[Federal Register: November 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 213)]
[Notices]
[Page 62465-62468]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05no07-46]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF07-13-000]
Palomar Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Palomar Gas
Transmission Project; Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and
Notice of Public Meetings
October 29, 2007.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) is in
the process of preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the
environmental impacts of the Palomar Gas Transmission Project involving
the construction and operation of a new underground natural gas
pipeline proposed by Palomar Gas Transmission, LLC (PGT). This Notice
of Intent (NOI) explains the scoping process that will be used to
gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project.
Your input will help determine which issues will be evaluated in the
EIS. Please note that the scoping period for this project will close on
November 28, 2007.
Comments on the project may be submitted in written form or
verbally. In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, we\1\
also invite you to attend the public scoping meetings that have been
scheduled in the project area. The meetings are scheduled for Monday,
November 12 in Maupin, Oregon; Tuesday, November 13 in Molalla, Oregon;
Wednesday, November 14 in McMinnvile, Oregon; and Thursday, November 15
in Forest Grove, Oregon. Further details on how to submit comments and
additional details of the public scoping meetings are provided in the
Public Participation section of this notice.
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\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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The FERC will be the lead federal agency in the preparation of an
EIS that will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and will be used by the FERC to consider the
environmental impacts that could result if the Commission issues PGT a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under section 7 of the
Natural Gas Act.
This NOI is being sent to Federal, State, and local government
agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and
public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional Native American
organizations; commentors and other interested parties; and local
libraries and newspapers. We encourage government representatives 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 PGT representative about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline
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 the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/for-citizens/citizen-guides.asp
). This fact sheet addresses a number of
typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how
to participate in FERC's proceedings.
Summary of the Proposed Project
PGT has announced its proposal to construct and operate a new
natural gas pipeline and associated structures with a bi-directional
flow capacity of 1.4 billion cubic feet per day. The project would be
located in northwest Oregon and consist of a 211-mile-long, 36-inch-
diameter pipeline running from near Shaniko, Wasco County, Oregon to
near Wauna, Clatsop County, Oregon. The pipeline would travel across
Wasco,
[[Page 62466]]
Clackamas, Marion, Yamhill, Washington, Columbia, and Clatsop Counties
in Oregon. The pipeline would connect the existing Gas Transmission
Northwest Corporation (GTN) mainline pipeline system in central Oregon
to the Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural) distribution system
near Molalla in Clackamas County. The pipeline is also proposed to
extend to other potential interconnections with NW Natural's system and
to an interconnection with NorthernStar Energy LLC's proposed Bradwood
Landing pipeline near Wauna in Clatsop County, Oregon. The proposed
project would also include a 3.8-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter lateral
pipeline \2\ near Molalla, Clackamas County, Oregon, to connect the
Palomar Project mainline to an existing NW Natural city gate. Certain
associated aboveground facilities are also proposed, i.e., mainline
valves spaced at intervals along the pipeline as defined by U.S.
Department of Transportation regulations per the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 49 Part 192, at least three meter stations, and pig
launcher and receiver facilities. At this time, PGT does not anticipate
that compression will be required for this project.
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\2\ A lateral pipeline typically takes gas from the main system
to deliver it to a customer, local distribution system, or another
interstate transmission system.
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More specifically, PGT proposes the following primary project
components:
[square] A 211-mile-long, 36-inch diameter underground natural gas
mainline consisting of two segments:
[square] Segment 1: a 108.5-miles of mainline from TransCanada's
GTN pipeline system northwest of Madras in Wasco County to a location
southwest of Molalla in Clackamas County; and a 3.8-mile, 36-inch
diameter accessory lateral pipeline, the Molalla Lateral, which will
connect the main pipeline to NW Natural's distribution system;
[square] Segment 2: a 102.5-mile segment commencing at the Molalla
Lateral interconnect and terminating at the proposed connection to the
Bradwood Landing pipeline near Wauna, Clatsop County; there is
potential for additional interconnections with NW Natural along this
route;
[square] two meter stations, eight mainline valves, and two pig
launchers/receivers on Segment I; one pig launcher/receiver on the
Molalla Lateral; and one meter station, eight mainline valves, and one
pig launcher/receiver on section II;
[square] temporary pipe storage and contractor yards at various
locations along the pipeline for office trailers, parking, and pipe and
equipment storage during construction; and
[square] temporary construction roadways and short permanent roads
from existing roads to meter station sites and other aboveground
facilities.
A location map depicting PGT's proposed facilities is attached to
this NOI as Appendix 1.\3\
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\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies can be obtained from the
Commission's Web site (excluding maps) at the ``eLibrary'' link,
from the Commission's Public Reference Room, or by calling (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
end of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail.
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The EIS Process
NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or
not a natural gas pipeline should be approved. FERC will use the EIS to
consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues
project authorizations to PGT under sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas
Act. 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 scoping 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, operation, and maintenance of the proposed project
under these general headings:
Geology and soils.
Water resources.
Aquatic resources.
Vegetation and wildlife.
Threatened and endangered species.
Land use, recreation, and visual resources.
Cultural resources.
Socioeconomics.
Air quality and noise.
Reliability and safety.
Cumulative 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; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations; commentors; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and FERC's official service list for
this proceeding. There will be at minimum a 45 day comment period
allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will consider all comments on
the draft EIS and revise the document, if 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 NOI.
Although no formal application has been filed, FERC has already
initiated its NEPA review under its pre-filing process. The purpose of
the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of interested
stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an application
is filed with FERC.
With this NOI, we are asking Federal, State, and local agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation
of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Additional
agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should
follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this NOI.
The EIS will examine the proposed action and alternatives that
require administrative or other actions by other Federal agencies. The
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service has identified the
possible need to amend the existing Mt. Hood National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plans. The U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of
Land Management has identified the possible need to amend the existing
Resource Management Plans of the Salem and Prineville Districts.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified issues that we think deserve attention
based on our previous experience with similar projects in the region.
This preliminary list of issues, which is presented below, may be
revised based on your comments and our continuing analyses specific to
the Palomar Gas Transmission Project.
Potential for disturbance to residents along pipeline
construction route, including noise and aesthetics;
[[Page 62467]]
Potential for geological hazards, including seismic
activity, to have impacts on the pipeline;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on water bodies and
wetlands, including issues of erosion control;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on vegetation, including
the clearing of forested areas;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on threatened and
endangered species and wildlife habitat;
Potential impacts of the pipeline on cultural resources;
and
Potential impacts of the pipeline on recreation and scenic
resources.
Public Participation
You are encouraged to become involved in this process and provide
your specific comments or concerns about PGT's proposal. By becoming a
commentor, 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 impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To expedite the FERC Staff's receipt and consideration of
your comments, electronic submission of comments is strongly
encouraged. For information on electronically filing comments, please
see 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 as well as information in 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii). Before you
can file comments, you will need to create a free account, which can be
accomplished online by clicking on ``Sign-up'' under ``New User.'' This
type of submission is considered a ``Comment on Filing.'' Comments
submitted electronically must be submitted by November 28, 2007.
If you wish to mail comments, please mail your comments so that
they will be received in Washington, DC on or before November 28, 2007
and carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments
are timely and properly recorded:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First St., NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of your comments for the attention of OEP/
DG2E/Gas Branch 2, PJ-11.2.
Reference Docket No. PF07-13-000 on the original and both
copies.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before November 28, 2007.
The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations listed
below) are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on
the proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged
to attend the meetings and to present comments on the environmental
issues that they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript
of the meetings will be generated so that your comments can be
accurately recorded. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m., and are
scheduled as follows:
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Date Location
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Monday, November 12, 2007.............. Imperial River Company, 304
Bakeoven Road, Maupin, OR
97037, 541-395-2404.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007............. Molalla Adult Center, 315
Kennel Street, Molalla, OR
97038, 503-829-4214.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007........... Patton Middle School, 1175 East
19th Street, McMinnville, OR
97128, 503-565-4503.
Thursday, November 15, 2007............ Pacific University, 2043
College Way, Forest Grove, OR
97116, 503-352-6151.
Meeting will be held in the
Multipurpose Room located on
ground floor of Washburne
Hall. Optimum parking would be
in lot ``D'' off of Cedar
Street and on College Way.
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Once PGT formally files its application with the Commission, you
may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to the
proceeding. 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
Everyone who responds to this notice or provides comments
throughout the EIS process will be retained on the mailing list. If you
do not want to send comments at this time but want to stay informed and
receive copies of the draft and final EISs, you must return the Mailing
List Retention Form (Appendix 2). If you do not send comments or return
the Mailing List Retention Form asking to remain on the mailing list,
you will be taken off the mailing list.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC (3372), or on
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary
link.'' Click on the eLibrary link, select ``General Search'' and enter
the project docket number, excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF07-
13) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-
mail at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC Web
site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.
In addition, FERC now offers a free 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
.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/
[[Page 62468]]
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Finally, PGT has established a Web site for this project at http://www.palomargas.com/project.html.
The Web site includes a project
overview, timeline, safety and environmental information, and answers
to frequently asked questions. You can also request additional
information by e-mailing PGT directly at info@palomargas.com or by
writing to: Palomar Gas Transmission, 1400 SW. Fifth Avenue, Suite 900,
Portland, OR 97201.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-21651 Filed 11-2-07; 8:45 am]
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