[Federal Register: June 2, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 106)]
[Notices]
[Page 32071-32073]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn06-61]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP06-143-000]
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Algonquin Cape Cod Project;
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Site Visit
May 26, 2006.
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 Algonquin Cape Cod Project
(Project) involving construction, and operation of facilities by
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin) in Barnstable County,
Massachusetts. The project would provide firm transportation service
for new deliveries of natural gas to KeySpan Energy Delivery Services
Company of New England (Keyspan) to ensure reliability and meet future
demand. The project would provide up to 38,000 dekatherms per day (dth/
d) of transportation capacity. In general, the project consists of
about 3.5 miles of new pipeline and other auxiliary facilities.
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 June 26, 2006.
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.
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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?'' 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
).
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.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Algonquin proposes to construct and operate \1\ approximately 3.5
miles of 18-inch-diameter pipeline in the towns of Bourne and Sandwich
in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The line would commence at the
Mirant Energy Generation Facility and terminate at a new proposed meter
station west of Route 130 in Sandwich. Algonquin also proposes to
construct a pig \2\ launcher upstream of the proposed facilities in the
town of Bourne at the beginning of the G-24 pipeline and a pig receiver
at the proposed meter station.
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\1\ Algonquin's application was filed with the Commission under
section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commission's
regulations.
\2\ A pipeline ``pig'' is a device used to clean or inspect the
pipeline. A pig launcher/receiver is an aboveground facility where
pigs are inserted or retrieved from the pipeline.
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The general location of Algonquin's proposed facilities is shown on
the map attached as Appendix 1.\3\
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\3\ 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.
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Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of Algonquin's proposed facilities would require about
45.35 acres of land for the construction right-of-way for the
pipelines, additional temporary workspaces, staging areas, and access
roads. The construction right-of-way for the pipelines would typically
be 75 feet wide. Following construction, a 50-foot wide permanent
right-of-way would be maintained.
Construction access to Algonquin's project would be via existing
public and private roads. Algonquin has identified 19 existing access
roads necessary for the construction of its project.
The EA Process
We \4\ 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.
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\4\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'', refer to the environmental
staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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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.
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 Algonquin. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Impact of crossing the Shawme-Crowell State Forest and
Massachusetts Military Reservation.
Disturbance of 20.39 acres of forest land.
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. CP06-143-000.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 26, 2006.
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 Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to
create an account which can be created online.
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
[[Page 32073]]
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).\5\ Only
intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's
decision.
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\5\ 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.
Site Visit
On June 20, 2006, the OEP staff will conduct a pre-certification
site visit of the planned Cape Cod Project.
We will view the proposed route and variations that are being
considered for the planned pipeline. Staff will view the area by
automobile and on foot. Representatives of Algonquin will be
accompanying the OEP staff.
All interested parties may attend the site visit on June 20, 2006.
Those planning to attend must provide their own transportation. If you
are interested in attending the site visit, please meet us at 9 a.m. in
the parking lot of ENSR, 95 State Road, Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts.
If you plan on attending and will be entering the Massachusetts
Military Reservation along with FERC on the site visit, it will be
necessary that you provide certain information no later than Monday,
June 12, 2006. We will attempt to get pre-approval for anyone
attending. Please e-mail the following information to jzimmer@ensr.com:
Name; Drivers License Number; Agency/Affiliation; Vehicle make, model,
color, year, and license plate number of vehicle entering the base.
Anyone attending who will be entering the Massachusetts Military
Reservation needs to be pre-approved and must bring a Photo ID to gain
access.
For additional information, please contact the Commission's Office
of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC (3372).
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. E6-8596 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P