Document ID: FERC-2008-0461-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment: Northern Natural Gas Co.
Posted Date: 2008-03-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register: March 27, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 60)]
[Notices]               
[Page 16296-16298]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27mr08-45]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF08-12-000]

 
Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Lights 2009-2010 
Zone EF Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues

March 20, 2008.
    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 proposed Northern Lights 2009-
2010 Zone EF Expansion Project involving construction and operation of 
facilities by Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in Carver, 
Wright, Hennepin, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, and Freeborn Counties, 
Minnesota. The 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 the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. Your input will help determine which issues 
need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period for 
this Notice will close on April 21, 2008. Details on how to submit 
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this 
notice. Further notice will be issued in the near future regarding any 
local public comment meetings to be held by the Commission staff.
    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state, 
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. State and 
local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents 
of this proposed project and to encourage them to comment on their 
areas of concern.
    A brochure prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility on My Land?'' is available for viewing on the FERC 
Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). This brochure addresses a 
number of typically asked questions.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Northern wants to expand the capacity of its facilities in 
Minnesota to transport an additional 135,000 decatherms per day of 
natural gas for incremental firm winter service.

[[Page 16297]]

Northern seeks authority to construct and operate:
     An approximately 6.34-mile-long extension of the 30-inch-
diameter Faribault-Farmington D-Line;
     an approximately 5.98-mile-long extension of the 20-inch-
diameter Farmington-North Branch C-Line;
     an approximately 5.9-mile-long extension of the 20-inch-
diameter Elk River loop;
     the replacement of approximately 10.99 miles of the 3- and 
2-inch-diameter Rockford Branch Line with 22.65 miles of 16-inch-
diameter pipeline;
     an approximately 10.68 miles of the 16-inch-diameter 
Greenfield Corcoran Branch Line;
     a new 15,000 horsepower ISO-rated greenfield compressor 
station located near Albert Lea, Minnesota; and
     1 new Corcoran meter station.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 
1.\1\
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    \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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Land Requirements

    Construction of the proposed facilities would require approximately 
664 acres of land. Following construction, approximately 323.0 acres 
would be maintained as new pipeline right-of-way and aboveground 
facility sites. The remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to 
revert to its former use. Surveys are still ongoing during pre-filing 
and acreages are apt to change.

The EA Process

    We \2\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the Commission to take 
into account the environmental impact that could result if it 
authorizes Northern's proposal. By this notice, we are also asking 
Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special 
expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate 
with us in the preparation of the EA.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should 
follow the instructions for filing comments provided below.
    The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to seek public and agency 
input early in the project planning phase and encourage involvement by 
interested stakeholders in a manner that allows for the early 
identification and resolution of environmental issues. We will work 
with all interested stakeholders to identify and attempt to address 
issues before Northern files its application with the FERC.
    NEPA also requires the FERC 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 of Intent, we are requesting 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. As part of the Pre-filing Process 
review, FERC staff representatives will participate in three public 
open houses sponsored by Northern in the project areas on April 15-17, 
2008 to explain the environmental review process to interested 
stakeholders and take comments about the project.
    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
     endangered and threatened species
     land use
     cultural resources
     vegetation and wildlife (including sensitive species)
     air and noise quality.
    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 in the EA which will 
be published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, 
interested individuals who return the Information Request Form in 
Appendix 3, and the Commission's official service list for this 
proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review when the EA is 
published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our 
recommendations to the Commission.
    Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has 
already initiated its NEPA review under its Pre-filing Process. The 
purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage the early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an 
application is filed with the FERC. Once a formal application is filed 
with the FERC, a new docket number will be established.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Northern. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Federally listed endangered or threatened species may 
occur in the proposed project area.
     Construction impacts to wetlands located in the proposed 
project area.
    Also, we have made a preliminary decision to not address the 
impacts of the nonjurisdictional facilities. We will briefly describe 
their location and status in the EA.

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, reasonable 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 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 Kimberly 
D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
St., NE.; Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 3.
     Reference Docket No. PF08-12-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before April 21, 2008.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any 
comments, interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18 Code of 
Federal Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to 
``Documents and Filings'' and ``eFiling.'' eFiling is a file attachment 
process and requires that you prepare your submission in the same 
manner as you would if filing on paper, and save it to a file on your 
hard drive. New eFiling users must first create an

[[Page 16298]]

account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or ``eRegister.'' You will be asked 
to select the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered 
a ``Comment on Filing.'' In addition, there is a ``Quick Comment'' 
option available, which is an easy method for interested persons to 
submit text only comments on a project. The Quick-Comment User Guide 
can be viewed at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/quick-comment-
guide.pdf. Quick Comment does not require a FERC eRegistration account; 
however, you will be asked to provide a valid email address. All 
comments submitted under either eFiling or the Quick Comment option are 
placed in the public record for the specified docket or project number.
    If you are interested in receiving a copy of the EA, please return 
the Information Request Form (Appendix 3). If you do not return the 
Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
    Once Northern formally files its application with the Commission, 
you may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an 
``intervenor.'' 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 a Commission 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. 
Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time. 
You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.

Site Visits

    On April 15-17, 2008, the OEP staff will conduct a site visit of 
the planned Northern Lights Zone EF Expansion Project. We will view the 
proposed facility locations and pipeline route. Examination will be by 
automobile and on foot. Representatives of Northern will be 
accompanying the OEP staff.
    All interested parties may attend. Those planning to attend must 
provide their own transportation and should meet at the following 
locations:

Monday, April 14, 2008

2:30 p.m. Site visit for Elk River Loop Extension. Meet at Prairie 
Knoll Park, 14800 Prairie Road NW (off of 146th Lane), Andover, MN 
55304.

Tuesday, April 16, 2008

9 a.m. Site visit for Rockford BL Replacement. Meet at American Inn 
Lodge & Suites, 36 S. Elm Street, Waconia, MN 55387.
1 p.m. Site visit for Corcoran MN BL. Meet at Woody's on Main, 6030 
Main Street, Rockford, MN 55373.

Wednesday, April 17, 2008

9 a.m. Site visit for C-Line Extension. Meet at The Machine Shed 
Restaurant, 8515 Hudson Boulevard (I-94 & Inwood Avenue), Lake Elmo, MN 
55042.
2:30 p.m. Site visit for D-Line Extension. Meet at the Big Steer Travel 
Plaza (Sunco Station), 8051 Bagley Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057.

Thursday, April 18, 2008

2:30 p.m. Site visit for Albert Lea Compressor Station. Meet at Gopher 
Stop Convenience Store, 3598 West Highway 30 (I-35 at Exit 26), 
Ellendale, MN 56026.
    For additional information, please contact the Commission's Office 
of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC (3372).

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 homes within distances defined in the 
Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities. By this 
notice we are also asking governmental agencies, especially those in 
Appendix 2, to express their interest in becoming cooperating agencies 
for the preparation of the EA.

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 Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary'' 
link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter 
the docket number 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.
[FR Doc. E8-6220 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P