[Federal Register: December 31, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 251)] [Notices] [Page 72292-72293] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr31de98-65] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP98-546-000] Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation RIPX Project December 23, 1998. 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 Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) 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 project is to abandon the Derricks Creek Storage Field in its entirety and offset any reductions in working gas capacity and deliverability by facility construction at the Ripley Storage Field. Columbia proposes to increase the certificated capacity at Ripley Storage Field by 0.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf). Columbia must also take immediate action at the Derricks Creek Storage Field to comply with a U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Facilities Order. Specifically, the EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the abandonment of the Derricks Creek Storage Field in Kanawha County, West Virginia and the construction and operation of Columbia's proposed pipeline facilities and modifications at the Ripley Storage Field in Jackson County, West Virginia including: Abandonment in place of the Derricks Creek Storage Field in its entirety consisting of 13.1 miles of various diameter pipeline and 20 active storage wells; Construction of approximately 3.5 miles of various diameter storage pipeline, drilling six new storage wells, and improving the deliverability of nine existing wells at the Ripley Storage Field; Increase the capacity of the Ripley Storage Field by 0.8 Bcf of gas; Conversion of two observation wells to active injection/ withdrawal wells and conversion of three very low performance wells to observation wells in the Ripley Storage Field; Abandonment by sale of up to 5.4 Bcf of base gas within the two storage fields; and Performing various well pipeline installations and replacements. 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, N.E., 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 St., N.E., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426; Label one of those copies for the attention of the Environmental Review and Compliance Branch II, PR-11.2; Reference Docket No. CP98-546-000; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before January 28, 1999. Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to make [[Page 72293]] 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 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. 98-34607 Filed 12-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M