[Federal Register: June 20, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 117)]
[Notices]
[Page 35422-35423]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn05-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. CP03-75-002]
Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare An
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Freeport LNG Development,
L.P.'s Amended Freeport LNG (Pipeline) Project and Request for Comments
on Environmental Issues
June 13, 2005.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of Freeport LNG Development, L.P.'s
(Freeport LNG) proposal to amend its authorization for its Freeport LNG
Project. Freeport LNG proposes to change the diameter of its previously
approved pipeline from 36 inches to 42 inches. The larger pipeline
would use the same right-of-way and workspaces as the previously
approved route from Quintana Island to Stratton Ridge in Brazoria
County, Texas. Freeport LNG is not requesting any additional work areas
for the construction of the larger pipeline.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will
be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Please note that the scoping period will close
on July 13, 2005.
This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners;
federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC website (http://www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).
Background
In the Commission's June 18, 2004 Order, Freeport LNG was
authorized to construct and operate a 9.6 mile, 36-inch-diameter
pipeline and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. At this time the
authorized LNG terminal is under construction. Pipeline construction is
planned to start in December 2005.
Freeport LNG filed its original application on March 28, 2003. At
that time Freeport LNG did not foresee a potential for additional
customer demand. Since the project was authorized by the Commission
other customers have expressed interest in using the LNG facility to
import natural gas. Freeport proposes to meet this increased demand by
expanding its authorized facilities. The proposal under consideration
in this docket is only Freeport LNG's proposal to increase the diameter
of its outlet pipeline from 36 inches to 42 inches.\1\
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\1\ Freeport LNG has also filed an application to expand the LNG
terminal in Docket No. CP05-361-000. This application will be the
focus of a separate environment review and an NOI for this project
will be issued in the near future.
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We are looking at the increased pipeline diameter separately from
the proposed expansion of the LNG terminal for several reasons. First,
since the larger pipeline would be constructed in the same footprint as
the previously authorized pipeline it appears that there would be no
additional environmental impact from that described in the
environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared for the original Freeport
LNG Project. Second, although the increase in diameter would benefit
future expansion, it would also benefit the already authorized
terminal. The increase in diameter would provide Freeport LNG with more
operational flexibility by maintaining higher delivery pressures at the
Stratton Ridge delivery point at the terminus of the line. Staff
estimates that the increase in pipe diameter would increase delivery
pressures at the Stratton Ridge delivery point by as much as 13
percent. Higher delivery pressures at the Stratton Ridge delivery would
enable Freeport LNG to respond to larger hourly swings in demand on its
pipeline system. Finally, there is a timing issue. In order to meet the
in-service date for the authorized project, construction of the
pipeline must start in December 2005. If the authorized 36-inch-
diameter pipeline is installed and the Commission decides to approve
the expansion of the terminal a second pipeline would need to be
installed to meet the volume requirements of the expansion. This would
result in increased environmental impact. If the Commission decides not
to approve the expansion the 42-inch-diameter pipeline would continue
to be used for the existing customers.
The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)
502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the
last page of this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the 42-inch-diameter pipeline would disturb the
same 87.9 acres of land that would have been disturbed by the
previously approved 36-inch-diameter pipeline. Following construction,
about 37.3 acres would be maintained as permanent right-of-way. The
remaining 50.6 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to
its former use.
[[Page 35423]]
The EA Process
We \3\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the Commission to take
into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us to discover and
address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is
referred to as ``scoping''. The main goal of the scoping process is to
focus the analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By
this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff requests public comments on
the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments received are
considered during the preparation of the EA. By this notice, we are
also asking federal, state, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. Agencies that would
like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for
filing comments below.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission.
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\3\ ''We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues
Since the proposed increase in pipeline diameter would not result
in any environmental impacts that were not described in the Freeport
LNG Environmental Impact Statement, in the EA, we will summarized the
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation
of the project. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to
increasing the diameter of the pipeline.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission.
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are
received in time and properly recorded:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 2.
Reference Docket Number CP03-75-002.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before July 13, 2005.
Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic
filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding.
See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's
Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and the
link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments, you will need
to create and account which can be created on-line.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process.
Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of
case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors.
Likewise, each intervenor must send one electronic copy (using the
Commission's eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to the
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. If
you want to become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene
according to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214, see Appendix 2).\4\ Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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\4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing
comments electronically.
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Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor
status to have your environmental comments considered.
Environmental Mailing List
If you wish to remain on our environmental mailing list, please
return the Information Request Form included in Appendix 2. If you do
not return this form, you will be removed from our mailing list.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet website (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on
the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket
number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be
sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or
toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TYY, contact (202) 502-8659. The
eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal documents
issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to
the documents. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-3147 Filed 6-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P