Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Terra Alta Storage Field Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. CP97-176-000]

Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation; Notice of Intent To

Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Terra Alta Storage

Field Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

February 3, 1997.

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or

Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will

discuss the environmental impacts of the construction and operation of

about 2.6 miles of various diameter pipeline to replace about 2.9 miles

of pipeline which would be abandoned as proposed in the Terra Alta

Storage Field Project.\1\ This EA 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\ Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation's application was

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

Part 157 of the Commission's regulations.

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Summary of the Proposed Project

Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation (Columbia) wants to upgrade

and modernize facilities at its Terra Alta Storage Field in Preston

County, West Virginia. Columbia seeks authority to construct and

operate approximately:

(1) 1.4 miles of 8-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing and abandoning about 1.4 miles of 8-, 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-

inch-diameter pipeline and appurtenances on Line X-76-F-1);

(2) 105 feet of 4-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing and abandoning about 1,143 feet of 4-inch-diameter pipeline

on Storage Well Line X-76-W-7375);

(3) 0.4 mile of 16-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing and abandoning about 0.4 mile of 8-, 10-, and 12-inch-

diameter storage pipeline on Line X-76-F-2);

(4) 0.4 mile of 8-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing by abandonment about 0.4 mile of 6-, and 12-inch-diameter

storage pipeline on Line-X-76-F-4);

(5) 0.2 mile of 10-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing by abandonment about 0.2 mile of 8-, 10- and 12-inch-

diameter storage pipeline on Line X-76-F-6);

(6) 26 feet of 10-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing by abandonment about 26 feet of 8-inch-diameter storage

pipeline on Storage Well Line X-76-W-7394); and

(7) 0.1 mile of 6-inch-diameter storage pipeline and appurtenances

(replacing by abandonment about 0.1 mile of 4-inch-diameter storage

pipeline on Line X-76-W-7380).

Columbia would also abandon about 0.2 mile of 6-inch-diameter

pipeline referred to as Storage Well Line X-76-W-7379.

In addition, under Section 2.55 of the Commission's regulations,

Columbia plans to remove drips; replace mainline tees and methanol

lines; and install launching and receiving valves. These actions would

provide more efficient operation and maintenance of the storage field

as well as restore deteriorated facilities and will also be examined in

the EA.

The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\2\

If you are interested in obtaining procedural information please write

to the Secretary of the Commission.

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\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, 888

First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, or call (202) 208-1371.

Copies of the appendixes were sent to all those receiving this

notice in the mail.

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Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of the proposed facilities would require about 40.5

acres of land. No new right-of-way would be required. Temporary work

areas and abandoned right-of-way would be restored and allowed to

revert to their former use.

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. 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

[[Page 5825]]

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 the EA. Depending

on the comments received during the scoping process, 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 make

our recommendations to the Commission.

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 Columbia. This preliminary

list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.

The project follows the course of Saltlick Creek, a high

quality warmwater fishery, and crosses it numerous times.

A total of 13 wetlands (.92 acre) would be affected by the

project.

A number of residences are in the vicinity and two

residences are within 50 feet of the proposed construction area.

Construction of related pig launching and receiving

facilities may have visual impacts.

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, 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, 888 First St., N.E., Washington, DC

204265:

Reference Docket No. CP97-176-000;

Mail your comments so that they will be received in

Washington, DC on or before March 6, 1997.

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) (see

appendix 2).

You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-3036 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M