Document ID: FERC-2014-0388-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Sierrita Gas Pipeline, LLC; Sierrita Pipeline Project
Posted Date: 2014-04-04T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18903-18904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07494]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP13-73-000; CP13-74-000]

Sierrita Gas Pipeline LLC; Notice of Availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Sierrita Pipeline 
Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) 
for the Sierrita Pipeline Project, proposed by Sierrita Gas Pipeline 
LLC (Sierrita) in the above-referenced dockets. Sierrita requests 
authorization to link El Paso Natural Gas Company's existing South 
Mainline System near Tucson to an interconnect with the S[aacute]sabe-
Guaymas Pipeline at the U.S.-Mexico border near the town of Sasabe, 
Arizona, that would provide up to 200,846 dekatherms per day of natural 
gas to markets in Mexico.
    The final EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the Sierrita Pipeline Project in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed 
project, with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIS, would 
have some adverse environmental impact; however, most of these impacts 
would be reduced to less-than-significant levels.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)--Arizona Ecological 
Services Office; the FWS--Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge; the 
Arizona Game and Fish Department; and the U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of 
the EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special 
expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the 
proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. Although the cooperating 
agencies provided input to the conclusions and recommendations 
presented in the final EIS, the agencies will present their own 
conclusions and recommendations in their respective Records of Decision 
for the project.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following project facilities:
     60.9 miles of 36-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline in 
Pima County, Arizona;
     two meter stations;
     two pig launchers and two pig receivers \1\; and
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    \1\ A pig is an internal tool that can be used to clean and dry 
a pipeline and/or to inspect it for damage or corrosion.
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     six mainline valves.
    The FERC staff mailed copies of the EIS to federal, state, and 
local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; 
potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and 
groups; newspapers and libraries in the project area; and parties to 
this proceeding. Paper copy versions of the EIS were mailed to those 
specifically requesting them; all others received a CD version. In 
addition, the EIS is available for public viewing on the FERC's Web 
site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies 
are available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., 
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.
    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC Web site (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 (i.e., CP13-
73 or CP13-74). Be sure you have selected

[[Page 18904]]

an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676; 
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 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 www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.

    Dated: March 28, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-07494 Filed 4-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P