FERC staff issued a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) Friday for the Southeast Supply Header project, a 270-mile pipeline to connect the Perryville Hub with Gulfstream Natural Gas near Mobile County, AL. The line would carry up to 1.14 Bcf/d destined for southeastern markets, including Florida (CP07-044).

The proposed new line is sponsored in part by Southern Natural Gas and subsidiaries of CenterPoint Energy and Spectra Energy. The Commission had issued a preliminary determination on nonenvironmental issues for the project on May 17.

The FEIS concludes that if the proposed project is found to be in the public convenience and necessity and is constructed and operated in accordance with the impact minimization and mitigation measures proposed by the project sponsors, as well as additional mitigation recommendations by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the project for the most part would have limited adverse environmental impacts. The one area where there would be an adverse impact is in a conversion of about five acres of forested wetland. “However, our evaluation concluded that the impact would be substantive, but not significant and is environmentally acceptable,” FERC staff said.

FERC commissioners will take into consideration staff’s recommendations and the final EIS when they make decisions on the project.

The Commission staff noted the project will provide needed new transportation capacity to access new supply sources for the Southeast, including Florida. The line will carry up to 1.14 Bcf/d from the Perryville Hub in northern Louisiana to interconnecting pipelines serving the eastern U.S. and terminate at the Gulfstream Natural Gas System near southern Mobile County, AL. The pipeline is targeted for in-service in summer 2008. The new line would tap supplies from the Barnett Shale and Bossier Sands, as well as regasified liquefied natural gas coming into the Gulf Coast.

Customers signed up for capacity include Florida Power and Light, Progress Energy, Southern Co., Tampa Electric and EOG Resources.

Construction would include:

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