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. The EIS we are 
preparing will give the Commission the information to do that. 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. 
We encourage state and local government representatives 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 applicants. These issues 
are listed below. 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.
    <bullet> Geology and Soils
    -- Prime and farmland soils.
    -- Erosion control.
    -- Topsoil/subsoil mixing.
    -- Soil compaction.
    -- Drain tiles and ditches.
    -- Revegetation of non-agricultural areas.
    <bullet> Water Resources
    -- 7 crossings of waterbodies, including the Ceder River.
    -- Effect on groundwater and surface water supplies.
    <bullet> Biological Resources
    -- Effect on wildlife and fisheries habitat.
    -- Effect on federally listed endangered and threatened species.
    -- Effect on wetland habitat.
    <bullet> Cultural Resources
    -- Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.
    -- Native American and tribal concerns.
    <bullet> Land Use
    -- Effect on farming.
    -- Effect on residences and recreation areas.
    -- Effect on public lands
    <bullet> Air Quality and Noise
    -- Effect on local and regional air quality and local noise 
environment as a result of operation of additional compression.
    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 presented in a 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 
these proceedings. 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

[[Page 35209]]

issuing a Final EIS. The Final EIS will include our response to each 
comment received.

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 locations and 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, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 
20426;
<bullet> Reference Docket No. CP95-194-001;
<bullet> Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Laura Turner, EIS Project 
Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, 
Room 7M-02, Washington, DC 20426; and
<bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before July 29, 1996.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EIS 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) (see 
appendix 2).
    The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding 
expires on June 28, 1996. After that date parties seeking to file late 
interventions must show good cause, as required by section 
385.214(b)(3), why the time limitation should be waived. Environmental 
issues have been viewed as good cause for late interventions. 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 and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project. It is also being sent to all potential right-of-way 
grantors to solicit focused comments regarding environmental 
considerations related to the proposed project. As details of the 
project become established, representatives of Northern Border and 
Natural will directly contact landowners, communities, and public 
agencies concerning any other matters, including acquisition of permits 
and rights-of-way.
    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 3). PLEASE NOTE: IF WE HAVE 
NOT HEARD FROM YOU, EITHER BY COMMENT LETTER, RESPONSE TO ONE OF THE 
TWO NOI's, OR REGISTERING AT THE SCOPING MEETINGS, YOU WILL BE DROPPED 
FROM THE MAILING LIST. If you have previously provided us with your 
name and address you need not send in this information request.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
Ms. Laura Turner, EIS Project Manager, at (202) 208-0916.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-17134 Filed 7-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M