[Federal Register: June 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 32534-32535]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn04-72]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF04-12-000]
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Central New
Jersey Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
and Notice of Scoping Meeting
June 4, 2004.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Corporation's (Transco) planned Central New Jersey Expansion Project
located in Burlington County, New Jersey. This notice announces the
opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input
from the public and interested agencies on the projects. Your input
will help the Commission staff determine which issues need to be
evaluated in the EA. The Commission will use the EA in its decision-
making process to determine whether or not to authorize the project.
Please note that the scoping period will close on August 27, 2004.
Comments may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the public
participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written
comments, you are invited to attend the public scoping meeting that is
scheduled as follows: Tuesday, June 29, 2004, 7 p.m. (e.s.t.), Ramada
Inn, Bordentown, 1083 Route 206 North, Bordentown, NJ 08505, 609-298-
3200. This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, State,
and local government representatives and agencies; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested
parties; and local libraries and newspapers in this proceeding. We \1\
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of
these planned projects and advise them to comment on their areas of
concern.
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\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
Transco proposes to construct and operate about 3.5 miles of 36-
inch-diameter pipeline that would loop \2\ Transco's existing Trenton
Woodbury Line, located in Bordentown and Mansfield Townships in
Burlington County, New Jersey. The expansion would add an additional
105,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity to Transco's
existing system. Transco proposes to place the Central New Jersey
Expansion facilities into service by November 1, 2005, and requests a
certificate approval from the Commission by February 1, 2005.
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\2\ A loop is a segment of pipeline that is installed adjacent
to an existing pipeline and connected to it at both ends. The loop
allows more gas to be moved through the system.
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A map depicting Transco's proposed facilities and alternate routes
is provided in Appendix 1.\3\
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\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's website at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room or call (202) 502-8371. For
instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the end of this
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving
this notice in the mail.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues
Transco has initially identified five route variations, of which
have several issues that we think deserve attention based on a
preliminary review of the planned facilities. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on our analysis:
Two variations (Alternates A and B) may have land use
conflicts with regards to commercial and/or private development;
Two variations (Alternates B and C) may have land use
conflicts with regards to transportation development; and
Two variations (Alternates D and E) bisect Farmland
Preservation Property.
The siting of the pipeline loop in proximity to residential
neighborhoods and commercial businesses; and public safety have also
been raised by concerned citizens.
The EA Process
The FERC will use the EA to consider the environmental impact that
could result if it issues Transco a Certificate of Public Convenience
and Necessity.
This notice formally announces our preparation of the EA and the
beginning of the process referred to as ``scoping.'' We are soliciting
input from the public and interested agencies to help us focus the
analysis in the EA on the potentially significant environmental issues
related to the proposed action.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in an EA
that will be prepared for the project. Our evaluation will also include
possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the
project, and we will make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid
impacts on the various resource areas of concern.
The EA will be mailed to Federal, State, and local government
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups;
Native American tribes; affected landowners; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's official service list
for this proceeding. A 30-day comment period will be allotted for
review of the EA. We will consider all comments submitted on the EA in
any Commission Order that is issued for the project.
Although no formal application for authorizing these natural gas
facilities has been filed, the FERC staff is initiating its NEPA review
now. The purpose of the FERC's pre-filing process is to encourage the
early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and
resolve issues before an application is filed with the FERC.
We are currently involved with discussions with other
jurisdictional agencies to identify their issues and concerns. These
agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
and the U.S. Department of Transportation. By this notice, we are
asking these and other 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 provided below.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the proposals. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please mail your comments so
that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before August 27,
2004, and carefully follow these instructions:
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 1, DG2E;
[[Page 32535]]
Reference Docket No. PF04-12-000 on the original and both
copies;
Please note that the Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the
Commission's Internet Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the
``eFiling'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Prepare your
submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper and save
it to a file on your hard drive. Before you can file comments you will
need to create an account by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then
``New User Account.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing
you are making. This filing is considered a ``Comment on Filing.''
When Transco submits its application for authorization to construct
and operate the Central New Jersey Expansion Project, the Commission
will publish a Notice of Application in the Federal Register and will
establish a deadline for interested persons to intervene in the
proceeding. Because the Commission's pre-filing process occurs before
an application to begin a proceeding is officially filed, petitions to
intervene during this process are premature and will not be accepted by
the Commission.
Environmental Mailing List
If you wish to remain on the environmental mailing list, please
return the Mailing List Retention Form included in Appendix 2. If you
do not return this form, you will be taken off our mailing list.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208 FERC (3372) or on
the FERC Internet website (http://www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary''
link, select ``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the
selected date range and ``Docket Number'' (i.e., PF04-12-000), and
follow the instructions. Searches may also be done using the phrase
``Central New Jersey Expansion'' in the ``Text Search'' field. For
assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at 1-
The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to
the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rule makings.
In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called
eSubscription that 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 http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm
.
Finally, Transco has established an Internet Web site for its
project at http://centralnj.williams.com. The website includes a
project overview, contact information, regulatory overview, and
construction procedures.
Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-1317 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P