Subject: Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent
[Federal Register: June 7, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 110)]
[Notices]
[Page 30730-30733]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07jn01-46]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP01-176-000, Docket No. CP01-179-000]
Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline LP; Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Georgia Strait
Crossing Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visit
June 1, 2001.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of Georgia Strait Crossing
Pipeline LP's (GSX-US) proposed Georgia Strait Crossing (GSX) Project
in Whatcom and San Juan Counties, Washington.\1\ The proposed
facilities would transport natural gas from existing pipeline systems
near Sumas, Washington to the United States/Canada border in Boundary
Pass.\2\ The GSX Project would involve the construction and operation
of about 47 miles of 20- and 16-inch-diameter pipeline and a new
10,302-horsepower (hp) compressor station. The FERC will use
[[Page 30731]]
this EIS in its decision making process to determine whether the
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
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\1\ GSX-US' applications in Docket Nos. CP01-176-000 and CP01-
179-000 were filed with the Commission under sections 7(c) and 3 of
the Natural Gas Act respectively.
\2\ Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline Ltd (GSX-Canada) proposes
to construct a pipeline to transport the natural gas delivered to
the Canadian border by GSX-US to Vancouver Island for use in new
power plants. This proposal is currently under review by the
National Energy Board in Canada. The location of the Canadian
facilities is shown in Appendix 1.
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If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a GSX-US representative about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline
company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that approval
conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company 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?'' should have been
attached to the project notice GSX-US provided to landowners. This fact
sheet addresse a number of typically asked questions, including the use
of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's
proceedings. The fact sheet is available for viewing on the FERC
Internet website (www.fer.gov).
This notice is being sent to affected landowners along GSX-US'
proposed route; Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Indian tribes that
might attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties
in the area of potential effect; local libraries and newspapers; and
the Commission's list of parties to the proceeding. We \3\ encourage
government representatives to notify their constituents of this
proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern. Additionally, with this notice we are asking other Federal,
state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special
expertise with respect to environmental issues in the project area to
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated GSX-US' proposal
relative to their responsibilities. Agencies who would like to request
cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments
described later in this notice.
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\3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' ``our'' refer to the staff of the FERC's
Office of Energy Projects.
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Summary of the Proposed Project
The GSX Project would transport 94,000 decatherms per day of
natural gas from proposed interconnect facilities with the existing
Westcoast Energy Inc. pipeline at the United States/Canada border and
Northwest Pipeline Corporation (Northwest) pipeline near Sumas,
Washington to an interconnect with a pipeline proposed by GSX-Canada in
Boundary Pass.
GSX-US' proposed action consists of the construction and operation
of:
Pipeline interconnect facilities between the proposed GSX
system and the existing Westcoast Energy Inc. system at the
international border between the United States and Canada, including a
receipt point meter station and 500 feet of 20-inch-diameter upstream
piping located adjacent to Northwest's existing Sumas Compressor
Station in Whatcom County, Washington (additional metering facilities
would be installed at the same location to provide for a secondary
source of gas from the Northwest system);
About 32 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipeline extending from
the interconnect facilities at the international border between the
United States and Canada near Sumas, Washington, across Whatcom County,
to a new compressor station (Cherry Point Compressor Station) near
Cherry Point, Washington;
A new compressor station (GSX Cherry Point Compressor
Station) consisting of one 10,302-hp two-stage compressor package near
Cherry Point, Washington;
About 1 mile of 16-inch-diameter pipeline extending from
the GSX Cherry Point Compressor Station to the beginning of the marine
portion of the pipeline at the edge of the Strait of Georgia; and
About 14 miles of 16-inch-diameter marine pipeline
extending from the edge of the Strait of Georgia near Cherry Point,
Washington to the edge of the international border between the United
States and Canada at a point about midway between the west end of Patos
Island (Washington) and the east end of Suturna Island (British
Columbia) in Boundary Pass.
The general location of the major project facilities is shown in
appendices 1 and 2.\4\
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\4\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's website at the ``RIMS'' link or from the Commission's
Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street,
NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. For
instructions on connecting to RIMS, refer to the last page of this
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving
this notice in the mail.
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Because the project involves siting, constructing, operating, and
maintaining pipeline facilities at the international border between the
United States and Canada, GSX-US requested a Presidential Permit in
Docket No. CP01-179-000.
The GSX Project is scheduled to be in service by late October 2003.
Preliminary construction activities, including work at the GSX Cherry
Point Compressor Station and the shoreline horizontal directional drill
segment, are scheduled to take place during the late summer/fall of
2002. Construction of the majority of the project facilities, including
the onshore and offshore pipeline segments and the aboveground
facilities, would be completed during the spring/summer/fall of 2003.
The approximate duration of construction would be 200 to 250 days for
the compressor station and 90 to 150 days for the pipeline.
Land Requirement for Construction
Construction of onshore pipeline facilities would affect a total of
about 410 acres of land in Whatcom County, Washington. Following
construction, about 200 acres would be retained as permanent right-of-
way. The remaining 210 acres of temporary work space would be restored
and allowed to revert to former use.
GSX-US proposes to use a 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way
unless topography or other conditions require modifications. In
addition to the 100-foot-wide construction right-of-way, temporary
extra workspace would be necessary at most improved road and railroad
crossings, for side hill cuts, areas requiring deeper burial, and
additional spoil storage areas. A 50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way
would be acquired. About 74 percent of the onshore pipeline route would
parallel existing pipeline, road, railroad, or powerline rights-of-way.
GSX-US indicates that construction of its offshore pipeline
facilities would disturb about 46 acres. Based on a 3-foot-wide
permanent marine right-of-way, GSX-US estimates that the offshore
permanent right-of-way would be 5.1 acres.
The GSX-US receipt point facilities would be constructed on 17.9
acres of land of which 10.0 acres would be within Northwest's existing
Sumas Compressor Station site. The GSX Cherry Point Compressor Station
would be constructed on a 9.6-acre site. Valves and valve access roads
(outside of the compressor station and interconnect sites) would occupy
1.6 acres, of which all but 0.3 acre would be within the construction
area for the pipeline facilities.
Disturbances related to modifying access roads for pipeline
construction would affect about 7.2 acres. Pipe storage/contractor yard
or rail sidings
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would occupy 68.6 acres, of which 41.9 acres have been previously
disturbed for other uses. Additional temporary work areas for the
horizontal directional drill at Cherry Point would include 24.3 acres
of which 8.9 acres would be within the Gulf Road right-of-way.
The EIS 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 solicit and address concerns the public may have about proposals. We
call this ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus
the EIS on the important environmental issues. By this Notice of
Intent, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues
it will address in the EIS. All comments received are considered during
the preparation of the EIS.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the Draft EIS,
which will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies; elected
officials; environmental and public interest groups; affected
landowners and other interested individuals; Indian tribes; newspapers;
libraries; and the Commission's official service list for this
proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for review of the
Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and revise
the document, as necessary, before issuing a Final EIS. The Final EIS
will include our response to each comment received on the Draft EIS and
will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to
determine whether to 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 GSX-US. This preliminary list
of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
The area has a history of seismic activity.
A total of 42 perennial or intermittent waterbodies
(onshore) and the Strait of Georgia would be crossed.
The project would cross commercial and recreational
fisheries.
The project may affect four federally listed threatened or
endangered speciies and six species of special concern.
The project may cross areas with significance to Native
Americans.
Construction would disturb 288 acres of agricultural land,
66 acres of non-forested open space, 47 acres of woodland, and 7 acres
of developed land in Whatcom County, Washington.
Construction would interfere with ship navigation,
commercial fishing, and recreational boating in the Georgia Strait.
The project crosses the Cherry Point State Aquatic
Reserve.
The GSX Cherry Point Compressor Station would have an
impact on air quality and the noise environment of the area.
Public Participation, Scoping Meetings, and Site Visit
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are
received in time and properly recorded.
Send an original and two copies of your letter to: David
P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
Refer to Docket No. CP01-176-000;
Label one copy of your comments for the attention of the
Gas Group 2, PJ-11.2; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before July 5, 2001.
Comments may also be filed electronically via the internet in lieu
of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the
Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link
and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments you will
need to create an account by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then
``New User Account.''
Everyone who responds to this notice or comments throughout the EIS
process 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 EIS, please return the Information
Request (appendix 4). You must send comments or return the Information
Request for your name to remain on the mailing list.
In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite
you to attend the public scoping meetings that the FERC will conduct in
the project area. The locations and times for these meetings are listed
below.
Tuesday, June 26, 2001, 7:00 p.m.--Lynden High School
(cafeteria), 1201 Bradley Road, Lynden, Washington 98264, (360) 354-
4401.
Thursday, June 28, 2001, 7:00 p.m.--Senior Services San
Juan Center, 589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250, (360)
378-9102.
The public scoping meetings are designed to provide you with more
detailed information and another opportunity to offer your comments on
the proposed project. GSX-US representatives will be present at the
scoping meetings to describe their proposal. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend the meetings and to present
comments on the environmental issues they believe should be addressed
in the Draft EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be prepared so that
your comments will be accurately recorded.
On Wednesday, June 27, 2001, our staff will also be visiting some
project areas. The meeting location for the site visit will be
announced at the Lynden scoping meeting. Anyone interested in
participating in a site visit may contact the Commission's Office of
External Affairs at (202) 208-1088 for more details and must provide
their own transportation.
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 provide 14 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) (see appendix 3).\5\ Only
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intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's
decision.
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\5\ 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 that would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor
status to have your environmental comments considered.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at (202) 208-1008 or on the
FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the ``RIMS'' link to information in
this docket number. Click on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket#'' from
the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions. For assistance the RIMS
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.
Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website,
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket#'' from the CIPS Menu, and
follow the instructions. For assistance the CIPS helpline can be
reached at (202) 208-2474.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-14338 Filed 6-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M