[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12477]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 23, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
[Docket No. CP94-224-000]
Northern Natural Gas Co.; Intent to Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed EF Expansion Project and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
May 17, 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
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed in the EF Expansion
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 or not to approve the project.
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\1\Northern Natural Gas Company's (Northern) application was
filed with the Commission under section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
The applicant proposes to construct and operate the following
facilities:
A. Three segments of approximately 11.95 miles of pipeline:
1.28 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Washington
County, Minnesota (C-Line Extension);
2.82 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in Steele County,
Minnesota (D-Line Extension);
7.85 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipeline in Morrison County,
Minnesota (Alexandria Branchline Loop); and
B. modify nine existing Town Border Stations (TBS) (see appendix
1).
The proposed facilities would be used to transport up to 19,288
Mcfd to Minnegasco, a Division of Arkla, Inc. and Great Plains Natural
Gas Company.
The general location of these facilities is shown in appendix 2.\2\
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\2\Appendices 2 and 3 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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Land Requirements for Construction
The proposed pipeline would be built adjacent and parallel to
existing rights-of-way. Northern intends to use a 75-foot-wide
construction right-of-way. About 25 to 35 feet of the planned 75-foot
width would use existing right-of-way. Consequently, about 35 to 50
feet of new clearing would be required in most areas. Following
construction, about 25 feet of the construction right-of-way would be
allowed to revert to its former land use.
Additional working space would be required adjacent to the planned
construction right-of-way at road and stream crossings.
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
this 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 Northern. 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 analysis.
Issues are:
The Alexandria Branchline Loop crosses residential land
within the Platte River Estate.
The pipeline would cross 4 perennial streams and 19
wetlands.
The project may potentially impact federally listed
threatened or endangered species.
The project may cross or be near cultural resources/
archeological 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:
Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC
20426;
Reference Docket No. CP94-224-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Medha Kochhar, 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 June 10, 1994.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one
from Ms. Medha Kochhar 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 3.
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 Sec. 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
Ms. Medha Kochhar, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-2270.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
Appendix 1--Proposed Town Border Station Modifications
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No. and TBS County/state Facilities
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1. Clarkfield No. 1.............. Yellow Medicine, MN, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, 3-inch rotary meter run, modify meter
Sec. 4 T115N R41W. piping.
2. St. Michael No. 1............. Wright, MN, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Sec. 8 3-inch rotary meter run, modify meter
T120N R23W. piping, remove 1-inch regulators and
install 2-inch regulators.
3. Glenwood No. 1................ Pope, MN, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, Sec. 6 T125N Remove existing meters, install 3-
R37W. inch rotary meter run, and one 6-
inch turbine.
4. St. Bonifacius No. 1.......... Hennepin, MN, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, Sec. 32 Remove existing meter, install two 3-
T117N R24W. inch rotary meters, and modify meter
piping.
5. Waconia No. 1................. Carver, MN, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, Sec. 24 Remove existing meter regulator and
T116N R25W. install two 2-inch regulators.
6. Waconia No. 1B................ Carver, MN, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, Sec. 24 Remove existing meter and install
T116N R25W. diaphragm meter.
7. Prior Lake No. 1.............. Scott, MN, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, Sec. 11 Replace existing regulators with two
T114N R22W. 1-inch regulators and modify piping
under relief valve.
8. Prior Lake No. 1A............. Scott, MN, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, Sec. 16 Remove existing meters and install
T114N R22W. one 3-inch and one 4-inch regulator.
9. Mound No. 1................... Hennepin, MN, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, Sec. 22 Replace existing regulator valve
T117N R24W. trim.
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[FR Doc. 94-12477 Filed 5-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
