98-22307. Finding of No Significant Impact: Lakehead Pipe Line Company, Pipeline at Neche, North Dakota

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 44499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22307]



[[Page 44499]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
[Public Notice 2869]


Finding of No Significant Impact: Lakehead Pipe Line Company, 
Pipeline at Neche, North Dakota

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of a finding of no significant impact with regard to an 
application to construct, connect, operate and maintain a pipeline to 
transport crude oil and natural gas liquids across the U.S.-Canada 
border.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has conducted an environmental 
assessment of the proposed construction by Lakehead Pipe Line Company 
of an oil pipeline across the international boundary at Neche, North 
Dakota. Based on the environmental assessment, the Department of State 
has concluded that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing 
construction of the proposed pipeline will not have a significant 
effect on the human environment within the United States. In accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 4321 et 
seq., Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, 40 CFR 1501.4 and 
1508.13 and Department of State Regulations, 22 CFR 161.8(c), an 
environmental impact statement will not be prepared.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PIPELINE PERMIT APPLICATION, CONTACT:
Daniel L.Martinez, Office of International Energy Policy, Room 3535, 
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, CONTACT:
Pam Pearson, Office of Ecology and Terrestrial Conservation, Room 4325, 
U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Lakehead Pipe Line Company, Limited 
Partnership has applied for a Presidential Permit to authorize 
construction, connection, operation and maintenance of a 36 inch 
diameter pipeline to convey crude oil and natural gas liquids across 
the border with Canada at Neche, North Dakota. The proposed pipeline 
would be constructed in the same right of way presently occupied by 
four oil pipelines owned and operated by the same company. The existing 
pipelines are operating at full capacity and are unable to transport 
the volume of oil demanded by U.S. markets in the midwest. The purpose 
of the proposed new pipeline is to eliminate this capacity constraint.
    On April 21, 1998, the Department of State published a Notice of 
Application for a Presidential Permit in the Federal Register. No 
public comments were received and concerned agencies expressed no 
opposition to issuing the permit. The Department of State prepared an 
environmental assessment for the Pipeline Permit. Based on that 
assessment, the Department of State has concluded that issuance of the 
permit will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human 
environment within the United States. A finding of no significant 
impact is adopted, and an environmental impact statement will not be 
prepared.

    Dated: July 23, 1998.
Stuart E. Eizenstat,
Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-22307 Filed 8-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-M