[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68347-68350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27991]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF10-24-000]
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, and Sabine Pass LNG, L.P.; Notice
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Sabine
Pass Liquefaction Project and Request for Comments on Environmental
Issues
October 29, 2010.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Sabine Pass Liquefaction
Project (Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, and Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. (collectively
referred to as Sabine Pass) in Cameron County, Louisiana. This EA will
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine
whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity.
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the project. Your input during the scoping process will
help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in
the EA. The Commission staff will also use the scoping process to help
determine whether preparation of an environmental impact statement
(EIS) is more appropriate for this Project based upon the potential
significance of the anticipated levels of impact. Please note that the
scoping period will close on November 29, 2010. This is not your only
public input opportunity; please refer to the Environmental Review
Process flow chart in Appendix 1.\1\
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\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to
all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
http://www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' 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.
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This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this Project. 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.
Involvement of U.S. Department of Energy
The FERC is the lead federal agency in preparation of an EA that
will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy (DOE)
has agreed to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of
the EA to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities. DOE proposes to authorize
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC to export liquefied natural gas (LNG)
from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal (SPLNG Terminal) if DOE determines
that such export is in the public interest.
The DOE must meet its obligation under section 3 of the Natural Gas
Act of 1938, as amended (NGA), to authorize the import and export of
natural gas,
[[Page 68348]]
including LNG, unless it finds that the proposed import or export will
not be consistent with the public interest. The purpose and need for
DOE action is to respond to the September 7, 2010, application filed
with DOE (FE Docket No. 10-111-LNG) by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC,
in conjunction with the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project. Sabine Pass
Liquefaction, LLC has applied to DOE for blanket authorization to
export up to 16 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of domestic
natural gas as LNG for a 20-year period, commencing the earlier of the
date of first export or five years from the date of issuance of the
requested authorization, from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal to any
country: (1) With which the United States does not have a free trade
agreement requiring the national treatment for trade in natural gas and
LNG; (2) that has, or in the future develops, the capacity to import
LNG; and (3) with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy.
Summary of the Planned Project Before FERC
Sabine Pass plans to add natural gas liquefaction and exportation
capabilities to the existing Sabine Pass LNG Import Terminal in Cameron
Parish, Louisiana. The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project would consist
of the construction and installation of facilities to be used for the
liquefaction and exportation of natural gas. All Project facilities
would be constructed and operated within the existing 853-acre SPLNG
Terminal Site. Sabine Pass plans to construct the Project in two
stages, with anticipated in-service starting in January 2015.
The Project would be capable of processing an average of
approximately 2.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of pipeline
quality natural gas from the Creole Trail Pipeline, which interconnects
with the SPLNG Terminal. Sabine Pass would liquefy the natural gas,
store the LNG, and export approximately 16 mtpa of LNG via LNG
carriers.
According to Sabine Pass, its Project would improve the outlook for
domestic natural gas production, owing to drilling productivity gains
that have enabled rapid growth in supplies from unconventional, and
particularly shale, gas-bearing formations in the United States. The
exportation of LNG would provide a market solution to allow the further
deliberate development of these sources of natural gas.
More specifically, the Project would consist of the following
facilities:
Four LNG liquefaction trains (each train contains gas
treatment facilities, six gas turbine-driven refrigerant compressors,
waste heat recovery systems, induced draft air coolers, fire and gas
detection and safety systems, control systems, and associated
infrastructure);
Additional power generation (including up to two gas
turbine-driven generators, transformers, and other electrical
accessories to supplement existing onsite power generation);
Other infrastructure and modifications (including storage
tanks for propane and ethylene refrigerants and the amine make up,
replacement of in-tank LNG pumps and piping modifications to increase
flow capacity and facilitate loading of LNG carriers, impoundments for
the liquefaction trains, flares, recycle boil-off gas compressors,
potable water, service water, and demineralized water systems); and
New and remodeled buildings.
In addition, a LNG storage tank and impoundment that were
previously authorized under FERC Docket CP05-396-000 but not built
would be constructed to provide additional LNG storage for the Project.
The general location of the Project facilities is shown in Appendix
2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 243
acres of land. Following construction, about 203 acres would be
maintained for permanent operation of the Project's facilities; the
remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to revert to former
uses. All planned activities would occur within the existing 853-acre
SPLNG Terminal site.
The EA Process
NEPA 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 \2\ 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, the Commission requests
public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All
comments received will be considered during the preparation of the EA.
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\2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the planned Project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
water resources and fisheries;
floodplains and wetlands;
vegetation and wildlife;
endangered and threatened species;
socioeconomics;
land use;
cultural resources;
air quality and noise; and
public safety.
We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned Project
or portions of the Project, including the no action alternative, and
make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various
resource areas.
Although no formal application has been filed, we have already
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's Pre-filing Process.
The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage early involvement
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC. As part of our pre-filing review,
we have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss
their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
In addition, representatives from FERC participated in the public open
house sponsored by Sabine Pass in the Project area in September 2010 to
explain the Environmental Review Process to interested stakeholders.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA.
If the Commission staff determines the preparation of an EA is
appropriate, the EA will be placed in the public record and be
published and distributed to the public. A comment period will be
allotted when the EA is noticed. We will consider all comments on the
EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure your
comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in
the Public Participation section beginning on page 6.
With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments
provided under the Public Participation section of this notice.
Currently, the DOE has expressed its intention to participate as a
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to
[[Page 68349]]
satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.
Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), and to solicit
their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian
tribes, and the public on the Project's potential effects on historic
properties.\3\ We will define the project-specific Area of Potential
Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) as the Project is
further developed. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a
minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples
include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards,
compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this Project will
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\3\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Historic
properties are defined in those regulations as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register for Historic
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and
the environmental information provided by Sabine Pass. This preliminary
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
Floodplains;
Socioeconomics;
Air quality; and
Public safety.
Notice of Floodplain Involvement
Because the proposed Project may involve actions in floodplains, in
accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1022,
Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review
Requirements, the EA will include a floodplain assessment as
appropriate, and a floodplain statement of findings will be included in
any DOE finding of no significant impact.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific
your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send your comments so
that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before November 29,
2010.
For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the
Project docket number PF10-24-000 with your submission. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert eFiling staff
available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected].
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an
easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments
on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling you
can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a
file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an
account by clicking on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the
type of filing you are making. A comment on a particular project is
considered a ``Comment on a Filing''; or
(3) You may mail a paper copy of your comments to the Commission at
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.
Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the Project. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
planned Project.
When an EA is published for distribution, copies will be sent to
the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you
would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (Appendix 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Sabine Pass files its application with the Commission, you may
want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are
included in the User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the
Commission's Web site. Please note that the Commission will not accept
requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a
formal application for the Project is filed with the Commission.
Additional Information
Additional information about the Project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site (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
(i.e., PF10-24). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range.
For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY,
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 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
[[Page 68350]]
summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx
along with other related information.
Finally, Sabine Pass has established a Web site for this Project at
http://www.cheniere.com. The Web site includes a Project overview,
timeline, environmental information, and answers to frequently asked
questions. You can also request additional information by contacting
Patricia Outtrim at Sabine Pass via e-mail at [email protected]
or by calling (713) 375-5212.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-27991 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P