Subject: Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Availability
[Federal Register: May 9, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 90)]
[Notices]
[Page 31295-31296]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09my02-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP02-4-000]
Northwest Pipeline Corporation; Notice of Availability of the
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Evergreen Expansion Project
May 3, 2002.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Northwest Pipeline
Corporation (NWP) in the above-referenced docket.
The EA 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 not
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment.
The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the proposed gas pipeline and aboveground
facilities including:
Four 36-inch-diameter loops totaling approximately 27.8
miles;
91,580 horsepower of additional compression or other
modifications at ten different compressor stations; and
Other aboveground facilities including ten tie-in
assemblies, each with a block valve and pigging facilities.
The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to provide firm
transportation of natural gas to fuel combustion turbine projects under
construction or planned for installation at five sites in western
Washington. These turbines would add new electric power generation in
the Pacific Northwest.
When existing system capacity and capacity turn back are
considered, the net increase in system capacity in the Sumas to
Chehalis corridor is 220,514 Dth/day. The Evergreen Expansion Project
also would add approximately 57,000 Dth/day of physical north flow
capacity through the Columbia Gorge corridor of the NWP system to
replace approximately 52,000 Dth/day of design day displacement
capacity required for existing long-term firm services and reduce the
operational flow order risks for existing firm services through that
corridor.
The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference
and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A,
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers,
and parties to this proceeding.
Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is
important that we receive your comments before the date specified
below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your
comments are received in time and properly recorded:
Send two copies of your comments to: Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426;
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas/
Hydro Group, PJ-11.3;
Reference Docket No. CP02-4-000; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 5, 2002.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our
final order. However, the Commission encourages electronic filing of
any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and 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. Before you can file comments you will need to create
a free account which can be created by clicking on ``Login to File''
and then ``New User Account.''
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).\1\ Only intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\1\ 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 comments considered.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202) 208-1088 or on
the FERC Internet 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 with access to RIMS, 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 with access to CIPS, the
[[Page 31296]]
CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-11583 Filed 5-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P