[Federal Register: February 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 32)]
[Notices]
[Page 7784-7788]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18fe03-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP01-409-000, CP01-410-000, CP01-411-000, and CP01-444-
000]
Tractebel Calypso Pipeline, L.L.C.; Notice of Intent to Prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Tractebel Calypso
Pipeline Project; Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and
Notice of a Public Scoping Meeting and Site Visit
February 11, 2003.
On July 20, 2001, Calypso Pipeline, L.L.C. (Calypso) filed
applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for
authorization to own, construct, operate, and maintain a new 24-inch-
diameter, approximately 41.8-mile natural gas pipeline extending from a
receipt point on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary between the
United States and the Bahamas to delivery points in Broward County,
Florida. On December 10, 2001, Calypso requested that the preparation
of the EIS be temporarily suspended. Subsequently, on August 30, 2002,
Tractebel Calypso Pipeline, L.L.C., (Tractebel Calypso) and Calypso,
jointly filed a letter and enclosure notifying the Commission of a
change in the applicant resulting from the sale of certain assets of
Calypso to Tractebel Calypso. The sale of the project was completed
October 8, 2002. Tractebel Calypso is now considered the applicant on
record under the application with all rights and responsibilities
attached to that status.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission), will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that
will analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed Tractebel
Calypso Pipeline Project. The FERC will be the lead federal agency. The
Mineral Management Service (MMS) and the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS.
The proposed pipeline originates in the Bahamas and would come
ashore at Port Everglades, Florida. These facilities would consist of
about 41.8-miles of 24-inch-diameter pipeline (approximately 36.0 miles
offshore and approximately 5.8 miles onshore), a meter and pressure
regulation station with a pig \1\ receiver, and two block valves. This
EIS will be used by the Commission in its decision-
[[Page 7785]]
making process to determine whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity. The MMS will have primary responsibility for
offshore analysis in U.S. waters and will coordinate with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers regarding Florida state waters review. Agencies
listed in Appendix 3 are hereby asked to indicate whether they want to
be cooperating agencies for purposes of producing an EIS.
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\1\ Pigs are tools that are used inside the pipeline for
cleaning and inspecting the pipe.
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The application, and other supplemental filings in this docket are
available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ferc.gov
). Click on the ``FERRIS'' link, select ``General Search''
from the FERRIS Menu, and follow the instructions, being sure to input
the correct docket number (CP01-409). General information about the MMS
and detailed information regarding Florida state and Federal waters can
be accessed at the MMS Internet Web site (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.mms.gov).
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted
by a 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 and under certain
circumstances the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings in accordance with Florida law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' was attached to the
project notice that Tractebel Calypso provided to landowners. This fact
sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the
use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's
proceedings. It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site
(http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
Florida is experiencing a substantial increase in demand for
electric power as a result of population growth in the state. The
Tractebel Calypso project would transport into Florida up to 832
million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day. The project would
deliver the gas to an interconnect with the Florida Gas Transmission
Company (FGT) system.
The Tractebel Calypso project would be located onshore in Broward
County, Florida, and offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. The project would
receive gas at the U.S./Bahamian EEZ at a subsea connection to a 24-
inch pipeline, referred to as the Grand Bahama Island Pipeline,
transporting natural gas from a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG)
storage facility in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. The LNG facility and
the Grand Bahama Island Pipeline are nonjurisdictional facilities.
Hawksbill Creek LNG, Ltd., a Bahamian company, proposes to
construct and operate the LNG terminal in Freeport, Grand Bahama
Island, that would receive LNG tankers arriving from international LNG
supply locations. The LNG would be offloaded from the tankers and
stored in specially designed storage tanks. From there, the LNG would
be revaporized in heat exchangers on the terminal site and the
resulting natural gas would be fed into the 24-inch-diameter offshore
pipeline.
The FERC and MMS authorizations for this project would not extend
eastward of the EEZ. The Government of the Bahamas regulates matters
pertaining to the environment and safety and traditionally requires an
environmental impact assessment as a condition to approving a project
such as the LNG terminal and the Grand Bahama Pipeline. The Government
of the Bahamas is in the process of reviewing the environmental impact
assessment for these facilities.
The LNG facility and the Grand Bahama Pipeline are not part of the
facilities proposed in the Tractebel Calypso Application to the FERC.
In its application, Tractebel Calypso seeks authority to construct and
operate:
Offshore Pipeline Segment
[sbull] The proposed offshore pipeline segment would be located in
the Atlantic Ocean, off the southeast Florida coastline, and would
consist of approximately 36 miles (31.2 nautical miles) of 24-inch-
diameter pipeline (Offshore Pipeline). The Offshore Pipeline would
traverse the Atlantic Ocean, starting at the U.S./Bahamian EEZ, passing
through Federal and state waters, and ending at a shoreline entry at
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to connect with the
proposed Tractebel Calypso onshore pipeline segment.
Nearshore Pipeline Segment
[sbull] The Port Everglades, Florida shore approach would be
installed utilizing horizontal directional drilling (HDD) techniques to
minimize impacts to three nearshore coral reefs. The pipeline would be
directionally drilled out from an upland site at Nova Southeastern
University to a point 4,616 feet from shore on the north side of the
Port Everglades entrance channel. From this point, a 2,132-foot-long by
25-foot-wide ditch would be cut through an existing spoil disposal area
to the origination of a second directional drill. The second
directional drill would be used to extend the pipeline an additional
5,130 feet to the northeast exiting at a depth of about 120 feet of
water. Finally, the pipeline between 120 feet and 200 feet of depth
would be covered with prefabricated flexible concrete mats. Where water
depths exceed 200 feet, the Offshore Pipeline would be laid directly on
the sea floor.
Onshore Pipeline Segment
[sbull] The proposed onshore pipeline segment would be located in
Broward County, Florida, and would consist of approximately 5.8 miles
of 24-inch-diameter pipeline (Onshore Pipeline). The Onshore Pipeline
would start at the terminus of the proposed Offshore Pipeline (the Port
Everglades shoreline entry) and end at a proposed interconnection with
FGT's existing 24-inch-diameter Lauderdale Lateral at milepost (MP) 1.6
(near Florida Power & Light Company's [FP&L] Fort Lauderdale Plant). A
block valve would be located near the beginning of the Onshore
Pipeline. A pressure regulation and meter station with a pig receiver
and block valve would be located at the terminus of the Onshore
Pipeline. The proposed facilities are summarized in tables 1 and 2
below. The general locations of the project facilities are shown in
Appendix 1 \2\. If you are interested in obtaining detailed maps of a
specific portion of the project, send in your request using the form in
Appendix 4.
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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 Web site at the ``FERRIS'' link or from the
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For
instructions on connecting to FERRIS refer to the last page of this
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving
this notice in the mail.
[[Page 7786]]
Table 1.--Proposed Pipeline Facilities for the Tractebel Calypso
Pipeline Project
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Length
Location (miles)
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U.S. Federal Waters........................................ 31.6
Florida State Waters....................................... 4.4
Broward County (Onshore)................................... 5.8
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Total New Pipeline Length................................ 41.81
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\1\ Does not include 53.9 statute miles of nonjurisdictional waters
between the Bahamas and the EEZ.
Table 2.--Summary of Ancillary Facilities for the Tractebel Calypso Pipeline Project
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Approximate
Facility milepost Description
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Block Valve (below ground)..... 36.02 Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center.
Meter and Pressure Regulation 41.72 Disturbed area near PF&L Fort Lauderdale Cooling Pond.
Station, Pig Receiver.
Block Valve (above ground)..... 41.83 Located at a tie-in to FGT pipeline.
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Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the onshore portion of the Tractebel Calypso
project would affect a total of about 68.8 acres of land including 31.9
acres required for pipeline construction; 21.4 acres required for extra
workspace; 10.0 acres required for a contractor yard; and 0.5 acres
required for aboveground facilities. Total land requirements for the
permanent right-of-way would be about 4.6 acres and less than 0.3 acres
of land would be required for the operation of the new permanent
aboveground facilities. The remaining approximately 64 acres of land
affected by construction would be restored and allowed to revert to its
former use.
Approximately 2.2 miles (38 percent) of the Onshore Pipeline would
be directionally drilled or bored underground. Of the remaining 3.6
miles of the proposed route, approximately 2.8 miles (78 percent) would
cross industrial/commercial land. About 3.4 miles (94 percent) would be
installed parallel to existing roadway, pipeline, and utility rights-
of-way. Tractebel Calypso would typically use a 75-foot-wide
construction right-of-way width. Additional 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 extra work spaces, Tractebel Calypso would retain a new 10-
foot-wide permanent easement for the 24-inch-diameter pipeline. The
remaining portion of the construction right-of-way would be returned to
landowners for their use without restrictions after appropriate
reclamation efforts are successful.
According to the applicant, constructing the offshore portion of
the Tractebel Calypso project would affect 766 acres in Federal waters.
Tractebel Calypso has predicted that in Florida state waters
construction of the pipeline would cause temporary direct impacts to
1.7 acres of marine hardbottom habitat of which 0.3 acres is coral reef
and the remainder is disturbed and/or transitional hardbottom habitat.
Approximately 1.8 acres of sand bottom would be affected. Construction-
generated sediment would affect an additional 4.3 acres of the spoil
area, about 0.3 acres of reef, and 0.1 acres of reef-sand transitional
area.
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
\3\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about
proposals. This is called ``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.
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\3\ ``We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general
headings:
[sbull] Soils and sediments
[sbull] Water resources
[sbull] Wetlands, barrier beaches, and submerged aquatic vegetation
[sbull] Vegetation
[sbull] Fish and wildlife
[sbull] Endangered and threatened species
[sbull] Land use, recreation, and visual resources
[sbull] Air quality and noise
[sbull] Cultural resources
[sbull] Socioeconomics
[sbull] Reliability and safety
[sbull] Alternatives
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 Draft EIS.
The Draft EIS will be 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 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 responses to comments received and will be
used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine
whether to approve the project.
[[Page 7787]]
To ensure your comments are considered, please carefully follow the
instructions in the Public Participation and Scoping Meeting section of
this Notice of Intent.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
The EIS will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the proposed project. We have already
identified a number of issues that deserve attention based on a
preliminary review of the proposed facilities, the environmental
information provided by Tractebel Calypso, and early input from
intervenors. Some of these issues are listed below. This list is
preliminary and may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
[sbull] Construction and operational effects on seagrasses, coral
reefs, hard and soft bottom communities, mangroves, and aquatic
organisms;
[sbull] Extent and effects of turbidity and sedimentation that may
result from pipeline trenching and directional drilling in shallow
waters;
[sbull] Failure or inadvertent releases during construction of the
HDD segments;
[sbull] Potential effects of proposed shore approach on the Port
Everglades entrance channel and on sensitive surface waters, including
the Port Everglades and Intracoastal Waterway;
[sbull] Effects to wildlife and fisheries, including federally
protected species, essential fish habitat and fisheries of concern, and
other biological resources of concern;
[sbull] Potential fuel spills from the pipelay barges and
associated vessel traffic;
[sbull] Potential effect on future land use of 27 parcels of land,
and effect on 24 landowners and governmental agencies;
[sbull] Potential effects to resources and recreation associated
with construction and operation within John U. Lloyd State Park;
[sbull] Effect of construction on groundwater and surface water
supplies;
[sbull] Potential introduction and control of non-native plant
species;
[sbull] Potential effects on federally endangered and threatened
species including the wood stork, Johnson's seagrass, West Indian
manatee, loggerhead sea turtle, green sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle,
Kemp's ridley sea turtle, and leatherback sea turtle;
[sbull] Potential effects on offshore submerged cultural resources;
[sbull] Noise generated as a result of pipeline construction;
[sbull] Temporary disruption of local roadways and recreational
trails during construction;
[sbull] Potential impacts on 1.7 acres of wetlands;
[sbull] Potential effect of the project on designated airport
runway clearance zones;
[sbull] Cumulative effects of the proposed project with other
projects, including natural gas pipelines and other utilities, which
have been recently constructed or are proposed to be built in the same
region and similar time frames;
[sbull] Public Safety in the vicinity of the proposed facilities.
Public Participation and Scoping Meeting
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, 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
locations/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:
[sbull] Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
[sbull] Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the
Gas/Hydro Branch.
[sbull] Reference Docket No. CP01-409-000.
[sbull] Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before March 14, 2003.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our
environmental analysis of this project. However, the Commission
strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions
or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ferc.gov under
the ``e-Filing'' link and the link to the User's Guide. Before you can
file comments you will need to create a free account which can be
created by clicking on ``Login to File'' and then ``New User Account.''
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request
(Appendix 4). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be
taken off the mailing list.
In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite
you to attend the public scoping meeting the FERC will conduct in the
project area. The location and time for this meeting is listed below.
Schedule for the Tractebel Calypso Pipeline Project Environmental
Impact Statement Public Scoping Meeting
Date and Time, Location, Phone
March 5, 2003 at 7 p.m.--I.T. Parker, Community Center 901 N.E., Third
Street, Dania Beach, FL 33004--(954) 924-3698.
The public meeting is 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 meeting, company
representatives will be available to informally discuss the project.
Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meeting
and to present comments on the environmental issues they believe should
be addressed in the Draft EIS. A transcript of the meeting will be made
so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
On the morning of March 6, 2003, representatives of Tractebel
Calypso and Commission staff will be visiting some project areas.
Anyone interested in participating in the site visit may meet in the
parking lot of the I.T. Parker Community Center at 9AM. Individuals
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 2)\4\. Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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[[Page 7788]]
Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. 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. By this notice we are also asking governmental
agencies, especially those in Appendix 3, to express their interest in
becoming cooperating agencies for the preparation of the EIS.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC, or on the
FERC Internet Web site (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ferc.gov) using the FERRIS link.
Click on the FERRIS link, enter the docket number excluding the last
three digits in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with FERRIS, the FERRIS helpline
can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The FERRIS link on the FERC Internet Web
site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-3791 Filed 2-14-03; 8:45 am]
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