[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18596-18597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8936]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP95-233-000]
Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Co.; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Billy Creek-
Sheridan Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues
April 6, 1995.
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 construction and operation of
the facilities proposed in the Billy Creek-Sheridan Replacement
Project.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether an environmental impact statement
is necessary and whether to approve the project.
\1\Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company's application was
filed with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and
Part 157 of the Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of the Proposed Project
Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company (WBI) wants to replace
13.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline in Johnson and Sheridan
Counties, Wyoming. WBI states that severe corrosion and leaks have been
found throughout the Billy Creek-Sheridan Pipeline, and the facilities
proposed to be replaced represent the final section of replacement for
the pipeline. WBI would use the facilities to transport up to 15,230
thousand cubic feet per day of gas.
The location of the facilities are shown in appendix 1.\2\
\2\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
Most of the proposed project would be built within and near
existing right-of-way, but about 40 percent of the new pipeline would
be located outside of the existing right-of-way. WBI intends to use a
construction right-of-way width that would vary between 50 and 100 feet
during construction. About 85 acres would be disturbed during
construction.
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 considered during the preparation of the EA. State and local
government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents
of these proposed actions 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.
Vegetation and wildlife.
Endangered and threatened species.
Land use.
Cultural resources.
Public safety.
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
the proceeding. 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 WBI. Keep in mind that this
is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, subtracted
from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. Issues are:
The project would cross seven perennial streams.
The project would cross or be near cultural resources/
archaeological sites.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing 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: [[Page 18597]]
Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., N.E., Washington,
D.C. 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP95-233-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Shenot, EA Project
Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St.,
N.E., Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, D.C. on or before May 12, 1995.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one
from Mr. Shenot 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) (appendix
2).
The date for filing of 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. Environmental
issues have been viewed as good cause for late intervention. You do not
need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. Jeff Shenot, EA Project Manager, at (202) 219-0295.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-8936 Filed 4-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
