Nick Snow
Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON, DC, June 11 -- Staffs from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California State Lands Commission (CSLC) jointly concluded that the proposed North Baja natural gas pipeline expansion project will be environmentally acceptable, the agencies jointly announced on June 8.
The project, which has been proposed by a US subsidiary of TransCanada Corp., would be the US portion of a system to deliver natural gas from terminals in Mexico to California and other southwestern US markets. It would be built adjacent to a line which was completed in 2002. A Sempra Energy subsidiary would own the Baja California segment.
The US segment, reviewed by staffs from FERC and CSLC, would be comprised of an 80-mile loop of 42-in. and 48-in. line; a 2.1-mile, 36-in. lateral to Southern California Gas Co.'s existing Blythe compressor station; a 46-mile, 16-in. lateral to the existing Imperial Irrigation District El Centro generating station, and other associated facilities.
The agencies issued a final environmental statement and review that were prepared in collaboration with the US Bureaus of Land Management and Reclamation. BLM will use the documents to consider amending the California Desert Conservation Area Plan and the Yuma District Resource Plan, the agencies indicated.
The project's sponsor said it plans to minimize its impact on the Imperial Dunes Recreation Area by building the pipeline through the dunes within the All American Canal/Interstate 8 corridor.
The FERC and CSLC noted that directional drilling would be used to avoid disturbing the Colorado River, All American and East Highline canals beds and banks, and associated wetland and riparian areas. The project's sponsor has agreed to consult with the appropriate Indian tribes and regulatory agencies before beginning construction, they said.
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