[Federal Register: April 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 83)]
[Notices]
[Page 23121-23123]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ap03-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP03-79-000, CP03-33-000, CP03-34-000 and CP03-35-000]
National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Wyckoff Gas Storage
Company, LLC; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation Line
Z-67 Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
April 24, 2003.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the National Fuel Gas Supply
Corporation (National Fuel) Line Z-67 Project in Steuben County, New
York.\1\ This project is related to Wyckoff Gas Storage Company, LLC's
(Wyckoff) proposed Wyckoff Gas Storage Project in Docket Nos. CP03-33-
000, CP03-34-000 and CP03-35-000, involving construction and operation
of natural gas storage facilities in Steuben County, New York. We \2\
issued a notice of intent to prepare an EA for Wyckoff's project on
February 10, 2003. The EA being prepared for the Wyckoff project will
be expanded to include National Fuel's Line Z-67 Project. The
facilities National Fuel proposes to abandon include about 6.8 miles of
8-inch-diameter pipeline (Line Z-67), one block valve, and two bridle
valve connections. This EA will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
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\1\ National Fuel's application was filed with the Commission
under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the
Commission's regulations.
\2\ ''We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the
project notice Wyckoff provided to landowners. This fact sheet
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 (http://www.ferc.gov
).
Summary of the Proposed Project
National Fuel states that it would abandon its facilities only if
the Wyckoff Storage Project is developed. After completion of
abandonment activities, Wyckoff would exercise its option to acquire
National Fuel's right-of-way under the right-of-way agreements, subject
to a reservation allowing National Fuel to use the right-of-way for a
single pipeline. This would be consistent with the terms and conditions
of the applicable right-of-way agreements. National Fuel's facilities
that would be abandoned would consist of:
[sbull] 35,670 feet of 8-inch-diameter pipeline Line Z-67, would be
abandoned in place near the Towns of Troupsburg and Jasper, Steben
County, New York. Landowners request that the pipeline be removed. If
pipeline sections are removed at the request of landowners, that work
would be performed by Wyckoff. One block valve and two bridle valve
connections would be abandoned by removal along Line Z-67.
[sbull] One 100-horsepower nonjurisdictional skid mounted field
compressor would also be retired by removal.
The location of the project facilities is shown 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 Web site at the ``FERRIS'' link or from the
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For
instructions on connecting to FERRIS refer to the last page of this
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving
this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction
Abandonment of the proposed facilities would require less than 0.1
acre of land, and the work would be performed on National Fuel's
existing right-of-way. At milepost (MP) 0.0, an approximate 5-foot by
15-foot bell hole would be dug over the existing trench line on the
edge of an agricultural field in order to cut and remove the
[[Page 23122]]
aboveground block valve. At MPs 3.14 and 6.76, three bell holes would
be dug at each site. Each bell hole would be about 5-foot by 5-foot
over the existing trench line in order to cut and remove the bridle
connection aboveground facilities. Additional land would be disturbed
in areas where landowners want the old pipeline removed.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (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. 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 requests
public comments on the scope of the issues it will address in the EA.
All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EA.
State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general
headings:
[sbull] soils
[sbull] land use
[sbull] cultural resources
[sbull] vegetation and wildlife
[sbull] endangered and threatened species
[sbull] polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section below.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Wyckoff. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
[sbull] National Fuel's Line Z-67 would be abandoned in place
unless requested to be removed by the landowners. Additional land would
be disturbed where any landowners want the pipeline removed.
[sbull] Excavations would occur on the existing Line Z-67 pipeline
right-of-way at MPs 0.0, 3.14, and 6.76 to allow workmen to access,
cut, test for PCBs, and cap the existing pipeline.
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 will 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/routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be.
Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments
are received in time and properly recorded:
[sbull] 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.
[sbull] Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 2
Branch.
[sbull] Reference Docket No. CP03-79-000.
[sbull] Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before May 27, 2003.
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 create a free account which can be
created by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.''
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request
(appendix 3). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be
taken off the mailing list.
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 provide 14 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).\4\ Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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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
This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
proposed project. It is also being sent to all identified potential
right-of-way grantors.
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 (http://www.ferc.gov)using the FERRIS link.
Click on the FERRIS link, 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 with FERRIS, the FERRIS helpline
can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The FERRIS link on the FERC Internet Web
site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by
the
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Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you too 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 tohttp://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-10620 Filed 4-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P