[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1451]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: January 21, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-68-000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp.; Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 1994 Southeast Expansion
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
January 14, 1994.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss environmental impacts of the construction and operation of
facilities proposed in the 1994 Southeast Expansion Project.\1\ This EA
will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to
determine whether an environmental impact statement is required and
whether or not to approve the project.
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\1\Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation's application was
filed with the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and
Part 157 of the Commission's regulations.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (TGPL) wants Commission
authorization to construct, operate, and modify the following
facilities needed to transport up to 35,000 Mcfd of natural gas from
the interconnection of TGPL's main line and TGPL's Mobile Bay Lateral
near Butler in Choctaw County, Alabama, to certain points of delivery
upstream of TGPL's Compressor Station No. 165 near Chatham, Virginia:
Uprate Main Line ``A'' from 650 psig to 800 psig from
Compressor Station No. 120 to Compressor Station No. 130 in Henry,
Rockdale, Walton, Clark, and Madison Counties, Georgia through
regulator modifications and replacement of eight 30-inch-diameter
pipeline segments that total approximately 9.6 miles.
Hydrostatically test Main Line ``A'' over 13.77 miles in
Henry, Rockdale, and Dekalb Counties, Georgia to check for stress
corrosion cracking.
Place existing steam-driven compressor units 1 and 2
(presently on standby service) into regular service, at Compressor
Station No. 100 in Chilton County, Alabama, increasing the station
horsepower (hp) by 11,240 hp.
Modify and/or re-wheel these and other units at Compressor
Station No. 100.
Modify existing regulating facilities and replace existing
Main Line ``A'' block valves assemblies and associated crossover valves
at mileposts 1063.73, 1077.10, 1092.52, and 1108.83 between Compressor
Stations 120 and 130.
Install a pig launcher trap at Compressor Station No. 120
and a pig receiver trap at Compressor Station 130.
Replace Main Line ``A'' sidegate valves at Compressor
Station 120.
Additional remedial work on the Main Line ``A'' uprate
would be completed at the following areas which are located between
Compressor Stations 120 and 130.
Milepost (MP) 1078.16--replace main Line ``A'' across Big
Flat Creek in Walton County, Georgia.
MP 1079.14--replace main Line ``A'' across Flat Creek in
Walton County, Georgia.
MP 1082.45--replace main Line ``A'' shorted casing across
Highway 78 in Walton County, Georgia.
MP 1095.03--replace main Line ``A'' across Barber Creek
and its tributaries in Rockdale County, Georgia.
MP 1097.63--replace main Line ``A'' (shorted casing)
across Highway 209 in Oconee County, Georgia.
MP 1121.44--replace main Line ``A'' across a creek at Hill
Jones Road in Madison County, Georgia.
The general location of these facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\
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\2\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the
Commission's Public Reference Branch, Room 3104, 941 North Capitol
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. Copies
of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in
the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction
The proposed replacement pipeline would be located within existing
pipeline right-of-way and within the same ditch as the original
pipeline. Typically, TGPL uses a 75-foot-wide construction and a 60-
foot-wide permanent right-of-way. TGPL would require clearing about 15
feet of temporary right-of-way.
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
to discover and address concerns the 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 taken into account during the preparation of the EA.
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
Vegetation and wildlife
Endangered and threatened species
Land use
Cultural resources
Hazardous waste
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. 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
these proceedings. A comment period will be allotted for review if the
EA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we
recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project.
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 TGPL. Keep in mind that this
is a preliminary list; the list of issues will be added to, subtracted
from, or changed based on your comments and our own analysis. Issues
are:
The replacement pipeline would cross within 100 feet of
approximately 26 residences and 8 commercial structures.
The pipeline would cross 12 perennial streams and 29
wetlands.
The project may potentially impact federally listed
threatened or endangered species.
The pipeline may cross or be near archeological sites.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by sending a letter with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on the
potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to the
proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or
lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more
useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure
that your comments are received and properly recorded:
Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington,
DC 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP94-68-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. John Wisniewski, EA
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North
Capitol St., NE, room 7312, Washington, DC 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before February 14, 1994.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one
from Mr. Wisniewski at the above address.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding or become an
``intervenor''. 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 copies of its
filings to all other parties. 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) attached
as appendix 2.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. John Wisniewski, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0972.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-1451 Filed 1-19-94; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
