[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59728-59729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25095]
[[Page 59728]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
San Bernardino National Forest, California, Proposed North-South
Project EIR/EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact
Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the North-South Project.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the
San Bernardino National Forest (Forest Service), together with the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), intend to prepare a
joint Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement
(EIR/EIS) for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) and San
Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) proposed North-South Project.
DATES: All scoping comments must be received by November 23, 2015. The
draft environmental impact statement is expected June 2016 and the
final environmental impact statement is expected December 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to Eric Chiang, California Public
Utilities Commission, and Jody Noiron, Forest Supervisor, San
Bernardino National by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Public Scoping Comments, RE: North-South Project, 505 Sansome
Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94111.
Fax: (415) 398-5326.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information can be requested by
leaving a voice message at (844) 277-2475, or by checking the project
Web site at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/ene/n-s/northsouth.html.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary components of the Proposed
Project include the construction of a 36-inch-diameter natural gas
transmission pipeline and the rebuilding of the Adelanto Compressor
Station. The pipeline would be primarily constructed within existing
public and private rights-of-way. The Adelanto to Moreno pipeline would
be approximately 65 miles in length and would begin at the Adelanto
Compressor Station in the high desert city of Adelanto and would
proceed in a southerly direction through the Cajon Pass and the San
Bernardino National Forest, terminating at the Moreno Pressure Limiting
Station in the City of Moreno Valley. Approximately eight miles of the
proposed pipeline and associated temporary construction areas cross
lands subject to Forest Service jurisdiction. The balance of the
alignment crosses through non-federal land in San Bernardino and
Riverside Counties along public roads.
The Adelanto Compressor Station would be rebuilt with approximately
30,000 horsepower (HP) of compression in order to accommodate the
design throughput. Additional Proposed Project components include: (i)
Installation of additional pressure limiting equipment at Moreno
Pressure Limiting Station and Whitewater Pressure Limiting Station,
(ii) installation of pressure limiting equipment at the proposed Shaver
Summit Pressure Limiting Station near the City of Indio and at the
Desert Center Compressor Station near the community of Desert Center,
and (iii) installation of 16 main line block valves.
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service must respond to SoCalGas and SDG&E's application
for a new natural gas transmission pipeline in the Cajon Pass
designated utility corridor in a manner that is consistent with the
Forest Service special use regulations (36 CFR part 251 Subpart B), the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and the Land Management Plan
(LMP). The Forest Service purpose and need will guide the development
of alternatives considered on National Forest System lands.
The Cajon Pass corridor has a long history of serving as a major
utility and transportation corridor into southern California. It was
designated as a utility corridor when the LMP was revised in 2006, and
was included as a ``Section 368'' corridor by the LMP amendment signed
by the Natural Resources and Environment Under Secretary of Agriculture
in 2009. Designated corridors are the primary agency alternative for
siting energy transmission projects.
Permits issued by the Forest Service are required by law to be
consistent with the LMP. The LMP identifies suitable uses within
various land use zones, describes desired conditions based on the LMP
goals and objectives, and sets resource management standards. The joint
EIR/EIS will evaluate the consistency of the proposed project and any
alternatives with the LMP. Based on an initial review of the proposed
project, project specific LMP amendments may be required to resolve
potential conflicts with the plan Land Use Zones and the plan standards
associated with riparian areas, scenery management, and the Pacific
Crest Trail.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposed action would authorize the
construction, operation, and maintenance of a 36-inch-diameter natural
gas transmission line, associated valve stations, and access roads on
National Forest System lands within the San Bernardino National Forest.
Temporary work areas or areas needed for pre-construction surveys,
including geological explorations, would also be authorized. The
pipeline Right-of-Way would be authorized by a 50 year permit or
easement under the authority of the Mineral Leasing Act.
Possible Alternatives
The EIR/EIS will describe and evaluate the comparative merits of a
reasonable range of alternatives to the proposed action. Alternatives
to be analyzed in the EIR/EIS will be developed during the
environmental review process and will consider input received during
scoping, and will include the no action alternative as required by law.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for the Forest Service decision is Randy
Moore, Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region. Jody Noiron, Forest
Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, will be the Forest Service
official responsible for conducting the environmental review.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The CPUC has independent jurisdiction over the entire project, and
will determine if SoCalGas' and SDG&E's application for authority to
recover North-South Project revenue requirements in customer rates, and
for approval of related cost allocation and rate design proposals, is
in the public interest, and if so, under what conditions the authority
would be granted. If the CPUC approves the proposed project, the Forest
Service will decide whether or not to authorize the portions of the
project on National Forest System lands, and if so, under what
conditions.
Preliminary Issues
The Forest Service and CPUC have identified potential issues and
impacts to the existing environment that require a detailed analysis in
the EIR/EIS. Those
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issues and impacts include aesthetics, air quality, biological
resources, heritage resources, paleontological resources, greenhouse
gas emissions, fire, water quality, land use, noise, public services,
recreation, socioeconomics and environmental justice, roadless areas
(Cajon Roadless Area), and transportation. No determinations have yet
been made as to the significance of these potential impacts; such
determinations will be made in the environmental analysis conducted in
the EIR/EIS after the issues are considered thoroughly. This overview
is presented to assist the public and agencies in preparing written
scoping comments.
Permits or Licenses Required
SoCalGas and SDG&E would be required to obtain any applicable
discretionary and ministerial permits from federal, state, and local
agencies prior to construction of the project. Those permits could
include, but are not limited to, permits or certificates required by
the Clean Water Act and administered by the United States Army Corps of
Engineers and the State and Regional Water Resource Control Boards,
permits related to the Clean Air Act administered by the State or
Regional Air Quality Control Boards, and wildlife and habitat related
permits administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and
California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Invitation to Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service invites federal, state, or local agencies and
tribes to join as cooperating agencies. Requests for cooperating agency
status may be submitted to Forest Supervisor Jody Noiron, San
Bernardino National Forest, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA
92408.
Scoping Process
The CPUC and Forest Service are initiating the joint CEQA/NEPA
scoping process with this Notice of Intent and associated Joint Notice
of Preparation/Scoping Notice. The comments received during scoping
will help guide the development of the EIR/EIS. Three public meetings
will be held during the scoping process to answer questions about the
proposed project and to accept comments on the scope of the analysis.
Meetings will be held at the following dates and locations:
1. October 27, 2015 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at San Gorgonio High
School, 2299 Pacific Street, San Bernardino, CA
2. October 28, 2015 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott,
9619 Mariposa Road, Hesperia, CA
3. October 29, 2015 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Moreno Valley
Conference and Recreation Center, 14075 Frederick Street, Moreno
Valley, CA
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the CPUC and Forest Service
preparation of the EIR/EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate
the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
Comments received during scoping, including names and addresses of
those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed
project. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the Forest
Service with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents and will not provide the respondent standing to
participate in subsequent administrative or judicial review of the
Forest Service decision. This project will follow the predecisional
administrative review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B.
Dated: September 28, 2015.
Jody Noiron,
Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, USDA Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25095 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am]
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