Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement of Bayou Choctaw Pipeline Extension to Placid Refinery, Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes, Louisiana

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement of Bayou Choctaw

Pipeline Extension to Placid Refinery, Iberville and West Baton Rouge

Parishes, Louisiana

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) hereby provides notice that the

proposed construction of an approximately 16-mile crude oil pipeline

segment to connect the existing DOE-owned Bayou Choctaw pipeline in

Iberville Parish, Louisiana, to the Placid Oil Refinery in Port Allen,

West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, would occur in a 100-year

floodplain and would involve wetlands. Pursuant to 10 CFR Part 1022,

DOE will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment which will be

incorporated in an environmental assessment (EA) being prepared in

accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: Written comments should be postmarked or transmitted

electronically or by facsimile by June 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, questions about the proposed action, and

requests to review the draft EA should be directed to Mr. Hal

Delaplane, Strategic Petroleum Reserve (FE-42), U.S. Department of

Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, Telephone

(202) 586-4730, Fax (202) 586-7919, E-mail = [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON GENERAL DOE FLOODPLAIN AND WETLANDS

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT: Carol M. Borgstrom,

Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance (EH-42), U.S. Department

of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585,

Telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Executive Order 11988, Floodplain

Management, and 10 CFR Part 1022, Compliance with Floodplain-Wetlands

Environmental Review Requirements (http://tis-nt.eh.doe.gov/nepa/tools/

regulate/nepa__reg/1022/1022.htm), notice is given that DOE is

considering a request from Shell Pipe Line Corporation (Shell) to amend

Shell's lease of DOE's Bayou Choctaw crude oil pipeline. Shell has

asked for the change to enable it to construct its own 16-mile pipeline

from a tie-in to the DOE pipeline at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Bayou Choctaw Facility in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, to the Placid

Oil Refinery near Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. This

project would not occur within the Coastal Zone of Louisiana but would

be within a 100-year floodplain and would involve wetlands.

Before it approves Shell's request, DOE will prepare an EA of the

construction and operation of the extended Bayou Choctaw pipeline to

Placid Refinery pursuant to 10 CFR Part 1021, DOE NEPA Implementing

Procedures (http://tis-nt.eh.doe.gov/nepa/tools/regulate/nepa__reg/

1021/nepa1021.htm). Shell has also applied to the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District, for a construction permit

pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. DOE is coordinating its

NEPA compliance process with the USACE permit process (33 CFR Parts

320-330, http://ceres.ca.gov/wetlands/permitting/404/

corps__permit__regulations.html).

The 24-inch steel pipeline would be constructed in existing

pipeline and utility corridors for all but about 2 miles of its length.

As shown in the map below, about 7.7 miles of the proposed route is

within the 100-year floodplain. The pipeline would cross sugarcane

fields and about 8.5 miles of forested wetlands. About 86 acres of

bottomland hardwoods would be impacted.

Push-site construction would be used in wetland areas. The pipeline

would be directionally drilled under the Intracoastal Waterway and

Interstate 10. Eight additional road crossings and two railroad

crossings would be by slick bore or directional drill. Crossings of

Bayou Bourbeaux and six drainage canals would be by open cut trench or

directional drill.

In accordance with DOE regulations for compliance with floodplain

and wetlands environmental review requirements (10 CFR Part 1022), DOE

will prepare a floodplain and wetlands assessment for this proposed

action. The assessment will be incorporated in the EA being prepared

for the proposed project in accordance with NEPA. DOE expects to have a

draft of the EA available for public review in June 1998. Copies may be

requested by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail from the address given

above. A floodplain statement of findings will be included in any

finding of no significant impact that is issued following completion of

the EA or may be issued separately.

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 1, 1998.

Robert S. Keipowing,

Acting, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy.

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[FR Doc. 98-13589 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]

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