80 FR 34452 - Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Brazoria County, TX; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement on a Proposed Right-of-Way Permit Application for Pipelines Crossing the Refuge

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 115 (June 16, 2015)

Page Range		34452-34453
FR Document		2015-14714

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are in the process of considering an application from Praxair, Inc. (Praxair) for a right-of-way (ROW) permit to construct, operate, and maintain two pipelines within an existing maintained pipeline corridor crossing the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Brazoria County, Texas. The Service requests comments on environmental issues and announces the opening of the scoping process, which will inform the decision to prepare either an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. This notice provides an opportunity for input from other Federal and State agencies, local government, Native American Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, the public, and other interested parties on the scope of the NEPA analysis, pertinent issues which should be addressed, and the alternatives to be analyzed.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 115 (Tuesday, June 16, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 115 (Tuesday, June 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34452-34453]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14714]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-R-2015-N042; FXRS12610200000-156-FF02R06000]


Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Brazoria County, TX; Notice of 
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental 
Impact Statement on a Proposed Right-of-Way Permit Application for 
Pipelines Crossing the Refuge

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are in the 
process of considering an application from Praxair, Inc. (Praxair) for 
a right-of-way (ROW) permit to construct, operate, and maintain two 
pipelines within an existing maintained pipeline corridor crossing the 
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Brazoria County, Texas. The 
Service requests comments on environmental issues and announces the 
opening of the scoping process, which will inform the decision to 
prepare either an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact 
statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended. This notice provides an opportunity for 
input from other Federal and State agencies, local government, Native 
American Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, the public, and other 
interested parties on the scope of the NEPA analysis, pertinent issues 
which should be addressed, and the alternatives to be analyzed.

DATES: To ensure consideration of written comments on the issues and 
possible alternatives to be addressed in the documents, they must be 
received no later than July 16, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and requests for further information 
may be submitted by U.S. mail to Project Leader, Texas Mid-coast NWR 
Complex, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2547 County Road 316, 
Brazoria, TX 77422; by email at jennifer_sanchez@fws.gov; by phone at 
(979) 964-4011; or by fax to (979) 964-4021.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are in the process of considering an 
application from Praxair, Inc. (Praxair) for a right-of-way (ROW) 
permit to construct, operate, and maintain a 24-inch carbon steel 
pipeline for transport of nitrogen, and a 14-inch carbon steel pipeline 
for transport of hydrogen, within an existing maintained 4.25-mile 
pipeline corridor crossing the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) 
in Brazoria County, Texas. We request comments on environmental issues 
and announce the opening of the scoping process, which will inform our 
decision to prepare either an environmental assessment (EA) or 
environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, in conjunction 
with preparation of a plan of operations for the proposed new 
pipelines. The decision to initially prepare an EA or EIS will be, in 
part, contingent on the complexity of issues identified during, and 
following, the scoping phase of the NEPA process.
    This notice provides an opportunity for input from other Federal 
and State agencies, local government, Native American Tribes, 
nongovernmental organizations, the public, and other interested parties 
on the scope of the NEPA analysis, pertinent issues which should be 
addressed, and the alternatives to be analyzed. The NEPA document will 
include an analysis of environmental consequences of the proposed 
action and alternatives, including direct and indirect impacts, as well 
as an assessment of the overall cumulative effects resulting from the 
incremental impact of the proposed action when added to other past, 
present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. The NEPA document 
will also include proposed measures for avoiding or minimizing adverse 
impacts to refuge resources during construction and operations, as well 
as a proposal for compensatory mitigation for replacement of lost 
habitat values through land conservation and protection as part of the 
NWR. We will use this NEPA document in our decision-making process to 
determine whether the proposed new pipelines are an appropriate and 
compatible use of lands in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), 
as well as whether processing of the application for a Pipeline ROW 
Permit should proceed to the next step. The public will also have a 
chance to review and comment on the draft EA or EIS when it is 
available (a notice of availability will be published in the Federal 
Register).

[[Page 34453]]

Proposed Project

    Praxair proposes to use a combination of conventional, open 
trenching, and subsurface Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) in its 
construction methods to cross the Refuge lands. The proposed two 
pipelines would be constructed at the same time, near the center of an 
existing maintained 4.25-mile pipeline corridor and between existing 
pipelines. The existing pipeline corridor pre-dates Fish and Wildlife 
Service (FWS) ownership of the land in fee title, and extends from 
Farm-to-Market Road 2004 on the northeast end to Austin Bayou on the 
southwest end. Construction of the proposed pipelines would require a 
100-foot-wide temporary right-of-way, including 70 feet of temporary 
workspace used during construction activities, and a 30-foot-wide 
right-of-way after construction is complete. Praxair is working with 
Service staff in the development of its proposed plan of operations in 
order to determine construction methods and develop measures to avoid 
or minimize potential adverse impacts during construction activities. 
However, some impacts are unavoidable and can reasonably be anticipated 
during pipeline construction, operations, and maintenance activities. 
Conventional trenching for simultaneous construction of the proposed 
two pipelines would require excavation of an open trench approximately 
5.5 to 6 feet deep, 8 feet wide at the bottom, and 19 feet wide at the 
surface, with an approximately 45-degree slope on the sides, depending 
on soil conditions. Workspace required for HDD sites would be 300 feet 
by 300 feet.
    Other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions 
occurring on the Brazoria NWR that could contribute to cumulative 
impacts include: (1) Construction of a 12-inch propane pipeline within 
the same corridor, completed in May 2014; (2) construction of a 12-inch 
ethane pipeline within the same corridor, tentatively scheduled to 
begin May 2015; (3) a 3-D seismic survey which will encompass the 
entire refuge, tentatively scheduled to begin second or third quarter 
of 2016. These actions have been previously approved and permitted.

Refuge Background

    The Refuge System is the only system of federally owned lands 
managed chiefly for the conservation of wildlife. Most national 
wildlife refuges are strategically located along major bird migration 
corridors, ensuring that ducks, geese, and songbirds have rest stops on 
their annual migrations. The Refuge System is the world's largest 
collection of lands and waters set aside specifically for the 
conservation of wildlife and ecosystem protection.
    The mission of the Refuge System is ``to administer a national 
network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where 
appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and 
their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and 
future generations of Americans'' (National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-57).
    The Brazoria NWR encompasses approximately 44,500 acres and 
includes the largest contiguous salt marsh and coastal prairie habitats 
and managed fresh water wetlands on the Texas Mid-coast NWR Complex 
(Complex). The Complex is comprised of three refuges: Brazoria NWR, San 
Bernard NWR, and Big Boggy NWR, which consist of a vital complex of 
salt and freshwater marshes, sloughs, ponds, coastal prairies, and 
bottomland hardwood forests that provide habitat for a wide variety of 
resident and migratory wildlife.
    The goals established for the Complex include the following:
     To contribute to conservation efforts and to foster the 
ecological integrity of the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion 
through proven and innovative management practices across the Complex.
     To conserve, restore, enhance, and protect Complex 
habitats by implementing appropriate management programs to benefit 
native flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species and 
other species of concern.
     To protect, maintain, and enhance populations of migratory 
birds and resident fish and wildlife, including Federal and State 
threatened and endangered species.
     To develop and implement quality wildlife-dependent 
recreation programs that are compatible with each refuge's purposes and 
foster enjoyment and understanding of the Complex's unique wildlife and 
plant communities.
     To provide administrative and public use facilities needed 
to carry out each refuge's purposes and meet management objectives.

Public Involvement

    The public's ideas and comments are an important part of the 
planning process, and we invite public participation. We encourage the 
public to provide comments, which will help us determine the issues and 
formulate alternatives. We will be accepting comments via U.S. mail, 
email, and telephone during the open comment period (see DATES and 
ADDRESSES), as well as through personal contacts throughout the 
planning process. However, written comments are preferred.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authorities

    NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations; and 
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge 
Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act).

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Joy Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-14714 Filed 6-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

34452 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 115 / Tuesday, June 16, 2015 / Notices

Appendix. The National Infrastructure XII. Closing Remarks SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are in
Advisory Council shall provide the the process of considering an
Nancy J. Wong,
President, through the Secretary of application from Praxair, Inc. (Praxair)
Designated Federal Officer for the National
Homeland Security, with advice on the Infrastructure Advisory Council. for a right-of-way (ROW) permit to
security and resilience of the Nation’s construct, operate, and maintain a 24-
[FR Doc. 2015–14673 Filed 6–15–15; 8:45 am]
critical infrastructure sectors. The NIAC inch carbon steel pipeline for transport
BILLING CODE 9110–9P–P
will meet to discuss issues relevant to of nitrogen, and a 14-inch carbon steel
critical infrastructure security and pipeline for transport of hydrogen,
resilience as directed by the President. within an existing maintained 4.25-mile
The meeting will commence at 1:30 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
pipeline corridor crossing the Brazoria
p.m. EDT. At this meeting, the Council National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in
Fish and Wildlife Service
will receive an unclassified briefing Brazoria County, Texas. We request
from government officials on the [FWS–R2–R–2015–N042; comments on environmental issues and
implementation progress of FXRS12610200000–156–FF02R06000]
announce the opening of the scoping
recommendations in the Council’s 2012 process, which will inform our decision
report on ‘‘Intelligence Information Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge,
Brazoria County, TX; Notice of Intent to prepare either an environmental
Sharing.’’ The Council will receive and assessment (EA) or environmental
To Prepare an Environmental
deliberate on the Transportation impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the
Assessment or an Environmental
Resiliency Working Group draft report National Environmental Policy Act
Impact Statement on a Proposed
and recommendations. A government (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, in
Right-of-Way Permit Application for
official will provide the Council a conjunction with preparation of a plan
Pipelines Crossing the Refuge
briefing on climate impacts to of operations for the proposed new
infrastructure systems to support the AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, pipelines. The decision to initially
development of the council’s new study Interior. prepare an EA or EIS will be, in part,
(to be presented by senior Federal ACTION: Notice of intent; request for contingent on the complexity of issues
government representatives following comments. identified during, and following, the
the presentation) to provide
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and scoping phase of the NEPA process.
recommendations on improving
infrastructure security and resilience to Wildlife Service (Service), are in the This notice provides an opportunity
climate-related hazards. Finally, the process of considering an application for input from other Federal and State
Administration will provide the Council from Praxair, Inc. (Praxair) for a right-of- agencies, local government, Native
with additional new taskings for the way (ROW) permit to construct, operate, American Tribes, nongovernmental
coming year. All presentations and the and maintain two pipelines within an organizations, the public, and other
draft transportation resilience report existing maintained pipeline corridor interested parties on the scope of the
will be posted no later than one week crossing the Brazoria National Wildlife NEPA analysis, pertinent issues which
prior to the meeting on the Council’s Refuge (NWR) in Brazoria County, should be addressed, and the
public Web page—www.dhs.gov/NIAC, Texas. The Service requests comments alternatives to be analyzed. The NEPA
in the section titled, ‘‘Meeting on environmental issues and announces document will include an analysis of
Resources’’. the opening of the scoping process, environmental consequences of the
which will inform the decision to proposed action and alternatives,
Public Meeting Agenda prepare either an environmental including direct and indirect impacts, as
I. Opening of Meeting assessment (EA) or environmental well as an assessment of the overall
II. Roll Call of Members impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the cumulative effects resulting from the
III. Opening Remarks and Introductions National Environmental Policy Act incremental impact of the proposed
IV. Approval of March 20, 2015 Meeting (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. This action when added to other past,
Minutes notice provides an opportunity for input present, and reasonably foreseeable
V. Government Progress Report on 2012 from other Federal and State agencies, future actions. The NEPA document
Intelligence Information Sharing local government, Native American will also include proposed measures for
Recommendations Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, avoiding or minimizing adverse impacts
VI. Working Group Presentation on the public, and other interested parties to refuge resources during construction
Transportation Resilience Report on the scope of the NEPA analysis, and operations, as well as a proposal for
and Recommendations pertinent issues which should be compensatory mitigation for
VII. Public Comment: Topics Limited to addressed, and the alternatives to be replacement of lost habitat values
Agenda Topics and Previously analyzed. through land conservation and
Issued National Infrastructure DATES: To ensure consideration of protection as part of the NWR. We will
Advisory Council Studies and written comments on the issues and use this NEPA document in our
Recommendations possible alternatives to be addressed in decision-making process to determine
VIII. Discussion and Deliberation on the the documents, they must be received whether the proposed new pipelines are
Transportation Resilience Report no later than July 16, 2015. an appropriate and compatible use of
and Recommendations ADDRESSES: Comments, questions, and lands in the National Wildlife Refuge
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

IX. Government Presentation on Climate requests for further information may be System (NWRS), as well as whether
Impacts to Infrastructure Systems submitted by U.S. mail to Project processing of the application for a
X. Discussion and Recommendations on Leader, Texas Mid-coast NWR Complex, Pipeline ROW Permit should proceed to
Scope of Climate Impact Topic of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2547 the next step. The public will also have
Study County Road 316, Brazoria, TX 77422; a chance to review and comment on the
XI. Discussion of Additional by email at jennifer_sanchez@fws.gov; draft EA or EIS when it is available (a
Administration-Identified Taskings by phone at (979) 964–4011; or by fax notice of availability will be published
for Coming Year to (979) 964–4021. in the Federal Register).

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Jun 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16JNN1.SGM 16JNN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 115 / Tuesday, June 16, 2015 / Notices 34453

Proposed Project collection of lands and waters set aside telephone during the open comment
Praxair proposes to use a combination specifically for the conservation of period (see DATES and ADDRESSES), as
of conventional, open trenching, and wildlife and ecosystem protection. well as through personal contacts
subsurface Horizontal Directional The mission of the Refuge System is throughout the planning process.
Drilling (HDD) in its construction ‘‘to administer a national network of However, written comments are
methods to cross the Refuge lands. The lands and waters for the conservation, preferred.
proposed two pipelines would be management and, where appropriate,
restoration of the fish, wildlife, and Public Availability of Comments
constructed at the same time, near the
plant resources and their habitats Before including your address, phone
center of an existing maintained 4.25-
within the United States for the benefit number, email address, or other
mile pipeline corridor and between
of present and future generations of personal identifying information in your
existing pipelines. The existing pipeline
Americans’’ (National Wildlife Refuge comment, you should be aware that
corridor pre-dates Fish and Wildlife
System Improvement Act of 1997, Pub. your entire comment—including your
Service (FWS) ownership of the land in
L. 105–57). personal identifying information—may
fee title, and extends from Farm-to-
The Brazoria NWR encompasses be made publicly available at any time.
Market Road 2004 on the northeast end
approximately 44,500 acres and While you can ask us in your comment
to Austin Bayou on the southwest end.
includes the largest contiguous salt to withhold your personal identifying
Construction of the proposed pipelines
marsh and coastal prairie habitats and information from public review, we
would require a 100-foot-wide
managed fresh water wetlands on the cannot guarantee that we will be able to
temporary right-of-way, including 70
Texas Mid-coast NWR Complex do so.
feet of temporary workspace used
(Complex). The Complex is comprised
during construction activities, and a 30- Authorities
of three refuges: Brazoria NWR, San
foot-wide right-of-way after construction NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its
Bernard NWR, and Big Boggy NWR,
is complete. Praxair is working with implementing regulations; and the
which consist of a vital complex of salt
Service staff in the development of its National Wildlife Refuge System
and freshwater marshes, sloughs, ponds,
proposed plan of operations in order to Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge
coastal prairies, and bottomland
determine construction methods and Administration Act), as amended by the
hardwood forests that provide habitat
develop measures to avoid or minimize National Wildlife Refuge System
for a wide variety of resident and
potential adverse impacts during Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge
migratory wildlife.
construction activities. However, some The goals established for the Complex Improvement Act).
impacts are unavoidable and can include the following:
reasonably be anticipated during Dated: June 5, 2015.
• To contribute to conservation
pipeline construction, operations, and Joy Nicholopoulos,
efforts and to foster the ecological
maintenance activities. Conventional Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region,
integrity of the Gulf Coast Prairies and
trenching for simultaneous construction U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Marshes Ecoregion through proven and
of the proposed two pipelines would innovative management practices across [FR Doc. 2015–14714 Filed 6–15–15; 8:45 am]
require excavation of an open trench the Complex. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
approximately 5.5 to 6 feet deep, 8 feet • To conserve, restore, enhance, and
wide at the bottom, and 19 feet wide at protect Complex habitats by
the surface, with an approximately 45- implementing appropriate management DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
degree slope on the sides, depending on programs to benefit native flora and
soil conditions. Workspace required for Bureau of Land Management
fauna, including threatened and
HDD sites would be 300 feet by 300 feet. endangered species and other species of [LLWO35000.L14300000.FR0000]
Other past, present, and reasonably concern.
foreseeable future actions occurring on • To protect, maintain, and enhance Renewal of Approved Information
the Brazoria NWR that could contribute populations of migratory birds and Collection; OMB Control No. 1004–
to cumulative impacts include: (1) resident fish and wildlife, including 0029
Construction of a 12-inch propane Federal and State threatened and AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
pipeline within the same corridor, endangered species. Interior.
completed in May 2014; (2) construction • To develop and implement quality
ACTION: 60-Day Notice and Request for
of a 12-inch ethane pipeline within the wildlife-dependent recreation programs
same corridor, tentatively scheduled to Comments.
that are compatible with each refuge’s
begin May 2015; (3) a 3–D seismic purposes and foster enjoyment and SUMMARY: In compliance with the
survey which will encompass the entire understanding of the Complex’s unique Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of
refuge, tentatively scheduled to begin wildlife and plant communities. Land Management (BLM) invites public
second or third quarter of 2016. These • To provide administrative and comments on, and plans to request
actions have been previously approved public use facilities needed to carry out approval to continue, the collection of
and permitted. each refuge’s purposes and meet information from applicants for a land
management objectives. patent under the Color-of-Title Act. The
Refuge Background
Public Involvement Office of Management and Budget
The Refuge System is the only system
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

(OMB) has assigned control number
of federally owned lands managed The public’s ideas and comments are
1004–0029 to this information
chiefly for the conservation of wildlife. an important part of the planning
collection.
Most national wildlife refuges are process, and we invite public
strategically located along major bird participation. We encourage the public DATES:Submit comments on the
migration corridors, ensuring that to provide comments, which will help proposed information collection by
ducks, geese, and songbirds have rest us determine the issues and formulate August 17, 2015.
stops on their annual migrations. The alternatives. We will be accepting ADDRESSES: Comments may be
Refuge System is the world’s largest comments via U.S. mail, email, and submitted by mail, fax, or electronic

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:18 Jun 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16JNN1.SGM 16JNN1

Document Created: 2018-02-22 10:23:03
Document Modified: 2018-02-22 10:23:03

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of intent; request for comments.
Dates		To ensure consideration of written comments on the issues and
FR Citation		80 FR 34452

80 FR 34452 - Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Brazoria County, TX; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement on a Proposed Right-of-Way Permit Application for Pipelines Crossing the Refuge

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 115 (June 16, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service