[Federal Register: December 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 65696-65697]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20de01-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP00-232-000 and CP00-232-001]
Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Availability of
the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Eastchester
Project
December 14, 2001.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Iroquois Gas
Transmission System, L.P. (Iroquois) in the above referenced docket.
The FEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that approval of
the proposed project, with the mitigation measures recommended in the
DEIS, would have limited adverse environmental impact.
The FEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the
project proposed by Iroquois to convey natural gas from Northport, Long
Island, to the Bronx, New York and evaluates alternatives to the
proposed project. The pipeline would be constructed across Long Island
Sound and be comprised of the following facilities:
32.8 miles of 24-inch diameter pipe;
Pipeline maintenance facilities constructed in Northport and the
Bronx;
Gas meter, regulator, heater, and mainline valve at the terminus in
the Bronx;
Two new compressor stations along the existing Iroquois pipeline;
Additions and modifications to three existing compressor stations;
and
Work space and access roads to construct, operate, and maintain the
above facilities.
The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to provide natural
gas for electric generation and to serve residential, industrial, and
commercial customers in New York City. The proposed project would
serve:
Consolidated Edison Energy, Inc. (Dth/day)--30,000 dekatherms per
day
Keyspan Ravenswood, Inc.--60,000 Dth/day
Orion Power Holdings, Inc.--60,000 Dth/day
Miriant New York Management, Inc--60,000 Dth/day
Virginia Power Energy Marketing, Inc.--20,000 Dth/day.
Consultation
The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued on
August 2, 2001 and distributed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) and to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as our
biological assessment under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Written
concurrence that the project, with the recommendations proposed by
staff, would not likely affect listed species or critical habitat are
anticipated from both FWS and NMFS.
Pursuant to section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, federal agencies are required to
consult with the NMFS on any action that may result in adverse effects
to essential fish habitat (EFH). Our DEIS, containing an EFH
assessment, was provided to NMFS. No Conservation Recommendations have
been received from NMFS.
Availability
The FEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is
available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First
Street, NE, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
Copies of the FEIS have been mailed to federal, state and local
agencies, public interest groups, individuals who have requested the
FEIS, newspapers, and parties to this proceeding. It has also been
distributed to the commentors and libraries listed in Appendix A of the
FEIS. Those individuals who filed form letters were sent copies of this
cover letter and the executive summary.
On October 11, 2001, the Commission issued a policy statement in
Docket No. PL02-1, regarding previously public documents. The
Commission advised the public that documents that were previously
available through the Public Reference Room, the Internet, and RIMS
were no longer to be considered public, and that anyone wishing to
obtain these documents were to file a request under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). Several figures in the FEIS are subject to the
new Commission policy including: Figures 2.13.1, 2.13.2, and B-3
through B-12. Accordingly, these figures are not included in the public
version of the FEIS. Anyone wishing to obtain these documents should
file a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the
Commission's regulations at 18 CFR 388.108. Further guidance may be
obtained at the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.gov).
In accordance with Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
regulations implementing NEPA, no agency decision on a proposed action
may be made until 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes a notice of availability of an FEIS. However, the CEQ
regulations provide an exception to this rule when an agency decision
is subject to a formal internal appeal process that allows agencies or
the public to make their views known. In such cases, the agency
decision may be made at the same time the notice of the FEIS is
published, allowing both periods to run concurrently. The Commission
decision for this proposed action is subject to a 30-day rehearing
period.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 208-1088 or on
the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.gov) using the ``RIMS'' link,
select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions.
For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be reached at
(202) 208-2222.
Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides
access to the text 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. For assistance with access to CIPS, the
[[Page 65697]]
CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.
Linwood A. Watson Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-31309 Filed 12-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P