[Federal Register: February 20, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 34)]
[Notices]
[Page 9315-9316]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20fe08-54]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP07-53-001]
Downeast Pipeline, LLC.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Downeast LNG Project
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues Related to the
Modification of the Proposed Pipeline Route
February 13, 2008.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Downeast Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) Project proposed by Downeast LNG, Inc. and Downeast
Pipeline, LLC (Downeast). The FERC is the lead federal agency in the
preparation of the EIS, and is preparing the EIS in coordination with
its cooperating agencies: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard; the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration National Marine Fisheries Service; and the Maine
Department of Environmental Protection. The EIS will be used by the
Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
This project was originally noticed by the FERC on March 13, 2006,
with supplemental Notices of Intent on September 18, 2006 and December
1, 2006. This Supplemental Notice of Intent (NOI) discloses the
modification of the proposed natural gas sendout pipeline route to
avoid crossing the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and
requests comments regarding the possible environmental impacts of this
modification.
We \1\ are specifically requesting comments on the new Proposed
Route Option 6. Your input will help identify the issues that need to
be evaluated in the EIS. Further details on how to submit comments are
provided in the Public Participation section of this NOI. Please note
that comments for this NOI are requested by March 14, 2008.
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\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a Downeast representative about the acquisition of a pipeline
easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities.
Downeast would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the pipeline is approved by the Commission, that approval
conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, Downeast could initiate
condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' addresses a number
of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and
how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov), using the
``For Citizens'' link.
This Supplemental NOI is being sent to Federal, State, and local
government agencies; elected officials; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest groups; Indian tribes; commentors and
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. We
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of
this amendment to the planned project and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
Summary of the Proposed Project
The project would consist of an onshore LNG import and storage
terminal located on the south side of Mill Cove in the Town of
Robbinston near the confluence of Passamaquoddy Bay and the St. Croix
River in Washington County, Maine; and an approximately 30-mile-long
natural gas sendout pipeline extending from the terminal to the
existing Maritimes & Northeast (M&NE) pipeline system at the
Baileyville, Maine Compressor Station.
The proposed amended route (Option 6) consists of the following:
Approximately 29.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter natural gas
transmission pipeline;
Natural gas metering facilities;
Pigging facilities; and
Three mainline block valves.
The total length of Option 6 is approximately 1.2 miles shorter
than the previously proposed route (Option 4). The new section of the
pipeline around the Moosehorn NWR is approximately 7.5 miles in length.
Option 6 would follow the Option 4 route from milepost (MP) 0.0 to
MP 10.2. Option 6 would depart from the Option 4 alignment at MP 10.2
and proceed northwest for approximately 1.4 miles, travel west for
approximately 0.75 mile, and then run north for approximately 0.5 mile
to Magurrewock Mountain. The route would then proceed on the south side
of Magurrewock Mountain and cross U.S. Route 1. The route would then
cross under the St. Croix River using a staged horizontal directional
drill from MP 14.1 to MP 15.3. At MP 15.3, the alignment would parallel
the Maine Central Railroad corridor along the St. Croix River. At MP
16.2, the pipeline would turn south away from the railroad corridor,
turn southwest, and parallel U.S. Route 1 for approximately 1.3 miles.
At MP 17.7, the new route would intersect the Option 4 alignment along
the existing Eastern Maine Electrical Cooperative electrical
transmission line corridor. Thereafter, Option 6 follows the Option 4
alignment to its endpoint at the existing M&NE Baileyville Compressor
Station. In addition, Option 6 has minor route variations from the
Option 4 alignment at MP 2.4, 8.5, 25.5, and 27.2.
There would be three mainline valve (MLV) stations on the Option 6
route. The MLV to be constructed on the LNG terminal site at the start
of the sendout pipeline remains unchanged. The second MLV would be
located at MP 16.85. This location is north of U.S. Route 1 and east of
the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Maine Route 191. It is an area
that has been previously disturbed by commercial logging activities and
would require only minimal clearing for construction of the facility.
An access road to the MLV would be required from U.S. Route 1. The MLV
and pigging facilities at the terminus of the sendout pipeline to be
located at MP 29.8 within the Baileyville Compressor Station property
boundary remains unchanged.
A map depicting the original Option 4 route and the proposed Option
6 route is included in Appendix 1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's Web site at the ``e-Library'' link or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on
connecting to e-Library, refer to the ``Additional Information''
section of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about this amendment to the planned project. By
becoming a commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and
considered by the Commission. Your comments should focus on the
potential
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environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please follow these instructions:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of your comments for the attention of OEP/
DG2E/Gas Branch 3.
Reference Docket No. CP07-53-001 on the original and both
copies.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before March 14, 2008.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any
comments in response to this NOI. For information on electronically
filing comments, please see the instructions on the Commission's Web
site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and the link to
the User's Guide as well as information in 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii).
Before you can file comments, you will need to create a free account,
which can be accomplished on-line.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process.
Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of
case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors.
Likewise, each intervenor must send one electronic copy (using the
Commission's eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding.
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).\3\ Only intervenors have the right to
seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\3\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor
status to have your environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
All commentors will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not
want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and
receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, you must return the Mailing
List Retention Form (Appendix 2). Also, indicate on the form your
preference for receiving a paper version in lieu of an electronic
version of the EIS on CD-ROM. If you do not return this form, we will
remove your name from our mailing list.
Please note, if you have previously submitted comments or returned
a Mailing List Retention Form, you are already on our mailing list and
do not need to re-submit comments or a Mailing List Retention Form.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary
link.'' Click on the eLibrary link, select ``General Search'' and enter
the project docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP07-
53) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-
mail at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC
Internet Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents
issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.
In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called
eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and
submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you
spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm
.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx
along with other related information.
Finally, Downeast has established an Internet Web site for this
project at http://www.downeastlng.com. The Web site includes a project
overview, status, and answers to frequently asked questions. You can
also request additional information by emailing Downeast at
info@downeastlng.com.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-3119 Filed 2-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P