Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; Finding of No Significant Impact: Rio Grande Pipeline Company, Pipeline To Cross the U.S.-Mexico Border at El Paso County, TX

Rio Grande Pipeline Company has applied for a Presidential Permit to authorize construction, connection, operation and maintenance of a 8.625 inch diameter pipeline to convey liquid petroleum gas (LPG) across the border to Mexico in El Paso County, Texas. The proposed pipeline will utilize existing pipelines commencing in Hardisty County, Texas. Approximately 30 miles of new pipeline will be constructed commencing in Hudspeth County, Texas, crossing El Paso County, Texas to cross the border south of the town of San Elizario into Mexico. The pipeline will continue approximately 20 miles into Mexico, with a terminus at the Mendez Terminal in Ciudad Juarez. The pipeline will initially receive an estimated 16,000 barrels per day for transportation with a capacity for approximately 24,000 barrels per day. The pipeline will facilitate LPG exports from the United States to Mexico at an estimated annual value of 60 to 65 million dollars.

Summary

In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, and the Department's regulations for implementation of NEPA (22 CFR Part 161), the Department of State has conducted an environmental assessment of the proposed construction by Rio Grande Pipeline Company of a LPG pipeline across the international boundary in El Paso County south of San Elizario, Texas. The Department of State is charged with the issuance of Presidential Permits authorizing construction of such international pipelines under Executive Order 11423 (1968), as amended by Executive Order 12847 (1993). Several Federal agencies cooperated in preparation of the environmental assessment, reviewing and commenting on the analysis and conclusions presented therein. Agencies participating in this process together with the Department of State included: the Environmental Protection Agency, the Departments of Defense, Treasury, Interior, Commerce, Transportation, the Attorney General, the Chairman of the Surface Transportation Safety Board, and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Interested parties were invited to comment on the proposed application in a Federal Register Notice number 2397, in the Federal Register Vol. 61, No. 104, pages 26945-26946. Based on the final environmental assessment, which included a preliminary environmental assessment, comments received from interested agencies and responses to those comments, the Department of State has concluded that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing construction of the proposed pipeline (as described in the final environmental assessment) will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment within the United States. Therefore, in accordance with CEQ's

NEPA regulations, 40 CFR 1501.4 and 1508.13 and with State Department Regulations, 22 CFR 161.8 (c) an environmental impact statement will not be prepared.

Factors Considered

The environmental assessment carefully considered delivery alternatives, truck and rail exports of LPG, as well as alternative pipeline routes. National statistics show that pipelines are safer than rail and many times safer than trucks for transporting liquid petroleum products. LPG exports to Mexico by pipeline are the safer alternative than their shipment by rail or truck, especially in the congested border crossing areas. Delivery of LPG to Mexico by pipeline produces substantially less emissions than does delivery by diesel truck and enhances highway safety. The pipeline route corridor selection is based on the most direct routing, use of existing rights-of-way, avoidance of populated areas, and avoidance of cultural and biological resources. No conflicts with active locatable mineral operations, metallic or non- mettalic, were identified along the proposed pipeline route. Wetlands, including jurisdictional wetlands regulated under the Clean Water Act, will not be affected by the pipeline as all aquatic features will be crossed by boring beneath them. There is no specific habitat for any federally listed Endangered or Threatened species identified in the area. Any disturbances to land, vegetation, wildlife, and socioeconomic resources are expected to be minimal and short-term, arising mainly due to initial pipeline construction. Further analysis and reasoning supporting the pipeline routing are presented in the original pipeline application. Copies of supporting information for this finding and the final environmental assessment can be obtained from the State Department's office of International Energy and Commodities Policy, 202-647-2875.

Environmental Justice

In addition to the analysis conducted in accordance with NEPA, the Department of State addressed environmental justice considerations pursuant to Executive Order 12898 of February 11, 1994 (``Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations''). Based on its examination of environmental justice considerations, the Department has determined that the proposed pipeline will not have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations. The analysis supporting this determination can be obtained from the State Department Office of International Energy and Commodities Policy, 202- 647-2887.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PIPELINE PERMIT APPLICATION, CONTACT: Susan Phillips, Office of International Energy and Commodities Policy, Room 3529, U..S. Department of State, Washington, DC, 20520, (202) 647- 2887.

Dated: August 22, 1996. Herbert Yarvin, Acting Director, International Energy and Commodities Policy. [FR Doc. 96-23937 Filed 9-16-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-07-M