[Federal Register: March 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 52)]
[Notices]
[Page 13185-13187]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18mr05-67]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP05-58-000]
CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Chiles Dome
Storage Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues
March 11, 2005.
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 Chiles Dome Storage Expansion
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by
CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company (CenterPoint) in Coal,
Atoka, Pittsburg, and Latimer Counties, Oklahoma. CenterPoint's project
purpose is to increase its Chiles Dome storage reservoir working gas
capacity by three billion cubic feet and its deliverability by
43,000,000 cubic feet per day. In general, the project consists of
three wells, about 23.5 miles of pipeline, and auxiliary facilities at
Centerpoint's existing Chiles Dome and Chandler Compressor Stations.
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 April 11, 2005.
This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners;
federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities.
The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that
approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with
state law.
[[Page 13186]]
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). 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
Centerpoint proposes to construct and operate: \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ CenterPoint's application was filed with the Commission
under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the
Commission's regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Three vertical wells in its Chiles Dome Storage Reservoir in
Coal County, Oklahoma;
(2) About 23.4 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline that would extend
eastward from the Chiles Dome Storage Reservoir to an existing
CenterPoint 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma.
This would include:
Two 24-inch mainline valve assemblies,
Two blowdown stacks, and
A pig launcher and receiver at each terminal;
(3) within its existing Chiles Dome Compressor Station in Coal
County, Oklahoma:
A pipeline liquid removal scrubber,
A glycol dehydrator and reboiler,
A gas cooler, filter-separator, and pressure reducing
valve,
About 400 feet of 20-inch-diameter pipe and 100 feet of
16-inch-diameter pipe, and
Valves, fittings, and supports to connect to the proposed
24-inch-diameter pipeline; and
(4) Within its existing Chandler Compressor Station in Latimer
County, Oklahoma:
A 16-inch meter,
An 8-inch pressure reducing valve,
A 20-inch cross-over line, and
About 450 feet of 20-inch-diameter pipe.
The general location of Centerpoint's proposed facilities is shown
on the map attached as Appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of CenterPoint's proposed facilities would require
about 255.0 acres of land for the well pads, construction right-of-way
for the pipelines, additional temporary workspaces, and staging areas.
The wells would require about 2.1 acres each for both construction and
operation. The construction right-of-way for the pipelines would
typically be 75 feet wide, except in agricultural areas or where
specifically requested by landowners it could be 100 feet wide, to
allow for topsoil segregation. Following construction, a 50-foot wide
permanent right-of-way would be maintained.
The construction of the auxiliary facilities at the Chiles Dome and
Chandler Compressor Stations would be performed within the existing
CenterPoint facilities and would not require the clearing of additional
land.
Construction access to CenterPoint's project would be via existing
public and private roads. CenterPoint has identified 13 existing
private access roads necessary for the construction of its project.
The EA Process
We \3\ are preparing the EA to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which 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 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'', refer to the environmental
staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
In the EA, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the project. We will also evaluate
possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the
project.
We have already identified some issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by CenterPoint. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Project-related impact on:
Pipeline crossings of 12 perennial waterbodies.
Five federally-listed threatened and endangered species
potentially in the project area.
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
and 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:
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.
Reference Docket No. CP05-58-000.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before April 11, 2005.
Please note that 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
[[Page 13187]]
Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account
which can be created on-line.
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 e-Filing 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).\4\ Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
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 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
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (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 http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-1179 Filed 3-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P