[Federal Register: November 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 224)]
[Notices]
[Page 70600-70601]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no05-50]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Environmental Impact Statement: Site Selection for the Expansion
of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice to reopen the public scoping period and hold a public
scoping meeting.
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SUMMARY: On September 1, 2005, DOE announced its intention to prepare
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for site selection and
expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as required by the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (70 FR 52088). DOE at that time planned to assess
the impacts of capacity expansion at three of the four existing storage
sites and the development of a new storage site in the Gulf Coast
region. Three scoping meetings were held and the scoping period, which
was extended in
[[Page 70601]]
response to conditions following Hurricane Katrina, closed on October
28, 2005 (70 FR 56649; September 28, 2005). On October 27, 2005, the
Governor of Mississippi requested the Secretary of Energy to include a
new site at Bruinsburg Salt Dome in the analysis of potential sites and
environmental impacts for the proposal to expand the storage capacity
of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In light of this request, DOE has
reopened the public scoping period and scheduled another scoping
meeting.
DATES: With the publication of this notice, the public scoping period
is reopened and will extend through December 19, 2005. DOE invites
interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members
of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist in
identifying significant environmental issues and in determining the
appropriate scope of the EIS. Written and oral comments will be given
equal weight, and DOE will consider all comments received or postmarked
by December 19, 2005, in defining the scope of the draft EIS. Comments
postmarked after this date will be considered to the degree
practicable.
The scoping meeting will be held on December 7, 2005. The location
of the public scoping meeting was selected based on its proximity to
the proposed new oil storage site at Bruinsburg and the availability of
public meeting facilities.
ADDRESSES: The scoping meeting will be held in Port Gibson,
Mississippi, on December 7, 2005, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Claiborne
County Multi-Purpose Building, 1703 Bridewell Lane, Port Gibson,
Mississippi. Telephone: 601-437-5419.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Comments or suggestions on the scope
and content of the EIS and requests to speak at the scoping meeting
should be directed to Donald Silawsky, Office of Petroleum Reserves
(FE-47), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0301; telephone: 202-586-1892; fax: 202-586-4446;
or electronic mail at Donald.Silawsky@hq.doe.gov. Envelopes and the
subject line of e-mails or faxes should be labeled ``Scoping for the
SPR EIS.'' Please note that conventional mail to DOE may be delayed by
anthrax screening. For information on the proposed project or to
receive a copy of the Draft EIS when it is issued, contact Donald
Silawsky by any of the means listed above. Additional information may
also be found on the DOE Fossil Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve
proposed expansion Web site at http://fossil.energy.gov/news/techlines/2005/tl_spr_noi.html
.
For information on the DOE NEPA process, contact Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (EH-42), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-0119; telephone: 202-586-4600 or leave a toll-free message at:
800-472-2756; fax: 202-586-7031; or electronic mail at
askNEPA@eh.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 16, 2005.
Mark Matarrese,
NEPA Compliance Officer, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 05-23117 Filed 11-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P