[Federal Register: August 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 46622-46625]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au07-59]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF07-4-000]
Midcontinent Express Pipeline, LLC; Supplemental Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed
Midcontinent Express Project, Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues, and Notice of Public Site Visit
August 14, 2007.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will identify and address the environmental impacts that could result
from the construction and operation of the Midcontinent Express
Pipeline Project (Project) proposed by Midcontinent Express Pipeline,
LLC (MEP). On June 25, 2007, MEP filed draft Resource Reports that
identified a modification to the Project in Richland and Madison
Parishes, Louisiana, consisting of an approximately 4.2-mile-long
lateral pipeline (CenterPoint Lateral). MEP subsequently filed
additional information clarifying the location of the Project
facilities associated with the CenterPoint Lateral on August 3, 2007.
On April 27, 2007, the FERC issued a ``Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Midcontinent Express
Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings'' (NOI). The NOI was published in the
Federal Register and was also mailed to interested parties, including
Federal, state and local officials, agency representatives,
conservation organizations; Native American groups; local libraries and
newspapers; and property owners affected by the proposed facilities.
This notice is being issued because the CenterPoint Lateral was not
identified in the NOI, and landowners potentially affected by that
facility were therefore not included on the environmental mailing list
for that correspondence.
In order to assist staff with the identification of environmental
issues associated with the modified facilities and to comply with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), a
30-day scoping period has been opened to receive comments on the
proposed Project, as modified by the addition of the CenterPoint
Lateral. Please note that the scoping period for this project will
close on September 10, 2007.
Comments on the Project and the issues that should be addressed in
the EIS may be submitted in written form. Further details on how to
submit written comments are provided in the Public Participation
section of this notice. Additionally, as part of the scoping process,
we will sponsor a public site visit of the proposed CenterPoint
Lateral, as described below. Please note that attendees at the site
visit must obtain their own transportation for the site visit.
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Date and time Location
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 9 am (CST)...... Delhi Municipal Airport
(parking lot), Airport Road/
Louisiana Highway 17,
Delhi, Louisiana 71232
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This notice is being sent to landowners affected by the CenterPoint
Lateral, as well as those that previously requested to remain on the
Project environmental mailing list; federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and
local libraries and newspapers; all of which are encouraged to submit
comments on the proposed Project. Details on how to submit comments are
provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by an MEP representative about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed project facilities. The
pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the FERC, 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 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
[[Page 46623]]
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent
domain and how to participate in the FERC's proceedings.
Summary of the Proposed Project
MEP proposes to construct, own and operate approximately 495 miles
of new 30-, 36-, and 42-inch-diameter interstate natural gas
transmission pipeline, a total of approximately 111,720 horsepower (hp)
of compression at one booster and four new mainline compressor
stations, and related appurtenant facilities located in portions of
Oklahoma, northeast Texas, northern Louisiana, central Mississippi, and
Alabama. The proposed pipeline route identified by MEP would extend
from a receipt point with existing pipeline infrastructure near
Bennington in Bryan County, Oklahoma, to an interconnect with the
existing Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation system near Butler
in Choctaw County, Alabama. The general location of the proposed
pipeline is shown in the figure included as 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 Web site
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
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
Requests for detailed maps of the proposed facilities should be made
directly to MEP.
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In addition, as part of the Midcontinent Express Pipeline Project,
MEP proposes to construct, own, and operate the approximately 4.2-mile-
long, 16-inch-diameter CenterPoint Lateral in Richland and Madison
Parishes, Louisiana.
Specifically, the MEP Project facilities under FERC jurisdiction
would include the following:
Approximately 40 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline in
Bryan County, Oklahoma, and Lamar County, Texas;
Approximately 262 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline in
Lamar, Red River, Franklin, Titus, Morris, and Cass Counties, Texas,
and Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, Ouachita,
Morehouse, Richland, and Madison Parishes, Louisiana;
Approximately 193 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in
Madison Parish, Louisiana, and Warren, Hinds, Rankin, Simpson, Smith,
Jasper, and Clarke Counties, Mississippi, and Choctaw County, Alabama;
The newly proposed, approximately 4.2-mile-long, 16-inch-
diameter lateral pipeline, which would extend from an interconnect with
the Project mainline pipeline in Madison Parish, Louisiana, to the
Delhi Booster Station and an interconnect with a CenterPoint Energy Gas
Transmission Company pipeline in Richland Parish, Louisiana;
Four new mainline and one booster, natural gas-fired
compressor stations, including:
--The 38,555-hp Lamar Compressor Station at Milepost (MP) TX 28.5 in
Lamar County, Texas;
--The 12,270-hp Atlanta Compressor Station at MP TX 117.4 in Cass
County, Texas;
--The 32,720-hp Perryville Compressor Station at MP LA 109.0 in Union
Parish, Louisiana;
--The 18,405-hp Vicksburg Compressor Station at MP MS 11.8 in Warren
County, Mississippi;
--The 9,470-hp Delhi Booster Station, which would be located along the
CenterPoint Lateral in Richland Parish, Louisiana;
Meter stations at up to 13 interconnects with existing
pipeline infrastructure in Bryan County, Oklahoma; Lamar and Cass
Counties, Texas; Ouachita, Richland, and Madison Parishes, Louisiana;
Hinds, Smith, Jasper, and Clarke Counties, Mississippi; and Choctaw
County, Alabama;
Various pig \2\ launching and receiving facilities; and
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\2\ A pig is a mechanical tool used to clean and inspect the
interior of a pipeline.
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29 mainline valves.
MEP indicates that the proposed Project facilities would provide
long-haul takeaway capacity to facilitate the transport of natural gas
from production areas in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas to markets in
the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States that
can be accessed through interconnects with existing pipeline
infrastructure. The Project would consist of two capacity zones. The
initial transport capacity of Zone 1, which would include the 30- and
42-inch-diameter portions of the pipeline facilities, would be 1.4
billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (Bcf/d). However, additional
supporting contracts could provide for expansion of the Zone 1
transport capacity to 1.5 Bcf/d. Zone 2, which would include the
balance of the pipeline facilities, would have an initial transport
capacity of 1.0 Bcf/d, with the potential for expansion to 1.2 Bcf/d.
MEP proposes to place the first 40 miles of 30-inch-diameter
pipeline in service by October 31, 2008, with the remainder of the
pipeline constructed and operational by February 2009.
Land Requirements for Construction
As proposed, the typical construction right-of-way width for the
30-, 36-, and 42-inch-diameter sections of Project pipeline would be
100, 110, and 125 feet, respectively. The typical construction right-
of-way width for the CenterPoint Lateral would be 75 feet. Following
construction, MEP would generally retain a 50-foot-wide permanent
right-of-way for operation of the Project, though MEP proposes to
expand the maintained permanent right-of-way width to 60 feet in
limited areas based on site-specific conditions. Additionally,
temporary extra workspaces beyond the typical construction right-of-way
limits would also be required at certain feature crossings (e.g.,
roads, railroads, wetlands, or waterbodies), in areas with steep side
slopes, in association with special construction techniques, or at pipe
storage and contractor yards. In residential areas, wetlands, and other
sensitive areas, the construction right-of-way width would be reduced
as necessary to protect homeowners and environmental resources.
Following construction, all temporary workspaces (including the
temporary construction rights-of-way and extra workspaces) would be
restored and allowed to revert to its former use.
The EIS Process
NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from the approval of an interstate natural
gas pipeline. The FERC will use the EIS to consider the environmental
impact that could result if the Midcontinent Express Pipeline Project
is authorized under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public
may have about proposals to be considered by the Commission. This
process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important
environmental issues. With this NOI, the Commission staff is requesting
public comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in the EIS.
All comments received will be considered during preparation of the EIS.
In the EIS we 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;
Wetlands and vegetation;
Fish and wildlife;
Threatened and endangered species;
[[Page 46624]]
Land use, recreation, and visual resources;
Air quality and noise;
Cultural resources;
Socioeconomics;
Reliability and safety; and
Cumulative environmental impacts.
In the EIS, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the
proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners;
commentors; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers;
and the FERC's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will
consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We will consider all comments on
the final EIS before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To
ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the
instructions in the Public Participation section of this notice.
With this notice, we are asking federal, state, and local
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with
respect to environmental issues, to express their interest in becoming
cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already
identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a
preliminary review of the project site, comments filed in response to
the April 27, 2007 NOI, and the facility information provided by MEP.
This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments
and our analysis.
Potential impacts to water resources, including
groundwater and ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial waterbodies.
Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands
and development of appropriate mitigation.
Potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including
potential impacts to federal and state-listed threatened and endangered
species.
Potential impacts to natural vegetative communities,
including native prairie and forestland.
Potential effects on prime farmland soils and soils with a
high potential for compaction or erosion.
Potential impacts to existing land uses, including
agricultural and managed forested lands.
Potential impacts to recreation and special interest
areas, including Wetland Reserve Program lands and the Natchez Trace
Parkway.
Potential impacts to residential areas, planned
developments, and property values.
Potential disruption to area businesses associated with
construction.
Potential visual effects of the pipeline easement and
aboveground facilities on surrounding areas.
Potential impacts to local air and noise quality
associated with construction and operation.
Potential impacts to cultural resources and Native
American lands.
Public safety and hazards associated with the transport of
natural gas.
Alternative alignments for the pipeline route and
alternative sites for the compressor stations.
Assessment of the effect of the proposed Project when
combined with other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable future
actions in the Project area, including the potential cumulative effect
of collocating multiple utility rights-of-way.
Use of the existing and proposed rights-of-way to minimize
the need for additional temporary construction workspace and/or reduce
the width of the permanent easement.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the proposed project. By becoming a
commenter, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please carefully follow these instructions:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 3, DG2E.
Reference Docket No. PF07-4-000 on the original and both
copies.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before September 10, 2007.
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. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filing of any comments in response to this Notice
of Intent. For information on electronically filing comments, please
see the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov.
Once MEP formally files its application with the Commission, you
may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and
are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts
if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor
formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.
Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time.
You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.
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 along
the CenterPoint Lateral who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose
property may be used temporarily for Project purposes, or who own
property within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of
certain aboveground facilities. In addition, this notice is also being
sent to potentially affected landowners along other portions of the
Project that previously requested to remain on the Project
environmental mailing list.
If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing
list for this project. If you do not want to send comments at this
time, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the
Information Request (Appendix 2). If you do not return the Information
Request, you will be removed from the
[[Page 46625]]
Commission's environmental mailing list. Please note that interested
individuals who previously responded to the April 27, 2007 NOI with a
request to stay on the environmental mailing list need not reply again.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372).
Additional information can also be found on the Internet at
http://www.ferc.gov. The ``eLibrary link'' on the FERC Web site provides
access to documents submitted to and issued by the Commission, such as
comments, orders, notices and rulemakings. Once on the FERC Web site,
click on the ``eLibrary link,'' select ``General Search'' and in the
``Docket Number'' field enter the project docket number excluding the
last three digits (i.e., PF07-4). When researching information be sure
to select an appropriate date range. In addition, the FERC now offers a
free e-mail service called eSubscription that 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. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or
toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or TTY, contact 1-202-502-8659.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx) along
with other related information.
Finally, MEP has established an Internet Web site for this Project
at http://www.midcontinentexpress.com. The Web site includes a description of
the Project, a map of the proposed pipeline route, and answers to
frequently asked questions. You can also request additional information
or provide comments directly to MEP at 1-877-327-5515 or
pipelineinfo@midcontinentexpress.com.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-16383 Filed 8-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P