[Federal Register: August 12, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 155)]
[Notices]
[Page 49889-49890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au04-61]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP04-377-000]
CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Round Mountain &
Helena Compression Expansion Project and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
August 6, 2004.
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 Round Mountain & Helena
Compression Expansion Project involving extension and operation of
facilities by CenterPoint Energy Gas Transmission Company (CenterPoint)
in Conway and Phillips Counties, Arkansas. The project would consist of
the addition of 6,380 horsepower (hp) of compression to two existing
compressor stations. CenterPoint states that the additional horsepower
would enhance its system flexibility and reliability and provide
additional firm transportation to a local distribution customer. 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.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). This fact
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings.
Summary of the Proposed Project
CenterPoint seeks authorization from the Commission to expand the
capacity of its facilities in Arkansas to supply an additional 70,000
dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of natural gas to a local distribution
company, Arkansas Western Gas Company (AWG), over a 10 year period.
CenterPoint's application was filed with the Commission under section
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act and subpart A of part 157 of the
Commission's regulations.
To accomplish its project objectives, CenterPoint requests
authority to install and operate:
One 4,700-hp turbine compressor and appurtenant facilities
at its Round Mountain Compressor Station in Conway County; and
One 1,680-hp reciprocating compressor and appurtenant
facilities at its Helena Compressor Station in Phillips County.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
1.\1\
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\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's website at
the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction
The existing Round Mountain and Helena Compressor Stations are
located on 6.5-acre and 4-acre fenced lots, respectively. All
construction activities would take place within the fenced boundaries.
Both compressor stations are surrounded by idle pastureland and mixed
forest. Existing gravel access roads would not need improvement.
Construction activities would be performed in accordance with the
FERC's Upland Erosion Control, Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan and
Wetland and Waterbody Construction and Mitigation Procedures.
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
[[Page 49890]]
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals.
This process is referred to as ``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 staff
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to 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.
Our \2\ independent analysis of the issues will be presented 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.
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\2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section below.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified two issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by CenterPoint. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Potential noise impacts on nearby residents.
Effect of compressor emissions on air quality.
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, 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 an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 1.
Reference Docket No. CP04-377-000.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before September 7, 2004.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of comments.
See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's
Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and the
link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to
create a free account which can be created on-line.
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 send one electronic copy (using the
Commission's eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of any filing 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).\3\ Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\3\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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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.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals,
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially
affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who own
homes within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of
certain aboveground facilities.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link.
Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the
docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number
field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
the documents. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm
.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-1795 Filed 8-11-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P