A public comment period is open through Aug. 10 on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for El Paso Corp.’s Ruby Pipeline Project, which would carry up to 1.5 million Dth/d of natural gas about 675 miles from Wyoming to Oregon.

The draft EIS was issued in June by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) staff (see Daily GPI, June 22) to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It evaluates, analyzes and discloses the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental impacts of the proposed pipeline.

Comments from the public should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts, officials said. The comments would be included in the final EIS, which is expected to be issued in early 2010, according to El Paso officials.

Comments may be submitted electronically at www.ferc.gov or efiling@ferc.gov. Comments by mail, which should include an original and two copies, should be sent to Kimberly D. Bose, secretary, FERC, 888 First St. NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Reference Docket No. CP09-54-000 and label one copy to the attention of the Gas Branch 1, PJ-11.1.

Public meetings to discuss the project also are scheduled this month in each of the affected states, which also include Utah and Nevada. The scheduled meetings, all at 7 p.m., and locations are July 21 at Malin Community Hall, 2307 Front St., Malin, OR; July 22 at Elks Lodge, 323 N. F St., Lakeview, OR; July 23 at Convention Center, 50 W. Winnemucca Blvd.,Winnemucca, NV; July 27 at Brigham City Senior Center, 24 N 300 W., Brigham City, UT; July 28 at Hilton Garden Inn, 3650 East Idaho St., Elko, NV; July 29 at Kemmerer Senior Center, 105 J.C. Penney Dr., Kemmerer, WY; and July 30 at Hyrum Civic Center, 83 W. Main St., Hyrum, UT.

For more information contact National Project Manager Mark Mackiewicz at (435) 636-3616, or 125 South 600 West, Price, UT 84501.

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