Finding of No Significant Impact: Chevron Pipe Line Company, Pipeline at El Paso, TX

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs

[Public Notice 2230]

Finding of No Significant Impact: Chevron Pipe Line Company,

Pipeline at El Paso, TX

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of a finding of no significant impact with regard to an

application to construct, connect, operate and maintain a pipeline to

transport refined petroleum products across the U.S.-Mexico border.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Chevron Pipe Line Company has applied for a

Presidential Permit to authorize construction, connection, operation

and maintenance of an 8.625 inch diameter pipeline to convey refined

petroleum products across the border with Mexico at El Paso, Texas.

The proposed pipeline would extend 2.75 miles inside the United

States and convey petroleum products currently being transported by

truck. By eliminating about 60 truck trips a day across the border, the

pipeline will reduce traffic and related air pollution as well as the

risk of accidents. The pipeline also will facilitate development of

export markets for U.S. products.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Department's regulations for

implementation of NEPA (22 CFR Part 161) the Department of State has

conducted an environmental assessment of the proposed construction by

Chevron Pipe Line Company of a petroleum products pipeline across the

international boundary at El Paso, Texas. The Department of State is

charged with the issuance of Presidential Permits authorizing

construction of such international pipelines under Executive Order

11423 (1968), as amended by Executive Order 12847 (1993). Several

federal agencies cooperated in preparation of the environmental

assessment, reviewing and commenting on the analysis and conclusions

presented therein. Agencies participating in this process together with

the Department of State included:

[[Page 36177]]

the Council on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection

Agency, the Department of Interior and its Bureau of Reclamation, the

Justice Department, the International Boundary and Water Commission-

U.S. Section and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The permit application and draft environmental assessment were made

available to the public for review and comment. Following a public

comment period, notice of which was provided in the Federal Register

and in El Paso newspapers, a meeting was held in El Paso on March 6,

1995 to hear comments from members of the public. Numerous oral and

written comments were received. All comments, whether from federal

agencies or members of the public were considered and addressed in the

final environmental assessment.

Based on the final environmental assessment, which included a

review of all comments received, the Department of State has concluded

that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing construction of the

proposed pipeline through the Bureau of Reclamation's right of way

(whether using the proposed route 1b or the alternative route 1c as

described in the final environmental assessment) will not have a

significant effect on the quality of the human environment within the

United States. Therefore, in accordance with NEPA regulations, 40 CFR

1501.4 and 1508.3 and with State Department Regulations, 22 CFR 161.8

(c) an environmental impact statement will not be prepared.

Factors Considered: The Department of State considered several

alternatives to the proposed action including alternative pipeline

routes and the option of not building a pipeline. Analysis of the

options led to the conclusion that the environmentally preferred

alternatives would be to construct the pipeline through the Bureau of

Reclamation's right of way (using either route 1b or route 1c).

The Department's analysis of all the options and reasoning

supporting this decision is presented in the final environmental

assessment. Copies of the final environmental assessment are being

provided to interested parties and civic groups in El Paso and a copy

will be available for public inspection at the EPA regional office in

El Paso.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PIPELINE PERMIT APPLICATION, CONTACT:

Donald E. Grabenstetter, Office of International Energy Policy, Room

3529, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, 20520, (202) 647-4557.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, CONTACT:

Charlotte Roe, Office of Ecology and Terrestrial Conservation, Room

4325, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, (202) 647-3367.

Dated: June 9, 1995.

Glen R. Rase,

Director, International Energy Policy.

[FR Doc. 95-17146 Filed 7-12-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710-07-M