[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16763]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 12, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP93-613-000 and -001; CP93-673-000 and -001]
Northwest Pipeline Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northwest Expansion II
Projects
July 6, 1994.
On November 10, 1993 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC
or Commission) issued a Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Northwest Expansion II
Projects in the above dockets and related projects proposed by Paiute
Pipeline Company (Paiute) in Docket Nos. CP93-751-000 and CP94-29-000
(Paiute Expansion II Projects). The purpose of the notice was to
request comments on environmental issues.
On June 14 and June 15, 1994 Northwest Pipeline Corporation
(Northwest) filed amendments to its two original applications that
represent a change in the scope of the Northwest Expansion II Projects.
Based on the changes in the amended filings, we have determined that an
environmental assessment (EA), rather than an EIS is the more
appropriate document for analyzing the potential environmental impacts
associated with Northwest's projects. The cooperating Federal agencies
agree with this strategy. From the standpoint of the environmental
analysis the important changes are:
The deletion of 8 pipeline loops from the projects, which
reduces the total miles of pipeline construction from 177.2 miles to
54.9 miles;
The deletion of 11 compressor station modifications, which
reduces the required compression from 88,235 horsepower (hp) to 14,820
hp;
The addition of 5.8 miles of 20-inch-diameter loop in
Marion County, Oregon (the Salem Loop) and 1,070 hp at the existing
Pegram Compressor Station in Bear Lake County, Idaho that were not part
of the original proposals;
The deletion of 26 of the 37 originally proposed meter
station modifications;
The change in pipeline routing of both the Gresham Loop
and Weyerhaeuser Lateral; and
The termination of service agreements by all shippers that
had proposed to have Northwest deliver gas to Paiute for ultimate
delivery to customers in Nevada.
The list of facilities proposed in the amended filings are in
appendix 1 and maps showing the location of the Salem Loop, the Pegram
Compressor Station, and the amended routing for the Gresham Loop and
Weyerhaeuser Lateral are attached as appendix 2.1
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\1\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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For the purposes of the environmental analysis Northwest's two
applications will be considered together because the construction of
the Gresham Loop is common to both applications.2 The facilities
proposed in Docket No. CP93-613-001 include the increase in compression
at the Washougal Compressor Station; the construction of the Gresham
Loop, 1.3 miles of the Salem Loop (milepost 64.1 to 65.3), and the
Johnson Creek Meter Station; and the upgrading of six existing meter
stations. The remaining facilities are part of Docket No. CP93-673-000.
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\2\The length and location of the Gresham Loop is the same in
both applications; however, in Docket No. CP93-613-001 Northwest
proposes using 20-inch-diameter pipeline, while Docket No. CP93-673-
00 proposes using 30-inch-diameter pipeline.
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The termination of all contracts that called for Northwest to
deliver gas to Paiute effectively severs the connection between
Northwest's and Paiute's proposals; therefore, only Northwest's
proposed facilities will be included in the EA.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from a major Federal action whenever it considers the issuance
of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Our EA will give
the Commission the information it needs to do that. If the EA concludes
that the projects would result in significant environmental impacts, we
will prepare an environmental impact statement. Otherwise we will
prepare a Finding of No Significant Impact.
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, and to separate these from issues that are
insignificant and do not require detailed study. Local scoping meetings
have already been held for the original projects. Additional scoping
meetings are not planned. We are asking for comments only on those
portions of the projects where the routing has been changed or the
facilities were not part of the original proposal.
The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed projects under these general
subject headings:
Geology and paleontology
Endangered and threatened species
Visual resources
Water resources
Vegetation
Land use
Air quality and noise
Wetland and riparian habitat
Cultural resources
Fish and wildlife
Socioeconomics
Soils
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the projects, or
portions of the projects, and make recommendations on how to lessen or
avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Our independent analysis of the issues will result in the
publication of the EA which will be 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.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by sending a letter with your specific
comments or concerns about the projects. You should focus on the
potential environmental effects of the new portions of the proposal.
You do not need to re-submit comments if you have already done so. We
are particularly interested in alternatives to the proposals (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 Nos. CP93-613-001 and/or CP93-673-001;
Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Lauren O'Donnell,
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North
Capitol St., NE., Room 7312, Washington, DC 20426; and
Mail your comments so they will be received in Washington,
DC, on or before August 11, 1994.
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) which is attached as appendix
3. You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping comments
considered.
Environmental Mailing List
If you don't want to send comments at this time but still want to
receive a copy of the EA, please return the Information Request (see
appendix 4). If you have previously returned the Information Request
you don't need to do so again.
Additional information about the proposed projects is available
from Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0325.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-16763 Filed 7-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
