[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6630]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 22, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP93-566-000; CP93-564-000; CP93-564-001]
ANR Pipeline Co.; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Proposed ANR Link Project and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
March 16, 1994.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that
discusses environmental impacts of the construction and operation of
facilities proposed in the ANR Link Project. The 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 ANR Link Project.1
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\1\ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) filed an application with the
Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and part 157
of the Commission's regulations. ANR has also filed an application
under section 3 of the NGA for a Presidential Permit.
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As proposed, the ANR Link Project would be part of an international
natural gas pipeline system between the United States and Canada, known
as the InterCoastal Project. ANR would construct the InterCoastal
Project in the United States. The Canadian facilities will not be
discussed in the EA.2
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\2\The Canadian portion would be constructed by InterCoastal
Pipe Line Inc. (ICP). ICP's system would consist of an existing 130-
mile-long oil pipeline which would be converted to natural gas
service, and the construction of about 25 miles of new pipeline.
This portion of the project will be independently reviewed by the
National Energy Board in Canada.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
ANR wants Commission authorization to construct, own, and operate
the following facilities to transport gas to ICP in Canada:
12 miles of new 24-inch-diameter pipeline in St. Clair
County, Michigan;
a new 2-acre meter station with measurement and flow
control assemblies at the intersection of the proposed ANR Link, the
existing Muttonville Lateral, and the existing Great Lakes Gas
Transmission Limited Partnership (Great Lakes) pipeline; and
950 feet of 24-inch-diameter pipeline and a meter station
connecting the proposed 12-mile-long pipeline (at approximately MP 1.3)
with Michigan Consolidated Gas Company's (MichCon) existing Columbus
Storage Field pipeline.
The general location of these facilities is shown in appendix
1.3
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\3\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, NE., Washington, DC 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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The ANR Link would extend from the northern end of ANR's existing
7.8-mile-long Muttonville Lateral across St. Clair County, Michigan in
an easterly direction. The ANR Link would end at the international
boundary on the St. Clair River. At the border, ANR's facilities would
connect to ICP's new natural gas transmission system.
The 2-acre meter station would be constructed adjacent to the
existing Muttonville Meter Station, at the intersection of the ANR
Link, the existing Muttonville Lateral, and the existing Great Lakes
pipeline.
The 950 feet of 24-inch-diameter pipeline would begin at about
milepost 1.3 of the proposed 12-mile-long pipeline and end 950 feet due
south at the proposed meter station. This pipeline would connect the
ANR Link to MichCon's existing Columbus Storage Field facilities. The
proposed meter station would be constructed within the yard of the
existing Columbus Storage Field Compressor Station.
ANR states that the purpose of the proposed project is to provide
firm and interruptible transportation service of up to 175,000
dekatherms of natural gas per day to The Consumers' Gas Company Ltd.
(Consumers Gas). The gas would be transported through the ANR Link to
ICP, and would ultimately be delivered to Consumers Gas at points near
Sarnia or Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Land Requirements for Construction
ANR proposes to use a 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way in
non-agricultural areas, and a 125-foot-wide construction right-of-way
in agricultural areas. In addition, extra work space areas would be
required at road, utility, wetland, and river crossings, particularly
at the St. Clair River crossing. After construction, the disturbed
areas would be restored, and a 50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way
would be maintained. The remainder of the land, excluding the 2-acre
fenced meter station, would revert to its preconstruction use.
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.
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
ANR has identified three route alternatives that will be discussed
in the EA. We will evaluate these alternatives to the proposed project.
We may also evaluate minor route variations to portions of the project,
and make recommendations, as appropriate, 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 response during the scoping process, the EA may be mailed to
Federal, state, and local agencies, public interest groups, interested
individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the
Commissions'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 disapprove the proposed ANR Link 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 ANR. 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:
Construction of the pipeline would take place within 50
feet of 5 residences.
The pipeline would cross two perennial streams.
The pipeline construction could possibly impact sensitive
fisheries.
The pipeline would cross 32 wetlands.
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 Street NE., Washington,
DC 20426;
Reference Docket Nos. CP93-564-000 and -001 and CP93-566-
000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Howard Wheeler, EA
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North
Capitol Street NE., room 7312,Washington, DC 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before April 22, 1994.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one
from Mr. Wheeler 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 proceedings or 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.
The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late interventions
must show good cause, as required by section 385.214(b)(3), why this
time limitation should be waived. In certain cases environmental issues
have been viewed as good cause for late intervention. Section
385.214(d) applies to grants of late intervention. You do not need
intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. Howard Wheeler, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1237.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-6630 Filed 3-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
