[Federal Register: August 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 162)]
[Notices]
[Page 48919-48920]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au06-47]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP04-400-001]
Golden Pass Pipeline L.P.; Notice of Availability of the
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Optimized Pipeline Project
August 15, 2006.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed for the Optimized Pipeline
Project (OP Project) in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Texas, in the
above-referenced docket. The OP Project is an amendment to the Golden
Pass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal and Pipeline Project proposed
in Docket Nos. CP04-386-000 and CP04-400-000 and approved in an order
issued by the Commission on July 6, 2005 (Order). The OP Project amends
only certain pipeline facilities approved in Docket No. CP04-400-000.
The OP project includes the Optimized Design Variation and the
Optimized Route Variation.
The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that approval of
the proposed project with appropriate mitigating measures as
recommended, would not constitute a major federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment. The EA also evaluates
alternatives to the proposal.
The EA addresses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the following amended natural gas
pipeline facilities:
The Optimized Design Variation would replace the two 36-
inch-diameter pipelines (Mainline and Loop) approved in the Order with
a single 42-inch-diameter pipeline from the pipeline origin at milepost
(MP) 0.0 at the Golden Pass LNG Terminal to the American Electric Power
Texoma Pipeline interconnection at MP 42.8; and
The Optimized Route Variation would incorporate a route
change between MP 14.1 and MP 34.9 that would reduce the pipeline
length between these two points from 20.8 miles to 11.9 miles; and
The relocation of the interconnections to Kinder Morgan
(KM) Tejas Pipeline, KM Texas Pipeline, and Centana Gas Pipeline due to
construction of the amended facilities.
The purpose of the proposed facilities would be the same as that
authorized in the Order: to provide an additional source of firm, long-
term, and competitively priced natural gas to the Texas intrastate and
interstate natural gas markets.
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
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-
8371.
Copies of the EA have 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 an original and two copies of your comments to:
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
Reference: Docket No. CP04-400-001;
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 2, PJ11.2; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before September 14, 2006.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our
environmental analysis of this project. However, the Commission
strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions
or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission's Web site at http: //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 by clicking on ``Sign-up.''
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).\1\ Only intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 comments considered.
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. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the
[[Page 48920]]
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
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. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-13822 Filed 8-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P