[Federal Register: February 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 26)] [Notices] [Page 6339] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09fe99-69] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. CP98-761-000 and CP99-140-000] Viking Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed 1999 Expansion Project February 3, 1999. 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 Viking Gas Transmission Company (Viking) in the above-referenced docket. The application and other supplemental filings in this docket are available for viewing on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us). Click on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions. Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website, click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and follow the instructions. The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The 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 purpose of the proposed facilities is to provide additional firm transportation service of approximately 28 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of natural gas during the winter months and approximately 22 MMcfd of natural gas during the summer months along Viking's existing route between the Canada-United States border near Emerson, Manitoba and North Branch, Minnesota. The proposed facilities would also provide reliability and system flexibility benefits to Viking's existing customers. The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the following proposed natural gas transmission facilities: The construction of five pipeline loops \1\ of 24-inch- diameter pipeline totaling 45.0 miles; --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipeline installed parallel to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends in order to increase the volume of gas that can be transported through the pipeline system. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The construction of eight crossover valves and other minor aboveground facilities to connect the loops to Viking's existing pipelines; The construction of one new meter station; and The removal of the existing valve. 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 and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371. Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, 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. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded. Send two copies of your comments to: David P. Boergers, 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 Environmental Review and Compliance Branch, PR11.1; Reference Docket Nos. CP98-761-000 and CP99-140-000; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before March 4, 1999. 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). 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 section 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 environmental comments considered. Additional information about the proposed project is available from Mr. Paul McKee of the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1088 or on the FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the ``RIMS'' link to information in this docket number. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222. Access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission with regard to this docket, such as orders and notices, is also available on the FERC website using the ``CIPS'' link. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-3063 Filed 2-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M