Jump to main content.

Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Tuscarora 2008 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: February 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 22)]
[Notices]
[Page 5043-5044]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02fe07-52]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP07-27-000]

Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Tuscarora 2008 Expansion
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

January 25, 2007.
    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 Tuscarora 2008 Expansion
project, involving construction and operation of a compressor station
and appurtenances by Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company (Tuscarora).
    Tuscarora proposes to construct a new natural gas-fired compressor
station referred to as the Likely Compressor Station which would
consist of a single 5,731 horsepower gas turbine compressor package and
appurtenances in Modoc County, California. Tuscarora would also install
isolation and side valves on its mainline and a total of about 1,800
feet of suction and discharge pipeline to connect the compressor
station to the mainline. The general location of the project is shown
on the map attached as Appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendix referenced in this notice is not being printed
in the Federal Register. Copies of the appendix (map) are available
from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. Copies of the appendix
will be sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed project would permit the firm transportation of an
additional 40,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas to markets in
northern Nevada. Specifically, the project would enable Sierra Pacific
Power Company to fuel its 514-megawatt Tracy Combined Cycle Power Plant
which is currently under construction.
    The Likely Compressor Station would be located on a 21-acre parcel
of land owned by Tuscarora east of its mainline right-of-way. The
station would permanently occupy a 3.5-acre fenced and graveled area
which would be surrounded by a mix of undeveloped and agricultural
land. The closest town, Likely, is located about 3.5 miles away and the
closest residence is located about 3,500 feet south of the site. One
parcel of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management is located
within 0.25 mile northeast of the compressor station site.

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 will be considered during the preparation of
the EA.
    The Commission's staff will prepare an EA that will describe the
potential environmental impacts that could result from construction and
operation of the proposed project under the general headings:
    ? Water resources, wetlands, and waterbodies.
    ? Vegetation and wildlife.
    ? Threatened and endangered species.
    ? Cultural resources.
    ? Geology and soils.
    ? Land use and residences.
    ? Air quality and noise.
    ? Reliability and safety.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA.
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.
    Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the
EA may be published and mailed to federal, state, and local government
agencies; public interest groups; Native American tribes; interested
individuals; affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the
Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A 30-day
comment period will be allotted for review if the EA is published. We
will consider all comments submitted in any Commission Order that is
issued for the project.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the public participation section below.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commenter, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission.
The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be.
Generally, comments are submitted regarding the potential environmental
effects, reasonable alternatives and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact.
    This notice and request for environmental comments is being sent to
affected landowners; federal, state and local government
representatives and agencies; environmental and public interest groups;
other interested parties in this proceeding; and local libraries and
newspapers. We encourage government representatives to notify their
constituents of this notice and to encourage their comments concerning
this proposed project.
    To ensure that your comments are properly recorded, please mail
them to our office on or before February 25, 2007. When filing comments
please:
    ? 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; DG2E; and Reference Docket No. CP07-27-000 on the original
and both copies.
    Please note that the Commission strongly encourages the electronic
filing (``eFiling'') of comments, interventions or protests to this
proceeding. Instructions on how to ``eFile'' comments can be found on
the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``Documents
and Filings'' link.

[[Page 5044]]

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 send one electronic copy (using the
Commission's e-Filing system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all
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). Only intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    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

    This notice has been sent to all known 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 (3372) or on
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).
    To access information via the FERC Web site click on the
``eLibrary'' link then 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. The ``eLibrary'' link
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the
Commission such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. For assistance
with ``eLibrary'', please contact FERC Online Support at 
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for
TTY, contact (202)502-8659.
    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.
    Public meetings and/or site visits along with other Project related
information will be posted on the Commission's calendar located at
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-1663 Filed 2-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

 
 

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.