82 FR 16158 - San Bernardino National Forest, California, Withdrawal of Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed North-South Project EIR/EIS

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 62 (April 3, 2017)

On October 2, 2015 (Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 191, page 59728), the San Bernardino National Forest (Forest Service) gave notice that, together with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the Forest Service intended to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) proposed North-South Project. The joint EIR/EIS would have met the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The CPUC denied the application on July 14, 2016 based on a lack of need for the proposed pipeline. SoCalGas withdrew their federal application on August 8, 2016 as a result of the CPUC action. Therefore, further preparation of an EIR/EIS is not necessary. The notice of intent is withdrawn and the NEPA process is hereby terminated.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 62 (Monday, April 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16158-16159]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06464]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


San Bernardino National Forest, California, Withdrawal of Notice 
of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Proposed North-South Project EIR/EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Withdrawal of notice of intent to prepare an EIR/EIS.

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SUMMARY: On October 2, 2015 (Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 191, page 
59728), the San Bernardino National Forest (Forest Service) gave notice 
that, together with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), 
the Forest Service intended to prepare a joint Environmental Impact 
Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Southern 
California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas and Electric 
(SDG&E) proposed North-South Project. The joint EIR/EIS would have met 
the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The CPUC denied the 
application on July 14, 2016 based on a lack of need for the proposed 
pipeline. SoCalGas withdrew their federal application on August 8, 2016 
as a result of the CPUC action. Therefore, further preparation of an 
EIR/EIS is not necessary. The notice of intent is withdrawn and the 
NEPA process is hereby terminated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Sirski, Natural Resource 
Specialist, San Bernardino National Forest, 602 South Tippecanoe 
Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Telephone: (909) 382-2690. Email: 
[email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary components of the Proposed 
Project included the construction of a 36-inch-diameter natural gas 
transmission pipeline and the rebuilding of the Adelanto Compressor 
Station. The pipeline would have been primarily constructed within 
existing public and private rights-of-way. The Adelanto to Moreno 
pipeline would have been approximately 65 miles in length and would 
have started at the Adelanto Compressor Station in the high desert city 
of Adelanto and proceeded in a southerly direction

[[Page 16159]]

through the Cajon Pass and the San Bernardino National Forest, 
terminating at the Moreno Pressure Limiting Station in the City of 
Moreno Valley. Approximately eight miles of the proposed pipeline and 
associated temporary construction areas would have crossed lands 
subject to Forest Service jurisdiction. The balance of the alignment 
crossed through non-federal land in San Bernardino and Riverside 
Counties along public roads. The project would have needed approval by 
both the Forest Service and the CPUC, and the project is not viable 
with the CPUC decision to deny the application.
    Several agencies had agreed to be cooperating agencies for the NEPA 
review, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the California 
State Water Resources Control Board, San Bernardino County, and the 
Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. Cooperative activities 
between the Forest Service and those agencies with respect to the 
proposed EIR/EIS have ended.

    Dated: March 24, 2017.
Jody Noiron,
Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, USDA Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06464 Filed 3-31-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P