[Federal Register: November 4, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 213)] [Notices] [Page 60188] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04no99-53] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP87-203-007] CNG Transmission Corporation; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed CNG Transmission Corporation Tioga Expansion Project October 29, 1999. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on both the natural gas storage field and pipeline facilities proposed by CNG Transmission Corporation (CNG) in the above-referenced docket. The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to maintain CNG's current certificated deliverability of the Tioga Storage Pool in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. In addition, CNG requests authorization to expand the boundaries of the Tioga Storage Pool to reflect the current area used for gas storage operations. CNG also seeks authorization for a 2,000 foot protective boundary around the active limits of the storage pool. 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. Specifically, the EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of CNG's proposed modifications to the Tioga Storage Pool and related pipeline facilities including: The operation of four storage wells (well Nos. TW-209, TW- 707, TW-708, and TW-800) which were previously drilled as observation wells and converted to storage wells in 1989 (well No. TW-209), March 20, 1995 (well No. TW-707), and December 31, 1996 (well Nos. TW-708 and TW-800) and the interconnecting 50 feet, 8.625-inch-diameter pipeline; 169 feet of 6.625-inch-diameter pipeline, 1,680 feet of 6.625-inch- diameter pipeline, and 1,851 feet of 4.5-inch-diameter pipeline, respectively; Conversion of observation well Nos. TW-605 and TW-403 to storage wells; and Construction of 536 feet of 6-inch-diameter (LN-2465-S) and 1,117 feet of 4-inch-diameter pipeline (LN-2464-S) to connect well Nos. TW-605 and TW-403 to existing gas storage pipeline facilities. 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, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371. Copies of the EA has 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. CP87-203-007; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before November 29, 1999. Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to make 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 later interventions must show good cause, as required by sections 385.214(b)(3), why this time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed as good cause for later intervention. You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Additional information about the proposed project is available from Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of Extenal Affairs, at (202) 208- 1088 or on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.is) using the ``RIMS'' link to information in this docket number. Click on 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 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, For assistance with access to CIPS, and CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-28824 Filed 11-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M