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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Federal Register: March 3, 1995]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP95-109-000]CNG Transmission Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed TL-470, Extension 5 Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
February 27, 1995.
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 construction and operation of the facilities proposed by CNG Transmission Corporation (CNG) for its TL-470, Extension 5 Project.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether an environmental impact statement is necessary and whether or not to approve the project.\1\CNG's application was filed with the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations.
Summary of the Proposed Project
CNG requests Commission authorization to construct and operate about 4.73 miles of 30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline loop in Rotterdam Township, Schenectady County, New York. The proposed loop would be constructed parallel and adjacent to CNG's existing facilities and would begin at a new gate station on CNG's system near Gregg Road and end at a new gate station near Burdeck Street.
CNG indicates that the proposed facility would enable it to deliver additional natural gas to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation's distribution system serving the Albany, New York area. The location of the project facility is shown in appendix 1.\2\\2\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, Room 3104, 941 North Capitol Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
Land Requirements for Construction
CNG proposes to use a 75-foot-wide right-of-way for construction. Since CNG proposes to construct its pipeline near the edge of its existing, maintained right-of-way, only about 50 feet of additional right-of-way width would be cleared for construction. Following construction, 25 feet of the additional width would be restored and allowed to revert back to its former use. Therefore, only about 25 feet of additional permanent right-of-way width would be required. Additional working space would be required adjacent to the planned construction right-of-way at bored road crossings, the Delaware and Hudson Railroad crossing, stream and wetland crossings, and in agricultural areas where topsoil would be segregated. An approximate 600-foot by 600-foot (8.3 acres) pipeyard would be used for the construction trailer and storage of pipe. Four existing roads or farm lanes would be used as access roads.
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. We call this ``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 requests public comments on the scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received are taken into account 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.
The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings:
<bullet> Geology and soils
<bullet> Water resources, fisheries and wetlands <bullet> Vegetation and wildlife <bullet> Land use
<bullet> Cultural resources
<bullet> Hazardous waste
<bullet> Endangerd and threatened species <bullet> Public safety
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 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 [[Page 11965]] 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 recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project.Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facility and the environmental information provided by CNG. Keep in mind that this is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. Issues are: <bullet> The proposed loop would cross Poentic Kill, Plotter Kill and six other small, unnamed streams or drains. Poentic Kill is a state-protected stream.
<bullet> About 2.2 acres of wetlands would be affected by the project.
<bullet> About 15 acres of upland forest would be disturbed. <bullet> The Plotter Kill Nature Preserve would be crossed.Public Participation
You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing your specific comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure that your comments are received and properly recorded: <bullet> Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington, DC 20426;
<bullet> Reference Docket No. CP95-109-000; <bullet> Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Howard J. Wheeler, EA Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Room 7312, Washington, DC 20426; and <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before April 5, 1995. If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from Mr. Wheeler at the above address.Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want to become an official party to the proceeding or become an ``intervenor''. Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor must provide copies of its filings to all other parties. If you want 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 358.214) attached as appendix 2.
The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late interventions must show good cause, as required by section 385.214(b)(3), why this time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed as good cause for late intervention. You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered. Additional information about the proposed project is available from Mr. Howard Wheeler, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-2299. Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-5224 Filed 3-2-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M