Environmental statements; notice of intent: National Fuel Gas Supply Corp.,

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Federal Register: March 20, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 54)NoticesPage 14963-14964From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr20mr00-64

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Docket No. CP00-91-000National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Line AM-60 Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

March 14, 2000.

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 Line AM-60 Replacement Project involving the construction and operation of facilities by National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation (National Fuel) in Elk, McKean and Warren Counties, Pennsylvania.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity. The application and other supplemental filings in this docket are available for viewing on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us). Click on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions.

\1\ National Fuel's application was filedwith the Commission of February 22, 2000, under Sections 7(b and c) of the Natural Gas Act.

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 the follow the instructions.

If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted by a pipeline company representive 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 to eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law.

A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the project notice National Fuel provided to landowners. 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 website (www.ferc.fed.us).

Summary of the Proposed Project

The project would be known as the AM-60 Replacement Project, and would replace 12.9 miles of 8-inch-diameter pipelines known as Lines A- M60 and S-1; abandon in place 18.9 miles of 8- and 10-inch-diameter pipeline; add 360 horsepower to the Roystone Compressor Station; and relocate, modify or abandon other appurtenant facilities. National Fuel proposes to replace Lines A-M60 and S-1 with a new 20-inch-diameter pipeline to be known as Line AM-60. Section 1 of Line AM-60 would be located within 6.3 miles of the existing Line S-1 right-of-way, but section 2 would need about 6.6 miles of additional permanent right-of- way to construct the balance of the replacement along the existing Line A-M60 segment.

The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 132.2 acres of land including 7.6 acres of permanent right-of-way (ROW), and 124.6 acres of temporary construction ROW that includes extra work spaces, staging areas and access roads. National Fuel proposes to use two 5-acre staging areas, and up to 11 access roads for construction. Extra work spaces would be used at road and railroad crossings, areas of steep side slopes, and in agricultural areas.

The EA Process

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 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. We call this ``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 requests public comments on the scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received are considered during the preparation of the EA. State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings:

Geology and soils.

Water resources and wetlands.

Vegetation, fisheries and wildlife.

Endangered and threatened species.

Cultural resources.

Land use.

Air quality and noise.

Public safety.

We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or void impacts on the various resource areas.

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.

To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public participation section beginning on page 6 of this notice.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

We have already identified the following issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by National Fuel. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.

Twenty-six wetlands would be crossed by the project route, with 3.22 acres of potential wetland impacts.

Thirteen perennial streams that are all high quality cold water systems would be crossed by the project route, including 3 between 10- and 25-feet-wide.

Seven water supply wells would be within 150 feet of the construction ROW.

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Ten residences in the project area would be within 50 feet of the construction ROW.

About 10.6 miles of forest would be crossed by the project route, and 38.8 acres of forest would be cleared. This includes areas of habitat potentially used by federally endangered Indiana bats for maternity roosting areas.

About 5.0 of the 12.9 miles of AM-60 replacement pipeline, and all of the 18.9 miles of Line L pipeline to be abandoned in place, would be on federally owned land within the Allegheny National Forest.

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 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 two copies of your letter to: David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;

Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the Gas Group 2;

Reference Docket No. CP00-91-000; and

Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before April 13, 2000.

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 provide 14 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) (see appendix 2). Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.

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.

Additional information about the proposed project is available from Mr. Paul McKee of the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1088 or on the FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us) 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, the CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

David P. Boergers, Secretary.

FR Doc. 00-6758Filed3-17-00; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6717-01-M

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