11286 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2001 / Notices

1Cove Point LNG’s application was filed with the

Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act

and Part 157 of the Commission’s regulations.

2 The appendices referenced in this notice are

not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies

are available on the Commission’s website at the

‘‘RIMS’’ link or from the Commission’s Public

Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First

Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)

208–1371. For instructions on connecting to RIMS

refer to the last page of this notice. Copies of the

appendices were sent to all those receiving this

notice in the mail.

3A pipeline pig is a device used to internally

clean or inspect the pipeline. A pig launcher/

receiver is a surface facility where pigs are inserted

or retrieved from the pipeline.

4 ‘‘We’’, ‘‘us’’, and ‘‘our’’ refer to the

environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects

(OEP).

amounts for the period January 1, 2000

through October 31, 2000 pursuant to

Article VI of WIC’s Stipulation and

Agreement as approved in the

Commission’s September 27, 2000

Order.

WIC states that the copies of WIC’s

filing are being mailed to all holders of

the tariff and to public bodies and that

the filing is available for public

inspection at WIC’s offices in Colorado

Springs, Colorado.

Any person desiring to protest said

filing should file a protest with the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

20426, in accordance with Section

385.211 of the Commission’s Rules and

Regulations. All such protests must be

filed on or before February 23, 2001.

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 proceedings. Copies of this filing are

on file with the Commission and are

available for public inspection in the

Public Reference Room. This filing may

be viewed on the web at http://

www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call

202–208–2222 for assistance).

Comments and protests 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 at http://

www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.

David P. Boergers,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–4509 Filed 2–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory

Commission

[Docket No. CP01–76–000]

Cove Point LNG Limited Partnership;

Notice of Intent To Prepare an

Environmental Assessment for the

Proposed Cove Point LNG Project,

Request for Comments on

Environmental Issues, and Notice of

Public Meeting and Site Visit

February 16, 2001.

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 Cove Point LNG Project involving

the reactivation of offshore facilities,

and the construction and operation of

onshore facilities by Cove Point LNG

Limited Partnership (Cove Point LNG)

in Calvert County, Maryland.1 The

proposal anticipates the resumption of

liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries by

tanker ship to the Cove Point LNG

import terminal starting in April 2002.

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.

Summary of the Proposed Project

Cove Point LNG proposes to provide

open access LNG tanker unloading

services of up to 750,000 dekatherms

per day for three customers importing

LNG. Cove Point LNG seeks

authorization to reactivate, repair or

replace the following existing facilities:

• refurbish five LNG unloading arms,

and replace five LNG unloading arms

with powered emergency release

couplings;

• refurbish or replace offshore

instrumentation and control systems;

• remove offshore LNG booster

pumps and elevated pulpits from piers;

• refurbish and upgrade offshore fire

water systems;

• renovate offshore offices and

relocate control room to upper level;

• refurbish and upgrade hazard

detection, fire protection, and electrical

systems;

• refurbish the third gas-turbine

electrical generator;

• replace the ten LNG vaporizers

within the existing concrete tanks;

• refurbish the third first-stage LNG

pump and four cold vapor blowers;

• restage the ten second-stage LNG

sendout pumps;

• replace glycol-water heaters for the

boiloff gas and fuel gas heater system;

• install nitrogen fire suppressant

systems on all LNG storage tank relief

vales; and

• decommission the existing 15

million cubic feet per day liquefaction

system upon resumption of LNG

imports.

Cove Point LNG also seeks

authorization to construct and operate

the following new facilities at its

existing site:

• 850,000-barrel (2.8 billion cubic feet

of gas equivalent) double-wall LNG

storage tank with spill containment

dike;

• 485,000 standard cubic feet per

hour nitrogen separation plant to be

used for Btu reduction of sendout gas;

• meter station on the 36-inchdiameter transmission pipeline; and

• addition to the administration

building.

The location of the project facilities is

shown in appendix 1.2

In a related application filed under

Docket No. CP01–77–000, Cove Point

LNG seeks authorization to construct,

site and modify the import terminal

facilities at the terminal under Section

3(a) of the Natural Gas Act and Part 153

of the Commission’s regulations.

Enhancements are also planned for

the existing 87-mile-long Cove Point

Pipeline, from Calvert County,

Maryland to Loudon County, Virginia,

pursuant to the Commission’s blanket

certificate authority and prior notice

requirements in Part 157 Subpart F.

Cove Point LNG plans to install pig 3

launchers and receivers on the Cove

Point Pipeline; smart pig the entire

pipeline; replace sections as needed;

and uprate the pipeline pressure to

1,250 pounds per square inch under its

blanket certificate authority.

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line

Corporation (Transco) plans to install:

hot taps on the Cove Point Pipeline and

Transco’s B and C Lines; a meter and

regulating station; and 2 miles of 36-

inch-diameter pipeline under prior

notice procedures.

Land Requirements for Construction

The Cove Point LNG terminal

property consists of 1,017 acres on the

western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, of

which 108 acres are developed for

onshore terminal operations. The

proposed new onshore facilities would

occupy about 6.0 acres within the

developed site. Contractor staging and

storage would temporarily affect an

additional 18.2 acres of land in areas

that were used during the initial

construction of the facility.

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 4 to

discover and address concerns the

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2001 / Notices 11287

public may have about proposals. We

call this ‘‘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 it

will address 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 encourage

them to comment on their areas of

concern.

The EA will discuss impacts that

could occur as a result of the

construction and operation of the

proposed project under these general

headings:

• geology and soils

• water resources, fisheries, and

wetlands

• land use

• cultural resources

• vegetation and wildlife

• endangered and threatened species

• air quality and noise

• 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 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 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 on page 5.

Currently Identified Environmental

Issues

We have already identified several

environmental issues that we think

deserve attention based on a

preliminary review of the proposed

facilities and the environmental

information provided by Cove Point

LNG. This preliminary list of issues may

be changed based on your comments

and our analysis.

• Up to 90 LNG tankers per year

would transit the Chesapeake Bay to the

terminal by the year 2004.

• A safety exclusion zone, to be

established around the offshore pier

whenever an LNG tanker is moored,

would restrict use around the pier by

recreational and commercial fisherman.

• Environmental and technical issues

associated with the construction and

operation of a new 850,000 barrel LNG

storage tank on the site.

Public Participation

You can make a difference by

providing us with your specific

comments or concerns about the project.

By becoming a commentor, your

concerns will be addressed in the EA

and considered by the Commission. You

should focus on the potential

environmental effects of the proposal,

alternatives to the proposal, and

measures to avoid or lessen

environmental impact. The more

specific your comments, the more useful

they will be. Please carefully follow

these instructions to ensure that your

comments are received in time and

properly recorded:

• Send an original and two copies of

your letter to:

• David P. Boergers, Secretary,

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

888 First St., N.E., Room 1A,

Washington, DC 20426.

• Label one copy of the comments for

the attention of Gas 1, PJ 11.1.

• Reference Docket No. CP01–76–

000.

• Mail your comments so that they

will be received in Washington, DC on

or before March 23, 2001.

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.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm under

the link to the User’s Guide. Before you

can file comments, you will need to

create an account by clicking on ‘‘Login

to File’’ and then ‘‘New User Account.’’

Public Scoping Meeting and Site Visit

In addition to asking for written

comments, we invite you to attend a

public scoping meeting that we will

conduct in the project area. The purpose

of the scoping meeting is to provide

state and local agencies, interested

groups, affected landowners, and the

general public with an opportunity to

learn more about the project and

another chance to present us with

environmental issues or concerns they

believe should be addressed in the EA.

A transcript of the meeting will be made

so that your comments will be

accurately recorded. The location and

time is listed below: Thursday, March

15, 2001, 7:00 pm, Holiday Inn,

Solomons, MD.

Earlier in the day on March 15, 2001,

we will also be conducting a site visit

of the Cove Point LNG terminal. Anyone

interested in participating in the site

visit may contact the FERC’s Office of

External Affairs identified at the end of

this notice for more details. The purpose

of the scoping meeting and site visit is

limited to environmental issues only.

Technical meetings associated with the

engineering and cyrogenic design of the

facility will be conducted at a later date.

Tariff issues and natural gas quality

concerns will not be entertained at the

scoping meeting and site visit.

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EA

scoping process, you may want to

become an official party to the

proceeding known as an ‘‘intervenor’’.

Intervenors play a more formal role in

the process. 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 14 copies of its filings to

the Secretary of the Commission and

must send a copy of its filings to all

other parties on the Commission’s

service list for this proceeding. 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). Only

intervenors have the right to seek

rehearing of the Commission’s decision.

Affected landowners and parties with

environmental concerns may be granted

intervenor status upon showing good

cause by stating that they have a clear

and direct interest in this proceeding

which would not be adequately

represented by any other parties. You do

not need intervenor status to have your

environmental comments considered.

Additional information about the

proposed project is available from the

Commission’s Office of External Affairs

at (202) 208–1088 or on the FERC

website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the

‘‘RIMS’’ link to information in this

docket number. Click on 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 texts 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

11288 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2001 / Notices

CIPS menu, and follow the instructions.

For assistance with access to CIPS, the

helpline can be reached at (202) 208–

2474.

David P. Boergers,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–4510 Filed 2–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717–01–M

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

(ER–FRL–6615–8)

Environmental Impact Statements and

Regulations; Availability of EPA

Comments

Availability of EPA comments

prepared January 29, 2001 Through

February 02, 2001 pursuant to the

Environmental Review Process (ERP),

under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act

and Section 102(2)(c) of the National

Environmental Policy Act as amended.

Requests for copies of EPA comments

can be directed to the Office of Federal

Activities at (202) 564–7167. An

explanation of the ratings assigned to

draft environmental impact statements

(EISs) was published in FR dated April

14, 2000 (65 FR 20157).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D–AFS–L61224–00

Rating LO, Lemhi Pass National

Historic Landmark Management Plan,

Implementation, Beaverhead-Deerlodge

National Forest, Beaverhead County,

MT and Salmon-Challis National Forest,

Lemhi County, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed lack of

objections.

ERP No. D–AFS–L65369–OR

Rating EC2, Mill Creek Timber Sales

and Related Activities, To Implement

Ecosystem Management Activities,

Prospect Ranger District, Rogue River

National Forest, Jackson County, OR.

Summary: EPA expressed concerns

with potential adverse impacts from

roads to water quality and habitat

quality, including erosion, mass

wasting, fragmentation and the increase

of non-native species.

ERP No. D–FHW–D40311–PA

Rating EC2, US Route 15

Improvement Project, from PA–6015,

Section G–20 and G–22 Tioga County,

Pennsylvania and PIN 6008.22.123

Steuben County, New York, (US Route

15 between PA Route 287 and Presho,

New York, Funding and COE Section

404 Permit, Tioga County, PA and

Steuben County, NY.

Summary: EPA expressed concerns

regarding impacts to terrestrial habitat,

streams, wetlands, and residences. EPA

requested additional information on

minimizing and mitigating potential

impacts.

Final EISs

ERP No. F–AFS–G65074–TX

Texas Blowdown Reforestation

Project, Implementation, National

Forests and Grasslands in Texas,

Angeline and Sabine National Forests,

San Augustine and Shelby Counties,

TX.

Summary: EPA had no additional

comments.

ERP No. F–AFS–K65226–00

Sierra Nevada Forest Plan

Amendment Project, Implementation,

several counties, CA and NV.

Summary: The FEIS only partially

addressed our objections regarding the

road transportation system and

protection to roadless areas. EPA offered

qualified support for Modified

Alternative B as stated in the FEIS and

providing it receives full funding for

implementation.

ERP No. F–BIA–L65352–WA

Colville Indian Reservation Integrated

Resource Management Plan,

Implementation, Colville Indian

Reservation, Okanogan and Ferry

Counties, WA.

Summary: No formal comment letter

was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F–FHW–F40378–MN

TH–23 Reconstruction, MN–TH–22 in

Richmond extending through the Cities

of Richmond, Cold Spring and Rockville

to I–94, Funding, Stearns County, MN.

Summary: EPA continues to express

concern that the action does not provide

for a sufficient wetland mitigation plan

or a sufficient mitigation plan for lost

tree/upland habitat.

ERP No. F–NPS–E61075–FL

Dry Tortugas National Park General

Management Plan, Implementation,

Monroe County, FL.

Summary: EPA continues to express

concerns with implementing the

management plan including ecosystem

monitoring, the level of mitigation for

existing and potential future impacts

and enforcement of regulations and

visitor use.

ERP No. F–NPS–K60030–CA

Legislative EIS—Timbisha Shoshone

Tribal Homeland, To Establish a

Permanent Tribal Land Base and

Related Cooperative Activities, The

Transfer of Federal Land and

Acquisition of Private Land, Death

Valley National Park, Saline Valley, CA

and Lida Ranch near Lida, NV.

Summary: No formal comment letter

was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: February 20, 2001.

Joseph C. Montgomery,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office

of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 01–4528 Filed 2–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–U

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[ER–FRL–6615–7]

Environmental Impact Statements;

Notice of Availability

Responsible Agency

Office of Federal Activities, General

Information (202) 564–7167 or

www.epa.gov/oeca/ofa

Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact

Statements Filed February 12, 2001

Through February 16, 2001 Pursuant

to 40 CFR 1506.9.

EIS No. 010046, DRAFT EIS, BLM, CA,

Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert

Plan (Plan), Implementation,

Comprehensive Framework for

Managing Species and Habitats

(BLM), Joshua Tree National Park

(JTNP) and Chocolate Mountains

Aerial Gunnery Range, California

Desert, Riverside, Imperial and San

Bernardino Counties, CA, Comment

Period Ends: May 26, 2001, Contact:

Dick Crowe (909) 697–5216.

EIS No. 010047, DRAFT EIS, BLM, UT,

CO, NM, Williams, Questar, Kern

River Pipeline Project, To Approve a

Petroleum Products Pipeline, and one

or two Natural Gas Pipelines and To

Amend Forest Plan, UT, NM and CO,

Comment Period Ends: April 16,

2001, Contact: LaVerne Steah (801)

539–4114.

EIS No. 010048, DRAFT EIS, FHW, AR,

Southeast Arkansas I–69 Connector,

Transportation Improvement,

Funding, Drew, Lincoln, Cleveland

and Jefferson Counties, AR, Comment

Period Ends: April 23, 2001, Contact:

Amy H. Heflin (501) 324–6435.

EIS No. 010049, FINAL EIS, DOE, CA,

National Ignition Facility Project

Specific Analysis, Construction and

Operation at the Lawrence Livermore

National Laboratory, Livermore, CA,

Wait Period Ends: March 26, 2001,

Contact: Richard Scott (925) 423–

3022.

EIS No. 010050, DRAFT EIS, NPS, CA,

Santa Cruz Island Primary Restoration

Plan, Implementation, Channel

Islando National Park, Santa Cruz