

[Federal Register: April 11, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 69)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18318-18320]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ap06-88]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF06-20-000]

 
TransColorado Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Blanco to 
Meeker Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

April 3, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
discusses the environmental impacts of the proposed Blanco to Meeker 
Project (the Project). This project involves the construction and 
operation of facilities by TransColorado Gas Transmission Company 
(TransColorado) in San Juan County, New Mexico and Zuma, Montrose, 
Mesa, Garfield, and Rio Blanco Counties, Colorado. These facilities 
would include two new compressor stations, modifications at four 
existing compressor stations, and installation of approximately 1,000 
feet of 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline.
    The Blanco to Meeker Project is a necessary and supporting 
component of the overall Rockies Express Pipeline Project, Western 
Phase, currently under review in the Commission's Pre-Filing Process in 
Docket No. PF06-3-000. Therefore, the environmental analysis for the 
Blanco to Meeker Project will be incorporated into the EIS being 
prepared for the Rockies Express Pipeline Project. The EIS will be used 
by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether 
the proposed facilities are in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice explains the scoping process that will be used to 
gather input from the public and interested agencies on the Project. 
Your input will help FERC staff determine which issues/impacts 
associated with the Project need to be evaluated in the EIS. Please 
note that the scoping period for the Project will close on May 5, 2006. 
Instructions on how to submit written comments are provided in the 
public participation section of this notice.
    The Blanco to Meeker Project is currently in the preliminary stages 
of design, and at this time a formal application has not been filed 
with the Commission. For this proposal, the Commission is initiating 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving 
the application. This allows interested stakeholders to become involved 
early in Project planning and to identify and resolve issues before an 
application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF06-20-000) has 
been established to place information filed by TransColorado and 
related documents issued by the Commission into the public record \1\. 
Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new docket number 
will be established.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions 
for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (Forest 
Service) are participating as cooperating agencies in the preparation 
of the EIS because certain Project facilities would be located on 
Forest Service and other Federal lands. The EIS will be used by the BLM 
and the Forest Service to meet their NEPA responsibilities in

[[Page 18319]]

considering TransColorado's application.
    With this notice, we \2\ are asking other Federal, State, and local 
agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues in the Project area to formally cooperate with us 
in the preparation of the EIS. 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 described 
later in this notice. We encourage government representatives to notify 
their constituents of this planned Project and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the envioronmental 
staff of the Office of Energy Products.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice is being sent to landowners within 0.5 mile of the 
proposed compressor stations and compressor station upgrades; Federal, 
State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental 
and public interest groups; Native American tribes; local libraries and 
newspapers; and other interested parties.
    Some affected landowners may be contacted by a Project 
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, 
operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. If so, TransColorado and 
the affected landowners should seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable 
agreement. In the event that the Project is certificated by the 
Commission, that approval conveys the right of eminent domain for 
securing easements for the facilities. Therefore, if easement 
negotiations fail to produce an agreement, TransColorado could initiate 
condemnation proceedings in accordance with applicable 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).


Summary of the Proposed Project

    TransColorado proposes to construct and operate the following 
facilities as part of its proposed Blanco to Meeker Project:
     Construct a new compressor station at the Blanco Hub Area, 
San Juan County, New Mexico, with a site-rated total of 4,200 
horsepower (hp).
     Install two bi-directional meters at existing connections 
to El Paso and Transwestern and approximately 1,000 feet of 24-inch 
diameter pipe to tie into the existing Conoco Gas Plant at the Blanco 
Hub Area.
     Construct a new compressor station at Conn Creek, Garfield 
County, Colorado, with a site-rated total of 5,900 hp. This compressor 
station will also require two electric generator sets of approximately 
500 hp each.
     Install one new compressor unit at the existing Greasewood 
Compressor Station in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The new compressor 
unit will have a site-rated total of 2,805 hp.
     Reconfigure the existing Mancos, Redvale, and Whitewater 
Compressor Stations (all in Colorado) by modifying header and piping 
facilities within the existing stations' fencelines.
    A map depicting the general location of the Project facilities is 
shown in Appendix 1.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in Federal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, at (202) 
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the 
last page of this Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TransColorado is requesting approval such that the facilities are 
completed and placed into service by January, 2008. Construction of the 
facilities would take about 10 months.

The EIS Process

    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 under 
section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to identify and 
address concerns the public would have about proposals. This process is 
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to 
focus the analysis in the EIS on important environmental issues and 
reasonable alternatives. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff 
requests agency and public comments on the scope of the issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. All comments received are considered during the 
preparation of the EIS.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in the 
draft EIS. The draft EIS will be published and mailed to Federal, 
State, and local agencies, Native American tribes, public interest 
groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, 
libraries, and the Commission's official service list for this 
proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review of the draft 
EIS. We will consider all timely comments on the draft EIS and revise 
the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS.
    To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the public participation section below.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have identified the following issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and 
the information provided by TransColorado. This preliminary list of 
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Land Use, Recreation and Special Interest Areas, and 
Visual Resources:

--Impact on public lands.

     Air Quality and Noise:

--Effects on local air quality and ambient noise from construction and 
operation of the proposed facilities.

    We will make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on 
these and other resource areas and evaluate possible alternatives to 
the proposed Project or portions of the Project.

Public Participation

    You are encouraged to become involved in this process and provide 
your specific comments or concerns about TransColorado's proposal. Your 
comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, 
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. 
To expedite the receipt and consideration of your comments, electronic 
submission of comments is strongly encouraged. See Title 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the FERC Internet Web site 
(http://www.ferc.gov) under the eFiling link and the link to the User's 

Guide. Before you can submit comments you will need to create a free 
account by clicking on ``Sign-up'' under ``New User.'' You will be 
asked to select the type of submission you are making. This type of 
submission is considered a ``Comment on Filing.'' Comments submitted 
electronically must be submitted by May 5, 2006.
    If you wish to mail comments, please carefully follow these 
instructions:
     Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie 
R. Salas, 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 
Branch 1.
     Reference Docket No. PF06-20-000 on the original and both 
copies.

[[Page 18320]]

     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before May 5, 2006.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you received this notice, you are on the environmental mailing 
list for this Project and will continue to receive Project updates 
including the draft and final EISs. If you want your contact 
information corrected or you do not want to remain on our mailing list, 
please return the Correct or Remove From Mailing List Form included as 
Appendix 2.
    To reduce printing and mailing costs the draft and final EISs will 
be issued in both CD-ROM and hard copy formats. The FERC strongly 
encourages the use of the CD-ROM format in its publication of large 
documents. If you wish to receive a paper copy of the draft EIS instead 
of a CD-ROM, you must indicate that choice on the return postcard 
(Appendix 2).

Additional Information

    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the 
FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. 

Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the 
docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number 
field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 

contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called 
eSubscription which 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. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.


Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-5290 Filed 4-10-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
