98-13589. Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement of Bayou Choctaw Pipeline Extension to Placid Refinery, Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes, Louisiana

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27931-27932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13589]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement of Bayou Choctaw 
Pipeline Extension to Placid Refinery, Iberville and West Baton Rouge 
Parishes, Louisiana

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) hereby provides notice that the 
proposed construction of an approximately 16-mile crude oil pipeline 
segment to connect the existing DOE-owned Bayou Choctaw pipeline in 
Iberville Parish, Louisiana, to the Placid Oil Refinery in Port Allen, 
West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, would occur in a 100-year 
floodplain and would involve wetlands. Pursuant to 10 CFR Part 1022, 
DOE will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment which will be 
incorporated in an environmental assessment (EA) being prepared in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: Written comments should be postmarked or transmitted 
electronically or by facsimile by June 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, questions about the proposed action, and 
requests to review the draft EA should be directed to Mr. Hal 
Delaplane, Strategic Petroleum Reserve (FE-42), U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, Telephone 
[phone], Fax [phone], E-mail = [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN AND WETLANDS 
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Carol M. Borgstrom, 
Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, 
Telephone [phone] or [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Executive Order 11988, Floodplain 
Management, and 10 CFR Part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain-Wetlands 
Environmental Review Requirements (http://tis-nt.eh.doe.gov/nepa/tools/
regulate/nepa__reg/1022/1022.htm), notice is given that DOE is 
considering a request from Shell Pipe Line Corporation (Shell) to amend 
Shell's lease of DOE's Bayou Choctaw crude oil pipeline. Shell has 
asked for the change to enable it to construct its own 16-mile pipeline 
from a tie-in to the DOE pipeline at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve 
Bayou Choctaw Facility in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, to the Placid 
Oil Refinery near Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. This 
project would not occur within the Coastal Zone of Louisiana but would 
be within a 100-year floodplain and would involve wetlands.
    Before it approves Shell's request, DOE will prepare an EA of the 
construction and operation of the extended Bayou Choctaw pipeline to 
Placid Refinery pursuant to 10 CFR Part 1021, DOE NEPA Implementing 
Procedures (http://tis-nt.eh.doe.gov/nepa/tools/regulate/nepa__reg/
1021/nepa1021.htm). Shell has also applied to the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District, for a construction permit 
pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. DOE is coordinating its 
NEPA compliance process with the USACE permit process (33 CFR Parts 
320-330, http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/permitting/404/
corps__permit__regulations.html).
    The 24-inch steel pipeline would be constructed in existing 
pipeline and utility corridors for all but about 2 miles of its length. 
As shown in the map below, about 7.7 miles of the proposed route is 
within the 100-year floodplain. The pipeline would cross sugarcane 
fields and about 8.5 miles of forested wetlands. About 86 acres of 
bottomland hardwoods would be impacted.
    Push-site construction would be used in wetland areas. The pipeline 
would be directionally drilled under the Intracoastal Waterway and 
Interstate 10. Eight additional road crossings and two railroad 
crossings would be by slick bore or directional drill. Crossings of 
Bayou Bourbeaux and six drainage canals would be by open cut trench or 
directional drill.
    In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain 
and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), DOE 
will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this proposed 
action. The assessment will be incorporated in the EA being prepared 
for the proposed project in accordance with NEPA. DOE expects to have a 
draft of the EA available for public review in June 1998. Copies may be 
requested by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail from the address given 
above. A floodplain statement of findings will be included in any 
finding of no significant impact that is issued following completion of 
the EA or may be issued separately.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 1, 1998.
Robert S. Keipowing,
Acting, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.

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[FR Doc. 98-13589 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]
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