[Federal Register: February 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 32)]
[Notices]
[Page 7685-7687]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19fe09-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP08-06-002]
Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed MEP Amendment Project and
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
February 11, 2009.
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 MEP Amendment Project (MEP
Amendment) involving construction and operation of facilities by
Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC (MEP) in Cass County, Texas, and
Hinds County, Mississippi.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in
its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
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\1\ On December 30, 2008, MEP filed its amended application with
the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157
of the Commission's regulations. The Commission issued its Notice of
Amendment on January 12, 2009.
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This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we will
use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the
project. Your input will help the Commission staff determine which
issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping
period will close on March 13, 2009.
This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state,
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and 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 MEP representative about survey permission and/or the acquisition
of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed
facilities. The 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 natural gas
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 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 Commission's proceedings.
It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://
www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
MEP proposes an expansion and equipment modifications at the
previously certificated Atlanta Compressor Station in Cass County,
Texas, and relocation of the previously certificated Vicksburg
Compressor Station to Hinds County, Mississippi. MEP is proposing to:
Substitute two G16 compressor units for the two previously
certificated G12 compressor units at Atlanta Compressor Station;
Increase the land parcel size at the Atlanta Compressor
Station from 30.0 acres to 36.7 acres to encompass an adjacent block
valve that was certificated under Docket CP08-06-000 for the MEP
pipeline; and
Relocate the previously certificated Vicksburg Compressor
Station approximately 3.5 miles to the east from Warren County,
Mississippi to Hinds County, Mississippi. The relocation would involve
acquiring a new 74.8 acre land parcel. No equipment changes are
proposed at the Vicksburg Compressor Station.
The specific location of the project facilities is shown in
Appendix 1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices 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 last page of this notice.
Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail.
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[[Page 7686]]
If approved, MEP proposes to commence construction of the proposed
facilities in September 2009.
Land Requirements for Construction
The area that would be temporarily affected by construction of the
Atlanta Compressor Station would increase over the previously
certificated Project by 10.0 acres to a total of approximately 22.0
acres. The area that would be permanently affected by operation of the
Atlanta Compressor Station would increase by 1.4 acres to a total of
approximately 13.1 acres.
Construction of the Vicksburg Compressor Station would temporarily
impact approximately 31.8 acres. Permanent land requirements for
operation of the Vicksburg Compressor Station would impact about
approximately 20.7 acres.
MEP is proposing to locate the compressor stations adjacent to
existing roadways. MEP is proposing to construct access roads between
the existing roadways and each area where the compressor station
construction activity would occur. MEP would retain a permanent access
road for each site after construction is complete.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 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. State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify
their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
In the EA we \3\ will discuss impacts that could occur as a result
of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
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\3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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Geology and soils
Land use
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
Cultural resources
Vegetation and wildlife
Air quality and noise
Endangered and threatened species
Public safety9
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project
or portions of the proposed project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
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 Commission's 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. To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public
participation section below.
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 EA. 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.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
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 MEP. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Disturbance caused by project construction may contribute
to water and wind erosion of soils.
Disturbance caused by the project may cause temporary and
permanent alteration of wildlife habitat.
Potential impacts on air quality and potential noise
emissions may occur.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the MEP Amendment Project. Your comments
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts.
The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To
ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please send
in your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or
before March 13, 2009.
For your convenience, there are three methods in which you can use
to submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number (CP08-06-002) with your submission.
The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258
or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's internet Web site
at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's internet Web site at
http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users
must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or
``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are
making. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on
a Filing;'' or
(3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by
sending 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 the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 3,
PJ11.3.
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 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.
[[Page 7687]]
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
taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, 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.
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 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.
Finally, public meetings or site visits, if applicable, will be
posted on the Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-3449 Filed 2-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P