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Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Haynesville/Perryville Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

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[Federal Register: July 17, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 136)]
[Notices]
[Page 34744-34745]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy09-39]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP09-420-000]

Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Haynesville/Perryville
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

July 10, 2009.
    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 Haynesville/Perryville
Expansion Project involving the construction and operation of
facilities by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP (``Gulf South'') in
Bienville and Madison Parishes, Louisiana. The Haynesville/Perryville
Expansion Project involves the construction of additional compression
facilities at two existing compressor stations. 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.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we will
use to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the
project. Your input will help determine which issues need to be
evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period will close on
August 10, 2009.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project, which includes affected landowners;
federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies;
elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native
American tribes; parties to this proceeding; and local libraries and
newspapers. State and local government representatives are asked to
notify their constituents of this proposed project and to encourage
them to comment on their areas of concern.
    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 Gulf South 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 Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Gulf South proposes to construct on land owned by Gulf South two
new turbine compressor units totaling 31,913 horsepower (HP) at their
existing Hall Summit Compressor Station located in Bienville Parish,
Louisiana, and one new turbine compressor unit rated at 17,558 HP at
their existing Tallulah Compressor Station in Madison Parish,
Louisiana. Associated yard and station piping would be constructed at
each station. In addition, three existing compressors at the Tallulah
Compressor Station would be re-wheeled, and several valves within the
existing Tallulah Compressor Station yard and station piping would be
replaced with similar valves capable of accepting higher discharge
temperatures.
    Maps showing the location of the proposed project are included as
Appendix 1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendix referenced in this notice is not being printed
in the Federal Register. Copies of the appendix are available on the
Commission's Web site at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or by calling (202) 502-8371. For instructions
on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the ``Additional Information''
section of this notice. Copies of the appendix were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail. Requests for detailed maps
of the proposed facilities should be made directly to Gulf South.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction would temporarily impact a total of approximately 42
acres for both compressor station sites combined. The new facilities
would add a total of approximately 7 acres of permanent impacts to the
existing station footprints. All temporary and permanent impacts would
occur on land owned by Gulf South.

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, 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.
    In the EA, we \2\ 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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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    • Geology and soils;
    • Land use;
    • Water resources, fisheries and wetlands;
    • Cultural resources;
    • Vegetation and wildlife;
    • Air quality and noise;
    • Threatened and endangered species; and
    • Public safety.
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed
project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on 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 those on our environmental mailing list (see
discussion on how to remain on our environmental mailing list on page
5). A comment period will be allotted for the 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.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments
provided under the Public Participation section of this notice.

[[Page 34745]]

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified issues we think deserve attention based
on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the
environmental information provided by Gulf South. These issues include
potential air quality and noise impacts from operation of the proposed
compressor additions at each station.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in your comments
so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before August 10, 2009.
    For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages
electronic filing of comments and has dedicated eFiling expert staff
available to assist you at 202-502-8258 or eFiling@ferc.gov.
    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located at http://www.ferc.gov under the link
called ``Documents and Filings''. A Quick Comment is an easy method for
interested persons to submit text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, that is listed under the ``Documents and Filings'' link.
eFiling involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you
would if filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's
hard drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling
users must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or
``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are
making. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on
a Filing;'' or
    (3) You may file your comments with the Commission via mail by
sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
    In all instances please reference the project docket number (CP09-
420-000) with your submission. Label one copy of the comments for the
attention of Gas Branch 3, PJ-11.3.

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 project. This includes all landowners who own land
within certain distances of the aboveground facilities (as defined in
the Commission's regulations).
    If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on the environmental mailing list, 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 ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in a Commission proceeding by
filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor
are included in the User's Guide under the ``e-Filing'' link on the
Commission's Web site.

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
Internet at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click on
the eLibrary link, then on ``General Search'' and enter the docket
number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP09-420) 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 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.
    Finally, any public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-16993 Filed 7-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

 
 

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