[Federal Register: September 18, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 180)]
[Notices]
[Page 54645-54647]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se06-61]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP00-006-014]
Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Gulfstream Natural Gas
System, LLC'S Phase III Pipeline Project and Notice of Site Visit and
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
September 8, 2006.
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 Gulfstream Natural Gas System,
LLC's (Gulfstream) application for its Phase III Pipeline Project.
Gulfstream proposes to amend its existing Phase III authorization under
the FERC certificate granted October 8, 2003 by modifying the route and
pipeline diameter. In this filing, Gulfstream proposes to construct,
own and operate a 34.3-mile segment of 30-inch gas pipeline extending
from its existing Station 712 in Martin County, Florida to a newly
constructed Station 705 that would connect to the proposed Florida
Power & Light Company (FPL) 2,220 megawatt (MW) gas turbine West County
Energy Center (WCEC) in Palm Beach County, Florida. Gulfstream has
executed firm service agreement with FPL to deliver 345,000 decatherms
per day (Dth/d) of natural gas to the WCEC for a primary term of 23
years.
The FPL WCEC is a nonjurisdictional facility under FERC
regulations. The facility is being licensed by the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection Siting Office under the jurisdiction of the
Florida Power Plant Siting Act.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will
be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Scoping comments are requested by October 9,
2006.
With this notice, the staff of the FERC is asking other Federal,
State, local and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special
expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with
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us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may choose to
participate once they have evaluated Gulfstream's proposal relative to
their responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in
Appendix 1.
This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners;
Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative 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 of eminent domain. Therefore, if
easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with
State law.
A brochure 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 Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). This brochure
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of
eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.
Background
The proposed 34.3-mile Phase III pipeline project is the third
segment of Gulfstream's approximately 710-mile Phase I and II pipeline
projects that extend from Alabama and Mississippi, across the Gulf of
Mexico, through central Florida to Martin County in southeastern
Florida. The Phase I project was placed into service on May 28, 2002
and Phase II was placed into service on February 1, 2005.
The original Phase III project was for a 32.14-mile, 24-inch
pipeline to extend from Station 712 in Martin County, Florida, and
terminate in Belle Glade. The new proposed 34.3 Phase III pipeline
project follows the original route for 7.1 miles then turns in a
southeasterly direction to just north of Twenty Mile Bend, where the
proposed WCEC is to be located.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Martin County, FL
Construct 10.15 miles of 30-inch-diameter gas pipeline
commencing from Gulfstream's existing Station 712 (milepost 0.0 to
milepost 10.15).
Install a new 36-inch launcher assembly, including a 30-
inch valve, at Gulfstream's existing Station 712.
Palm Beach County, Florida
Construct 24.15 miles of 30-inch-diameter gas pipeline
from milepost 10.15 to milepost 34.30.
Install a new 30-inch valve setting at milepost 14.81.
Install a new meter station, Station 705, which includes a
receiver assembly, at the end of the proposed pipeline, milepost 34.30.
The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 2.\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 Commissions 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
Construction of the proposed pipeline facilities, including extra
work areas, access roads, pipe/constructor yards, horizontal
directional drill (HDD) drilling mud disposal areas would require the
temporary disturbance of about 796 acres of land, the majority of which
is located on sugarcane agricultural land and access roads. The three
aboveground facilities, existing Station 712 at milepost 0.0, the new
valve setting at milepost 14.81, and the new Station 705 at milepost
34.30, would require the temporary disturbance of 1.6 acres.
Following construction, permanent land acquisition of 343.1 acres
would be maintained as part of the right-of-way and access roads for
the maintenance of the gas pipeline. The aboveground facilities would
require 1.2 permanent acres to be maintained during operation. The
remaining acreage affected by construction would be restored and
allowed to revert to its former land uses.
The EA Process
We \2\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which 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. 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.
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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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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 Commissions 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.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
In the EA, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the project. We will also evaluate
reasonable alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the
project.
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Gulfstream. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Project-related impact on:
Two commercial/industrial buildings within 50 feet of the
construction workspace;
Twelve active water supply wells within 150 feet of
construction;
Upland hardwood forest;
Four federally-listed threatened and endangered species
potentially in the project area;
Two wetlands; and
224 water body crossings.
Site Visit
On September 25, 2006, the Office of Energy Projects (OEP) staff
will conduct a site visit of Gulfstream's proposed Phase III Pipeline
Construction Project. This site visit is being conducted to give
landowners, agency personnel and any other interested parties the
opportunity to become more familiar with the
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project and talk to FERC and Gulfstream staff directly. Examination
will be by automobile and on foot. Representatives of Gulfstream will
be accompanying the FERC staff.
Those planning to attend must provide their own transportation.
Those interested in attending should meet at 10 a.m. (EST) in the
parking lot of the public rest stop on State Hwy 76 at the Hwy 76/441
Intersection, on the east side of St. Lucie Canal Bridge.
For additional information, please contact the Commission's Office
of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC.
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 locations
and 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 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 3.
Reference Docket Number CP00-006-014.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before October 9, 2006.
Please note that the Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments. See 18 Code of Federal Regulations (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. Prepare your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper and save it to a file on your hard drive. Before you
can file comments you will need to create an account by clicking on
``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.'' You will be asked to
select the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered a
``Comment on Filing.''
The determination of whether to distribute the EA for public
comment will be based on the response to this notice. If you are
interested in receiving it, please return the Information Requested
(Appendix 3). An effort is being made to send this notice to all
individuals affected by the proposed project. This includes all
landowners who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may
be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
distances defined in the Commission's regulations of certain
aboveground facilities.
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''. 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). Intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be
electrically submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should send an original
and 14 copies of their motion to the Secretary of the Commission at the
address indicated previously. Persons filing Motions to Intervene on or
before the comment deadline indicated above must send a copy of the
motion to the Applicant. All filings, including late interventions,
submitted after the comment deadline must be served on the Applicant
and all other intervenors identified on the Commission's service list
for this proceeding. Persons on the service list with e-mail addresses
may be served electronically; others must be served a hard copy of the
filing.
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
If you wish to remain on our environmental mailing list, please
return the Information Request Form included in Appendix 3. If you do
not return this form, you will be removed from our mailing list.
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 TYY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the 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. E6-15386 Filed 9-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P