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Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Compressor Station Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: April 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 81)]
[Notices]
[Page 20980-20982]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ap01-57]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP01-154-000]

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Compressor Station
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

April 20, 2001.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will

[[Page 20981]]

discuss the environmental impacts of the Compressor Station Expansion
Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Maritimes
& Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) in Sagadahoc and Washington
Counties, Maine.\1\ Maritimes proposes to install one new 8,311
horsepower (hp) compressor at its existing Baileyville Compressor
Station and convert from backup to full time operation an 8,311 hp
compressor at its Richmond Compressor Station. 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\ Maritimes' application was filed with the Commission under
Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's
regulations.
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    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the
project notice Maritimes provided to landowners. This fact sheet
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Maritimes wants to increase its system flexibility and reliability.
Maritimes states that the expansion would also accommodate increased
production from the fields in Nova Scotia, Canada. Maritimes seeks
authority to:
     Convert an 8,311 hp compressor from backup to full time
operation at the Richmond Compressor Station; and
     Install an 8,311 hp compressor at the existing Baileyville
Compressor Station.
    The 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 are available on the
Commission's website at the ``RIMS'' link or from the Commission's
Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street,
NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. For instructions
on connecting to RIMS refer to page 5 of this notice. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Since the compressor is already in place there would be no
construction at the Richmond Compressor Station. The new compressor at
the Baileyville Compressor Station would be installed in the existing
compressor building. Ground disturbance would be limited to the
existing station yard.

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
\3\ 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 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.
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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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    The EA 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
 Land use
 Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
 Vegetation and wildlife
 Endangered and threatened species
 Cultural resources
 Air quality and noise
 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 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.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified two issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Maritimes. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
The two issues are:
     Effects of the increased compression on noise and air
quality.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative
locations), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. 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 letter to: David
P. Boergers, 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 2.
     Reference Docket No. CP01-154-000.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before May 21, 2001.
    Comments, protests and interventions may also be filed
electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site
at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm under the link to the User's
Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account
which can be created by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New
User Account.''

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process.
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 14 copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all

[[Page 20982]]

other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. 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 385.214) (see appendix 2).\4\ Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \4\ 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 environmental comments considered.
    Additional information about the proposed project is available from
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1088 or on the
FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the ``RIMS'' link to information
in this docket number. Click on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #''
from the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions. For assistance with
access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.
    Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides
access to the text of formal documents issued by the Commission, such
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website,
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and
follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-10328 Filed 4-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M

 
 

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