PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest Corporation's 1998 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Site Visit

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP98-167-000]

PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest Corporation; Notice of Intent To

Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed PG&E Gas

Transmission, Northwest Corporation's 1998 Expansion Project and

Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Site Visit

January 15, 1998.

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, installation and

operation of three new compressor units at three of its existing

compressor stations proposed in the PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest

Corporation's 1998 Expansion 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\ PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest 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

PG&E Gas Transmission, Northwest Corporation (PG&E), formerly

Pacific Gas Transmission Company, proposes to expand the capacity of

its facilities in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. PG&E states that the

proposed compression upgrades would allow PG&E to transport between

Kingsgate, British Columbia and Stanfield, Oregon up to an additional

56,000 dekatherms per day on an annual basis. PG&E seeks to increase

the total horsepower (hp) at three of its existing compressor stations:

3,100 hp increase at Station 4, located at milepost (MP)

46.7 on PG&E's existing mainline pipeline in Bonner County, Idaho;

specifically, by exchanging an existing 13,000 hp unit with a new

15,000 hp unit and exchanging an existing 13,000 hp unit with a low-

hour 14,100 hp refurbished unit;

4,700 hp increase at Station 7, located at MP 212.6 on

PG&E's existing mainline pipeline in Walla Walla County, Washington;

specifically, by upgrading its existing 35,000 hp unit to 39,700 hp

through equipment modifications and control setpoint changes; and

1,500 hp increase at Station 9, located at MP 319.5 on

PG&E's existing mainline pipeline in Morrow County, Oregon;

specifically, by exchanging an existing 12,600 hp unit with a new

14,100 hp unit. PG&E would install a new, higher capacity oil cooler to

be located immediately outside the compressor building and would adjust

the temperature control setpoint to the turbine unit.

The general location map and plot plans for each of the proposed

compressor station upgrades are shown in Appendix 1. If you are

interested in obtaining procedural information, please write to the

Secretary of the Commission.

Land Requirements for Construction

All construction activities would take place within the existing

fencelines of all three compressor stations. No new land disturbance

outside existing compressor station fencelines would be required.

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 considered during the preparation of the EA. State and local

government representatives are encouraged to notify their constituents

[[Page 3322]]

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:

Air and noise quality

Land use

Geology and soils

Public safety

Endangered and threatened species

Cultural resources

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.

PG&E has proposed a system alternative, known as the Pipeline

Looping Alternative, which would involve the looping of PG&E's existing

mainline with a third, 42-inch-diameter pipeline located between

Mainline valve (MV) 5-1 in Kootenai County, Idaho and MV 5-2 in Spokane

County, Washington. The pipeline loop would be about 10.7 miles in

length. See appendix 2 for an approximate location of this system

alternative.

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 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 provide by PG&E. This preliminary list of

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

Four noise-sensitive areas (NSAs) have been identified in

close proximity to Station 4.

One NSA has been identified in close proximity to Station

7.

One NSA has been identified in close proximity to Station

9.

Possible consideration of the Pipeline Looping Alternative

in lieu of expanding the three existing compressor stations.

No nonjurisdictional facilities have been identified for this

project.

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 carefully follow these instructions to

ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded:

Send two copies of your letter to: Mr. David P. Boergers,

Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St.,

N.E., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;

Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the

Environmental Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.1;

Reference Docket No. CP98-167-000; and

Mail your comments so that they will be received in

Washington, DC on or before February 17, 1998.

Notice of Site Visit

On January 22, 1998, the staff of the Office of Pipeline Regulation

will be conducting an environmental site visit of PG&E's Pipeline

Looping Alternative. All parties may attend. Those planning to attend

must provide their own transportation.

For further information about where the site inspection will begin,

please contact Paul McKee at (202) 208-1088.

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 files a motion to intervene according to Rule 214 of the

Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) (see

appendix 3).

You do not need intervenor status to have your environmental

comments considered.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-1453 Filed 1-21-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M