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U. Doi- /D l t D 2010-0246
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd. Docket No. CP10-13-000
NOTICE OF INTENT TO PREPARE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED WIC 2010 SYSTEM
ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AND
REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
January 15, 2010
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 WIC 2010 System Enhancement Project (Project) involving construction
and operation of facilities by Wyoming Interstate Company (WIC) in Weld and
Sweetwater Counties, in Colorado and Wyoming, respectively. 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.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we will use to gather
input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help the
Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that
the scoping period will close on February 15, 2010
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental mailing for
this project, which includes affected landowners; federal, state, and local government
representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups;
Native American Tribes; parties to this proceeding; and local libraries and newspapers.
State and local government representatives are asked to 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, you may be contacted by a pipeline
company representative 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 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.
Docket No. CP 10-13-000 - 2 _
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 WIC 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
also available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
The proposed Project would involve the modification of the Wamsutter
Compressor Station and the construction and operation of approximately 2.43 miles of
20-inch-diameter pipeline from the Wamsutter Compressor Station to interconnections
with Rockies Express Pipeline Company and Questar Overthrust Pipeline Company in
Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
The Project would entail piping modifications at the Cheyenne Compressor Station
in Weld County, Colorado, to enable the compression of gas in a westerly direction
toward Wamsutter. The Wamsutter Compressor Station compressor modification,
pipeline construction, and Cheyenne Compressor Station re-piping would accommodate
up to approximately 285,000 dekatherms per day of transportation volumes for westbound
deliveries.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.1
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed Project would disturb about 35.9 acres of land for the
aboveground facilities and the pipeline. Following construction, about 16.8 acres would
be maintained for permanent operation of the project's facilities; the remaining acreage
would be restored and allowed to revert to former uses.
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. This
1 The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed 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. CP10-13-000 - 3 -
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. All comments
received will be considered during the preparation of the EA.
In the EA we2 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;
• cumulative impacts; 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.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA. Depending on
the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be published and mailed
to those on our environmental mailing list (see discussion of how to remain on our
mailing list on page 5). 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. To ensure your comments are considered, please
carefully follow the instructions in the Public Participation section beginning on page 4.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of
the EA. These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal
relative to their responsibilities. 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.
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
2 "We", "us", and "our" refer to the environmental staff of the Commission's Office of
Energy Projects.
Docket No. CP10-13-000 - 4 -
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
written comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in your comments so that
they will be received in Washington, DC on or before February 15, 2010.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to submit your
written comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of
comments and has expert eFiling staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258 or
efiling(a,ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick Comment
feature, which is located at www.ferc.gov under the link called "Documents
and Filings". A Quick Comment is an easy method for interested persons to
submit text-only comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the "eFiling" feature
that is listed under the "Documents and Filings" link. eFiling involves
preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if filing on
paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard drive. You will
attach that file to your submission. New eFiling users must first create an
account by clicking on the links called "Sign up" or"eRegister". You will
be asked to select the type of filing you are making. A comment on a
particular project is considered a "Comment on a Filing"; or
(3) You may file your comments with the Commission via mail by sending an
original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE, Room IA
Washington, DC 20426
In all instances, please reference the project docket number CP10-13-000 with
your submission. Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 3, PJ-
11.3.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project. This
includes all landowners 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 (as defined in the Commission's regulations).
Docket No. CP10-13-000 - 5 -
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 2). If you do not
return the Information Request, you will be taken off the mailing list.
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 included 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 1-866-208-FERC or on the Internet 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. Be sure you
have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupportna,ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, 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
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
Location Maps
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Appendix 2
INFORMATION REQUEST
Docket No. CP10-13-000
❑ Please keep my name on the environmental mailing list for the WIC 2010
Enhancement Project.
Name
Agency
Address
City State Zip Code
FROM
ATTN: OEP - Gas 3, PJ - 11.3
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426
CP10-13, WIC 2010 Enhancement Project
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