[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 10574-10575] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-6061] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Docket No. CP96-201-000] Algonquin Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Middletown Lateral Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues March 8, 1996. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the facilities proposed in the Middletown Lateral Project.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether an environmental impact statement is required and whether or not to approve the project. \1\ Algonquin Gas Transmission Company's application was filed with the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of the Proposed Project Algonquin Gas Transmission Company (Algonquin) wants Commission authorization to construct and operate natural gas pipeline and related facilities to deliver up to 82,500 [[Page 10575]] million British thermal units of gas per day to The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P). CL&P intends to use the gas as an alternate fuel for Unit Nos. 2 and 3 at its electric generating station in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut (Middletown Plant). The Middletown Lateral would extend from Algonquin's existing mainline system in Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut to the Middletown Plant. Algonquin seeks authority to construct and operate:8.4 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline; a meter station; and a tap valve site and appurtenant facilities. CL&P would construct nonjurisdictional facilities consisting of approximately 1,500 feet of piping, a regulator station, and burner conversion equipment. All of CL&P's facilities would be constructed within its plant site. The general location of the project facilities and specific locations for facilities on new sites are 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, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Reqirements for Construction The project would require about 72 acres of land of which 47.9 acres would be new permanent right-of-way (ROW). The proposed pipeline would be built on or adjacent to existing electric transmission line or abandoned railroad ROWs for about 84 percent of its length. The construction ROW would typically be 75 feet wide consisting of a 50- foot-wide permanent ROW and a 25-foot-wide temporary ROW. Following construction, the disturbed area would be restored and the 25 feet of temporary ROW would be allowed to revert to its former land use. The project would require horizontal directional drilling of the Connecticut River for about 2,100 feet. 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. 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 land use cultural resources hazardous waste endangered and threatened species public safety 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 officials 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 Algonquin. Keep in mind that this is a preliminary list: The Meshomasic State Forest would be crossed. Three streams would be crossed that are coldwater fisheries and support trout. Twenty-three wetlands would be crossed totalling about 4,495 feet. Federally and state-listed threatened or endangered species may be affected. The project may impact cultural resources. The list of issues may be added to, subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. Also, we have made a preliminary decision to not address the impacts of the nonjurisdictional facilities. We will briefly describe their location and status in the EA. Public Participation You can made a difference by sending a letter with 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 specified 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, 888 First St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426; Reference Docket No. CP96-201-000; Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. John Wisniewski, EA Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E., PR-11.2, Washington, D.C. 20426; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, D.C. on or before April 15, 1996. If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from Mr. Wisniewski 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 preceeding 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 be become an intervenor you must file a Motion to Intervene according to Rule 214 of their Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) (see appendix 2). You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered. Additional information about the proposed project is available from Mr. John Wisniewski, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1073. Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-6061 Filed 3-13-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M