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Gas - Environment - Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on Cypress Pipeline Project (CP05-388-000) and Phase VII Expansion Project (CP06-1-000)
Issued: April 7, 2006
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Southern Natural Gas Company (Southern) and Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT) in the above-referenced dockets. Southern's Cypress Pipeline Project would be located in various counties in southern Georgia and northern Florida. FGT's Phase VII Expansion Project (FGT Expansion Project) would be located in various counties in northern and central Florida.
The final EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that the proposed projects, with the appropriate mitigation measures as recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) has participated as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS.
Staff concludes that the project would be environmentally acceptable action (with appropriate mitigation) because:
- About 95 percent of Southern's pipeline facilities and 99 percent of FGT's pipeline facilities would be located within or directly adjacent to existing pipeline and powerline corridors, both of which have been historically disturbed, are actively maintained, and have visual impacts consistent with the proposed projects.
- Southern and FGT would implement the FERC staff's Upland Erosion Control, Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan and the FERC staff's Wetland and Waterbody Construction and Mitigation Procedures to protect natural resources during construction and operation of the projects.
- Sensitive waterbodies, such as the Ogeechee River, Peacock Creek, Altamaha River, Satilla River, and St. Mary's River, would be crossed using a horizontal directional drill methodology.
- The appropriate consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State Historic Preservation Offices, and any appropriate compliance actions resulting from these consultations, would be completed before Southern and FGT would be allowed to begin construction in any given area.
- An environmental inspection and mitigation monitoring program would ensure compliance with all mitigation measures that become conditions of any certificate issued for the projects.
FERC Commissioners will take into consideration staff's recommendations and the final EIS when they make a decision on the projects.
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