FERC issues Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement
October 29, 2007
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today issued its Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Palomar Gas Transmission pipeline project in Oregon.
The NOI explains the scoping process FERC uses to gather input from the public and other affected stakeholders regarding the environmental aspects of the construction and operation of the proposed pipeline.
Parties have until November 28, 2007, to file comments regarding the NOI, but it is important to understand that there will be numerous other occasions to comment on the Palomar project itself, especially after FERC issues its Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The comments FERC is seeking by November 28 relate directly to which issues the various parties feel should be included when FERC determines what will be evaluated in the EIS.
In addition to being posted on FERC’s website, the NOI is being sent to federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and other interest groups; tribal organizations; local libraries; and newspapers.
If you are a landowner and receive notice of the NOI, there is a strong likelihood that Palomar’s base route (the potential route depicted on maps made public during the Palomar Open Houses in August) is within a quarter mile of your property.
FERC encourages affected parties to file comments electronically (the instructions are in the NOI), but you may also comment in person at one of four scoping meetings FERC will conduct along the proposed route.
The dates, times, and locations of the scoping meetings are:
| Monday, November 12 | Imperial River Company 304 Bakeoven Road Maupin, OR 97037 541.395.2404 |
| Tuesday, November 13 | Molalla Adult Center 315 Kennel Street Molalla, OR 97038 503.829.4214 |
| Wednesday, November 14 | Patton Middle School 1175 East 19th Street McMinnville, OR 97128 503.565.4503 |
| Thursday, November 15 | Pacific University 2043 College Way Forest Grove, OR 97116 503.352.6151 |
All the meetings begin at 7 p.m.