• Williams, Questar and Kern River Pipelines and Utility Corridor Environmental Impact Statement

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The Background

During the spring of 1999, Aspen Products Pipeline LLC (a joint venture of Williams Pipeline Company and Equilon Pipeline Company) submitted an application to transport a variety of petroleum products from Northwestern New Mexico, through Western Colorado, and Utah, using a network of existing and proposed new underground pipelines. During the same time, Questar Pipeline Company (Questar) proposed to increase its system capacity by installing a new 102-mile natural gas pipeline loop from Price to Payson, Utah and to build a new pipeline from Payson to Lehi, Utah.

On April 28, 1999, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on construction and operation of two underground pipelines. Public comment was gathered through the issuance of a scoping document, followed by public meetings in May and June 1999.

Since last year, the pipeline companies have revised their proposals and changed their pipeline alignments. A third company, Kern River Gas Transmission Company, also submitted an application to build a pipeline.

The Proponents

Three companies, known as the proponents, have filed applications to build pipelines and associated facilities:

•Williams Pipeline Company

•Questar Pipeline Company

•Kern River Gas Transmission Company

The Proposals

Williams Pipeline Company has proposed to construct and operate a pipeline system to transport refined petroleum products from Northwest New Mexico through Southwestern Colorado and Utah. The proposed pipeline facilities would include new terminals in Crescent Junction and Nephi, Utah, and would connect with an existing terminal facility in the City of North Salt Lake, Utah. The refined petroleum products would include diesel fuel, fuel oil, jet fuel, and gasoline.

The Williams Pipeline Company proposal includes utilizing an existing 10 inch pipeline from Bloomfield, New Mexico, to Crescent Junction, Utah, and constructing a new pipeline, 252 miles in length and 12 inches in diameter from Crescent Junction to the City of North Salt Lake. Existing pipelines would be converted from their current use&emdash;transport of natural gas liquids&emdash;to refined product service and the direction of flow reversed. The pipeline alignment and associated facilities are displayed on the map.

Questar Pipeline Company has proposed to install a new 75.6 mile, 24 inch diameter natural gas loop pipeline. Questar's proposed pipeline project is located within the central part of the state of Utah and transects portions of Carbon, Emery, Sanpete, and Utah Counties. The proposed pipeline loop alignment and associated facilities are displayed on the map.

Generally, the proposed loop pipeline would be installed parallel to and within 25 feet of Questar's existing pipeline from Price to Payson. Beyond Payson, the proposed pipeline would continue due west along a proposed new pipeline route through the Goshen Valley, south of Utah Lake, and terminate at a proposed interconnect with the existing Kern River pipeline near Elberta, Utah. Questar proposes to construct several surface facilities as part of the project including: increase compression at its existing Oak Springs Compressor Station west of Price, a meter station, eight block valves, and five delivery taps for Utah County communities Genola, Goshen and Elberta. These communities currently do not have natural gas service.

Kern River Gas Transmission Company is proposing to construct and operate an 82 mile, 20 inch diameter pipeline to transport natural gas from Price, in Carbon County, Utah, to an interconnect with the existing Kern River Pipeline System west of Nephi, in Juab County, Utah, as displayed on the map. The proposed pipeline alignment would follow approximately 38 miles of an existing utility corridor that contains the existing Questar gas pipeline to Indianola and then continue on a new route to west of Nephi. Associated facilities for pipeline operation would include a compression station, a check meter station, and mainline block valves. The compressor station (displayed on the map) would require about seven acres of land.

The Proposed Pipeline Alignments

The proposed Williams pipeline alignment would start in Bloomfield, New Mexico; the proposed Questar pipeline alignment would start west of Price; and the proposed Kern River pipeline alignment would start southwest of Price, Utah. All proposed pipeline alignments would cross the Manti LaSal National Forest to Indianola. From Indianola, the proposed Questar pipeline would cross the Uinta National Forest to Payson. The proposed Williams and Kern River pipelines would follow a southerly route from Indianola to Nephi. Alternatives to the proposed Williams, Questar and Kern River pipeline alignments will be considered and a utility corridor analysis, across the Uinta and Manti LaSal National Forests, will be conducted. The utility corridor analysis will assess the appropriate capacity numbers of pipes and types of uses and will identify whether to select other corridors or expand existing corridors. Any expansion of existing utility corridors, as described in the proposed actions, would require a Forest Plan Amendment.

The Review Process

An Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared to assess the potential impacts caused by the pipeline proposals. The Bureau of Land Management, as the Federal agency with responsibility to issue the proposed pipeline right of way grants, will lead the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement.

The Preliminary Issues of Concern

In May and June, 1999, eight public meetings were held throughout Utah and Colorado. Initial issues identified included:

•impacts on public safety from pipeline breaks or leaks

•impacts on private and public lands from construction and pipeline facilities effects to cultural resources

•impacts on wildlife, including raptors, fish, and big game and possibly including threatened and/or endangered species

•threats to streams and other surface water resources

•threat to underground water supplies

•disruptions to the visual perspective and natural landscape character from pipeline facilities

•changes to traditional land uses and other social values.

The Environmental Impact Statement evaluation will not be limited to just these issues of preliminary concern. The list will expand with the continuation of the public involvement process.

Possible Alternatives To The Proposed Actions

A range of alternatives to the proposed pipelines will be considered in detail in the Environmental Impact Statement including a "No Action" alternative. Alternatives may include:

•changes in routes for the pipelines

•fewer but larger pipelines in the main utility corridor

•optional sites for associated surface facilities (such as terminals or pumping stations).

All alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the proposed projects will be considered equally.

The Environmental Impact Statement will also consider mitigation measures for all alternatives that would be imposed to reduce or eliminate environmental impacts. These measures will involve every aspect of the pipeline proposals from construction timing and techniques to the size and color of above ground pipeline facilities.

Who Makes the Final Decision

The Bureau of Land Management, in cooperation with the Forest Service, will determine whether to allow each of the pipelines to proceed on Federal land through issuance of rights of way. The natural gas pipelines must receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for authorization of their projects.

The actions could proceed as proposed by Williams, Questar, and Kern River with mitigation measures or as alternative actions developed and analyzed during the process.

How To Get Involved

Public participation is a key element of the Environmental Impact Statement process. The issues identified during the public involvement process define the scope of analysis presented in the Environmental Impact Statement. We want and need to hear from you.

The public involvement process provides you with an opportunity to learn more about the pipeline proposals and what they will mean to you. You will have an opportunity to ask questions of those directly involved in the pipeline proposals.

Two public meetings are scheduled. On May 10, 2000, a public meeting will be held at the West Valley City Family Fitness Center, 5415 West 3100 South, West Valley City, Utah. On May 11, 2000, a public meeting will be held at the Juab High School Library, 802 North 650 East, Nephi, Utah. Both meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.