

[Federal Register: October 19, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 202)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61759-61761]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19oc06-81]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP98-150-006, -007, and -008; Docket Nos. CP98-151-003, -
004 and CP05-19-000; Docket Nos. CP06-5-000, CP06-6-000, and CP06-7-
000; Docket No. CP06-76-000; Docket No. CP02-31-002]

 
Millennium Pipeline L.L.C.; Columbia Gas Transmission 
Corporation; Empire State Pipeline and Empire Pipeline, Inc.; Algonquin 
Gas Transmission System; Iroquois Gas Transmission System; Notice of 
Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Northeast-07 Project

October 13, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (FSEIS) on the natural gas pipeline facilities proposed for 
the Northeast (NE)-07 Project in Genesee, Ontario, Yates, Schuyler, 
Steuben, Chemung, Tioga, Broome, Delaware, Orange, Rockland, Putnam, 
and Dutchess Counties, New York; Morris County, New Jersey; and 
Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut, proposed by Millennium 
Pipeline L.L.C. (Millennium), Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation 
(Columbia), Empire State Pipeline and Empire Pipeline, Inc. 
(collectively referred to as Empire), Algonquin Gas Transmission System 
(Algonquin), and Iroquois Gas Transmission System (Iroquois) in the 
above-referenced dockets.
    The FSEIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that approval of 
the proposed project with appropriate mitigating measures as 
recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The FSEIS 
also evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including system 
alternatives, alternative sites for compressor stations, and pipeline 
alternatives.
    The FSEIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following natural gas pipeline 
facilities:

Millennium Pipeline Project--Phase I

     Construction of about 181.7 miles of 30-inch-diameter 
pipeline from Corning, New York, to Ramapo, New York, (from milepost 
[MP] 190.6 to MP 376.6), with four proposed route modifications within 
this area;
     Acquisition from Columbia and continued use of about 7.1 
miles of 24-

[[Page 61760]]

inch-diameter Line A-5 pipeline from MP 340.5 to MP 347.7;
     Construction of the new Corning Compressor Station and 
measuring and regulating (M&R) facilities at MP 190.6;
     Installation of upgrades to the Ramapo M&R station in 
Ramapo, Rockland County, New York; and
     Construction of the Wagoner M&R station in Deer Park, 
Orange County, New York, at MP 337.9.
    Columbia would abandon certain facilities related to the Millennium 
Pipeline Project--Phase I. Columbia proposes the following:
     Abandonment in place of about 4.5 miles of 10-inch-, 82.2 
miles of 12-inch-, 0.2 mile of 16-inch-, and 2.5 miles of 20-inch-
diameter pipeline in Steuben, Chemung, Tioga, Broome, Orange, and 
Delaware Counties, New York, designated as Line A-5;
     Abandonment by removal (Millennium would remove Columbia's 
pipeline when it installs its pipeline via same ditch replacement) of 
about 55.5 miles of 12-inch-, 16.6 miles of 10-inch-, and 8.8 miles of 
8-inch-diameter pipeline in Delaware, Sullivan, Orange, and Rockland 
Counties, New York, designated as Line A-5, and of the Walton Deposit 
M&R station at MP 276.1 in Delaware County (Millennium would relocate 
this facility at the landowner's request and to move it closer to Line 
A-5);
     Abandonment by conveyance to Millennium of:
    [cir] About 3.1 miles of 10- and 12-inch-diameter pipeline in 
Steuben County, New York, designated as Line 10325;
    [cir] About 0.4 mile of 10-inch-diameter pipeline in Broome County, 
New York, designated as Line 10356;
    [cir] About 52.5 miles of 10-, 12-, and 24-inch-diameter pipeline 
in Steuben, Chemung, Broome, and Orange Counties, New York, designated 
as Line A-5;
    [cir] About 2.6 miles of 6-inch-diameter pipeline in Tioga County, 
New York, designated as Line AD-31;
    [cir] About 0.1 mile of 12-inch-diameter pipeline in Broome County, 
New, York, designated as Line N;
    [cir] About 6.7 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline in Rockland 
County, New York, designated as Line 10338;
    [cir] The following M&R stations in New York:

--Corning Natural Gas, MP 180.4, Steuben County;
--Cooper Planes, MP 182.1, Steuben County;
--M Account, MP 187.5, Steuben County;
--Corning Glass, MP 188.4, Steuben County;
--Spencer, MP 217.3, Tioga County;
--Catatonk, MP 228.2, Tioga County;
--Owego, MP 231.5, Tioga County;
--Union Center, MP 240.2, Broome County;
--Endicott, MP 241.7, Broome County,
--Westover, MP 245.7, Broome County;
--Willis Road, MP 248.1, Broome County;
--Port Dickinson, MP 250.8, Broome County;
--Kirkwood, MP 253.8, Broome County;
--Hancock, MP 285.6, Delaware County;
--Hartwood Club, MP 332.1, Sullivan County;
--Middletown, MP 347.7, Orange County;
--Huguenot, MP 3440.5, Orange County;
--Warwick, MP 359.3, Orange County;
--Greenwood Lake, MP 364.2, Orange County;
--Central Hudson/Tuxedo, MP367.9, Orange County;
--Sloatsburg, MP 373.3, Rockland County;
--Ramapo, MP 376.4, Rockland County; and
--Buena Vista, MP 383.3, Rockland County.

    Millennium would replace the facilities Columbia would abandon in 
place or by removal with its proposed project facilities, or it would 
continue to use those it would acquire by conveyance.
    Millennium proposes to construct Columbia's Line A-5 Replacement 
Project as part of the Phase I Project.

Columbia Line A-5 Replacement Project

     Replacement of 8.8 miles of 8- and 16-inch-diameter 
segments of Columbia's existing Line A-5 pipeline with larger 30-inch-
diameter pipeline in Orange and Rockland Counties, New York;
     Modification of three existing M&R stations (the Tuxedo, 
Sloatsburg, and Ramapo M&R stations) on this segment of Line A-5 to 
accommodate the larger diameter pipeline; and
     Abandonment in place of about 1.0 mile of the existing 
Line A-5 pipeline.

Empire Connector Project

     Construction of about 78 miles of new 24-inch-diameter 
pipeline and associated facilities in Ontario, Yates, Schuyler, 
Chemung, and Steuben Counties, New York; and
     Construction of a new compressor station in Genesee 
County, New York.

Algonquin Ramapo Expansion Project

     Replacement about 4.9 miles of existing 26-inch-diameter 
pipeline with 42-inch-diameter pipeline in Rockland County, New York;
     Construction of miscellaneous pipeline modifications and 
meter station modifications at several locations in Rockland County, 
New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut;
     Modifications to three existing compressor stations in 
Rockland and Putnam Counties, New York, and Morris County, New Jersey; 
and
     Construction of one new natural gas compressor station in 
New Haven County, Connecticut.

Iroquois MarketAccess Project

     Reduction of the proposed size of the compressor to be 
constructed in the Town of Brookfield, Connecticut, from 10,000 hp to 
7,700 hp;
     Installation of natural gas cooling and related facilities 
at the Brookfield Compressor Station; and
     Installation of gas cooling and related facilities at 
Iroquois' existing compressor station in Town of Dover, Dutchess 
County, New York.
    The FSEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., 
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8371.
    A limited number of copies are available from the Public Reference 
Room identified above. In addition, copies of the FSEIS have been 
mailed to federal, state, and local agencies; public interest groups; 
individuals and affected landowners who requested a copy of the FSEIS; 
libraries; newspapers; and parties to this proceeding.
    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 with eLibrary, the eLibrary helpline can be reached toll 
free at 1-866-208-3676, for TTY at (202) 502-8659, or 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 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

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proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these 
filings, document summaries and direct links to the documents. Go to 
the eSubscription link on the FERC Internet Web site.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-17473 Filed 10-18-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
