Gulf Crossing proposes to construct and operate approximately 356.3 miles of 42-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline extending east-southeast from Grayson County, Texas, and Bryan County, Okla., to Madison Parish, La.; the Sherman, Paris, Mira, and Sterlington Compressor Stations located in Grayson and Lamar County, Texas and Caddo and Ouachita Parish, La., respectively, totaling 100,734 horsepower; seven new metering and regulating stations; and other appurtenant ancillary facilities including, mainline valves, pig launcher and receiver facilities.

Gulf South proposes to construct and operate approximately 17.8 miles of 42-inch-diameter pipeline loop extending southeast from Hinds County, Miss., to Simpson County, Miss.; increasing the compression of its recently approved Harrisville Compressor Station by 30,000 hp; and other appurtenant ancillary facilities including main line valve, pig launcher and receiver facilities.

FERC's environmental staff concludes that the Gulf Crossing Project with appropriate mitigating measures, as recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact.

Staff concludes the project would be environmentally acceptable action (with appropriate mitigation) because:

• The proposed Project would be collocated with existing utility rights-of-way for approximately 182.3 miles, or about 51 percent of the mainline route, as well as the entire 17.8 miles of the Mississippi Loop;
• The Companies would implement the Project Plan and Procedures and other plans, which would minimize and mitigate impacts to natural resources during construction and operation of the proposed Project;
• FERC recommends the limitation of the permanent rights-of-way to 50 feet wide; and to use portions of existing, natural gas pipeline permanent rights-of-way during construction where possible;
• FERC recommends that the Companies develop crossing plans for WRP lands and significant wetland areas containing mature trees and a wetland mitigation plan;
• The Companies would compensate for all unavoidable wetland impacts; and
• The Companies would implement an environmental inspection and monitoring program that would ensure compliance with all proposed and recommended mitigation measures.

FERC Commissioners will take into consideration staff's recommendations and the final EIS when they make a decision on the project.

To review the Draft EIS (Docket Nos. CP07-398-000, CP07-399-000, CP08-400-000, CP07-401-000 and CP07-402-000), visit FERC's eLibrary Web site: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/docket_search.asp.