80_FR_62796 80 FR 62596 - Deepwater Port License Application: Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Port Ambrose Deepwater Port; Final Application Public Hearing and Final Environmental Impact Statement

80 FR 62596 - Deepwater Port License Application: Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Port Ambrose Deepwater Port; Final Application Public Hearing and Final Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 200 (October 16, 2015)

Page Range62596-62598
FR Document2015-25727

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announce: (1) The schedule and locations of public hearings; and (2) the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port license application for the importation of natural gas. The Port Ambrose application describes an offshore natural gas deepwater port facility that would be located 16.1 nautical miles southeast of Jones Beach, New York, 24.9 nautical miles east of Long Branch, New Jersey, and 27.1 nautical miles from the entrance to New York Harbor in a water depth of approximately 103 feet. The FEIS complies with the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) (DWPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 to 1508). MARAD and the USCG request public comments on the FEIS and the application. Publication of this notice begins a 45-day comment period, requests public participation in the process, provides information on how to participate in the process and announces informational open houses and public hearings in New York and New Jersey. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the DWPA, both New Jersey and New York have been designated as Adjacent Coastal States (ACS) for this application. Please note that this application is only for the construction and operation of a deepwater port that could only be used as a natural gas import facility. The considerable technical, operational and environmental differences between import and export operations for natural gas deepwater ports is such that any licensed deepwater port facility that proposed to convert from import to export operations would be required to submit a new license application (including application fee) and conform to all licensing requirements and regulations in effect at such time of application. In addition to payment of the application fee, licensing requirements include, but are not limited to, completion of an extensive environmental impact assessment which would include public participation and a financial responsibility review which would include public participation.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62596-62598]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25727]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket Number USCG-2013-0363]


Deepwater Port License Application: Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Port 
Ambrose Deepwater Port; Final Application Public Hearing and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public hearing; request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard 
(USCG) announce: (1) The schedule and locations of public hearings; and 
(2) the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 
for the Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas 
Deepwater Port license application for the importation of natural gas.
    The Port Ambrose application describes an offshore natural gas 
deepwater port facility that would be located 16.1 nautical miles 
southeast of Jones Beach, New York, 24.9 nautical miles east of Long 
Branch, New Jersey, and 27.1 nautical miles from the entrance to New 
York Harbor in a water depth of approximately 103 feet. The FEIS 
complies with the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended (33 U.S.C. 
1501 et seq.) (DWPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
(42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), as implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 to 1508). MARAD and the USCG request 
public comments on the FEIS and the application.
    Publication of this notice begins a 45-day comment period, requests 
public participation in the process, provides information on how to 
participate in the process and announces informational open houses and 
public hearings in New York and New Jersey. Pursuant to the criteria 
provided in the DWPA, both New Jersey and New York have been designated 
as Adjacent Coastal States (ACS) for this application.
    Please note that this application is only for the construction and 
operation of a deepwater port that could only be used as a natural gas 
import facility. The considerable technical, operational and 
environmental differences between import and export operations for 
natural gas deepwater ports is such that any licensed deepwater port 
facility that proposed to convert from import to export operations 
would be required to submit a new license application (including 
application fee) and conform to all licensing requirements and 
regulations in effect at such time of application. In addition to 
payment of the application fee, licensing requirements include, but are 
not limited to, completion of an extensive environmental impact 
assessment which would include public participation and a financial 
responsibility review which would include public participation.

DATES: There will be a total of four public hearings held in connection 
with the application and the FEIS; two public hearings will be held in 
Long Beach, New York on November 2, 2015 and November 3, 2015, from 
6:00 to 10:00 p.m.; and two public hearings will be held in Eatontown, 
New Jersey on November 4, 2015 and November 5, 2015, from 6:00 to 10:00 
p.m. Each public hearing will be preceded by an open house from 4:30 to 
5:30 p.m. The public hearing may end later than the stated time, 
depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally, 
materials submitted in response to the request for comments must reach 
the Docket Management Facility as detailed below, by close of business 
Monday, November, 30, 2015, or 45 days after publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register whichever is later.
    Federal and State agencies must also submit comments, recommended 
conditions for licensing, or letters of no objection by Monday, 
November 30, 2015, or 45 days after publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register whichever is later. Also, within 45 days following the 
final hearing, on or prior to December 21, 2015, the Governor of New 
York and the Governor of New Jersey (ACS Governors) may approve, 
disapprove, or notify MARAD of inconsistencies with State programs 
relating to environmental protection, land and water use, and coastal 
zone management for which MARAD may ensure consistency by placing 
conditions on the license.
    MARAD must issue a Record of Decision (ROD) to approve, approve 
with conditions, or deny the deepwater port license application, within 
90 days following the final license hearing, on or prior to February 3, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: The open houses and public hearings in Long Beach, New York 
will be held at the Long Beach Hotel, 405 East Broadway, Long Beach, 
New York, 11561; phone 516-544-4444. Free street parking is available, 
and the parking lot at the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Long Beach Train 
Station, near Park Place and Park Avenue is available from 5:00 p.m. to 
5:00 a.m. The City of Long Beach operates local bus public 
transportation services between the LIRR Long Beach Train Station and 
the Long Beach Hotel. The open houses and public hearings in Eatontown, 
New Jersey will be held at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, 6 Industrial 
Way East, Eatontown, NJ 07724; phone 732-542-6500. Free parking is 
available on site at the hotel.
    The FEIS, license application, comments, supporting information and 
other associated documentation are available for viewing at the Federal 
Docket Management System (FDMS) Web site: http://www.regulations.gov 
under docket number USCG-2013-0363. The FEIS is also available at the 
following public libraries: Oceanside Library, 30 Davison Avenue, 
Oceanside, NY 11572; phone 516-766-2360; Long Beach Public Library, 111 
W Park Ave, Long Beach, NY 11561; phone 516-432-7200; Long Branch Free 
Public Library, 328 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740; phone 732-222-
3900; and Queens Library, 889-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11432; 
phone 718-990-0700.
    Docket submissions for USCG-2013-0363 should be addressed to: 
Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West 
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    The Federal Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered 
submissions and makes docket contents available for public inspection 
and copying at this address between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Facility telephone number 
is 202-366-

[[Page 62597]]

9329, fax number is 202-493-2251, and the Web site for electronic 
submissions to the FDMS or for electronic access to docket contents is 
http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roddy Bachman, U.S. Coast Guard, 
telephone 202-372-1451, email: [email protected], or Ms. Yvette 
M. Fields, Maritime Administration, telephone 202-366-0926, email: 
[email protected]. For questions regarding the Docket, please call 
Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Hearing and Open House

    You are invited to learn about the proposed Port Ambrose Deepwater 
Port at one of the above noticed informational open houses, and to 
comment on the application and the environmental impact analysis 
contained in the FEIS at any of the above public hearings or directly 
to the docket. The open houses, public hearings and docket comments 
will be used by MARAD to inform the Maritime Administrator's decision 
making process, including the ROD and any conditions that may be placed 
on a subsequent license to own, construct and operate a deepwater port.
    Speakers may register upon arrival (registration by proxy is not 
authorized) and will be recognized in the following order: Elected 
officials, public agencies, individuals or groups in the order in which 
they registered. In order to accommodate all speakers, speaker time may 
be limited, hearing hours may be extended, or both. Speakers' 
transcribed remarks will be included in the public docket. Written 
material may also be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. 
Written material must include the author's name. We request attendees 
respect the hearing procedures in order to ensure a constructive 
hearing. Please do not bring signs or banners inside the hearing venue. 
The presiding officer will use his/her discretion to conduct the 
hearing in an orderly manner. In the interest of allowing all 
interested parties to speak, and because all comments that are 
received, both verbal and written, are included in the record and will 
be considered by MARAD before making a licensing decision, it is not 
necessary to sign up more than once to provide duplicate comments at 
subsequent meetings.
    Public hearing locations are wheelchair-accessible. However, 
attendees who require special assistance such as sign language 
interpretation or other reasonable accommodation, please notify the 
USCG at least five business days in advance. See FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT. Include contact information as well as information 
about specific needs.

Request for Comments

    We request public comments on the FEIS and the application. The 
public hearing is not the only opportunity you have to comment. In 
addition to, or in place of, attending a hearing, you may submit 
comments to the Federal Docket Management Facility during the public 
comment period. See DATES. We will consider all comments and material 
received during the comment period.
    Submissions should include:
     Docket number USCG-2013-0363.
     Your name and address.
    Submit comments or material using only one of the following 
methods:
     Electronic submission (preferred to expedite processing) 
to the FDMS, http://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax, mail, or hand delivery to the Federal Docket 
Management Facility. See ADDRESSES. Faxed or hand delivered submissions 
must be unbound, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, and suitable for 
copying and electronic scanning. If you mail your submission and want 
to confirm it reaches the Facility, include a stamped, self-addressed 
postcard or envelope.
    Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, 
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the FDMS Web site 
(http://www.regulations.gov) and will include any personal information 
you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it a public 
record. See Privacy Act. You may view docket submissions at the 
Department of Transportation Docket Management Facility or 
electronically on the FDMS Web site. See ADDRESSES.

Background

    Information about deepwater ports, DWPA, other applicable statutes, 
regulations governing deepwater port licensing, including the 
application review process and the receipt of the current application 
for the proposed Port Ambrose liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater 
port was published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2013, 78 FR 
36014. The ``Summary of the Application'' from that publication is 
reprinted below for your convenience. The Notice of Intent to Prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed action was 
published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2013, (78 FR 37878), and 
the Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the 
Federal Register on December 16, 2014, (79 FR 74808). The FEIS, 
application materials and associated comments and supporting 
information are available on the docket.

Proposed Action and Alternatives

    USCG and MARAD are co-lead Federal agencies for the preparation of 
the FEIS; MARAD is the Federal licensing agency (action agency). The 
proposed action requiring environmental review is the Federal licensing 
of the proposed deepwater port described in the ``Summary of the 
Application'' below. The alternatives to licensing the proposed port 
are: (1) Licensing with conditions (including conditions designed to 
mitigate environmental impact) and (2) denying the application, which, 
for purposes of environmental review, is the ``no-action'' alternative. 
These alternatives are more fully discussed in the FEIS. You can 
address any questions about the proposed action or the FEIS to USCG or 
MARAD project managers identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Summary of the Application

    Liberty Natural Gas, LLC is proposing to construct, own and operate 
a LNG deepwater port import facility, known as Port Ambrose, located in 
the New York Bight. The Port Ambrose facility will be located at a 
different proposed location and include a different design than the 
previous deepwater port license application submitted by Liberty 
Natural Gas, LLC in 2010. Port Ambrose would consist of two Submerged 
Turret Loading Buoys (STL Buoys) in Federal waters 16.1 nautical miles 
southeast of Jones Beach, New York, 24.9 nautical miles east of Long 
Branch, New Jersey and 27.1 nautical miles from the entrance to New 
York Harbor, in a water depth of approximately 103 feet.
    LNG would be delivered from purpose-built LNG regasification 
vessels (LNGRVs), vaporized on site and delivered through the STL 
Buoys, flexible riser/umbilical, subsea manifold and lateral pipelines 
to a buried 18.8 nautical mile subsea mainline connecting to the 
existing Transco Lower New York Bay Lateral in New York State waters 
2.2 nautical miles southwest of Long Beach, New York and 13.1 nautical 
miles east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The STL Buoys would be lowered to 
rest on a landing pad when not in use and would also include a suction 
anchor mooring array.
    STL Buoy 1 is located at Latitude: 40[deg]19'24.61'' N and 
Longitude: 73[deg]25'45.33'' W. STL Buoy 2 is located at Latitude: 
40[deg]20'09.26'' N and Longitude 73[deg]23'51.92'' W. The Port

[[Page 62598]]

components would fall in the following U.S. Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) lease blocks:
    Buoy 1 (6708, 6709, 6758); Buoy 2 (6709); Lateral 1 (6708); Lateral 
2 (6708, 6709); ``Y'' Assembly (6708); Mainline Pipeline (6708, 6658, 
6657, 6607, 6606, 6556, 6555, 6554, 6504 and 6503).
    The 145,000 cubic meter LNGRVs would have onboard closed-loop 
vaporization and metering and odorant capability. Each vessel would 
have three vaporization units capable of maximum send-out of 750 
million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) (maximum pipeline system 
flow rate is 660 MMscfd with two buoys) with annual average expected to 
be 400 MMscfd. The LNGRVs have been designed to use a ballast water 
cooling system that will entirely re-circulate onboard the vessel 
during Port operations, eliminating vessel discharges associated with 
regasification while at the Port. Deliveries through Port Ambrose would 
be focused during peak demand winter and summer months, and it is 
anticipated that approximately 45 deliveries will occur each year.
    As proposed, the LNGRVs would access the port inbound from the 
Hudson Canyon to Ambrose Traffic Lane and depart via the Ambrose to 
Nantucket Traffic Lane. MARAD and USCG are aware that Port Ambrose 
falls within the proposed area of interest for the Long Island--New 
York City Offshore Wind Collaborative wind energy project. This project 
has been acknowledged and considered in the cumulative impacts analysis 
section of the FEIS based on currently available information. If 
approved, the majority of the port and pipeline construction and 
installation would occur in 2017, with commissioning estimated to be in 
December 2018.
    In addition, pipelines and structures such as the STL Buoy moorings 
will require permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and 
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which are administered by the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Port Ambrose will also require 
permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the 
provisions of the Clean Air Act, as amended, and the Clean Water Act, 
as amended.
    The new pipeline is included in the NEPA review as part of the 
deepwater port application process. The EPA and the USACE, among 
others, are cooperating agencies (40 CFR 1501.6) and have assisted in 
development of the FEIS. See 40 CFR 1501.6. To the extent required, 
each agency will incorporate the FEIS into their permitting processes. 
Comments sent to the EPA or USACE will be incorporated in the USCG Port 
Ambrose docket and considered under this notice to ensure consistency 
with the NEPA Process.
    There have been some proposed project changes since the original 
Port Ambrose application was submitted, which were set forth in the 
Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS (DEIS). In summary, these 
include: (1) The original Application proposed a plowed mainline 
pipeline burial depth of three (3) feet to top of pipe. Pursuant to 
USACE requirements, the mainline pipeline is now proposed to be plow-
buried to seven (7) feet (4 feet to top of pipe), and for approximately 
three (3) miles within the Ambrose Anchorage Area, buried to 10 feet (7 
feet to top of pipe). The pipeline within the Ambrose Anchorage Area 
will then be backfilled and covered with three (3) feet of 8-inch rock 
to a point. Once the rock has been placed, gravelly sand will be 
deposited on top of the rock covered pipeline to restore the seabed to 
near its original seafloor bottom elevation; (2) the originally 
proposed impact driven mooring pile anchors are now proposed to be 
suction anchors; (3) the original port construction and commissioning 
was proposed to occur in 2015. This timetable has been amended to occur 
in 2018 (assuming license is approved and issued). Should a license be 
issued, the deepwater port would be designed, fabricated, constructed, 
commissioned, maintained, inspected and operated in accordance with 
applicable codes and standards.

Privacy Act

    The electronic form of all comments received into the FDMS can be 
searched by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). The DOT Privacy Act Statement can be 
viewed in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477).

    Authority:  The Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, 33 
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.; 49 CFR 1.93.
* * * * *

    Dated: October 5, 2015.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-25727 Filed 10-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P



                                                62596                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 200 / Friday, October 16, 2015 / Notices

                                                comments. Comments should also state                    MARAD and the USCG request public                     to December 21, 2015, the Governor of
                                                the Commenter’s interest in the waiver                  comments on the FEIS and the                          New York and the Governor of New
                                                application, and address the waiver                     application.                                          Jersey (ACS Governors) may approve,
                                                criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s                       Publication of this notice begins a 45-            disapprove, or notify MARAD of
                                                regulations at 46 CFR part 388.                         day comment period, requests public                   inconsistencies with State programs
                                                                                                        participation in the process, provides                relating to environmental protection,
                                                Privacy Act
                                                                                                        information on how to participate in the              land and water use, and coastal zone
                                                  Anyone is able to search the                          process and announces informational                   management for which MARAD may
                                                electronic form of all comments                         open houses and public hearings in                    ensure consistency by placing
                                                received into any of our dockets by the                 New York and New Jersey. Pursuant to                  conditions on the license.
                                                name of the individual submitting the                   the criteria provided in the DWPA, both                  MARAD must issue a Record of
                                                comment (or signing the comment, if                     New Jersey and New York have been                     Decision (ROD) to approve, approve
                                                submitted on behalf of an association,                  designated as Adjacent Coastal States                 with conditions, or deny the deepwater
                                                business, labor union, etc.). You may                   (ACS) for this application.                           port license application, within 90 days
                                                review DOT’s complete Privacy Act                          Please note that this application is               following the final license hearing, on or
                                                Statement in the Federal Register                       only for the construction and operation               prior to February 3, 2016.
                                                published on April 11, 2000 (Volume                     of a deepwater port that could only be                ADDRESSES: The open houses and public
                                                65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78).                         used as a natural gas import facility. The            hearings in Long Beach, New York will
                                                  By Order of the Maritime Administrator.               considerable technical, operational and               be held at the Long Beach Hotel, 405
                                                  Dated: October 6, 2015.                               environmental differences between                     East Broadway, Long Beach, New York,
                                                T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
                                                                                                        import and export operations for natural              11561; phone 516–544–4444. Free street
                                                                                                        gas deepwater ports is such that any                  parking is available, and the parking lot
                                                Secretary, Maritime Administration.
                                                                                                        licensed deepwater port facility that                 at the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Long
                                                [FR Doc. 2015–26208 Filed 10–15–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                        proposed to convert from import to                    Beach Train Station, near Park Place
                                                BILLING CODE 4910–81–P                                  export operations would be required to                and Park Avenue is available from 5:00
                                                                                                        submit a new license application                      p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The City of Long Beach
                                                                                                        (including application fee) and conform               operates local bus public transportation
                                                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                                                                                        to all licensing requirements and                     services between the LIRR Long Beach
                                                Maritime Administration                                 regulations in effect at such time of                 Train Station and the Long Beach Hotel.
                                                                                                        application. In addition to payment of                The open houses and public hearings in
                                                [Docket Number USCG–2013–0363]                          the application fee, licensing                        Eatontown, New Jersey will be held at
                                                                                                        requirements include, but are not                     the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, 6
                                                Deepwater Port License Application:                     limited to, completion of an extensive                Industrial Way East, Eatontown, NJ
                                                Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Port Ambrose                   environmental impact assessment                       07724; phone 732–542–6500. Free
                                                Deepwater Port; Final Application                       which would include public                            parking is available on site at the hotel.
                                                Public Hearing and Final                                participation and a financial                            The FEIS, license application,
                                                Environmental Impact Statement                          responsibility review which would                     comments, supporting information and
                                                AGENCY: Maritime Administration,                        include public participation.                         other associated documentation are
                                                Department of Transportation.                           DATES: There will be a total of four                  available for viewing at the Federal
                                                ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of               public hearings held in connection with               Docket Management System (FDMS)
                                                public hearing; request for comments.                   the application and the FEIS; two public              Web site: http://www.regulations.gov
                                                                                                        hearings will be held in Long Beach,                  under docket number USCG–2013–
                                                SUMMARY:   The Maritime Administration                  New York on November 2, 2015 and                      0363. The FEIS is also available at the
                                                (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard                        November 3, 2015, from 6:00 to 10:00                  following public libraries: Oceanside
                                                (USCG) announce: (1) The schedule and                   p.m.; and two public hearings will be                 Library, 30 Davison Avenue, Oceanside,
                                                locations of public hearings; and (2) the               held in Eatontown, New Jersey on                      NY 11572; phone 516–766–2360; Long
                                                availability of the Final Environmental                 November 4, 2015 and November 5,                      Beach Public Library, 111 W Park Ave,
                                                Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Liberty                 2015, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Each                    Long Beach, NY 11561; phone 516–432–
                                                Natural Gas LLC, Port Ambrose                           public hearing will be preceded by an                 7200; Long Branch Free Public Library,
                                                Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port                    open house from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The                 328 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740;
                                                license application for the importation                 public hearing may end later than the                 phone 732–222–3900; and Queens
                                                of natural gas.                                         stated time, depending on the number of               Library, 889–11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica,
                                                   The Port Ambrose application                         persons wishing to speak. Additionally,               NY 11432; phone 718–990–0700.
                                                describes an offshore natural gas                       materials submitted in response to the                   Docket submissions for USCG–2013–
                                                deepwater port facility that would be                   request for comments must reach the                   0363 should be addressed to:
                                                located 16.1 nautical miles southeast of                Docket Management Facility as detailed                Department of Transportation, Docket
                                                Jones Beach, New York, 24.9 nautical                    below, by close of business Monday,                   Management Facility, West Building,
                                                miles east of Long Branch, New Jersey,                  November, 30, 2015, or 45 days after                  Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
                                                and 27.1 nautical miles from the                        publication of this notice in the Federal             New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
                                                entrance to New York Harbor in a water                  Register whichever is later.                          DC 20590–0001.
                                                depth of approximately 103 feet. The                       Federal and State agencies must also                  The Federal Docket Management
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                FEIS complies with the Deepwater Port                   submit comments, recommended                          Facility accepts hand-delivered
                                                Act of 1974, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1501                 conditions for licensing, or letters of no            submissions and makes docket contents
                                                et seq.) (DWPA) and the National                        objection by Monday, November 30,                     available for public inspection and
                                                Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42                     2015, or 45 days after publication of this            copying at this address between 9:00
                                                U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), as implemented by                   notice in the Federal Register                        a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through
                                                the Council on Environmental Quality                    whichever is later. Also, within 45 days              Friday, except Federal holidays. The
                                                regulations (40 CFR 1500 to 1508).                      following the final hearing, on or prior              Facility telephone number is 202–366–


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 200 / Friday, October 16, 2015 / Notices                                         62597

                                                9329, fax number is 202–493–2251, and                   notify the USCG at least five business                December 16, 2014, (79 FR 74808). The
                                                the Web site for electronic submissions                 days in advance. See FOR FURTHER                      FEIS, application materials and
                                                to the FDMS or for electronic access to                 INFORMATION CONTACT. Include contact                  associated comments and supporting
                                                docket contents is http://                              information as well as information                    information are available on the docket.
                                                www.regulations.gov.                                    about specific needs.                                 Proposed Action and Alternatives
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.                    Request for Comments                                     USCG and MARAD are co-lead
                                                Roddy Bachman, U.S. Coast Guard,                                                                              Federal agencies for the preparation of
                                                                                                           We request public comments on the
                                                telephone 202–372–1451, email:                                                                                the FEIS; MARAD is the Federal
                                                                                                        FEIS and the application. The public
                                                Roddy.C.Bachman@uscg.mil, or Ms.                                                                              licensing agency (action agency). The
                                                                                                        hearing is not the only opportunity you
                                                Yvette M. Fields, Maritime                                                                                    proposed action requiring
                                                                                                        have to comment. In addition to, or in
                                                Administration, telephone 202–366–                                                                            environmental review is the Federal
                                                                                                        place of, attending a hearing, you may
                                                0926, email: Yvette.Fields@dot.gov. For                                                                       licensing of the proposed deepwater
                                                                                                        submit comments to the Federal Docket
                                                questions regarding the Docket, please                                                                        port described in the ‘‘Summary of the
                                                                                                        Management Facility during the public
                                                call Docket Operations, telephone 202–                                                                        Application’’ below. The alternatives to
                                                                                                        comment period. See DATES. We will
                                                366–9826.                                                                                                     licensing the proposed port are: (1)
                                                                                                        consider all comments and material
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              received during the comment period.                   Licensing with conditions (including
                                                Public Hearing and Open House                              Submissions should include:                        conditions designed to mitigate
                                                                                                           • Docket number USCG–2013–0363.                    environmental impact) and (2) denying
                                                   You are invited to learn about the                      • Your name and address.                           the application, which, for purposes of
                                                proposed Port Ambrose Deepwater Port                       Submit comments or material using                  environmental review, is the ‘‘no-
                                                at one of the above noticed                             only one of the following methods:                    action’’ alternative. These alternatives
                                                informational open houses, and to                          • Electronic submission (preferred to              are more fully discussed in the FEIS.
                                                comment on the application and the                      expedite processing) to the FDMS,                     You can address any questions about
                                                environmental impact analysis                           http://www.regulations.gov.                           the proposed action or the FEIS to
                                                contained in the FEIS at any of the                        • Fax, mail, or hand delivery to the               USCG or MARAD project managers
                                                above public hearings or directly to the                Federal Docket Management Facility.                   identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
                                                docket. The open houses, public                         See ADDRESSES. Faxed or hand delivered                CONTACT.
                                                hearings and docket comments will be                    submissions must be unbound, no larger
                                                used by MARAD to inform the Maritime                    than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, and suitable for              Summary of the Application
                                                Administrator’s decision making                         copying and electronic scanning. If you                  Liberty Natural Gas, LLC is proposing
                                                process, including the ROD and any                      mail your submission and want to                      to construct, own and operate a LNG
                                                conditions that may be placed on a                      confirm it reaches the Facility, include              deepwater port import facility, known
                                                subsequent license to own, construct                    a stamped, self-addressed postcard or                 as Port Ambrose, located in the New
                                                and operate a deepwater port.                           envelope.                                             York Bight. The Port Ambrose facility
                                                   Speakers may register upon arrival                      Regardless of the method used for                  will be located at a different proposed
                                                (registration by proxy is not authorized)               submitting comments or material, all                  location and include a different design
                                                and will be recognized in the following                 submissions will be posted, without                   than the previous deepwater port
                                                order: Elected officials, public agencies,              change, to the FDMS Web site (http://                 license application submitted by Liberty
                                                individuals or groups in the order in                   www.regulations.gov) and will include                 Natural Gas, LLC in 2010. Port Ambrose
                                                which they registered. In order to                      any personal information you provide.                 would consist of two Submerged Turret
                                                accommodate all speakers, speaker time                  Therefore, submitting this information                Loading Buoys (STL Buoys) in Federal
                                                may be limited, hearing hours may be                    makes it a public record. See Privacy                 waters 16.1 nautical miles southeast of
                                                extended, or both. Speakers’ transcribed                Act. You may view docket submissions                  Jones Beach, New York, 24.9 nautical
                                                remarks will be included in the public                  at the Department of Transportation                   miles east of Long Branch, New Jersey
                                                docket. Written material may also be                    Docket Management Facility or                         and 27.1 nautical miles from the
                                                submitted for inclusion in the public                   electronically on the FDMS Web site.                  entrance to New York Harbor, in a water
                                                docket. Written material must include                   See ADDRESSES.                                        depth of approximately 103 feet.
                                                the author’s name. We request attendees                                                                          LNG would be delivered from
                                                respect the hearing procedures in order                 Background                                            purpose-built LNG regasification vessels
                                                to ensure a constructive hearing. Please                   Information about deepwater ports,                 (LNGRVs), vaporized on site and
                                                do not bring signs or banners inside the                DWPA, other applicable statutes,                      delivered through the STL Buoys,
                                                hearing venue. The presiding officer                    regulations governing deepwater port                  flexible riser/umbilical, subsea manifold
                                                will use his/her discretion to conduct                  licensing, including the application                  and lateral pipelines to a buried 18.8
                                                the hearing in an orderly manner. In the                review process and the receipt of the                 nautical mile subsea mainline
                                                interest of allowing all interested parties             current application for the proposed                  connecting to the existing Transco
                                                to speak, and because all comments that                 Port Ambrose liquefied natural gas                    Lower New York Bay Lateral in New
                                                are received, both verbal and written,                  (LNG) deepwater port was published in                 York State waters 2.2 nautical miles
                                                are included in the record and will be                  the Federal Register on June 14, 2013,                southwest of Long Beach, New York and
                                                considered by MARAD before making a                     78 FR 36014. The ‘‘Summary of the                     13.1 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook,
                                                licensing decision, it is not necessary to              Application’’ from that publication is                New Jersey. The STL Buoys would be
                                                sign up more than once to provide                       reprinted below for your convenience.                 lowered to rest on a landing pad when
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                                                duplicate comments at subsequent                        The Notice of Intent to Prepare an                    not in use and would also include a
                                                meetings.                                               environmental impact statement (EIS)                  suction anchor mooring array.
                                                   Public hearing locations are                         for the proposed action was published                    STL Buoy 1 is located at Latitude:
                                                wheelchair-accessible. However,                         in the Federal Register on June 24,                   40°19′24.61″ N and Longitude:
                                                attendees who require special assistance                2013, (78 FR 37878), and the Notice of                73°25′45.33″ W. STL Buoy 2 is located
                                                such as sign language interpretation or                 Availability of the Draft EIS was                     at Latitude: 40°20′09.26″ N and
                                                other reasonable accommodation, please                  published in the Federal Register on                  Longitude 73°23′51.92″ W. The Port


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                                                62598                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 200 / Friday, October 16, 2015 / Notices

                                                components would fall in the following                  will be incorporated in the USCG Port                 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                                U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)                      Ambrose docket and considered under
                                                lease blocks:                                           this notice to ensure consistency with                Surface Transportation Board
                                                  Buoy 1 (6708, 6709, 6758); Buoy 2                     the NEPA Process.                                     [Docket No. AB 57 (Sub-No. 63X]
                                                (6709); Lateral 1 (6708); Lateral 2 (6708,
                                                6709); ‘‘Y’’ Assembly (6708); Mainline                     There have been some proposed
                                                                                                        project changes since the original Port               Soo Line Railroad Company—
                                                Pipeline (6708, 6658, 6657, 6607, 6606,                                                                       Abandonment Exemption—in Cook
                                                6556, 6555, 6554, 6504 and 6503).                       Ambrose application was submitted,
                                                                                                        which were set forth in the Notice of                 County, Ill.
                                                  The 145,000 cubic meter LNGRVs
                                                would have onboard closed-loop                          Availability of the Draft EIS (DEIS). In                 Soo Line Railroad Company d/b/a
                                                vaporization and metering and odorant                   summary, these include: (1) The original              Canadian Pacific (Soo Line) has filed a
                                                capability. Each vessel would have three                Application proposed a plowed                         verified notice of exemption under 49
                                                vaporization units capable of maximum                   mainline pipeline burial depth of three               CFR part 1152 subpart F—Exempt
                                                send-out of 750 million standard cubic                  (3) feet to top of pipe. Pursuant to                  Abandonments to abandon
                                                feet per day (MMscfd) (maximum                          USACE requirements, the mainline                      approximately 5,253 feet of railroad line
                                                pipeline system flow rate is 660 MMscfd                 pipeline is now proposed to be plow-                  between milepost 0.0 +/¥ (milepost 8.9
                                                with two buoys) with annual average                     buried to seven (7) feet (4 feet to top of            +/¥ on the Metra main line) and
                                                expected to be 400 MMscfd. The                          pipe), and for approximately three (3)                milepost 0.9 +/¥ at the intersection of
                                                LNGRVs have been designed to use a                      miles within the Ambrose Anchorage                    Diversey Avenue in Chicago (Dunning
                                                ballast water cooling system that will                  Area, buried to 10 feet (7 feet to top of             Line), in Cook County, Ill. (the Line).
                                                entirely re-circulate onboard the vessel                pipe). The pipeline within the Ambrose                The Line traverses United States Postal
                                                during Port operations, eliminating                     Anchorage Area will then be backfilled                Service Zip Code 60707.
                                                vessel discharges associated with                                                                                Soo Line has certified that: (1) No
                                                                                                        and covered with three (3) feet of 8-inch
                                                regasification while at the Port.                                                                             local traffic has moved over the Line for
                                                                                                        rock to a point. Once the rock has been
                                                Deliveries through Port Ambrose would                                                                         at least two years; (2) any overhead
                                                be focused during peak demand winter                    placed, gravelly sand will be deposited               traffic can be and has been rerouted over
                                                and summer months, and it is                            on top of the rock covered pipeline to                other lines; (3) no formal complaint
                                                anticipated that approximately 45                       restore the seabed to near its original               filed by a user of rail service on the Line
                                                deliveries will occur each year.                        seafloor bottom elevation; (2) the                    (or by a state or local government entity
                                                  As proposed, the LNGRVs would                         originally proposed impact driven                     acting on behalf of such user) regarding
                                                access the port inbound from the                        mooring pile anchors are now proposed                 cessation of service over the Line either
                                                Hudson Canyon to Ambrose Traffic                        to be suction anchors; (3) the original               is pending with the Surface
                                                Lane and depart via the Ambrose to                      port construction and commissioning                   Transportation Board (Board) or with
                                                Nantucket Traffic Lane. MARAD and                       was proposed to occur in 2015. This                   any U.S. District Court or has been
                                                USCG are aware that Port Ambrose falls                  timetable has been amended to occur in                decided in favor of complainant within
                                                within the proposed area of interest for                2018 (assuming license is approved and                the two-year period; and (4) the
                                                the Long Island—New York City                           issued). Should a license be issued, the              requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7(c)
                                                Offshore Wind Collaborative wind                        deepwater port would be designed,                     (environmental report), 49 CFR 1105.11
                                                energy project. This project has been                   fabricated, constructed, commissioned,                (transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12
                                                acknowledged and considered in the                      maintained, inspected and operated in                 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR
                                                cumulative impacts analysis section of                  accordance with applicable codes and                  1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental
                                                the FEIS based on currently available                   standards.                                            agencies) have been met.
                                                information. If approved, the majority of                                                                        As a condition to this exemption, any
                                                the port and pipeline construction and                  Privacy Act                                           employee adversely affected by the
                                                installation would occur in 2017, with                                                                        abandonment shall be protected under
                                                commissioning estimated to be in                          The electronic form of all comments                 Oregon Short Line Railroad—
                                                December 2018.                                          received into the FDMS can be searched                Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch
                                                  In addition, pipelines and structures                 by the name of the individual                         Between Firth & Ammon, in Bingham &
                                                such as the STL Buoy moorings will                      submitting the comment (or signing the                Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 360 I.C.C.
                                                require permits under Section 404 of the                comment, if submitted on behalf of an                 91 (1979). To address whether this
                                                Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the                   association, business, labor union, etc.).            condition adequately protects affected
                                                Rivers and Harbors Act, which are                       The DOT Privacy Act Statement can be                  employees, a petition for partial
                                                administered by the U.S. Army Corps of                  viewed in the Federal Register                        revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)
                                                Engineers (USACE). Port Ambrose will                    published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR                    must be filed.
                                                also require permits from the                           19477).                                                  Provided no formal expression of
                                                Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)                                                                         intent to file an offer of financial
                                                pursuant to the provisions of the Clean                   Authority: The Deepwater Port Act of
                                                                                                        1974, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.; 49          assistance (OFA) has been received, this
                                                Air Act, as amended, and the Clean                                                                            exemption will be effective on
                                                                                                        CFR 1.93.
                                                Water Act, as amended.                                                                                        November 17, 2015, unless stayed
                                                  The new pipeline is included in the                   *       *     *       *      *                        pending reconsideration. Petitions to
                                                NEPA review as part of the deepwater                      Dated: October 5, 2015.                             stay that do not involve environmental
                                                port application process. The EPA and
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                                                                                                          By Order of the Maritime Administrator.             issues,1 formal expressions of intent to
                                                the USACE, among others, are
                                                cooperating agencies (40 CFR 1501.6)                    T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,                                 1 The Board will grant a stay if an informed

                                                and have assisted in development of the                 Secretary, Maritime Administration.                   decision on environmental issues (whether raised
                                                FEIS. See 40 CFR 1501.6. To the extent                  [FR Doc. 2015–25727 Filed 10–15–15; 8:45 am]          by a party or by the Board’s Office of Environmental
                                                                                                                                                              Analysis (OEA) in its independent investigation)
                                                required, each agency will incorporate                  BILLING CODE 4910–81–P                                cannot be made before the exemption’s effective
                                                the FEIS into their permitting processes.                                                                     date. See Exemption of Out-of-Serv. Rail Lines, 5
                                                Comments sent to the EPA or USACE                                                                             I.C.C. 2d 377 (1989). Any request for a stay should



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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:23:58
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:23:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability; notice of public hearing; request for comments.
DatesThere will be a total of four public hearings held in connection with the application and the FEIS; two public hearings will be held in Long Beach, New York on November 2, 2015 and November 3, 2015, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.; and two public hearings will be held in Eatontown, New Jersey on November 4, 2015 and November 5, 2015, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Each public hearing will be preceded by an open house from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The public hearing may end later than the stated time, depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally, materials submitted in response to the request for comments must reach the Docket Management Facility as detailed below, by close of business Monday, November, 30, 2015, or 45 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register whichever is later.
ContactMr. Roddy Bachman, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 202-372-1451, email: [email protected], or Ms. Yvette M. Fields, Maritime Administration, telephone 202-366-0926, email: [email protected] For questions regarding the Docket, please call Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
FR Citation80 FR 62596 

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