[Federal Register: November 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 228)]
[Notices]
[Page 67335-67336]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28no07-79]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 5997]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for
the Proposed Enbridge Southern Lights Pipeline Project
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 67336]]
A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Proposed Enbridge
Southern Lights Pipeline Project has been prepared on behalf of the
Department of State by Enbridge Pipelines (Southern Lights) LLC
(``EPSL''). On April 9, 2007, The Department of State received an
application from EPSL for a Presidential permit, pursuant to Executive
Order 13337 of April 30, 2004, as amended, to construct, connect,
operate, and maintain facilities (including a 20-inch diameter crude
oil and liquid hydrocarbon pipeline) at the U.S.-Canadian border at
Neche, Pembina County, North Dakota, for the purpose of transporting
liquid hydrocarbons and other petroleum products between the United
States and Canada. EPSL has stated that it seeks this authorization in
connection with its Southern Lights Pipeline Project (``LSr Project''),
which is designed to transport Canadian crude oil from the Western
Canadian Sedimentary Basin (``WCSB'') to existing refinery markets in
the Midwest region of the United States.
The Secretary of State is designated and empowered to receive all
applications for Presidential permits, as referred to in Executive
Order 13337, as amended, for the construction, connection, operation,
or maintenance, at the borders of the United States, of facilities for
the exportation or importation of petroleum, petroleum products, coal,
or other fuels to or from a foreign country.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 27, 2007, the Department of State
published in the Federal Register a Notification of Receipt and intent
to prepare an Environment Assessment (EA). [** public comments were
received in connection with that notice.] In accordance with Section
102(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42
U.S.C. 4332(C)) and implementing regulations promulgated by the Council
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and the Department of
State (22 CFR part 161), including in particular 22 CFR 161.7(c)(1), a
draft environmental assessment (EA) was prepared by EPSL on behalf of
the Department of State to determine if there are any potential
significant impacts and to address alternatives to the proposed action.
The U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers was a Federal cooperating agency
for the development of this EA. Cooperating agencies either have
jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to the
environmental impacts assessed in connection with the proposal and are
involved in the Department's analysis of those environmental impacts.
The draft EA addresses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the United States portion of the Southern
Lights Pipeline Project. EPSL is a limited liability company, organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware. EPSL is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
and an indirectly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., a corporation
organized under the laws of Canada. EPSL's primary U.S. business
address is 1100 Louisiana St., Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 7702.
According to the description in EPSL's application, the proposed new
border crossing would consist of approximately forty (40) feet of
pipeline on each side of the international boundary, which would be
buried to a minimum depth of three (3) feet below ground level; the
border crossing would be part of the LSr Project, which would consist
in the U.S. of 136 miles of 20-inch diameter pipeline from the U.S.-
Canadian border at Pembina County, North Dakota, to the existing
Enbridge Clearbrook tank farm and terminal facilities in Clearwater
County, Minnesota.
Comment Procedures: Any person wishing to comment on the draft EA
may do so. To ensure consideration of comments prior to a Department of
State decision on the application, it is important that we receive your
comments by no later than December 28, 2007. Options for submitting
comments on the Draft EA are as follows:
By mail to: Jeff Izzo, U.S. Department of State, EEB/ESC
Room 4843, Washington, DC 20520. Please note that Department of State
mail can be delayed due to security screening.
Fax to: (202) 647-4037, attention Jeff Izzo.
E-mail to: izzojr@state.gov.
After comments are reviewed, significant new issues (if any) are
investigated, and modifications (if any) are made to the draft EA, a
final EA will be made available by the Department of State, along with
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), if such a determination is
made. The final EA will contain the Department's response to timely
comments received on the draft EA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the proposed
project or a CD-ROM copy of the draft EA contact Jeff Izzo, EEB/ESC
Room 4843, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, or by
telephone (202) 647-1291, or by fax at (202) 647-4037.
Matthew T. McManus,
Acting Director, International Energy and Commodity Policy, Department
of State.
[FR Doc. E7-23135 Filed 11-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P