Hearings set for Wyoming-to-Oregon pipeline 

     Public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement for the Ruby Pipeline Project, a proposed natural gas pipeline that would extend from Wyoming to Oregon, will be in cities in four states, including Malin and Lakeview, later this month.

   The estimated cost of the Ruby Pipeline is $3 billion for a new pipeline infrastructure that would connect natural gas reserves in the Rocky Mountain region with the western United States.

   As proposed, the project will include about 675 miles of 42-inch natural gas transmission pipeline beginning at the Opal Hub in Wyoming and terminating at the interconnect at Malin. As designed, the pipeline has an initial design capacity of up to 1.5 billion cubic feet per day and cover portions of Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Oregon.  

   The first in a series of public meetings will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, at Malin Community Hall. The following night, Wednesday, July 22, a 7 p.m. hearing will be at the Elks Lodge in Lakeview.

   Comments may be sent electronically, by mail or given in person at the public meetings. To submit comments electronically, go to the FERC Web site at  www.ferc.gov , or efiling@ferc.gov . Comments can be sent by mail to:

   Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St. NE; Room 1 A , Washington, DC 20426.  Include an original and two copies of comments sent by mail. Reference Docket No. CP09-54-000 and label one copy to the attention of the Gas Branch 1, PJ-11.1.

   Copies of the draft EIS are available at BLM and Forest Service offices and online at the FERC Web site. The comment period for the draft document, which was published in June, ends Aug. 10.