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Weaver's Cove Energy L.L.C. and Mill River Pipeline L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Weaver's Cove LNG Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Joint Public Scoping Meeting
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: July 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 138)]
[Notices]
[Page 42699-42701]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy03-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF03-4-000]
Weaver's Cove Energy L.L.C. and Mill River Pipeline L.L.C.;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Proposed Weaver's Cove LNG Project, Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues, and Notice of Joint Public Scoping Meeting
July 11, 2003.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of Weaver's Cove Energy L.L.C.'s
and Mill River Pipeline L.L.C.''s (collectively referred to as Weaver's
Cove) proposed Weaver's Cove LNG Project in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The proposed facilities would consist of liquefied natural gas (LNG)
import terminal, storage, and vaporization facilities and one or more
interconnecting pipeline. The Commission will use the EIS in its
decision-making process to determine whether or not to authorize the
project.
The Weaver's Cove LNG Project is in the preliminary design stage.
At this time no formal application has been filed with the FERC. For
this project, the FERC staff is initiating its National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving the application. The
purpose of the NEPA Pre-filing Process is to involve interested
stakeholders early in project planning and to identify and resolve
issues before an application is filed with the FERC. A docket number
(PF03-4-000) has been established to place information filed by
Weaver's Cove and related documents issued by the Commission, into the
public record.\1\ Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a
new docket number will be established.
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\1\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions
for using the FERRIS link at the end of this notice.
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On May 2, 2003, the FERC staff participated in an interagency
meeting in Fall River, Massachusetts to discuss the project and the
environmental review process with Weaver's Cove and other key Federal
and state agencies. These agencies included: the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection, Energy Facilities Siting Board, and Executive
Office of Environmental Affairs; and the Rhode Island Coastal Resources
Management Council and Department of Environmental Management. With
this notice, we \2\ are asking these and other 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.
Agencies which would like to request cooperating status should follow
the instructions for filing comments described later in this notice.
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\2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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This notice is being sent to residences within 0.5 mile of the
proposed LNG terminal site; landowners along the various pipeline
routes under consideration; Federal, state, and local government
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups;
Native American tribes; 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.
[[Page 42700]]
Some affected landowners may be contacted by a project
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct,
operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. If so, the company
should seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event
that the project is certificated by the Commission, that approval
conveys the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the
pipeline. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an
agreement, the 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 attached to this
notice as appendix 1.\3\ 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 also available
for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).
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\3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's Internet Web site ( http://www.ferc.gov ) at the
``FERRIS'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference and Files
Maintenance Branch at (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting
to FERRIS refer to the last page of this notice.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
Weaver's Cove proposes to construct and operate an LNG import
terminal and natural gas pipeline to import LNG and deliver an average
of 400 million British thermal units per day (MMBtu/d), and a peak of
800 MMBtu/d to markets in the northeastern United States. The
facilities would consist of:
? A pier and unloading facilities capable of receiving LNG
tankers with a capacity of up to 145,000 cubic meters;
? One LNG storage tank with an capacity of 200,000 cubic
meters (4.4 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent);
? Vaporization equipment and ancillary facilities;
? Truck loading facilities to deliver LNG to other facilities
in the northeastern United States; and
? Two 24-inch-diameter pipelines, between 3 and 7 miles long,
to interconnect with the Algonquin Gas Transmission Company pipeline
system.\4\
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\4\ Weaver's Cove has not yet identified its preferred route for
the sendout pipelines. Three alternatives, all predominantly along
existing rights-of-way, are currently under consideration.
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A map depicting the proposed terminal site and the various pipeline
routes under consideration is provided in appendix 2.\5\
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\5\ Requests for detailed maps of the facilities may be made to
the company directly. Call or e-mail: local 508-678-5700, toll free
1-800-633-5700, or info@weaverscove.com (Web site will be available
by July 31, 2003). Be as specific as you can about the location(s)
of your area(s) of interest.
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Weaver's Cove is requesting approval to begin construction of the
LNG facilities in the Fall of 2004. The approximate duration of
construction of the terminal facilities would be 3 years. The duration
of pipeline construction would be approximately 4 months. Weaver's Cove
proposes to place the project in service in the Fall of 2007.
Land Requirements
The proposed LNG terminal would be on a 68-acre site zoned for
industrial use on the Taunton River in Fall River, Massachusetts. The
site has been formerly used as an oil refinery and a marine import
terminal for petroleum products. The riverfront areas of the site are
in a Designated Port Area as defined by the Massachusetts Coastal Zone
Management plan.
The project would also require maintenance and improvement dredging
of approximately 7 miles of the Taunton River Federal Navigation
Channel and a turning basin to enable the LNG tankers to access the
proposed site. The dredging would occur in Massachusetts and Rhode
Island. The total volume of dredging is anticipated to be about
2,100,000 cubic yards. The dredged material would be disposed of in
uplands at the terminal site or, if unsuitable for upland disposal, by
either confined aquatic disposal cell, confined disposal, or ocean
disposal methods.
The EIS Process
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, or an
import authorization under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also
requires us to discover and address issues and 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 EIS on
the important environmental issues and reasonable alternatives. By this
notice, we are requesting agency and public comments on the scope of
the issues to be analyzed and presented in the EIS. All scoping
comments received will be considered during the preparation of the EIS.
To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section of this notice.
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; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners; other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; and the
Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will
consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. In addition, we will consider
all comments on the final EIS before we make our recommendations to the
Commission.
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 EIS and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations
and routes), 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: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
? Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 1; and
? Reference Docket No. PF03-4-000 on the original and both
copies.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. Therefore, the Commission
encourages electronic filing of comments. See 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Internet
Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link
and the link to the User's Guide. Prepare your submission in the same
manner as you would if filing on paper and save it to a file on your hard
drive. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account by
clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.'' You will
be asked to select the type of filing you are making. This filing is
considered a ``Comment on Filing.''
Public Scoping Meeting
In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite
you to attend a public scoping meeting that we will conduct in
conjunction with the Massachusetts Executive Office of
[[Page 42701]]
Environmental Affairs. The location and time for this meeting is listed
below:
July 29, 2003, 6 pm, Venus de Milo Restaurant, 75 GAR Highway, Swansea,
Massachusetts 02777, (508) 678-3901
The public scoping meeting is designed to provide Federal, state,
and local agencies, interested groups, affected landowners, and the
general public with more detailed information and another opportunity
to offer comments on the proposed project. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend the meeting and to present
comments on the environmental issues they believe should be addressed
in the EIS. A transcript of the meeting will be made so that your
comments will be accurately recorded.
Availability of 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
``FERRIS'' link, select ``General Search'' from the FERRIS menu, enter
the selected date range and ``Docket Number'' (i.e., PF03-4-000), and
follow the instructions. Searches may also be done using the phrase
``Weaver's Cove'' in the ``Text Search'' field. For assistance with
access to FERRIS, the helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY
(202) 502-8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The FERRIS link on
the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule
makings.
In addition, the Commission 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.
Finally, Weaver's Cove is in the process of establishing an
Internet Web site for this project at http://www.weaverscoveenergy.com.
The Web site will be available by July 31, 2003 and will
include a description of the project, an overview map of the terminal
site and pipeline routes, and a link for the public to submit comments
on the project. Weaver's Cove will continue to update its Web site with
information about the project, and will always accept comments.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-18219 Filed 7-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P