[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 110 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13976]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 9, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-267-000]
Arkla Energy Resources Co.; Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Line F Replacement Project and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
June 3, 1994.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss environmental impacts of the construction and operation of
facilities proposed in the Line F Replacement Project.\1\ This EA will
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine
whether an environmental impact statement is necessary and whether or
not to approve the project.
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\1\Arkla Energy Resources Company'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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Summary of the Proposed Project
Arkla Energy Resources Company (AER) wants Commission authorization
to replace and rearrange an existing mainline pipeline, abandon gas
storage and supply pipelines, and make mainline enhancements to its
pipeline system in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.\2\ These actions
would improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of AER's pipeline
system. Specifically, AER wants authorization for the following:
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\2\In Docket No. CP94-541-000 filed on May 11, 1994, AER
officially changed its name to NorAm Gas Transmission Company.
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Abandon about 87 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline on
Line F in Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union, and
Ouachita Parishes, Louisiana and replace it with about 91 miles of 20-
inch-diameter pipeline in eight segments ranging from 0.8 mile to 36.4
miles in length.
Reroute a portion of Line F included in the above 91 miles
of replacement pipe. About 5 miles of pipe would be replaced with about
5.5 miles of pipe to reroute and connect Line F directly to the Ruston
Compressor Station in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.
Abandon Line 1-F, a 0.8-mile-long 20-inch-diameter
storage line no longer needed after reroute of Line F.
Abandon Line FT-5, a 0.9-mile-long 10-inch-diameter gas
supply line, no longer needed after the reroute of Line F.
Reclassify about 8.2 miles of Line F as a low pressure gas
supply line and operate it as part of Line F-1-F in Caddo Parish,
Louisiana.
Abandon about 0.4 mile of Line S in Harrison County,
Texas.
Abandon 66 delivery taps installed to deliver gas to rural
customers served by Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company.
Construct about 2.2 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline
(Line ACT-4) in Hot Springs County, Arkansas.
Install two 2,250-horsepower slow speed reciprocal
compressor units at the existing Ruston Compressor Station.
Uprate the maximum allowable operating pressure on AER's
Line S from 880 pounds per square inch (psi) to 930 psi.
Some portions of the pipeline to be abandoned would be removed,
others would be left in place. The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 1.\3\
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\3\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the
Commission's Public Reference Branch, room 3104, 941 North Capitol
Street, NE., 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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Land Requirements for Construction
The majority of the proposed pipeline would be built adjacent and
parallel to existing rights-of-way. AER intends to use a 60-foot-wide
construction right-of-way. About 15 feet of the planned 60-foot width
would use existing right-of-way. Consequently, about 45 feet of new
clearing would be required in most areas. Following construction, about
20 feet of the construction right-of-way would be allowed to revert to
its former land use.
Additional working space would be required adjacent to the planned
construction right-of-way at road and stream crossings.
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.
We call this ``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 requests public comments on the
scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received
are taken into account during the preparation of the EA.
The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general
headings:
Geology and soils
Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
Vegetation and wildlife
Endangered and threatened species
Land use
Cultural resources
Air quality and noise
Hazardous waste
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
recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by AER. Keep in mind that this
is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, subtracted
from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. Issues are:
Line F would cross 85 waterbodies, 6 of which are greater
than 100 feet wide. These six waterbodies greater than 100 feet in
width would be crossed by directional drilling.
Line F would cross 39 wetlands, 9 of which are greater
than 500 feet wide at the crossing location. Line ACT-4 would cross one
wetland.
Line F would disturb approximately 21 acres of forested
wetland which may require active restoration and compensation.
Eight residences are near Line F's right-of-way.
Line F would cross two waterbodies classified as Louisiana
Scenic Rivers. These waterbodies are both greater than 100 feet in
width and are part of the six waterbodies mentioned above that would be
directionally drilled.
Line F would cross about 2.3 miles of the D'Arbonne
National Wildlife Refuge in Union Parish, Louisiana.
Noise from the proposed Ruston Mainline Compressor Station
may be above the acceptable limits.
Public Participation
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 your comments are received and properly recorded:
Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington,
DC 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP94-267-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, EA
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North
Capitol St., NE. room 7312, Washington, DC 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before July 6, 1994.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one
from Ms. O'Donnell at the above address.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding 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) attached
as appendix 2.
The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late interventions
must show good cause, as required by Sec. 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.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Ms. Lauren O'Donnell, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-0325.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-13976 Filed 6-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P