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###### Department of Energy

###### Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

          - [Docket No. CP09-237-000]

      ( print page 27138)    
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 Delta Lateral Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC (Transco) in York County, Pennsylvania. 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.

This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period will close on June 30, 2009.

This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, State, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties in this proceeding; and local libraries and newspapers. State and local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

                    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?” is available for viewing on the FERC Web site (                    *http://www.ferc.gov*). 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 Web site (                    *http://www.ferc.gov*).                

## Summary of the Proposed Project

Transco proposes to construct its Delta Lateral Project in York County, Pennsylvania, in order to provide 208,800 dekatherms per day of firm transportation service to the Delta Power Plant, a natural gas and oil fired electric power generation plant that is currently under construction in York County.

Transco is proposing to construct:
    - 3.42 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipeline lateral from Compressor Station 195 located at milepost (MP) 1674.6 of Transco's Mainlines A and C to the interconnection with the Delta Power Plant;
    - Two 12-inch taps at MP 1674.6, one each on Mainlines A and C discharge headers;
    - Minor aboveground facilities and modifications including a new pig launcher and receiver;
    - A delivery point meter station at the Delta Power Plant site, including two 8-inch ultrasonic meters, 12-inch yard piping, electronic flow measurement equipment and a radio with a tower;
    - An odorization system within the Delta Power Plant site;
    - A chromatograph with accessories, and a radio and building within the Delta Power Plant site; and
    - A 630-foot-long cathodic protection ground bed at MP 1.9, adjacent to Delta Road.

                    The general location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.[1] 

## Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 54.1 acres of land. Following construction, about 14.8 acres would be maintained as new aboveground facility sites and permanent pipeline right-of-way. The remaining 39.3 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to their former use.

## 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. This process is referred to as “scoping.” The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission staff requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments received will be 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.

                    In the EA, we [2]                                          will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings:                
    - Land use;
    - Geology and soils;
    - Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
    - Cultural resources;
    - Vegetation and wildlife;
    - Endangered and threatened species; and
    - Public safety.

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 the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be published and mailed to the entities on our mailing list (see how to remain on our mailing list under Environmental Mailing List, below). 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.

## Public Participation

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the Delta Lateral Project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before June 30, 2009.

                    For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the                           ( print page 27139)                        project docket number CP09-237-000 with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258 or                     *efiling@ferc.gov*.                

                    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at                    *http://www.ferc.gov*                     under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only comments on a project;                

                    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at                     *http://www.ferc.gov*                     under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “Sign up” or “eRegister.” You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making. A comment on a particular project is considered a “Comment on a Filing;” or                

(3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 3, PJ-11.3.

## Environmental Mailing List

An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own property within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities.

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 2). 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 “intervenor,” which is an official party to the Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the User's Guide under the “e-filing” link on the Commission's Web site.

## Additional Information

                    Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the FERC Web site (                    *http://www.ferc.gov*) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket number (CP09-237) excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at                     *FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov*                     or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.                

                    In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to the documents. Go to                     *http://www.ferc.gov/​esubscribenow.htm*.                

                    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's calendar located at                     *http://www.ferc.gov/​EventCalendar/​EventsList.aspx*                     along with other related information.                

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

# Footnotes

1.                             The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the                         **Federal Register**                        . Copies of all appendices are available on the Commission's Web site at the “eLibrary” link or from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, 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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2.                             “We,” “us,” and “our” refer to the environmental staff of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.                    
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[FR Doc. E9-13229 Filed 6-5-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P