E6-14769. Golden Pass Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Northern Segment Amendment Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

August 25, 2006.

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that discusses the environmental impacts of Golden Pass Pipeline LP's (Golden Pass) proposed Northern Segment Amendment Project (Northern Segment Amendment or Project) which involves design and workspace changes to the pipeline facilities previously approved as part of the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project.^[1] In the Northern Segment Amendment, Golden Pass proposes the following changes to the previously authorized facilities: (1) Replace the authorized, but not yet constructed, 36-inch-diameter pipeline with a 42-inch-diameter pipeline between approximate milepost (MP) 42.81 and MP 77.87, at the American Electric Power Texoma Pipeline (AEP Texoma) interconnect and the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) interconnect, respectively; (2) relocate a mainline valve (MLV) from MP 54.11 to 52.50 and install a 42-inch MLV rather than a 36-inch MLV; (3) remove from the approved facilities the 36-inch pig receiver and launcher at the AEP Texoma interconnect; and (4) install a 42-inch pig receiver and MLV at the Transco interconnect. The pipeline route would not change as a result of the amended facilities. However, due to the increased diameter of the pipeline, Golden Pass is requesting additional temporary workspaces at certain locations.

This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested agencies on the Project. Please note that the scoping period will close on September 25, 2006. Details on how to submit comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.

This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners along the Project route; Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; and local libraries and newspapers.

With this notice, we ^[2] are asking Federal, state, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies which would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described later in this notice. We encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

Some affected landowners may be contacted by a project representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline. If so, the company should seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event that the Project is certificated by the Commission, that approval conveys the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the pipeline. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law.

A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled “An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?” addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov).

Summary of the Proposed Project

In the Commission's July 6, 2005 Order, Golden Pass was authorized to construct and operate approximately 77.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter mainline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch-diameter loop, and 1.8 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline and related pipeline facilities. These facilities (or the Authorized Pipeline) will be used to transport natural gas on an open-access basis from the Golden Pass LNG Terminal on the Port Arthur ship channel to various interstate and intrastate pipelines in Texas and Louisiana. The EA prepared for the Project will incorporate by reference information provided in the environmental impact statement prepared for the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project.

Golden Pass presently has a pending application for the Optimized Pipeline Project (OP Project) by which it proposes to construct and operate a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline, in place of the 42.8 miles of dual 36-inch-diameter pipelines and to shorten the pipeline route. That proposal would involve only those pipeline facilities in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas, south of approximate MP 42.81. An environmental assessment of the OP Project was issued on August 15, 2006.

The Northern Segment Amendment would affect the authorized pipeline north of MP 42.81. A map illustrating the authorized facilities and the proposed Project is provided in Appendix 1.^[3]

Non-Jurisdictional Facilities

There are no proposed non-jurisdictional facilities associated with this proposal.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the Project would not change the permanent pipeline right-of-way, but it would require additional temporary construction workspace at certain waterbody, road, and pipeline crossings. The total increase in temporary land requirements would be about 4.89 acres.

The EA Process

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 under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as “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 staff requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EA. By this notice, we are also asking Federal, state, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. Agencies that would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments below.

In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed Project under these general headings:

• Land use.
• Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands.
• Cultural resources.
• Vegetation and wildlife.
• Endangered and threatened species.

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 included in the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA would be published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, Native American tribes, public interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A comment period would be allotted for review of the EA. All comments received on the EA would be considered before we make our recommendations to the Commission. The EA is used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity.

To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public participation section described later in this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

We have identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by Golden Pass. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.

• Water Resources.
• Impact on water quality.
• Impact on wetlands.
• Endangered and Threatened Species.
• Land use.

Public Participation

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the Project. By becoming a commentor, your concerns may be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission. You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they may be. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded:

• Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
• Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 2.
• Reference Docket No. CP04-400-002 on the original and both copies.
• Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC, on or before September 25, 2006.

Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our environmental analysis of this project. However, the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the “e-Filing” link and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments, you will need to open a free account which can be created online.

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an “intervenor”. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process. Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor must send one electronic copy (using the Commission's eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to the Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. 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, see Appendix 2). 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 environmental comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

If you do not want to send comments at this time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the attached Mailing List Retention Form (Appendix 3). If you do not return the form, you will be taken off the mailing list.

Additional Information

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 (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket number 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 1-202-502-8659. 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 now 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. Go to www.ferc.gov/​esubscribenow.htm.

Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/​EventCalendar/​EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  On July 6, 2005, the Commission approved the Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project in Docket Nos. CP04-386-000, CP04-400-000, CP04-401-000, and CP04-402-000. The Golden Pass LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project included a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and associated LNG facilities, 77.8 miles of 36-inch diameter mainline pipeline, 42.8 miles of 36-inch diameter looping pipeline that would be constructed adjacent to the mainline, and associated pipeline facilities.

2.  “We,” “us,” and “our” refer to the environmental staff of the Office of Energy Projects.

3.  The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) at the “eLibrary” link or from the Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch at 1-202-502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the Additional Information section of this notice.