[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65696-65697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31309]


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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

[[Page 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