Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maritimes Phase II Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP96-809-000, CP96-810-000]

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent to

Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Maritimes

Phase II Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

May 16, 1997.

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or

Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that

will discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and

operation of about 350 miles of natural gas pipeline and compression

called the Maritimes Phase II Project.\1\ The facilities consist of 196

miles of 24- and 30-inch-diameter mainline between Westbrook and the

Canadian border at Woodland, 149.9 miles of 4- to 16-inch diameter

laterals, and 31,160 horsepower (hp) of compression. This EIS will be

used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine

whether the project is in the public convenience and necessity.

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\1\ Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C.s application was

filed with the Commission under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and

Part 157 of the Commissions regulations.

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We are asking a number of Federal and state agencies to indicate

whether they wish to cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS.

These agencies are listed in appendix 1 and may choose to participate

once they have evaluated each proposal relative to their agencies'

responsibilities.\2\

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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being

printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the

Commissions Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First

Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. Copies of

the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the

mail.

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Summary of the Proposed Project

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, L.L.C. (Maritimes) wants to provide

markets in Maine and other parts of New England with access to new

natural gas supplies from Canada which are being developed for the

Sable Offshore Energy Project. The proposed facilities would have a

design delivery capacity of 440,000 million British thermal units per

day and would provide natural gas supply to four local distribution

companies, one electric company, nine pulp and paper companies, and

three natural gas marketing companies. Maritime seeks authority to

construct and operate:

1998 Facilities

17.5 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline in Cumberland

County, Maine;

12.1 miles of 16-inch-diameter lateral (Cousins Island

Lateral) in Cumberland County, Maine; and

associated aboveground facilities, including a meter

station, pig launcher/receiver, and block valves.

1999 Facilities

176.7 miles of 24-inch-diameter mainline in Androscoggin,

Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Penobscot, and

Washington Counties, Maine;

1.8 miles of 30-inch-diameter mainline in Washington

County, Maine;

31,160 hp of compression at two compressor stations on the

mainline (compressor Station 2 in Richmond, Sagadahoc County and

Compressor Station 1 in Baileyville, Washington County, Maine);

41.1 miles 4- to 8-inch-diameter lateral pipeline (the

Skowhegan Lateral

[[Page 28021]]

in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine);

8.6 miles of 6-inch-diameter lateral (the Bucksport

Lateral in Penobscot and Hancock Counties, Maine);

83.9 miles of 4- to 10-inch diameter lateral (the Old

Town/Millinocket Lateral in Penobscot County, Maine);

4.2 miles of 4-inch-diameter lateral (Woodland Lateral in

Washington County, Maine); and

associated aboveground facilities, including meter

stations, pig launcher/receivers, and block valves.

The general location of the project facilities is shown in figure 1

(appendix 2). If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a

specific portion of the project, please use the request form provided

(appendix 4). For procedural information, please write to the Secretary

of the Commission.

Land Requirements for Construction

Maritimes would use a 75-foot-wide construction right-of-way to

install the mainline and Cousins Island Lateral. A 65-foot-wide

construction right-of-way would be used to install the other laterals.

About 47 percent of the mainline and 67 percent of the laterals would

be constructed adjacent to or within existing rights-of-way.

Construction of the pipeline rights-of-ways would require about 2,977.5

acres of land. We estimate that about an additional 312 acres would be

needed for extra work areas for pipe installation at roads, railroads,

and wider rivers and wetlands. However, this is only our estimate and

workspace sizes and locations have not yet been identified by the

applicant.

Following construction, all disturbed areas would be restored and a

permanent right-of-way of 50 feet would be maintained for operation of

the mainline and Cousins Island Lateral. The other laterals would be

maintained on a 40-foot-wide permanent right-of-way. All land used for

temporary construction right-of-way and extra work areas would revert

to previous uses entirely. Some land uses on the permanent right-of-way

would also be allowed to continue following construction.

Maritimes would acquire about 20 acres for Compressor Station 1 and

about 100 acres for Compressor Station 2. Actual construction and

operation of these facilities would disturb only a portion of these

sites. Other above ground facilities would be on sites of less than 1

acre, either within or immediately adjacent to the permanent right-of-

way.

Facilities Included in Related EISs

Figure 2 (appendix 2) shows the proposed facilities for related

natural gas projects which the Commission staff has either prepared or

is preparing other environmental impact statements.

On February 10, 1997, Maritimes and Portland Natural Gas

Transmission Systems (PNGTS) filed an application in Docket No. CP97-

238-000 to construct and operate the PNGTS/Maritimes Joint Facilities

Project (Joint Facilities Project) between Dracut, Massachusetts and

Westbrook, Maine.

The Commission staff has published a DEIS on April 25, 1997 which

analyzes the 66.1 miles which constitute the Phase I Joint Facilities

Project between Dracut, Massachusetts and Wells, Maine. Comments on the

project are due June 9, 1997.

The PNGTS and PNGTS/Maritimes Phase II Joint Facilities Project

DEIS that is also under preparation includes all joint facilities

between Wells and Westbrook, Maine, including the Westbrook Lateral

(Phase II Joint Facilities), and all facilities between Westbrook and

the U.S./Canada border at Pittsburgh, New Hampshire, including

laterals.

The EIS 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 EIS 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 EIS. All comments received

are considered during the preparation of the EIS. 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 EIS 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.

Air quality and noise.

Hazardous waste.

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 a Draft EIS which

will be mailed to Federal, state, and local agencies, public interest

groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, newspapers,

libraries, and the Commission's official service list for these

proceedings. A 45-day comment period will be allowed for review of the

Draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the Draft EIS and revise

the document, as necessary before issuing a Final EIS. The Final EIS

will include our responses to the comments received.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

We have already identified several issues that we think deserve

attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities,

interventions received, and the environmental information provided by

Maritimes. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your

comments and our analysis.

Effects on watersheds, including Floods Pond (Bangor Water

District), Hatcase Pond (Brewer Water District), and Sheetscot River;

Clearing of about 2,150 acres of forest;

Waterbody crossings over 100 feet wide including Casco

Bay, Androscoggin River, Sabattus River, Kennebec River (3 crossings),

Sheepscot River, Penobscot River (6 crossings), West Branch Union

River, St. Croix River, Sebasticook River, Passadumkeag River, West

Branch Penobscot River, tributary to the West Branch Sheepscot River,

Marsh Stream, Jordan Brook, Otter Stream, and Trout Brook;

16 river segments listed on both national and state

inventories (Abagadasset, West Branch Sheepscot, Sheepscot, St. George,

West Branch Union, Narragaugus, and Machias Rivers), or only on state

inventories (St. Croix, West Branch Machias, Middle Branch Union,

Kennebec, Penobscot, Passadumkeag, and Sebasticook Rivers; and

Millinocket and Marsh Streams);

150 coldwater fisheries crossed;

Effect on anadromous fisheries (including Atlantic

salmon), and waterfowl and wildlife habitat (including Sunkhaze Meadows

National Wildlife Refuge);

[[Page 28022]]

2 federally listed species (bald eagle and shortnose

sturgeon);

11 gravel pits adjacent to the right-of-way;

A total of 44.7 miles of wetlands crossed;

112 residences potentially within 100 feet of the pipeline

centerline;

Crossing of tribal land (Penobscot Indian Nation) and

impact on fishing rights (Passamaquoddy Natural Resources Committee);

Crossing of recreational areas including the Katahdin

Scout Reservation; and

Alterntive routes making greater use of existing rights-

of-way such as near Richmond, Maine and the mainline crossing of the

Kennebec River; and alternate alignments on private property.

Maritimes has stated that there are no nonjurisdictional facilities

that would be built as a direct result of this project.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

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 or compressor station

sites), 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 two copies of your comments to: Lois Cashell,

Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., N.E.,

Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;

Reference Docket No. CP96-089-000; and

Mail your comments so that they will be received in

Washington, DC on or before June 20, 1997.

In addition to sending written comments, you may attend public

scoping meetings that we will conduct at three locations. Meetings will

be held at the following times and locations:

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Date Time Location

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Tuesday, June 3, 1997.......... 7:00 p.m........... Woodland

Elementary

School, Fourth

Avenue, Woodland

(Baileyville),

Maine.

Wednesday, June 4, 1997........ 7:00 p.m........... Hichborn Middle

School, Cross

Street, Howland,

Maine.

Thursday, June 5, 1997......... 7:00 p.m........... Richmond High

School, Route

197, Richmond,

Maine.

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The purpose of the scoping meetings is to obtain input from state

and local governments and from the public. Federal agencies have formal

channels for input into the Federal process (including separate

meetings where appropriate) on an interagency basis. Federal agencies

are expected to transmit their comments directly to the FERC and not

use the scoping meetings for this purpose. Local agencies are requested

to provide information on other plans and projects which might conflict

with, or have cumulative effects, when considered in combination with

the Maritimes Phase II Project.

Maritimes will present a description of their proposals at the

scoping meeting. Interested groups and individuals encouraged to attend

the meetings and present oral comments on the environmental issues

which they believe should be addressed in the Draft EIS.

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EIS 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 such as data

requests and filings by other intervenors. We will provide our EIS to

anyone who follows the instructions which appear later in this NOI.

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) (see appendix 3).

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 comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and

government entities interested and/or potentially affected by the

proposed project. It is also being sent to all potential right-of-way

grantors (i.e., landowners whose property would be crossed) to solicit

focused comments regarding environmental considerations related to the

proposed project.

If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to

remain on our mailing list and receive a copy of our DEIS, please

return the Information request (appendix 4). If you do not send

comments on the NOI or return the Information Request, you will be

taken off the mailing list.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-13438 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M