Letter order approving Northwest Pipeline GP's 7/13/11 request to FERC's pre-filing review process for the South Seattle Delivery Lateral Expansion Project under PF11-8.

ENVIRONMENTALASSESSMENTREPORT DocketNo:CP111000 1.NameofApplicant:PinePrairieEnergyCenter,LLC 2.DateFiled:10/4/2010 3.DateReceived(byBranch):10/4/2010 4.Type:Section7(c):ConstructionofFacilities 5.Cost:N/A 6.Facilities:PinePrairieEnergyCenter,LLC(PPEC)filedanapplicationtoconstructandoperatethePhase IIIExpansionProject(Project),locatedinEvangelineParish,Louisiana.TheProjectwouldexpandPPECs currentlycertificatedworkinggascapacityattheundergroundsaltdomenaturalgasstoragefacilityfrom48to 80billioncubicfeet(Bcf).TheProjectconsistsof: developingtwoadditionalnaturalgasstoragecaverns(CavernNos.6and7),eachhavingaworking gascapacityof12billioncubicfeet(Bcf); expansionoftheworkinggascapacityoffourofthefiveauthorizednaturalgasstoragecaverns (CavernNos.25)from10Bcfto12Bcf; restatingthebasegasandtotalcapacitiesofCavernNo.1from1.6Bcfbasegasand9.6Bcftotal capacityto2.2Bcfbasegasand10.2Bcftotalcapacity; constructextensionsoftheexistingnaturalgas,rawwaterandbrinepipelinesystemsandassociated utilitycorridors,inordertolinkproposedCavernNos.6and7toPPECsexistingnaturalgas,raw waterandbrinepipelinesystems; constructing,operateandmaintain2.5milesof24/20/16inchdiameterbrinedisposalpipeline; installtwo5,750horsepower(hp)compressorunitstotaling11,500hpinanexpansionofthecurrently authorizedelectriccompressorbuilding;and increaseddeliveries/receiptsattwonaturalgaspipelinedeliverypoints. 7.EnvironmentalImpactConclusions: CategoricalExclusion DeficiencyLetterRequired EnvironmentNotInvolved EA/EISRequired XEnvironmentComplete NoNOIRequired (justificationattached) NOIRequired 8.EnvironmentalConsiderationsorComments: Theenvironmentalassessmentisattached. Preparedby:EricJ.Tomasi Date:3/15/2010 ApprovedbyBranchChief:LonnieLister Date:3/17/2011 Distribution: BranchFiles DPC OGC BranchAnalyst ii FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Phase III Expansion Project Environmental Assessment PinePrairieEnergyCenter,LLC DocketNo.CP111000 March 2011 PhaseIIIExpansionProject PinePrairieEnergyCenter,LLP CP111000 Section Page A. PROPOSEDACTION 1 1 PurposeandNeed 1 2 PublicReviewandComment 1 3 ProposedFacilities 2 4 NonjurisdictionalFacilities 3 5 LandRequirements 3 6 FuturePlansandAbandonment 3 7 PermitsRequired 3 8 Construction,OperationandMaintenanceProcedures 3 B. ENVIRONMENTALANALYSIS 9 1. GeologyandSoils 9 1.1 Geology 9 1.2 Soils 11 2 WaterResources,Fisheries,andWetlands 11 2.1 Groundwater 11 2.2 PublicandPrivateWellsandNaturalSprings 12 2.3 SurfaceWaterResources 15 2.4 Fisheries 17 2.5 Wetlands 19 3. VegetationandWildlife 20 3.1 Vegetation 20 3.2 Wildli