E9-18632. Midcontinent Express Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed MEP Amendment and Expansion Projects

July 29, 2009.

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Midcontinent Express Pipeline, LLC (MEP) in the above-referenced dockets.

The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of MEP's proposed Amendment and Expansion Projects. MEP proposes expansion and/or equipment modifications at the previously certificated Lamar Compressor Station in Lamar County, Texas; Atlanta Compressor Station in Cass County, Texas; Perryville Compressor Station in Union Parish, Louisiana; and the expansion and relocation of the previously certificated Vicksburg Compressor Station to Hinds County, Mississippi. Specifically, MEP is proposing to:

• Install one additional G12 compressor unit and associated appurtenant facilities at the Lamar Compressor Station;
• substitute two G16 compressor units for the two previously certificated G12 compressor units and add two additional G16 compressor units and associated appurtenant facilities at the Atlanta Compressor Station and remove the compression-capacity cap for the station;
• install one additional inlet filter/separator at the Perryville Compressor Station;
• relocate the previously certificated Vicksburg Compressor Station from Warren County, Mississippi, to Hinds County, Mississippi, and install one new G12 compressor unit and associated appurtenant facilities at the new Vicksburg Compressor Station site.

The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. [phone].

Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies; public interest groups; interested individuals; newspapers and libraries in the project area; Native American groups; and parties to this proceeding. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is important that we receive your comments before the date specified below.

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the MEP Amendment and Expansion Projects. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before August 28, 2009.

For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please reference the project docket numbers (CP08-6-002 and CP09-56-000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258 or [e-mail].

(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's internet Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only comments on a project;

(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking “Sign up” or “eRegister.” You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making. A comment on a particular project is considered a “Comment on a Filing”; or

(3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the Gas Branch 3, PJ-11.3.

Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).^[1] Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.

Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.

Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket numbers excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, contact [phone]. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to the documents. To register for this service, go to the eSubscription link on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/​esubscribenow.htm).

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  Interventions may also be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing comments electronically.