HomeMy WebLinkAbout20132255.tiffRECEIVED
AUG 0 5 2093
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CWEL SSOY
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
DCP Midstream, LP Docket No. CP13-509-000
NOTICE OF INTENT TO PREPARE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED LUCERNE RESIDUE
PIPELINE PROJECT
AND
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
(July 29, 2013)
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 Lucerne Residue Pipeline Project involving construction and operation of
facilities by DCP Midstream, LP (DCP) in Weld County, Colorado. The Commission
will use this EA in its decision -making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use
to gather input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will
help the Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Please
note that the scoping period will close on August 28, 2013.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing list
for this project. State and local government representatives should notify their
constituents of this proposed project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company representative
may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain
the proposed facilities. The company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
agreement. However, if the Commission approves the project, 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 where
compensation would be determined in accordance with state law.
C C: Pt/ P dhip?
2013-2255
Docket No. CP13-509-000 - 2 -
DCP provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled "An
Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?". 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 also available for
viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
DCP proposes to construct and operate 7.6 miles of 16 -inch -diameter pipeline
referred to as the Lucerne Residue Pipeline and four aboveground facilities in Weld
County, Colorado. DCP is planning to construct a new natural gas processing plant
(Lucerne II Gas Plant) adjacent to an existing plant (Lucerne Gas Plant). This gas, along
with residue gas from the Lucerne Gas Plant, would be transported to an interconnection
with an interstate pipeline via a proposed (Lucerne Residue Pipeline). This new plant
would be able to process 230 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of gas gathered from
wellhead receipt points. DCP states that there is new development in the Niobrara Shale
area of the Denver-Julesblurg Basin and DCP proposes to transport its own gas from the
Lucerne Plants into the interstate natural gas market for sale to third parties. Without the
pipeline, DCP would not be able to transport its gas to the interconnect with Colorado
Interstate Gas Company.
The Lucerne Residue Pipeline Project would consist of the following facilities:
• 7.6 miles of 16 -inch -diameter pipeline; and
• Four above ground facilities at separate locations, including a pig launchers
and receiver (both collocated with valves) and two additional valves.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.2
I A "pig" is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into and pushes through the
pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
2 The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register.
Copies of appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are
available at www.ferc.gov using the link called "eLibrary" or from the Commission's
Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-
8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
Docket No. CP13-509-000 - 3 -
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 74.2 acres of land for
the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, DCP would maintain
about 28.1 acres for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage
would be restored and revert to former uses. The proposed pipeline route parallels
existing pipeline rights -of -way for its entire length.
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 us3 to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This
process is referred to as "scoping." The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the
analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
In the EA we 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;
• land use;
• water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
• cultural resources;
• vegetation and wildlife;
• air quality and noise;
• endangered and threatened species; and
• public safety.
We will also evaluate reasonable 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.
The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA will be
available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on the comments received
during the scoping process, we may also publish and distribute the EA to the public for an
3 "We," "us," and "our" refer to the environmental staff of the Commission's
Office of Energy Projects.
Docket No. CP13-509-000 - 4 -
allotted comment period. We will consider all comments on the EA before making our
recommendations to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation
section beginning on page 5.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law and/or special
expertise with respect to the environmental issues of this project to formally cooperate
with us in the preparation of the EA4. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the
Public Participation section of this notice.
Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's implementing
regulations for section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, we are using this
notice to initiate consultation with applicable State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO),
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes,
and the public on the project's potential effects on historic properties.5 We will define the
project -specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the
project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all
areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way,
contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this
project will document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize
the status of consultations under section 106.
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
provided by DCP. This preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
• The project may affect cultural resources;
• the project may affect groundwater wells;
• the project any affect federally endangered or threatened species; and
4 The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing cooperating
agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6.
5 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations are at Title 36, Code
of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define historic properties as any
prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Docket No. CP13-509-000 - 5 -
• noise impacts may occur at noise sensitive areas from horizontal directional
drilling activities.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or
concerns about the project. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental
effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts.
The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so that the
Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before August 28, 2013.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to submit your
comments to the Commission. In all instances please reference the project docket number
(CP13-509-000) with your submission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or
efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on
the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and
Filings. This is an easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text -
only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling feature on the
Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and
Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by
attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first
create an account by clicking on "eRegister." You must select the type of
filing you are making. If you are filing a comment on a particular project,
please select "Comment on a Filing"; or
(3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the
following address:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street NE, Room lA
Washington, DC 20426
Docket No. CP13-509-000 - 6 -
Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local government
representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups;
Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers.
This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used
temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within certain distances of
aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits comments on the project. We will
update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the
information related to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project.
If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the environmental mailing list
for public review and comment. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of the
document instead of the CD version or would like to remove your name from the
mailing list, please return the attached Information Request (appendix 2).
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want to become an
"intervenor" which is an official party to the Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play
a more formal role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be
heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor
formally participates in the proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for
becoming an intervenor are in the User's Guide under the "e -filing" link on the
Commission's website.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's
Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the FERC website at www.ferc.gov
using the "eLibrary" link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on "General Search" and enter
the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP13-
509). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact
FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport(a,ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or
for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of
formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called eSubscription which
allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This
can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically
Docket No. CP13-509-000 - 7 -
providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's calendar
located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related
information.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary
Appendix 1
Project Location Map, Weld County, Colorado
Docket No. CP13-509-000 Appendix 2
INFORMATION REQUEST
Lucerne Residue Pipeline Project
Name
Agency
Address
City State Zip Code
❑ Please send me a paper copy of the published NEPA document
❑ Please remove my name from the mailing list
FROM
ATTN: OEP - Gas 2, PJ -11.2
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20426
(Docket No. CP13-509-000, Lucerne Residue Pipeline Project)
Staple or Tape Here
Hello