[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 98-99]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33324]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket Nos. CP95-194-001, CP95-194-003, CP96-027-000, and CP96-027-
001]
Northern Border Pipeline Company; Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Northern Border Project and Notice of Public
Meetings
December 26, 1996.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)
on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Northern Border
Pipeline Company (Northern Border) and Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America (Natural) in the above-referenced dockets, collectively
referred to as the Northern Border Project.
The DEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would have
limited environmental impact.
The DEIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the following facilities:
Northern Border
About 390.0 miles of new natural gas pipeline;
About 303,500 horsepower (hp) of new compression;
9 new and 1 modified meter stations, 5 new pig launcher/
receivers, 1 new office/warehouse building, and 16 new and 9 modified
valves; and
13 new communication towers.
Natural
About 85.7 miles of new natural gas pipeline;
About 9,000 hp of new compression; and
3 new pig launcher/receivers and 17 new or modified
valves.
The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to transport up to
1,226.3 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from producing
regions in Canada and the Williston Basin in Montana and North Dakota
to natural gas shippers and local distribution companies in the
Midwest, primarily the Chicago area.
Specific Comment Request
The staff has identified and evaluated two system alternatives to
the proposed combined facilities between Harper, Iowa and Chicago,
Illinois, the Amarillo and Iowa/Illinois System Alternatives. To assist
the staff in its evaluation of the system alternatives, we request
specific comments on the impacts and benefits of using each of the
alternatives as compared to the applicants' proposals. Area residents,
local or state governments, and Northern Border and Natural are asked
to comment on whether the Amarillo and/or the Iowa/Illinois System
Alternatives are reasonable and practical and preferable to the
combined proposed facilities between Harper and Chicago. Comments
should also specifically address any impacts on project timing and
related costs/benefits.
Comment Procedure
Written Comments
Any person wishing to comment on the DEIS may do so. Written
comments must be received on or before February 18, 1997, reference
Docket No. CP95-194-001, and be addressed to: Office of the Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E.,
Washington, DC 20426.
A copy of the written comments should also be sent to the FERC
Project Manager identified below.
Public Meeting Schedule
Three public meetings to receive comments on the DEIS will be held
at the following times and locations:
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Date Time Location
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Feb. 4, 1997................... 7:00 p.m....... Channahon, IL.
Feb. 5, 1997................... 7:00 p.m....... Princeton, IL.
Feb. 6, 1997................... 7:00 p.m....... Walcott, IA.
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The meeting in Channahon, Illinois will be held at the Channahon
Junior High School. The meeting in Princeton, Illinois will be held at
the Bureau County Metro Center. The meeting in Walcott, Iowa will be
held at the American Legion.
Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend and
present oral comments on the environmental impacts described in the
DEIS. Anyone who would like to speak at the public meetings may get on
the speakers list by contacting the FERC Project Manager or signing-up
at the public meetings. Priority will be given to persons representing
groups. Transcripts will be made of the meetings.
After these comments are reviewed, any significant new issues are
investigated, and modifications are made to the DEIS, a final
environmental impact statement (FEIS) will be published and
distributed. The FEIS will contain the staff's responses to timely
comments received on the DEIS.
Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to
become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene
pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).
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 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 comments considered.
The DEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is
available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First
street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
Copies of the DEIS have been mailed to federal, state, and local
agencies,
[[Page 99]]
public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, and parties
to this proceeding.
For additional procedural information or a limited number of copies
of this DEIS contact: Ms. Laura Turner, Environmental Project Manager,
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch II, Office of Pipeline
Regulation, 888 First Street, N.E., RM 7M-02, Washington, DC 20426,
(202) 208-0916.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-33324 Filed 12-31-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M