[Federal Register: May 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 30367-30369]
[DOCID:fr31my07-62]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF07-7-000]

Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Intent To
Prepare an Environmental Assessment; For the Proposed Iroquois 08/09
Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

May 22, 2007.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
address the environmental impacts of the Iroquois 08/09 Expansion
Project proposed by Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. (Iroquois).
The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making process to
determine whether or not to authorize the project. This notice explains
the scoping process the FERC staff will use to gather input from the
public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help us
determine the issues that need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note
that the scoping period will close on June 29, 2007.
    Comments may be submitted in written or verbal form. Further
details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written
comments, the FERC staff invite you to attend the public scoping
meetings we have scheduled as follows:

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               Date and time                          Location
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Monday, June 18, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.     Milford City Hall
 (EST).                                      Auditorium, 110 River
                                             Street, Milford, CT 06460,
                                             Telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.    Brookfield High School, 45
 (EST).                                      Long Meadow Hill Road,
                                             Brookfield, CT 06804,
                                             Telephone:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
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    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; Federal, State,
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and
public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested
parties; and local libraries and newspapers. We \1\ encourage
government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
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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 an Iroquois representative about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed project facilities. The
pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the project is approved by the FERC, 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?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov). This fact

sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the FERC's proceedings.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Iroquois proposes to construct the Iroquois 08/09 Expansion Project
in three phases which would consist of: Looping its existing pipeline
system at three locations in New York and Connecticut by November 1,
2008 (Phase 1); constructing a new compressor station in Milford,
Connecticut with 20,620 horsepower of compression by January 1, 2009
(Phase 2); and adding a 10,310 horsepower compressor unit to Iroquois'
Brookfield Compressor Station in Brookfield, Connecticut by November 1,
2009 (Phase 3).\2\
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    \2\ The 7,700 horsepower Brookfield Compressor Station was
approved by the Commission on December 21, 2006, as part of
Iroquois' MarketAccess Project in Docket No. CP02-31-002.
Construction of the Brookfield Compressor Station is scheduled to
commence in the fall of 2007 and operation of the station is
scheduled to commence in the fall of 2008.
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    The Phase 1 pipeline looping would include construction of 5.8
miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Boonville, New York; 1.0 miles of
36-inch-diameter pipeline in Wright, New York; and 1.6 miles of 36-
inch-diameter pipeline in Newtown, Connecticut. The new pipeline
looping segments would be located adjacent to Iroquois' existing
pipeline and connected to it at both ends.
    The planned project would expand Iroquois existing system to
deliver up to 200,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas transportation
service to KeySpan Gas East Corporation at South Commack, Long Island.
Iroquois plans to file its certificate application in September 2007
and anticipates receiving a Commission certificate by March 2008.
    A general location of the proposed project is provided in Appendix
1.\3\
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    \3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than Appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' 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 eLibrary refer to the
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
Requests for detailed maps of the proposed facilities should be made
directly to Iroquois.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The Iroquois 08/09 Expansion Project is in the preliminary planning
stage. The precise facility design, pipeline route, rights-of-way, and
other details have not yet been finalized. The proposed pipeline loops
are being planned for routes adjacent to existing rights-of-way.
Specific information on the proposed project location and the land used
by it will be made available to the public when it is finalized.
    Construction of the proposed pipeline loop segments would require
about 176.1 acres of land for construction. Following construction,
about 90.4 acres would be maintained for Iroquois' ongoing pipeline
operation. The remaining 85.7 acres of land would be restored and
allowed to revert to its former use. Construction of the proposed
Milford Compressor Station would require use of about 4.8 acres of
land, and operation of the station would require maintaining 4.6 acres
of the

affected land. The proposed modifications to the Brookfield Compressor
Station would increase the compressor station yard area from 1.4 acres
to 1.8 acres. All of the land required for the proposed Milford
Compressor Station and the Brookfield Compressor Station modifications
is currently owned by Iroquois.

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 when it considers whether or not an interstate
natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC will use the EA to
consider the environmental impact that could result if the Iroquois 08/
09 Expansion Project is authorized under Section 7 of the Natural Gas
Act. NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public
may have about proposals to be considered by the Commission. This
process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important
environmental issues. With this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
is requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to be
addressed in the EA. All comments received will be considered during
preparation of the EA.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in the EA.
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 affected resources.
    The EA will be mailed to Federal, State, and local government
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups;
Native American tribes; affected landowners; commentors; other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's
official service list for this proceeding. A 30-day comment period will
be allotted for review of the EA. We will consider all comments on the
EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure that
your comments are considered, please follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section of this notice.
    Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has
already initiated its NEPA review under its Pre-filing Process. The
purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage the early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC.
    With this notice, we are asking Federal, State, and local
governmental agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with
respect to environmental issues, to express their interest in becoming
cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EA. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided
below (see Public Participation).

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already
identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a
preliminary review of the project site and the facility information
provided by Iroquois. This preliminary list of issues may be changed
based on your comments and our analysis.
     Potential impacts on perennial and intermittent streams
and waterbodies.
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands
and development of appropriate mitigation.
     Potential effect on federally and state-listed species.
     Potential impacts on existing land uses, including managed
forested lands.
     Potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities on
surrounding areas.
     Potential impacts to local air and noise quality
associated with construction and operation.
     Public safety and potential hazards associated with the
transport of natural gas and the proposed compressor facilities.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the proposed project. By becoming a
commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please carefully follow these instructions:
     Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 1, DG2E.
     Reference Docket No. PF07-7-000 on the original and both
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 29, 2007.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any
comments in response to this Notice of Intent. 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 submit comments, you will need to
create a free account, which can be created on-line.
    The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations are listed
above) are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on
the proposed project. 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 EA. A transcript of each
meeting will be generated so that your comments will be accurately
recorded.
    Once Iroquois formally files its application with the Commission,
you may want to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and
are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts
if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor
formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's web site.
Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time.
You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.

Environmental Mailing List

    An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals,
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially
affected by the proposed project. This includes all landowners who are
potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily
for project purposes, or who own homes within distances defined in the
Commission's regulations of certain aboveground facilities. If you
received this notice, you are currently on the environmental mailing
list for this project. If you want to remain on

our mailing list, please return the attached Information Request
(Appendix 2). All individuals who provide written comments, attend the
scoping meetings, or return the Information Request will remain on our
environmental mailing list for this project.

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., PF07-
7) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll free at 1-866-208-3676,
or TTY, contact<PHONE_NUMBER>. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet
website 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, Iroquois has established an Internet website for this
project at http://08-09.iroquois.com. The Web site includes a

description of the project, maps of the proposed pipeline facilities,
and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also request
additional information or provide comments directly to Iroquois by
phone at 1-800-253-5152, or by mail at the following address: Ruth
Parkins, Public Affairs Manager, Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company,
One Corporate Drive, Suite 600, Shelton, CT 06484. E-mail:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-10449 Filed 5-30-07; 8:45 am]

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