[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 38551-38552] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-18413] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP95-595-000] Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Brazos River Crossing Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Site Visit July 21, 1995. 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 construction and operation of the facilities proposed in the Brazos River Crossing 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 to approve the project. \1\ Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation's application was filed with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of the Proposed Project Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation (Texas Eastern) wants to abandon about 1.8 miles of its mainline No. 11, and replace it with about 1.6 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline, including a new crossing of the Brazos River by directional drill, in Austin and Waller Counties, Texas. Texas Eastern's [[Page 38552]] existing mainline No. 11 Brazos River crossing has been exposed by erosion. The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\ \2\ The appendices 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, 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 16.8 acres of land. An 85-foot-wide right-of-way would be used during construction on the land portion of the project, as well as additional extra work spaces. Following construction, the permanent right-of-way would be 50 feet wide. Extra work spaces and right-of-way beyond the 50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way would revert to their original land uses. Vegetation would be restored in all disturbed areas. 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 considered during the preparation of the EA. 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 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; Public safety; Land use; Cultural resources; Air quality and noise; Polychlorinated biphenyls. 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 Texas Eastern. 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: The project would cross cropland and rangeland. An undetermined amount of prime farmland soils would be temporarily affected. The project would also cross an existing pecan orchard, ranch, corrals, and the construction right-of-way is within 23 feet of a residence. Several landowners have stated that an alternative route which uses existing right-of-way would be preferable to the proposed route. The project would affect about 5.8 acres of herbaceous wetlands, and about 1.0 acre of forested wetland. 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 following the instructions below to ensure that your comments are received and properly recorded: Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulation Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., Washington, DC 20426; Reference Docket No. CP95-595-000; Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Jeff Gerber, EA Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, D.C. on or before August 21, 1995. If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from Mr. Gerber at the above address. Site Visit On August 9, 1995, the FERC staff, accompanied by representatives of Texas Eastern, will inspect the proposed location of the facilities. All interested parties may attend. Those planning to attend must provide their own transporation. For further information, call Mr. Jeff Gerber, EA Project Manager, (202) 208-1121. 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) (see appendix 2). The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding is August 4, 1995. Parties seeking to file late interventions must show good cause, as required by Section 385.124(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 Mr. Jeff Gerber, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1121. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 95-18413 Filed 7-26-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M