Notice of pre-filing environmental review for the Ruby Pipeline Project, request for comments on environmental issues and notice of public scoping meetings re Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C under PF08-9-000

(Note: From another source, shown below in this email's text: "Other pipeline projects include Houston-based Spectra Energy's November 1 announcement to build the "Bronco Pipeline," a 650-mile pipeline from southwestern Wyoming to Malin , Oregon -- the same path as El Paso 's Ruby pipeline." Beware, private property owners along this route. Southern Idahoans , you may be part of the route. The website address for the "fact sheet," titled "An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?" is 2.58 MB in size: http://www.ferc.gov/for-citizens/citizen-guides/citz-guide-gas.pdf )

March 28, 2008

Word Doc: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=11626857 (465 K) (map of route on Page 7)

Text: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=11626961 (20 K)

FERC-Generated PDF: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=11627607 (179 k) (map on Page 7)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C.                                                                  FERC Docket No. PF08-9-000

NOTICE OF PRE-FILING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR THE

RUBY PIPELINE PROJECT,

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS

( March 28, 2008 ) 

On January 31, 2008 , the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) initiated its pre-filing environmental review of the Ruby Pipeline Project, planned by Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C. (Ruby). FERC staff is now beginning to obtain and evaluate information for the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will assess and disclose the environmental impacts of the project, which would involve construction and operation of facilities by Ruby in Wyoming , Utah , Nevada , and Oregon . These facilities would consist of about 680 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline, 2 new compressor stations, and related appurtenant facilities. The EIS will be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine if the project is in the public convenience and necessity. 

This notice announces the opening of a scoping period that will be used to gather environmental input from the public and agencies during the early stages of the project. Comments may be submitted either in written form or verbally. In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, you are invited to attend the public scoping meetings scheduled in the project area. Further instructions on how to submit written comments and additional details of the public scoping meetings are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.  

The scoping period will close on April 30, 2008 .  

These meetings are designed to provide state and local agencies, interested groups, affected landowners, and the general public with an opportunity to offer comments on the project and on the environmental issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be made so that your comments will be accurately recorded. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm in each respective time zone. All public meetings will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information. 

Comments collected during scoping will be a valuable part of the Pre-Filing Process and will help us^[1][1] determine which issues/impacts need to be evaluated in the EIS. As more details of the project route and design become available, additional scoping may be warranted and the public will be provided with additional opportunities to comment.  

A “Pre-Filing Process” Has Begun 

The Commission is initiating its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review for the Ruby Pipeline Project prior to receiving Ruby’s formal application. This Pre-Filing Process allows interested stakeholders to become involved early in the project planning with the intent of identifying and resolving issues before a formal application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF08-9-000) has been established to place information filed by Ruby and related documents issued or received by the Commission into the public record.[2][2] Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new docket number will be established.  

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS because the project would cross federally administered lands in Wyoming , Utah , Nevada , and Oregon . The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is also participating as a cooperating agency because the project would cross the Cache and Fremont-Winema National Forests in Utah and Oregon , respectively. As a cooperating agency, the BLM intends to adopt the EIS per Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1506.3 to meet its responsibilities under NEPA regarding Ruby’s application for a Right-of-Way Grant and Temporary Use Permit for crossing federally administered lands, including the Cache and Fremont-Winema National Forests. The concurrence or non-concurrence of the USFS would be considered in the BLM’s decision as well as impacts on resources and programs, and the proposed project’s conformance with land use plans.  

With this notice, we are asking other federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues in the project area to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated Ruby’s proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies, which would like to request cooperating status, should follow the instructions for filing comments described later in this notice. We encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.  

This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners along and adjacent to the project route and within 0.5 mile of proposed compressor station sites; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; local libraries and newspapers; and other interested parties. 

To assist potentially affected landowners, a fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled "An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?" addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the potential use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet website www.ferc.gov. 

Summary of the Proposed Project 

Ruby is proposing to construct a new pipeline system in order to transport natural gas reserves in the Rocky Mountain region to the growing markets in the Western United States . Specifically, Ruby is proposing to construct the following facilities:  

·              approximately 680 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline between the Opal Hub in Lincoln County, Wyoming and the Malin Hub in Klamath County, Oregon;

·              two new compressor stations located in Lincoln County , Wyoming and Elko County , Nevada ;

·              5 metering facilities;

·              40 mainline block valves; and

·              10 pig launcher/receivers facilities^[3][3]. 

 A map depicting the general location of project facilities is shown in Figure 1^[4][4]. Ruby has identified a preferred project route, which is shown on the map as a dark solid line. Ruby had originally considered a more northern route coming out of Wyoming , as shown on the map as a dotted red line. Although no longer preferred by Ruby, we are currently including the northern route in our evaluation as a route alternative.  

The project, if completed, would have a capacity for transporting approximately 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Ruby anticipates filing its formal application with the FERC in January 2009 and would request approval such that the proposed facilities are put into service in the first quarter of 2011. By this schedule, construction of the Ruby Pipeline Project would begin in the first or second quarter of 2010. 

Land Requirements for Construction 

Ruby would use a nominal 115-foot-wide construction right-of-way for the project. Additional work area would be required at certain feature crossings (e.g., waterbodies, wetlands, roads, and railroads), staging areas, pipe yards, contractor’s yards, and widening of certain access roads.  

Based on preliminary information, we estimate that construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 12,000 acres of land. Of the 12,000 acres, about 8,000 acres would be temporarily disturbed and about 4,000 acres would be permanently maintained for operation of the pipeline within a 50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way and as aboveground facility sites. Following construction, all temporary workspaces would be restored and allowed to revert to former use. About 60 percent of the proposed route would cross federally administered land managed by the BLM or USFS. 

The EIS Process 

The FERC will be the lead federal agency for the preparation of the EIS. As noted above, the BLM and USFS will be cooperating agencies. NEPA requires the FERC 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 under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to identify and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This is the “scoping” process referred to earlier. The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on important environmental issues and reasonable alternatives. By this Notice, we are requesting agency and public comments on the scope on the issues to be addressed in the EIS. All comments received will be considered during the preparation of the EIS.        

We have already started to meet with Ruby personnel, agencies, and other interested stakeholders to discuss the project and identify issues/impacts and concerns. Between February 19 and March 18, 2008 , representatives of FERC staff participated in public open houses sponsored by Ruby in the project area. FERC staff explained the NEPA environmental review process to interested stakeholders and noted comments related to the project.  

Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC’s official service list for this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will consider all timely comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. 

Public Participation 

You are encouraged to become involved in this process and provide your specific comments or concerns about Ruby’s planned 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. If you wish to mail comments, please carefully follow these instructions: 

·        Send an original and two copies of your letter to: 

Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street NE ; Room 1A

Washington , DC 20426 

·        Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas 1, DG2E; and 

·        Reference Docket No. PF08-9-000 on the original and both copies. 

·        Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington , D.C. , on or before April 30, 2008 . 

            The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Internet website at www.ferc.gov under the link to “Documents and Filings” and “eFiling.” eFiling is a file attachment process and requires that you prepare your submission in the same manner as you would if filing on paper, and save it to a file on your computer’s hard drive. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “Sign up” or “eRegister.” You will be asked to select the type of filing you are making. This filing is considered a “Comment on Filing.” In addition, there is a “Quick Comment” option available, which is an easy method for interested persons to submit text only comments on a Project. The Quick-Comment User Guide can be viewed at www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/quick-comment-guide.pdf. Quick Comment does not require a FERC eRegistration account; however, you will be asked to provide a valid email address. All comments submitted under either eFiling or the Quick Comment option, are placed in the public record for the specified docket or Project number(s). Comments submitted electronically must be submitted by April 30, 2008 . 

Availability of Additional Information 

Additional information about the Project is available from the FERC’s Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC or on the FERC Internet website 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., PF08-9). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, contact 202-502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet website also provides access to the text of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. 

In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called eSubscription that 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. To register for this service, go to the eSubscription link on the FERC Internet website www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. 

Information concerning the involvement of the BLM in the EIS process may be obtained from Mark Mackiewicz, PMP, National Project Manager, at 435-636-3616. Information concerning the involvement of the USFS may be obtained from Catherine Callaghan at the Fremont-Winema National Forest at 541-947-2151, and David Ream 801-236-3400 at the Wasatch-Cache National Forest . 

http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_desc=yes&slcfilelist=11627607:0

FERC Online _eLibrary (formerly FERRIS)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

http://www.ferc.gov

Search Results

Text Search for "Ruby Pipeline Project" http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercadvsearch.asp

Your Search Criteria
Class:
Fed Register Cite:
Category: submittal, issuance
FERC Cite:
Sort Specification: filed_date desc accession_num asc
Word Search: Ruby Pipeline Project
Accession Number:
Fed Court Cite:
Type:
Affiliation:
Affiliation Type:
Affiliation Author:
Filed Date is from 3/5/2008 to 4/5/2008 .

~~~~~

Ruby Pipeline Project Public Scoping - Bureau of Land Management Wyoming News Release

April 4, 2008

Contact: Mark A. Mackiewicz  435-636-3616

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Ruby Pipeline Project, planned by Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C. (Ruby). Ruby proposes to construct and operate about 680 miles of 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline, as well as two new compressor stations and related facilities in Wyoming , Utah , Nevada , and Oregon . The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS because the project would cross federally administered lands in all four states. The Forest Service is also participating as a cooperating agency because the project would cross the Wasatch-Cache and Fremont-Winema National Forests in Utah and Oregon , respectively.

The BLM and Forest Service are seeking public comments as part of the scoping period for this project. Six public meetings designed to provide agencies and the public with an opportunity to offer comments on the project will be held:

·         April 15, 2008 Elko , Nevada : Hilton Garden Inn, 3650 East Idaho Street

·         April 16, 2008 Kemmerer , Wyoming : Kemmerer Senior Center , 105 JC Penney Drive

·         April 17, 2008 Brigham City , Utah : Box Elder High School Auditorium, 380 South 600 West

·         April 22, 2008 Malin , Oregon : Malin Community Hall, 2307 Front Street

·         April 23, 2008 Lakeview , Oregon : Elks Lodge, 323 N. F Street

• April 24, 2008 Winnemucca , Nevada : Winnemucca Convention Center , 50 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm in each respective time zone.

Those who cannot attend a public meeting but still want to comment may do so by mail or e-mail. To mail comments, please carefully follow these instructions:

·         Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE , Room 1A, Washington , DC 20426 ;

·         Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas 1, DG2E; and

·         Write Reference Docket No. PF08-9-000 on the original and both copies.

• Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before April 30, 2008.

Electronic filing of comments is encouraged. Visit www.ferc.gov under the link to "Documents and Filings" and "eFiling" for instructions on how to comment online. Comments submitted electronically must be submitted by April 30, 2008 .

Information concerning the involvement of the BLM in the EIS process may be obtained from Mark Mackiewicz, PMP, National Project Manager at 435-636-3616. Information concerning the involvement of the Forest Service may be obtained from Catherine Callaghan at the Fremont-Winema National Forest at 541-947-2151 and from David Ream at the Wasatch-Cache National Forest at 801-236-3400.

Additional information about the Project is available from the FERC’s Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-FERC or on the FERC Internet website www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Select the eLibrary link, then select "General Search," and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (PF08-9).

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/news_room/2008/04/04rubypipeline.html

News Articles:

El Paso gets in line for gas pipe - The supplier wants to pump the Rockies' growing output of fuel to the West Coast

December 3, 2007

By Victor Epstein, Bloomberg News Service

El Paso Corp. has sought approval to build a 680-mile pipeline to transport natural gas from Wyoming to Oregon in partnership with Bear Stearns Cos.

An application for the 42-inch-diameter Ruby pipeline was filed with the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management, Houston-based El Paso said Monday in a statement. The pipeline, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2011, will make growing supplies of gas from the Rocky Mountain region available to users on the West Coast.

The Energy Department expects the Rockies to surpass the Gulf of Mexico as the largest domestic source of natural gas. A lack of adequate pipeline capacity depressed prices for the power-plant and heating fuel in the region and prompted similar projects by El Paso competitors, including Spectra Energy Corp.

" El Paso is going head-to-head with Spectra's Bronco pipeline with this new proposal," said Gordon Howald, an analyst at Calyon Securities USA Inc. in New York who rates El Paso stock at "buy" and owns 1,000 shares.

"I don't think there's going to be enough gas coming out of the Rockies by 2011 for both of these proposals, but there could be enough in a few more years as production ramps up," Howald said.

Partnership discussions include having the Bear Energy unit of Bear Stearns become an initial shipper on the line, which would have an initial capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet a day, El Paso said. Richard Wheatley, a spokesman for El Paso , declined to estimate the cost of the project.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7627736?source=rss

~~~~~

El Paso plans massive natural gas pipeline

"Other pipeline projects include Houston-based Spectra Energy's November 1 announcement to build the "Bronco Pipeline," a 650-mile pipeline from southwestern Wyoming to Malin , Oregon -- the same path as El Paso 's Ruby pipeline."

December 3 2007

Denver Business Journal

Another major natural gas pipeline from the Rocky Mountains to other markets was announced Monday, when El Paso Corp. said it wants to build a pipeline from southwestern Wyoming to Oregon .

El Paso (NYSE: EP) is based in Houston .

It's one of several pipeline projects announced recently to expand the Industry's capacity to ship natural gas out of the Rocky Mountains .

El Paso said it's filed a right-of-way application with the Bureau of Land Management for the "Ruby Pipeline" project -- a 680-mile, 42-inch pipeline to carry natural gas from the Opal Hub in Wyoming to another hub in Malin , Ore. , near California 's northern border.

An El Paso spokesman said the company wasn't releasing a cost estimate on the project.

The pipeline will have an initial capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet per day -- similar to the $4.4 billion Rockies Express pipeline that will carry natural gas from Colorado 's Western Slope 1,678 miles to eastern Ohio . El Paso said the Ruby pipeline will be expandable to 2 billion cubic feet per day.

A point man on the Rockies Express pipeline, Jeff Rawls, formerly with Houston-based Kinder Morgan, also is involved in the Ruby pipeline project, managing director of Bear Energy LP, a subsidiary of New York City-based The Bear Sterns Cos. Inc. (NYSE: BSC)

El Paso said it's planning to partner on the project with Bear Energy, and said the latter may become a shipper on the pipeline.

Subject to regulatory approval, and after obtaining necessary customer commitments, the Ruby Pipeline is anticipated to be in service in the first quarter of 2011, El Paso said.

Other pipeline projects include Houston-based Spectra Energy's November 1 announcement to build the "Bronco Pipeline," a 650-mile pipeline from southwestern Wyoming to Malin , Oregon -- the same path as El Paso 's Ruby pipeline. Spectra said the Bronco pipeline will have a capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day and cost more than $3 billion. It could be in operation in 2011, Spectra said.

Also, the Kern River pipeline, which currently has a capacity of 1.7 billion cubic feet per day, is asking shippers if they're interested in having the pipeline expand by up to 500,000 cubic feet per day.

The pipeline runs from southwestern Wyoming to southern California through Utah and Nevada .

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/12/03/daily7.html

~~~~~

Pipeline Would Cut Through Utah

(Note: Utah , yes, but also possibly Idaho , and for sure Nevada and Oregon , after starting near Kemmerer , Wyoming .)

April 4, 2008

By Jasen Lee jlee@desnews.com

Deseret Morning News

Salt Lake City , Utah

A Texas-based company wants to build a 680-mile-long natural-gas pipeline that would run through four states, from Wyoming to Oregon , cutting through National Forest land in Utah along the way.

El Paso Corp.'s proposed Ruby Pipeline project would begin at the Opal Hub in Wyoming and terminate in Malin , Oregon . The pipeline would have an initial capacity of 1.2 billion cubic feet per day, with the flexibility to increase that capacity to 2 billion cubic feet per day.

Ruby Pipeline LLC is owned by El Paso Ruby Holding Company LLC, which is an affiliate of El Paso Corp., headquartered in Houston . El Paso Corp. owns North America 's largest gas pipeline system and is one of the largest independent natural-gas producers.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plans to hold six meetings in four states to gather public comment on the proposed pipeline, beginning April 15 in Elko , Nevada . A meeting in Brigham City will be held April 17 at 7 p.m., in the Box Elder High School auditorium, located at 380 S. 600 West.

Commission spokeswoman Tamara Young-Allen said Thursday that El Paso wants to file its application with the commission in January 2009 and begin service with the pipeline in March 2011, if the company gains the commission's approval.

El Paso spokesman Richard Wheatley said the project is a nearly $2 billion dollar investment in new pipeline infrastructure that will connect natural gas reserves in the Rocky Mountain region with growing markets in the western United States.

The pipeline would transport natural gas to local utilities that provide service to end users in Nevada , California and Oregon , he said. The end users would be individual homes, small and large businesses, and electric generating plants.

The proposed pipeline would have rights of way that could cross portions of Wyoming , Utah , Nevada and Oregon . Two compressor stations are planned for the project, including one near Opal Hub and another near the midpoint of the project.

According to the El Paso Corp. Web site, the route would traverse south and west from Wyoming before entering Utah , passing near the town of Woodruff . The route would cross through a portion of the Cache National Forest , passing near the city of Avon , before crossing to Brigham City . From there, it would pass near Bear River City and Thatcher before eventually entering Nevada .

The company noted that the proposed route is not "set in stone."

Wheatley said the final route will not be determined until the formal application is made in 2009.

Sierra Club spokesman Tim Wagner declined to comment Thursday on the potential environmental impact of the proposed project until his group can study the plan.

A complete schedule of the public-comment meetings is posted on the commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov.

The agency will also accept written comments through April 30.
 

Copyright 2008, Deseret News.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1326383/pipeline_would_cut_through_utah/

Additional contact information:

Tamara Young-Allen tamara.young-allen@ferc.gov 202-502-8680

Kimberly D. Bose kimberly.bose@ferc.gov kimberly.d.bose@ferc.gov

Google News Results for "Ruby Pipeline"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml