[Federal Register: March 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 48)]
[Notices]
[Page 11349-11350]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13mr07-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP06-428-000]
Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Availability of
the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Tuscola East Replacement
Project
March 7, 2007.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Panhandle Eastern Pipeline
Company, LP (Panhandle) in the above-referenced docket.
The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not
constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment.
The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the proposed project. Panhandle proposes
to replace a total of 31.3 miles of pipeline consisting of three
segments and abandoning in place or by removal the existing 29.4 miles
of pipelines that correspond with the new replacement lines.
Specifically, the project includes:
Tuscola 100-Line (Douglas County, IL)--Replacing 6.7 miles
of existing 100-Line 20-inch diameter pipeline with 36-inch diameter
pipeline, designating the new pipeline as the 500-Line, and installing
a new pig launcher/receiver;
Tuscola 200-Line (Douglas County, IL)--Replacing 1.9 miles
of the existing 200-Line 36-inch diameter pipeline with 20-inch
diameter pipeline (the 1.9 miles of 36-inch pipeline replaced would be
used for the new 500-Line);
[[Page 11350]]
Montezuma 100-Line (Parke County, IN)--Replacing 6.6 miles
of the existing 100-Line 20-inch diameter pipeline with 36-inch
diameter pipeline, designating the new pipeline as the 500-Line, and
installing a new pig launcher/receiver; and
Zionsville 200-Line (Marion, Boone, and Hamilton Counties,
IN)--Replacing 17.9 miles of the existing 200-Line 24-inch diameter
pipeline with 30-inch diameter pipeline, designating the new pipeline
as the 500-Line, and installing a new pig launcher/receiver and a new
mainline valve (MLV).
Due to the age of Panhandle's existing line and the U.S. Department
of Transportation's Integrity Management Plan regulations, Panhandle
reduced the operating pressure on one line by 20 percent in 2004.
Additional measures to mitigate risk for High Consequence Areas must be
implemented by end of 2011. Panhandle's project purpose is to restore
long-haul transportation capacity from Tuscola heading east to Michigan
by replacing the existing diameter pipeline with larger diameter
pipeline.
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 note that 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://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.''
If you are filing written comments, 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;
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the
Gas Branch 2, PJ11.2 Reference Docket No. CP06-428-000; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before April 6, 2006.
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.
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\1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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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 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.
Philis J. Posey,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-4471 Filed 3-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P