# Steuben Gas Storage Co.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Thomas Corners Gas Storage Field Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A95-5712 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** March 9, 1995 - **Citation:** 60 FR 12935 ## Text Summary of the Proposed Project Steuben Gas Storage Company (Steuben) requests Commission authorization to convert a depleted natural gas production field to storage use. It proposes to construct and operate: 13 injection/withdrawal wells (11 new wells drilled from one central location and two converted from existing gas production wells); One observation well; 0.6 mile of 4-inch-diameter well laterals; 0.3 mile of 12-inch-diameter well laterals; A 3,284-horsepower compressor station; 6.48 miles of 12-inch-diameter gathering header including a pipeline drip and storage tank; and Dehydration facilities. Steuben indicates that the proposed storage field, when fully developed, would have a working gas capacity of 5,300,000 thousand cubic feet of gas. Customers interested in using Steuben's proposed storage service would have to arrange for their own transportation. Steuben's existing facilities are interconnected with the facilities of CNG Transmission Corporation (CNG) in the town of Woodhull, Steuben County, New York. The 6.48 miles of gathering header would connect the Thomas Corners Gas Storage Field to Steuben's existing facilities. Steuben states that the storage facility would be developed in the nearly depleted Thomas Corners gas production reservoir. It lies about 2,000 feet below the surface. The areal extent of the reservoir is about 430 acres. The location of the project facilities is show in appendix 1.\2\ \2\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, Room 3104, 941 North Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land Requirements for Construction Steuben proposes to use a nominal 70-foot-wide right-of-way for construction of the 6.48 miles of 12-inch-diameter pipeline. Following construction, a 50-foot-wide easement would be permanently maintained; the remaining 20 feet would be restored and allowed to revert to its former use. Additional working right-of-way width would be needed in areas of steep side slopes and in agricultural areas where topsoil would be segregated. Additional working space would also be needed adjacent to road and stream crossings. About 60 acres would be required for construction of the 12-inch diameter gathering header. A total of 37 acres would be needed for construction of the Thomas Corners Storage Field. All new injection/withdrawal wells would be directionally drilled from one central pad area covering approximately 31 acres. The wells would be drilled at 150-foot centers around the perimeter of the pad area. All of the 4- and 12-inch diameter well laterals would be constructed within the central well pad area. An additional 6-acre work space would be required adjacent to the pad area for drilling, completion, maintenance operations, and equipment staging. After construction is complete, this area would be used for the dehydration facilities. The proposed compressor station would be located on Steuben's existing Adrian Compressor Station site. 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 whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. We call this ``scoping''. The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received are taken into account during the preparation of the EA. State and local government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed project under these general headings: Geology and soils. Water resources, fisheries and wetlands. Vegetation and wildlife. Endangered and threatened species. Public safety. Land use. Cultural resources. Hazardous waste. Air quality and noise. 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 the various resource areas. Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be published and mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, 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 if the EA is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project. Currently Identified Environmental Issues We have already identified several issues that we think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the environmental information provided by Steuben. Keep in mind that this is a preliminary list. The list of issues may be added to, subtracted from, or changed based on your comments and our analysis. Issues are: The proposed project would cross three perennial streams: Mud Hollow Brook, the Canisteo River, and an unnamed tributary of the Canisteo River. About 32 acres of upland forest would be disturbed. A new 3,284-horsepower compressor station would be constructed adjacent to Steuben's existing Adrian Compressor Station [[Page 12936]] which may increase existing sound levels. Public Participation You can make a difference by sending a letter addressing your specific comments or concerns about the project. you should focus on the potential environmental effects of the proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please follow the instructions below to ensure that your comments are received and properly recorded: Address your letter to: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426; Reference Docket No. CP95-119-000; Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Howard J. Wheeler, EA Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., N.E., Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, D.C. on or before April 10, 1995. If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from Mr. Wheeler at the above address. Becoming an Intervenor In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want to become an official party to the proceeding or become an ``intervenor''. Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors. Likewise, each intervenor must provide copies of its filings to all other parties. If you want to become an intervenor you must file a Motion to Intervene according to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) attached as appendix 2. The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file late interventions must show good cause, as required by section 385.214(b)(3), why this time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed as good cause for late intervention. You do not need intervenor status to have your scoping comments considered. Additional information about the proposed project is available from Mr. Howard Wheeler, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-2299. Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 95-5712 Filed 3-8-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A95-5712. Public record. Not legal advice.