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Vector Pipeline, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Vector Compression 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: January 3, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 111-113]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ja06-72]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP06-29-000; Docket No. CP98-131-006]
Vector Pipeline, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Vector Compression Expansion Project and
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
December 22, 2005.
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 Vector Compression Expansion
Project involving construction and operation of two new compressor
stations by Vector Pipeline, LP (Vector) in Will County, Illinois and
Macomb County, Michigan.\1\ The total horsepower (hp) at the compressor
stations would consist of about 45,000 hp of compression. 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\ Vector's applications in Docket Nos. CP98-131-006 and CP06-
29-000 were filed with the Commission under section 3 of the Natural
Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations and section 7
of the Natural Gas Act, respectively.
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If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities.
The pipeline 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 pipeline 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?'' was attached to the
project notice (Vector) provided to landowners. 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
Vector is proposing in Docket No. CP06-29-000 to expand the
transmission capacity of its existing interstate pipeline system by
constructing two new compressor stations. Vector seeks authority to
construct and operate:
? 15,000 hp of gas turbine-driven compression at the new
Joliet Compressor Station in Will County, Illinois; and
? 30,000 hp of gas turbine-driven compression at the new
Romeo Compressor Station in Macomb County, Michigan.
Vector also proposes in Docket No. CP98-131-006 to amend its
existing Presidential Permit to transport gas between the United States
and Canada by increasing the maximum capacity from 1,330 MMcfd to 2,300
MMcfd through the existing St. Clair River international border
facilities. No additional border facilities would be constructed.
Vector indicates that Detroit Edison Company (Detroit Edison) would
construct a 1,900-foot-long distribution line to provide ``3-phase
power'' from the ``existing DTE Facility'' to the Romeo Compressor
Station. Vector indicates that the ``distribution line would be
constructed adjacent to an existing ITC high voltage electric
transmission line fee strip to minimize land requirements, potential
private landowner concerns, and environmental impacts that may be
associated with Detroit Edison's facilities.'' Vector indicates that
water services would be provided by ``Washington Township by extending
the existing water line from the DTE Facility to the Romeo Compressor
Station site. The water line would be about 1,900 feet in length and
would be constructed adjacent to the existing ITC high voltage
transmission line fee strip leading to the Romeo 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 of all appendices, other
than Appendix 1 (maps), are avaialble on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commissions'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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Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 20.0
acres and 10.2 acres of land for the Joliet and Romeo Compressor
Stations, respectively. Following construction, about 4.0 acres and 4.7
acres would be maintained as new aboveground facility sites for the
Joliet and Romeo Compressor Stations, respectively.
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.
[[Page 112]]
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
? Hazardous waste
? 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 issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the
environmental information provided by Vector. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
? Potential noise levels at the noise-sensitive areas due to
the operation of the compressor stations
? Conversion of about 3 acres of farm land to industrial use
for the Joliet Compressor Station
? Potential impacts to Federal listed species: Indiana bat
and prairie leaf clover
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, 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 the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 2.
? Reference Docket No. CP06-29-000.
? Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before January 23, 2006.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our
environmental analysis of this project. However, 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 on-line.
We may mail the EA for comment. If you are interested in receiving
it, 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 official party to the proceeding, or ``intervenor''. 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). Intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the
Commission's decision. Motions to Intervene should be electronically
submitted using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov.
Persons without Internet access should send an original and 14
copies of their motion to the Secretary of the Commission at the address
indicated previously. Persons filing Motions to Intervene on or before
the comment deadline indicated above must send a copy of the motion to
the Applicant. All filings, including late interventions, submitted
after the comment deadline must be served on the Applicant and all
other intervenors identified on the Commission's service list for this
proceeding. Persons on the service list with e-mail addresses may be
served electronically; others must be served a hard copy of the filing.
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.
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.
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.html.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx
[[Page 113]]
along with other related information.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-8161 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P