Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visits

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP00-14-000]

Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent To

Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Buccaneer

Gas Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and

Notice of Public Scoping Meetings and Site Visits

December 6, 1999.

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or

Commission) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) will prepare an

environmental impact statement (EIS) that will discuss the

environmental impacts of the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project involving

construction and operation of facilities by Buccaneer Gas Pipeline

Company, L.L.C. (Buccaneer) in Alabama, the Gulf of Mexico, and

Florida.\1\ These facilities would consist of about 674 miles of

various diameter pipeline, 75,000 horsepower (hp) of compression, 14

metering and regulating (M&R) stations, and a liquids separation

facility. Due to the division of proposed facilities between onshore

and offshore areas, the FERC will focus on analysis of onshore issues.

The MMS will have primary responsibility for offshore analysis and will

coordinate with the Army Corps of Engineers regarding state waters

review. 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. The application and other supplemental filings in this

docket are available for viewing on the FERC Internet website

(www.ferc.fed.us). Clock on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from

the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions.

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\1\ Buccaneer's application was filed with the Commission on

October 28, 1999, under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part

157 of the Commission's regulations.

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Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides

access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such

as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website,

click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and

follow the instructions. General information about the MMS and detailed

information regarding the Gulf of Mexico can be accessed at the MMS

Internet website (www.mms.gov).

If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted

by a

[[Page 69249]]

pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an easement to

construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline

company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement.

However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that approval

conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement

negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could

initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law. A fact

sheet addressing a number of typically asked questions, including the

use of eminent domain, is attached to this notice as appendix 1.\2\

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

printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the

Commission's website at the ``RIMS'' link or from the Commission's

Public Reference and files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street,

NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. For instructions

on connecting to RIMS refer to the last page of this notice. Copies

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

the mail.

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The FERC is the lead agency for the EIS. The MMS is a Federal

cooperating agency for this project because the MMS has jurisdiction by

law as well as special expertise regarding the potential environmental

impacts associated with that portion of the proposed pipeline that

would be installed on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Additionally, with this notice we are asking a number of Federal

and State agencies (see appendix 2) with jurisdiction and/or special

expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in

the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate

once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their agencies'

responsibilities.

The FERC is concurrently issuing a Notice of Intent to prepare an

EIS for the Gulfstream Project, Docket No. CP00-6-000. Both the

Buccaneer and Gulfstream Projects share a similar point of origin,

cross the Gulf of Mexico, and reach landfall near Tampa, Florida.

Furthermore, the two projects could potentially serve some of the same

markets in Central Florida, particularly in Polk County. For these

reasons we are asking your help on how to evaluate these projects. We

are also soliciting comments on the preparation of a single EIS on both

projects, or a separate EIS on each project. We will hold joint scoping

meetings at locations where we believe there is a reasonable amount of

overlap of the potentially affected parties. Maps showing the proposed

Buccaneer Project are in appendix 3 and maps showing the location of

both projects are included in appendix 4.

Summary of the Proposed Project

Buccaneer proposes to construct and operate a new natural gas

pipeline system with a transportation capacity of approximately .9

billion cubic feet per day from the Mobile Bay area in Alabama to

markets in Florida. The State of Florida is experiencing a substantial

increase in demand for electric power that is tied to the growth of

population in the state. Specifically, Buccaneer seeks authority to

construct and operate the following:

About 411.2 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline from Mobile

County, Alabama, across the Gulf of Mexico to a point in Pasco County,

Florida.

About 121.5 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipeline in Pasco,

Polk, Osceola, and Orange Counties, Florida;

About 141.5 miles of 16- to 30-inch-diameter laterals in

Pasco, Polk, Hardee, Lake, Osceola, Orange, and Brevard Counties,

Florida;

14 M&R stations in Mobile County, Alabama and Pasco, Polk,

Hardee, Lake, Osceola, Orange, and Brevard Counties, Florida; and

A new 75,000 hp compressor station in Mobile County,

Alabama and a new Liquids Separation Facility in Pasco County, Florida.

The proposed facilities are summarized in tables 1, 2, and 3 below.

The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 3.

If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a specific portion

of the project send in your request using the form in appendix 6.

Land Requirements for Construction

Construction of onshore pipeline facilities for the Buccaneer Gas

Pipeline Project would affect a total of about 3,851 acres of land

including 3,610 acres required for pipeline construction and extra

workspace, 46 acres for construction of the aboveground facilities, and

195 acres for contractor, mobilization, and pipe storage yards. Over 70

construction access road locations have been identified. Total land

requirements for the onshore permanent right-of-way would be about

1,628 acres. The remaining 2,223 acres of onshore land affected by

construction would be restored and returned to its former use.

Approximately 184 miles (70 percent) of the proposed onshore

pipelines in Florida would be installed within or adjacent to various

existing utility rights-of-way. Buccaneer would typically use a 110-

foot-wide construction right-of-way width for the 36-inch- and 30-inch-

diameter pipelines. In general, the construction right-of-way width for

the 24-inch to 16-inch-diameter lateral pipelines would be from 100 to

75 feet in width. Additional extra temporary work areas may be

necessary for waterbody, highway and railroad crossings, additional

topsoil storage, and pipe storage and equipment yards.

Following construction and restoration of the right-of-way and

temporary work spaces, Buccaneer would generally retain a new 50-foot-

wide permanent easement. The remaining portion of the construction

right-of-way would be temporary and returned to landowners for their

use without restrictions after appropriate reclamation efforts are

successful.

Constructing the offshore portion of the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline

Project would affect about 1,825 acres of sea floor. Land requirements

for operation of the offshore permanent right-of-way would be about

9,866 acres (based on MMS-required 200-feet-wide operation right-of-way

width which is greater than the proposed construction right-of-way

width).

Table 1.--Proposed Mainline Pipelines for the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project

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Segment

Facility/County or marine area Mileposts begin- length Diameter (inches) County, State

end (miles)

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Alabama Mainline:

Mobile County.................. 0.00-4.14 4.14 36'' Mobile County.

Offshore....................... 4.14-16.66 12.52 36'' State Waters.

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Subtotal................... 16.66 Alabama.

Gulf of Mexico Mainline:

[[Page 69250]]

Mobile......................... 16.66-50.91 34.25 36'' Gulf of Mexico.

Pensacola...................... 50.91-105.01 54.10 36'' Gulf of Mexico.

Destin Dome.................... 105.01-187.13 82.12 36'' Gulf of Mexico.

Apalachicola................... 187.13-214.79 27.66 36'' Gulf of Mexico.

Florida Middle Ground.......... 214.79-331.63 116.84 36'' Gulf of Mexico.

Tarpon Springs................. 331.63-393.43 61.80 36'' Gulf of Mexico.

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Subtotal................... 376.77 Gulf of Mexico.

Florida Mainline:

Offshore....................... 393.43-411.12 17.69 36'' State Waters.

Pasco County................... 411.12-411.21 0.09 36'' Pasco County.

Pasco County................... 0.000-46.24 46.24 36'' Pasco County.

Polk County.................... 0.00-38.95 38.95 36'' Polk County.

Osceola County................. 0.00-15.59 15.59 36'' Osceola County.

Orange County.................. 0.00-20.68 20.68 36'' Orange County.

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Subtotal................... 139.24 Florida.

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Total Mainline ................ 532.67 .................. ..........................

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Table 2.--Proposed Lateral Pipelines for the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project

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Mileposts Length

Lateral begin-end (miles) Diameter (inches) County, State

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Anclote.......................... 0.00-0.10 0.10 16'' Pasco County, FL.

Lakeland Interconnect............ 0.00-0.26 0.26 16'' Polk County, FL.

Tiger Bay........................ 0.00-37.99 37.99 30'' Polk County, FL.

Hines............................ 0.00-2.85 2.85 20'' Polk County, FL.

Polk............................. 0.00-1.52 1.52 20'' Polk County, FL.

Payne Creek...................... 0.00-14.04 14.04 20'' Polk County, FL.

14.04-14.88 0.84 20'' Hardee County, FL.

Leesburg......................... 0.00-9.52 9.52 24'' Polk County, FL.

9.52-46.60 37.08 24'' Lake County, FL.

Intercession City................ 0.00-0.28 0.28 16'' Osceola County, FL.

Cane Island...................... 0.00-0.13 0.13 16'' Osceola County, FL.

Stanton.......................... 0.00-0.78 0.78 16'' Orange County, FL.

Oleander......................... 0.00-19.21 19.21 30'' Orange County, FL.

19.21-25.21 6.00 30'' Brevard County, FL.

25.21-34.68 9.47 24'' Brevard County, FL.

Indian River..................... 0.00-0.29 0.29 18'' Brevard County, FL.

Cape Canaveral................... 0.00-1.11 1.11 18'' Brevard County, FL.

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Total Laterals............... 141.47

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Table 3.--Aboveground Facilities for the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project

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Maximum

Facility Mainline/lateral Milepost volume County, State

MMcf/day

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Alabama

Compressor Station 1............... Alabama Mainline...... 0.00 900 Mobile County

Buccaneer Meter Station............ Alabama Mainline...... 0.00 900 Mobile County

Florida

Liquids Separation Facility........ Pasco County Mainline. 0.00 900 Pasco County

Anclote M&R........................ Anclote Lateral....... 0.10 100 Pasco County

Lakeland Interconnect M&R.......... Lakeland Interconnect 0.26 100 Polk County

Lateral.

Tiger Bay M&R...................... Tiger Bay Lateral..... 37.44 120 Polk County

Hines M&R.......................... Hines Lateral......... 2.85 120 Polk County

[[Page 69251]]

Polk M&R........................... Polk Lateral.......... 1.52 120 Polk County

Payne Creek M&R.................... Payne Creek Lateral... 14.88 120 Hardee County

Leesburg M&R....................... Leesburg Lateral...... 46.60 170 Lake County

Intercession City M&R.............. Intercession City 0.28 60 Osceola County

Lateral.

Cane Islane M&R.................... Cane Island Lateral... 0.13 100 Osceola County

Stanton M&R........................ Stanton Lateral....... 0.78 80 Orange County

Oleander M&R....................... Oleander Lateral...... 34.68 220 Brevard County

Indian River M&R................... Indian River Lateral.. 0.29 100 Brevard County

Cape Canaveral M&R................. Cape Canaveral Lateral 1.11 100 Brevard County

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MMcf/day = Million cubic feet per day.

M&R = meter and regulating station.

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, mineral resources, and soils

Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands

Coastal and marine resources

Vegetation and wildlife

Endangered and threatened species

Land ownership and use

Recreation and public interest areas

Visual resources and aesthetics

Cultural resources

Air quality and noise

Hazardous waste

Socioeconomics

Pipeline safety

Alternatives

Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the Draft EIS

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

interest groups, affected landowners and other interested individuals,

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

this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be allotted 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 response to each comment received and will

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

whether to approve the project.

To ensure that your comments are considered, please carefully

follow the instructions in the public participation section beginning

on page 9.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the

construction and operation of the proposed project. FERC and MMS have

already identified a number of issues that we think deserve attention

based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the

environmental information provided by Buccaneer. Some of these issues

are listed below. This is a preliminary list of issues and will be

changed based on your comments and our analysis. Currently identified

environmental issues for the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project include:

--Effect of construction on 136 perennial waterbody crossings,

including about 39 waterbodies 100 feet wide or greater;

--Crossing six waterbodies classified as Outstanding Florida Waters;

--Erosion control and potential for sediment transport to waterbodies

and wetlands;

--Effect of construction on aquifers at or near the land surface;

--Effect of construction on 448 wetland crossings, including about 129

acres of permanent alteration of wetlands;

--Clearing of about 825 acres of forest;

--Effect on wildlife, fisheries, and rare plant habitats, both onshore

and offshore;

--Potential to affect 58 federally endangered and threatened species

and 116 state-protected species including the bald eagle, Florida scrub

jay, red-cockaded woodpecker, Atlantic gulf sturgeon, and West Indian

manatee;

--Effect on marine resources, including subsurface geology, live bottom

habitat, seagrass beds, and essential fish habitat;

--Potential to affect commercial and recreational boating operations;

--Potential to affect military marine training operations;

--Potential for sinkhole formation and flooding;

--Construction through or along the edge of active or inactive surface

mines;

--Effect on historic and prehistoric archaeological sites and historic

structures;

--Impact on about 206 residences potentially within 50 feet of the

construction right-of-way;

--Potential impact on 11 planned residential areas and 19 Developments

of Regional Impact;

--Potential introduction and control of non-native species;

--Effect on speciality crops such as citrus groves;

--Effect on public lands and special use areas including the Pinellas

County Aquatic Preserve, Green Swamp, Starkey Wilderness Park,

Tasohatchee State Preserve, and Brevard Coastal Scrub Ecosystem;

--Effect on bird rookeries;

--Visual effect of above ground facilities on surrounding areas;

--Effect on local air quality and noise environment as a result of

compressor station operations; and

--Combined effect of the proposed project with other projects,

including other natural gas pipelines, which

[[Page 69252]]

have been or may be proposed in the same region and similar time

frames.

Public Participation and Scoping Meetings

You can make a difference by providing us with our specific

comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commenter, your

concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by the Commission.

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 comments to: David P. Boergers,

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 II, PR-11.2.

Reference Docket No. CP00-14-000.

Mail your comments so that they will be received in

Washington, DC on or before January 21, 2000.

In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite

you to attend the public scoping meetings the FERC will conduct in the

project area. The locations and times for these meetings are listed

below.

Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings for the Buccaneer Gas Pipeline

Project Environmental Impact Statement

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Date and Time Location Phone

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January 4, 2000; 7:00 p.m........ Mobile Convention 334-208-2128

Center, 1 South

Water Street,

Mobile,.

Alabama \3\.........

January 5, 2000; 7:00 p.m........ Clarion Hotel, 5316 727-847-9005

U.S. Highway 19,

New Port Richey,.

Florida.............

January 11, 2000; 7:00 p.m....... Florida Dept. of 863-291-5820

Agriculture and

Consumer Services,

The Florida Room,

500 3rd Street, NW,

Winter Haven,

Florida \3\.

January 12, 2000; 7:00 p.m....... Holiday Inn, 2145 E. 407-846-4646

Irlo Bronson

Memorial Hwy,

Kissimmee, Florida.

January 13, 2000; 7:00 p.m....... City of Titusville 321-383-5774

Council Chambers,

55 South Washington

Avenue, Titusville,

Florida.

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The public meetings are designed to provide you with more detailed

information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the

proposed project. Prior to the start of the meetings, company

representatives will be available to informally discuss the project. At

7:00 p.m. each company will provide a summary discussion of the project

(about 10 minutes each). Then the comment period will begin. Interested

groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meetings and to

present comments on the environmental issues they believe should be

addressed in the Draft EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be made

so that your comments will be accurately recorded.

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\3\ Scoping meetings at Mobile, Alabama and Winter Haven Florida

would involve joint meetings for the Buccaneer and Gulfstream

Projects.

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On the dates of the meetings, our staff will also be visiting some

project areas. Anyone interested in participating in a site visit may

contact the Commission's Office of External Affairs identified at the

end of appendix 1 of this notice for more details and must provide

their own transportation.

Becoming an Intervenor

In addition to involvement in the EIS scoping process, you may want

to become an official party to the proceeding known as an

``intervenor.'' Intervenors play a more formal role in the process.

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 14 copies of its filings to the

Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all

other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. 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 5). Only intervenors have the

right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.

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 environmental comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

This notice is being sent to individuals, organizations, and

government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the

proposed project. It is also being sent to all identified potential

right-of-way grantors. As details of the project become established,

representatives of Buccaneer Gas Pipeline Project may also separately

contact landowners, communities, and public agencies concerning project

matters, including acquisition of permits and rights-of-way.

All commenters will be retained on our mailing list. If you do not

want to send comments at this time but still want to keep informed and

receive copies of the Draft and Final EISs, you must return the

Information Request (appendix 6). If you do not send comments or return

the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.

Additional information about the proposed project is available from

Mr. Paul McKee of the Commission's Office of external Affairs at (202)

208-1088 or on the FERC website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the ``RIMS''

link to information in this docket number. For assistance with access

to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.

Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides

access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such

as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website,

click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and

follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the

[[Page 69253]]

CIPS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

David P. Boergers,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-32007 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M