[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16147]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 5, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. CP94-161-000]
Avoca Natural Gas Storage; Facility Design Changes for the
Proposed Avoca Gas Storage Field Project and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
June 27, 1994.
On June 3 and 17, 1994, Avoca Natural Gas Storage (Avoca) filed an
updated description of its proposed Avoca Gas Storage Field Project, in
Docket No. CP94-161-000. Avoca's filing contained significant design
changes in the proposed storage field project. This notice updates the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC or Commission) ``Notice of
Intent To Prepare An Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Avoca
Gas Storage Field Project and Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues'' (NOI) issued February 1, 1994.
Summary of the Proposed Changes in Facility Design
Avoca proposes the following changes in the Avoca Gas Storage Field
Project:
new locations for the brine disposal wells, brine disposal
pipeline, water source pipeline, and the solution-mined cavern wells;
a change in the design of the cavern system--instead of
developing 10 individual caverns, Avoca would solution-mine 5 caverns
using 10 wells (2 wells per cavern); and
Avoca proposes to increase its solution-mining rate by
withdrawing up to 3 million gallons of water per day (2,000 gallons per
minute), rather than limiting its withdrawal to 2 million gallons of
water per day. The total leaching period for all five caverns is
approximately 3 years.
Avoca has moved several of its proposed facilities. The new
proposed location of these facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
Avoca states that the proposed changes in facility locations are a
result of negotiations with local landowners.
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\1\The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the
Commission's Public Reference Branch, Room 3104, 941 North Capitol
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 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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Avoca proposes the change in cavern design and the increase in
leaching rate to reduce the time required to solution-mine the proposed
caverns. Avoca states that it has obligations to have certain
facilities in service for the 1996 winter heating season. Avoca
believes that reducing the time required to solution-mine its caverns
will allow it to place some of the proposed facilities in service for
the 1996 winter heating season.
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 taken into account during the preparation of the EA.
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
water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
vegetation and wildlife
endangered and threatened species
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, 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
recommend that the Commission approve or not approve the project.
Additional Environmental Issues
We have already identified several environmental issues that we
think deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed
facilities and the information provided by Avoca. These were listed in
the Commission's February 1, 1994 NOI.
As a result of Avoca's modified proposal, the following additional
environmental issues will be addressed:
Avoca proposes to use up to 3,000,000 gallons of water per
day for the solution-mining process. This may have an impact on
groundwater availability. Testing of wells in the local aquifers
indicates that the water supply recharges up to 14,600,000 gallons of
water per day.
Avoca's brine disposal pipelines would cross five
wetlands.
Moving the facilities to the new locations may have an
impact on cultural resources.
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 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, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington,
DC 20426;
Reference Docket No. CP94-161-000;
Send a copy of your letter to: Mr. Steven G. Grape, EA
Project Manager, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North
Capitol St., NE. Room 7312, Washington, D.C. 20426; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, D.C. on or before July 14, 1994.
If you wish to receive a copy of the EA, you should request one from
Mr. Grape at the above address.
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) attached
as appendix 2.
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 scoping comments considered.
Additional Questions?
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Mr. Steven G. Grape, EA Project Manager, at (202) 208-1046.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-16147 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]
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