65696 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 245 / Thursday, December 20, 2001 / Notices

20426, in accordance with rules 211 and

214 of the Commission’s rules of

practice and procedure (18 CFR 385.211

and 385.214). All such motions or

protests should be filed on or before the

comment date. Protests will be

considered by the Commission in

determining the appropriate action to be

taken, but will not serve to make

protestants parties to the proceeding.

Any person wishing to become a party

must file a motion to intervene. Copies

of this filing are on file with the

Commission and are available for public

inspection. This filing may also be

viewed on the web at http://

www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘RIMS’’ link,

select ‘‘Docket#’’ and follow the

instructions (call 202–208–2222 for

assistance). Comments, protests and

interventions may be filed electronically

via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18

CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the

instructions on the Commission’s web

site under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–31308 Filed 12–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket Nos. CP00–232–000 and CP00–232–

001]

Iroquois Gas Transmission System,

L.P.; Notice of Availability of the Final

Environmental Impact Statement for

the Proposed Eastchester Project

December 14, 2001.

The staff of the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission (FERC or

Commission) has prepared a Final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

on the natural gas pipeline facilities

proposed by Iroquois Gas Transmission

System, L.P. (Iroquois) in the above

referenced docket.

The FEIS was prepared to satisfy the

requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The

staff concludes that approval of the

proposed project, with the mitigation

measures recommended in the DEIS,

would have limited adverse

environmental impact.

The FEIS addresses the potential

environmental effects of the project

proposed by Iroquois to convey natural

gas from Northport, Long Island, to the

Bronx, New York and evaluates

alternatives to the proposed project. The

pipeline would be constructed across

Long Island Sound and be comprised of

the following facilities:

32.8 miles of 24-inch diameter pipe;

Pipeline maintenance facilities

constructed in Northport and the Bronx;

Gas meter, regulator, heater, and

mainline valve at the terminus in the

Bronx;

Two new compressor stations along

the existing Iroquois pipeline;

Additions and modifications to three

existing compressor stations; and

Work space and access roads to

construct, operate, and maintain the

above facilities.

The purpose of the proposed facilities

would be to provide natural gas for

electric generation and to serve

residential, industrial, and commercial

customers in New York City. The

proposed project would serve:

Consolidated Edison Energy, Inc.

(Dth/day)—30,000 dekatherms per day

Keyspan Ravenswood, Inc.—60,000

Dth/day

Orion Power Holdings, Inc.—60,000

Dth/day

Miriant New York Management, Inc—

60,000 Dth/day

Virginia Power Energy Marketing,

Inc.—20,000 Dth/day.

Consultation

The draft environmental impact

statement (DEIS) was issued on August

2, 2001 and distributed to the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and to

the National Marine Fisheries Service

(NMFS) as our biological assessment

under the Endangered Species Act

(ESA). Written concurrence that the

project, with the recommendations

proposed by staff, would not likely

affect listed species or critical habitat

are anticipated from both FWS and

NMFS.

Pursuant to section 305(b) of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

federal agencies are required to consult

with the NMFS on any action that may

result in adverse effects to essential fish

habitat (EFH). Our DEIS, containing an

EFH assessment, was provided to

NMFS. No Conservation

Recommendations have been received

from NMFS.

Availability

The FEIS has been placed in the

public files of the FERC and is available

for public inspection at: Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission, Public

Reference and Files Maintenance

Branch, 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A,

Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208–1371.

Copies of the FEIS have been mailed

to federal, state and local agencies,

public interest groups, individuals who

have requested the FEIS, newspapers,

and parties to this proceeding. It has

also been distributed to the commentors

and libraries listed in Appendix A of the

FEIS. Those individuals who filed form

letters were sent copies of this cover

letter and the executive summary.

On October 11, 2001, the Commission

issued a policy statement in Docket No.

PL02–1, regarding previously public

documents. The Commission advised

the public that documents that were

previously available through the Public

Reference Room, the Internet, and RIMS

were no longer to be considered public,

and that anyone wishing to obtain these

documents were to file a request under

the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Several figures in the FEIS are subject to

the new Commission policy including:

Figures 2.13.1, 2.13.2, and B–3 through

B–12. Accordingly, these figures are not

included in the public version of the

FEIS. Anyone wishing to obtain these

documents should file a request under

the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

and the Commission’s regulations at 18

CFR 388.108. Further guidance may be

obtained at the FERC Internet website

(www.ferc.gov).

In accordance with Council on

Environmental Quality (CEQ)

regulations implementing NEPA, no

agency decision on a proposed action

may be made until 30 days after the

Environmental Protection Agency

publishes a notice of availability of an

FEIS. However, the CEQ regulations

provide an exception to this rule when

an agency decision is subject to a formal

internal appeal process that allows

agencies or the public to make their

views known. In such cases, the agency

decision may be made at the same time

the notice of the FEIS is published,

allowing both periods to run

concurrently. The Commission decision

for this proposed action is subject to a

30-day rehearing period.

Additional information about the

proposed project is available from the

Commission’s Office of External Affairs,

at (202) 208–1088 or on the FERC

Internet website (www.ferc.gov) using

the ‘‘RIMS’’ link, select ‘‘Docket #’’ from

the RIMS Menu, and follow the

instructions. For assistance with access

to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be

reached at (202) 208–2222.

Similarly, the ‘‘CIPS’’ link on the

FERC Internet website provides access

to the text of formal documents issued

by the Commission, such as orders,

notices, and rulemakings. From the

FERC Internet website, click on the

‘‘CIPS’’ link, select ‘‘Docket #’’ from the

CIPS menu, and follow the instructions.

For assistance with access to CIPS, the

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 245 / Thursday, December 20, 2001 / Notices 65697

CIPS helpline can be reached at (202)

208–2474.

Linwood A. Watson Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–31309 Filed 12–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP02–31–000]

Iroquois Gas Transmission System,

L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an

Environmental Assessment and

Request for Comments

December 14, 2001.

On November 20, 2001, Iroquois Gas

Transmission System, L.P., (Iroquois)

filed an application to construct and to

operate a new compressor station at

Brookfield, Connecticut. Iroquois’

application was filed with the

Commission under Section 7 of the

Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the

Commission’s regulations. The

application was noticed on November

29, 2001. On December 5, 2001,

Commission staff conducted a site visit

and met with numerous Brookfield

property owners. Based on review of the

application, the site visit, and comments

received during the site visit, we have

decided to prepare an environmental

assessment (EA) to evaluate the

environmental impacts of the proposed

project. Comments received in response

to this notice will be used in a scoping

process to identify the issues to be

evaluated in the EA. The Commission

will consider the EA prior to taking any

final action on the application.

Summary of the Proposed Project

Iroquois requests authorization to

construct and to operate a compressor

station near an existing meter station on

High Meadow Road, in the county of

Fairfield, in Brookfield , Connecticut.

Iroquois has an option to purchase a 65

acre parcel bounded by High Meadow

Road, an existing meter station,

residential property, Whisconier Middle

School, railroad tracks, and a pond. On

that parcel, Iroquois would install or

construct:

• a new 10,000 horsepower

compressor;

• a turbo-compressor building and 3

additional control/monitoring/

maintenance buildings;

• a 500-foot long access road;

• security fence;

• water well; and septic system.

All proposed construction would

occur either on the 65-acre parcel

described above or on the existing 3.3

acre meter station, owned by Iroquois.

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

Commission staff to discover and

address concerns the public may have

about proposals. This is called

‘‘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 to be

addressed 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 to encourage

them to comment on their areas of

concern.

We have already identified several

issues that we think deserve attention

based on our preliminary review. This

list may change based on receipt of

additional information and comments.

• Any potential threat of operation of

the compressor station to life, health,

and property at Whisconier Middle

School and adjoining properties.

• Noise from compressor operation

and system blow downs.

• Visual compatibility of existing and

proposed structures with local

architecture and visual setting.

• Visual screening of existing and

proposed facilities.

• Degradation of local air quality and

the potential for formation of a steam

plume from the cooling vents.

• Design constraints that limit the

potential location of alternative sites.

• Impacts of construction and

operation to property values in the

adjoining community.

By this notice, Iroquois is encouraged

to provide any additional information

regarding the above issues to

supplement its application by the close

of the comment period described in the

public participation section.

The EA will also evaluate possible

alternatives to the proposed project and

make recommendations on how to

lessen or avoid impacts. An

independent analysis of 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

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 make

our recommendations to the

Commission.

To ensure your comments are

considered, please carefully follow the

instructions in the section that follows.

Public Participation

Your comments are requested. To

ensure that your comments are

addressed in the EA, we request that

you file your environmental comments

with the Commission as directed below:

• Send an original and two copies of

your letter to Linwood Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary, Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission, 888 First

Street, NE, Room 1A Washington, DC

20426.

• Label one copy for the attention of

GHG.

• Reference Docket No. CP02–31–000

in the cover letter.

• Mail your comments so that they

are received on or before January 18,

2002.

Comments may also be filed

electronically via the Internet in lieu of

paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii)

and the instructions on the

Commission’s web site at http://

www.ferc.gov under the ‘‘efiling’’ link

and the link to the User’s Guide.

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EA

scoping process, you may want to

become a party to the proceeding known

as an ‘‘intervenor’’. Intervenors have the

right to receive copies of material filed

with the Commission and any caserelated issuances by the Commission.

Further, an intervenor also has the right

to request rehearing on the

Commission’s decision. An intervenor

has certain responsibilities including,

providing 14 copies of its filings to the

Secretary of the Commission and must

send a copy of its filings to the applicant

and all other parties that intervened in

the proceeding (Commission’s service

list). If you want to become an

intervenor, you must file a motion to

intervene according to Rule 214 of the

Commission’s Rules of Practices and

Procedure (18 CFR 385.214). Requests to

intervene may also be filed

electronically.

Affected landowners and parties with

environmental concerns may be granted

intervenor status upon showing clear

and direct interest in this proceeding

which would not be adequately

represented by any other parties. You do

not need to be an intervenor to have