[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27067-27069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13485]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP96-178-000]
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maritimes &
Northeast Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues and Notice of Public Meetings (NOI)
May 23, 1996.
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 the construction and
operation of the 66.0 miles of pipeline facilities and metering
proposed in the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Project (Maritimes
Project).\1\ This EIS will be used by the Commission in its decision-
making process to determine whether to approve the project.
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\1\ Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.'s 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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We are asking a number of Federal agencies to indicate whether they
wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies
are listed in appendix 1 and may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their agencies' responsibilities.\2\
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\2\ Appendices 2 through 5 referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888
First Street, N.E., Room 2A-1, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
208-1371. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving
this notice in the mail.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (M&NP) wants to build a new
natural gas transmission system in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
southern Maine to transport 60,000 million cubic feet per day of
natural gas for two shippers. The proposed facilities are Phase I of
the Maritimes Project, a new high-pressure natural gas pipeline
delivery system for the Sable Offshore Energy Project. The Phase I
facilities would be the southernmost segment of a pipeline that would
eventually extend from Country Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada, to the
Canadian-U.S. border near Calais, Maine, through Maine and
[[Page 27068]]
New Hampshire and into Massachusetts. M&NP requests Commission
authorization, in Docket No. CP96-178-000, to construct and operate the
following Phase I facilities:
66.0 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline from Dracut,
Massachusetts to Wells, Maine in Middlesex and Essex Counties,
Massachusetts (14.4 miles), Rockingham County, New Hampshire (34.7
miles), and York County, Maine (16.9 miles);
two meter stations, one in Dracut, Massachusetts and one
in Newington, New Hampshire;
one meter and regulator station in Wells, Maine; and
associated pipeline facilities, such as mainline block
valves and pig launchers and receivers.
The information in this NOI is based on the route maps which were
filed with the Commission on May 16, 1996. The general location of the
project facilities is shown in appendix 2. The general location of
other natural gas projects under Commission review occurring in the
same region and within the same time frame (Granite State Gas
Transmission, Inc. (Granite State LNG Project, Docket No. CP95-52-000)
and Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS Project, Docket No.
CP96-249-000)) are shown in appendix 3. If you are interested in
obtaining detailed maps of a specific portion of the Maritimes Project,
contact the EIS Project Manager identified at the end of this notice.
Land Requirements for Construction
Based on information supplied by M&NP, over about 50 percent of the
proposed pipeline would parallel existing road, pipeline, or powerline
rights-of-way. Construction of the pipeline would require a 75-foot-
wide construction right-of-way and would affect about 600 acres of
land. Following construction, 50 feet of the construction right-of-way
(about 400 acres) would be retained for operation of the pipeline and 1
acre would be retained for operation of each meter station. Existing
land uses on the remainder of the disturbed area, as well as most land
uses on the permanent right-of-way, would be allowed to continue
following construction.
The EIS 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.
We call this ``scoping''. The main goal of the scoping process is to
focus the analysis in the EIS 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 EIS. All comments received
are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 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.
The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already
identified a number of issues under each topic that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by the applicant. These issues
are listed below. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based
on your comments and our analysis.
Geology and Soils
--About 60 miles of near-surface bedrock may require blasting.
--Effect on exploitable mineral resources.
--Effect on prime farmland soils.
--Erosion control and right-of-way revegetation procedures.
Water Resources
--Effect on groundwater and surface water supplies.
--About 80 crossings of waterbodies, including 2 crossings of
waterbodies over 100 feet (Squamscott and Piscataqua Rivers), and
crossings of the Spickett, Little, Exeter, and Great Works Rivers.
--Consistency with state Coastal Zone Management Programs.
Biological Resources
--Clearing of upland forest and the permanent conversion of forest to
open land.
--Effect on wetland habitat, including tidal salt marshes along the
Squamscott and Piscataqua Rivers.
--Effect on warmwater, coldwater, anadromous, and estuarine fisheries
habitat.
--Effect on wildlife habitat.
--Effect on Federal threatened and endangered and state special concern
species.
Cultural Resources
--Effect on historic and prehistoric sites.
--Native American and tribal concerns.
--Effect on land sacred to the Baha'i Faith in the vicinity of MP 50.1.
Land Use
--Effect on 107 residences within 100 feet of the proposed pipeline.
--Effect on planned or proposed residential developments.
--Effect on public and recreation land, including conservation land at
the Exeter River, the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest, the Newington Town
Forest, and the Peace Development Authority property.
Socioeconomics
--Effect on construction workforce on surrounding areas.
Air Quality and Noise
--Effect on local air quality and noise environment as a result of
construction.
Reliability and Safety
--Assessment of hazards associated with natural gas pipelines.
Cumulative Impact
--Assessment of the combined effect of the proposed project with other
natural gas projects, such as the PNGTS and Granite State Projects,
occurring in the same region and within the same time frame.
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 Draft EIS
which will be 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 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. The
Final EIS will include our response to each comment received and will
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine
whether to approve the project.
Public Participation and Scoping Meetings
You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing your
specific comments or concerns about the project. You should focus on
the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to
the proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or
lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more
useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure
that
[[Page 27069]]
your comments are received and properly recorded:
Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC
20426;
Reference Docket No. CP96-178-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gerber, EIS
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
Street, N.E., Room 71-40, Washington, DC 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 28, 1996.
In addition to sending written comments, you may attend public
scoping meetings. We will conduct three public scoping meetings at the
following times and locations:
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Date Time Location
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June 18, 1996........... 7:00 p.m.............. Methuen,
Massachusetts.
June 19, 1996........... 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m Wells, Maine.
June 20, 1996........... 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m Newton, New Hampshire.
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The meetings in Newton and Wells will also cover the proposed PNGTS
Project in New Hampshire and Maine. We will send a separate NOI for the
PNGTS Project to landowners affected by that project. M&NP and/or PNGTS
will be invited to present a description of their proposals at the
appropriate meetings. The Newton and Wells meetings will have two
sessions in order to provide sufficient time to discuss both projects.
While all are invited to attend either session, we are requesting that
state and local governments plan on attending a 4:00 p.m. session.
The meeting in Methuen, Massachusetts will be held at the Great
Hall, 41 Pleasant Street. The meeting in Newton, New Hampshire will be
held at the Memorial Grammar School Gymnasium, 31 West Main Street. The
meeting in Wells, Maine will be held at the Wells High School
Gymnasium, Sanford Road.
The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain input from state
and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have formal
channels for input into the Federal process (including separate
meetings which we have arranged) on an interagency basis. Federal
agencies are expected to transmit their comments directly to the FERC
at separate meetings or in writing, and not use the scoping meetings
for this purpose.
Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the
meetings and present oral comments on the environmental issues which
they believe should be addressed in the Draft EIS. Anyone who would
like to make an oral presentation at the meeting should contact the EIS
Project Manager identified at the end of this notice to have his or her
name placed on the list of speakers. Priority will be given to those
persons representing groups. A list will be available at the public
meetings to allow for non-preregistered speakers to sign up. A
transcript will be made of the meetings and comments will be used to
help determine the scope of the Draft EIS.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceedings or become an
``intervenor''. 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 copies of its
filings to all other parties. 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 4).
The date for filing of timely motions to intervene in this
proceeding has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late
interventions must show good cause, as required by section
385.214(b)(3), why this time limitation should be waived. Environmental
issues have been viewed as good cause for late intervention. You do not
need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
proposed project. It is also being sent to all potential rights-of-way
grantors. As details of the project become established, representatives
of M&NP may also separately contact landowners, communities, and public
agencies concerning project matters, including acquisition of permits
and rights-of-way.
All commenters will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not
want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and
receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, please return the
Information Request (appendix 5). If you do not send comments or return
the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. Jeff Gerber, EIS Project Manager, at (202) 208-1121.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
Appendix 1--Cooperating Agencies
The following Federal and state agencies are asked to indicate
whether they want to be cooperating agencies for purposes of
producing an EIS:
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Department of the Air Force
Department of the Army
Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Commerce
National Marine Fisheries Service
Department of Energy
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Mines
Fish and Wildlife Service
Geological Survey
Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board
Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
These, or any other Federal, state, or local agencies wanting to
participate as a cooperating agency should send a letter describing
the extent to which they want to be involved. Follow the
instructions below if your agency wishes to participate in the EIS
process or comment on the project:
Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP96-178-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gerber, EIS
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
Street, N.E., Room 71-40, Washington, DC 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 28, 1996.
Cooperating agencies are encouraged to participate in the
scoping process and provide us written comments. Agencies are also
welcome to suggest format and content changes that will make it
easier for them to adopt the EIS. However, we will decide what
modifications will be adopted in light of our production constaints.
[FR Doc. 96-13485 Filed 5-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M