[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 185 (Monday, September 23, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 49764-49765] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-24256] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Docket No. CP96-690-000] Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Mississippi River Crossing-- Minnesota Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues September 17, 1996. 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 Mississippi River Crossing--Minnesota 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\ Northern Natural Gas Company'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 Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) wants to increase its pipeline system's reliability by looping a crossing of the Mississippi River in Dakota and Washington Counties, Minnesota. Northern seeks authority to construct and operate about 3.03 miles of new 30-inch- diameter pipeline. This pipeline would interconnect with Northern's existing system that is already looped on the north and south sides of the [[Page 49765]] river. The 3.03 miles of pipeline would include:7,425 feet in Dakota County; 4,750 feet in an open cut crossing of the Mississippi River; and 3,825 feet in Washington County. The general 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, 888 First 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 loop would require about 48.6 acres of land. Following construction, about 36.7 acres would be maintained as permanent right-of-way. The remaining 11.9 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. 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 Land use Cultural resources 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 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 loop and the environmental information provided by Northern. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis. Three Federally listed endangered or threatened species may occur in the proposed project area. Northern plans to open cut the Mississippi River for 4,750 feet. The Mississippi River at the crossing location is designated as the Mississippi National River & Recreational Area. 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, 888 First St., NE., Washington, DC 20426; Reference Docket No. CP96-690-000; Send a copy of your letter to: Ms. Dawn Deibert Neumann, EA Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., PR-11.2, Washington, DC 20426; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before October 21, 1996. If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from Ms. Deibert Neumann 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) (see appendix 2). The date for filing timely motions to interevene 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. Additional information about the proposed project is available from Ms. Dawn Deibert Neumann, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1046. Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-24256 Filed 9-20-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M