81_FR_61850 81 FR 61677 - Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Freeport LNG Train 4 Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

81 FR 61677 - Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Freeport LNG Train 4 Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 173 (September 7, 2016)

Page Range61677-61679
FR Document2016-21421

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 173 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61677-61679]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21421]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF15-25-000]


Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Supplemental Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Freeport LNG Train 
4 Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the expanded Freeport LNG Train 4 
Project (Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) in Brazoria County, 
Texas. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process 
to determine whether the planned project is in the public interest.
    We \1\ are issuing this supplemental notice to inform the public of 
changes to the originally proposed Project. Freeport LNG has modified 
the planned Project by deleting the non-jurisdictional feed-gas 
pipeline previously planned to provide gas to the Liquefaction Plant on 
Quintana Island. To replace the feed gas, Freeport LNG plans to 
construct a FERC-jurisdictional pipeline extending from the meter 
station at Stratton Ridge to the Pretreatment Plant on Levee Road/State 
Road 690 and then to the Liquefaction Plant on Quintana Island. The 
Pretreatment Plant would be expanded to handle the additional gas 
processing.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    The comment period for the original scoping notice of the Project 
was from August 19, 2015 to September 18, 2015. This supplemental 
notice announces the opening of an additional scoping period the 
Commission will use to gather input from the new landowners potentially 
affected by changed to the planned Project, and inform interested 
agencies of the changes
    As the modifications would affect new landowners; therefore, the 
Commission is issuing this supplemental notice to provide these new 
landowners an opportunity to comment on the Project. You can access 
detailed mapping of the modifications to the proposed pipeline route on 
the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) using eLibrary. For 
instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this 
notice.
    Comments submitted during the original comment period have been 
made part of the docket and do not need to be resubmitted.
    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on 
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and 
measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. Your input will help 
the Commission staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the 
EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, 
comments may be submitted in writing as described in the public 
participation section of this notice. Please note that comments on this 
supplemental notice should be filed with the Commission by October 3, 
2016.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses 
a number of typically asked questions and how to participate in the 
Commission's proceedings.

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at 
(202) 502-8258 or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these 
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a 
variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. 
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on 
``eRegister.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(PF15-25-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Freeport LNG intends to add a fourth liquefaction unit (Train 4), a 
supply pipeline, and associated infrastructure and utilities to 
Freeport LNG's natural gas Liquefaction Plant on Quintana Island in 
Brazoria County, Texas (Appendix 1, Figure 1). The Project would be 
located adjacent to the facilities authorized and currently under 
construction for the Phase II

[[Page 61678]]

Modification Project (Docket No. CP12-29-000) and Liquefaction Project 
(Docket No. CP12-509-000), which comprises three liquefaction trains 
and related facilities. The planned Train 4 liquefaction unit would be 
within the existing Freeport LNG site boundary. The modified and 
extended pipeline route (Apendix 1, Figure 3) would connect the 
existing Stratton Ridge meter station, the proposed pretreatment unit 
within the existing Pretreatment Plant, and the existing Liquefaction 
Plant.
    Freeport LNG would expand the Pretreatment Plant that was approved 
under Docket CP12-509 (Appendix 1, Figure 2).
    Freeport LNG indicates that the Train 4 Project would provide 
additional liquefaction capacity of approximately 5.1 million metric 
tonnes per annum (``mtpa'') of LNG for export. The additional 
liquefaction capacity provided by Train 4 would equate to a natural gas 
throughput capacity of approximately 0.74 billion cubic feet per day. 
This would enable Freeport LNG to respond favorably and proactively to 
short- and longer-term fluctuations in domestic and global gas markets.
    The Freeport LNG Train 4 Project would consist of the following 
major components:

Quintana Island Terminal

 A propane pre-cooled mixed refrigerant LNG unit
 An electrical high-voltage substation

Pretreatment Plant

 A natural gas pretreatment unit
 Tank storage for amine solution, aqueous ammonia, heating 
medium, slop, and demineralized water
 Inlet and outlet compression
 Emergency electric generator
 An electric substation

Pipeline Facilities

 An 11.5-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline with a maximum 
allowable operating pressure of 1,440 pounds per square inch between 
the existing Stratton Ridge meter station, Pretreatment Plant, and the 
Quintana Island Terminal
 Pig launcher and receiver
 Mainline valves
 Stratton Ridge Meter Station

    The general locations of project facilities are shown in Appendix 
1.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The operational and construction footprint for the Train 4 Project 
would be primarily within Freeport LNG's previously disturbed areas 
authorized as part of the Liquefaction and Phase II Modification 
Projects (Docket Nos. CP12-29-000 and CP12-509-000) on Quintana Island 
in Brazoria County, Texas.
    The Train 4 Project would affect about 558 acres during 
construction and the permanent operational footprint would be about 235 
acres. Following construction, temporary construction areas would be 
restored and revert to former uses in areas other than the Quintana 
Island Terminal and Pretreatment Plant which have been disturbed by 
prior and present construction. These areas would be permanently 
maintained for industrial use.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action whenever it considers an authorization to export 
natural gas under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires 
us to discover and address concerns the public may have about 
proposals. This process is referred to as scoping. The main goal of the 
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important 
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public 
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned project under these 
general headings:

 geology and soils;
 land use;
 water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
 cultural resources;
 vegetation and wildlife;
 endangered and threatened species;
 socioeconomics;
 visual impacts;
 air quality and noise;
 public safety; and
 cumulative impacts.

    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project 
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen 
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement 
of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before 
the FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we 
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their 
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA 
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. If we publish 
and distribute the EA to the public there will be an allotted comment 
period. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make our 
recommendations to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to 
consider and address your comments, please carefully follow the 
instructions in the Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues 
related to this project to formally cooperate with us in the 
preparation of the EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request 
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this 
notice. Currently, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy have expressed their 
intention to participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of 
the EA to satisfy their NEPA responsibilities related to this project.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), and to 
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested 
Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential effects on 
historic properties.\4\ We will define the

[[Page 61679]]

project-specific Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with 
the SHPO(s) as the project develops. On natural gas facility projects, 
the APE at a minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground 
disturbance (examples include construction right-of-way, contractor/
pipe storage yards, compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for 
this project will document our findings on the impacts on historic 
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Freeport LNG. This 
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our 
analysis.

 geology and soils
 water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
 visual impacts
 noise and air emissions
 traffic
 cumulative impacts

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project. We will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related 
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
planned project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies of the EA will be sent 
to the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you 
would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (Appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Freeport LNG files its application with the Commission, you 
may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the 
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard 
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. 
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a 
request to intervene. Motions to intervene are more fully described at: 
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.
    Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less 
Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's 
Web site. Please note that the Commission will not accept requests for 
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until the Commission 
receives a formal application for the project.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number, 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF15-
25). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances 
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time 
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with 
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to 
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the 
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: August 31, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-21421 Filed 9-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                                                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2016 / Notices                                             61677

                                                  385.214). Protests will be considered by                in Brazoria County, Texas. The                        with the Commission by October 3,
                                                  the Commission in determining the                       Commission will use this EA in its                    2016.
                                                  appropriate action to be taken, but will                decision-making process to determine                    This notice is being sent to the
                                                  not serve to make protestants parties to                whether the planned project is in the                 Commission’s current environmental
                                                  the proceeding. Any person wishing to                   public interest.                                      mailing list for this project. State and
                                                  become a party must file a notice of                       We 1 are issuing this supplemental                 local government representatives should
                                                  intervention or motion to intervene, as                 notice to inform the public of changes                notify their constituents of this planned
                                                  appropriate. The Respondent’s answer                    to the originally proposed Project.                   project and encourage them to comment
                                                  and all interventions, or protests must                 Freeport LNG has modified the planned                 on their areas of concern.
                                                  be filed on or before the comment date.                 Project by deleting the non-                            A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
                                                  The Respondent’s answer, motions to                     jurisdictional feed-gas pipeline                      entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
                                                  intervene, and protests must be served                  previously planned to provide gas to the              Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
                                                  on the Complainant.                                     Liquefaction Plant on Quintana Island.                To Know?’’ is available for viewing on
                                                     The Commission encourages                            To replace the feed gas, Freeport LNG                 the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This
                                                  electronic submission of protests and                   plans to construct a FERC-jurisdictional              fact sheet addresses a number of
                                                  interventions in lieu of paper using the                pipeline extending from the meter                     typically asked questions and how to
                                                  ‘‘eFiling’’ link at http://www.ferc.gov.                station at Stratton Ridge to the                      participate in the Commission’s
                                                  Persons unable to file electronically                   Pretreatment Plant on Levee Road/State                proceedings.
                                                  should submit an original and 5 copies                  Road 690 and then to the Liquefaction                 Public Participation
                                                  of the protest or intervention to the                   Plant on Quintana Island. The
                                                  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,                                                                           For your convenience, there are three
                                                                                                          Pretreatment Plant would be expanded
                                                  888 First Street NE., Washington, DC                                                                          methods you can use to submit your
                                                                                                          to handle the additional gas processing.
                                                  20426.                                                                                                        comments to the Commission. The
                                                                                                             The comment period for the original                Commission encourages electronic filing
                                                     This filing is accessible on-line at                 scoping notice of the Project was from
                                                  http://www.ferc.gov, using the                                                                                of comments and has expert staff
                                                                                                          August 19, 2015 to September 18, 2015.                available to assist you at (202) 502–8258
                                                  ‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for                  This supplemental notice announces the
                                                  review in the Commission’s Public                                                                             or efiling@ferc.gov. Please carefully
                                                                                                          opening of an additional scoping period               follow these instructions so that your
                                                  Reference Room in Washington, DC.                       the Commission will use to gather input
                                                  There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on the                                                                     comments are properly recorded.
                                                                                                          from the new landowners potentially                      (1) You can file your comments
                                                  Web site that enables subscribers to                    affected by changed to the planned
                                                  receive email notification when a                                                                             electronically using the eComment
                                                                                                          Project, and inform interested agencies               feature on the Commission’s Web site
                                                  document is added to a subscribed                       of the changes
                                                  docket(s). For assistance with any FERC                                                                       (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
                                                                                                             As the modifications would affect                  Documents and Filings. This is an easy
                                                  Online service, please email                            new landowners; therefore, the
                                                  FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call                                                                           method for submitting brief, text-only
                                                                                                          Commission is issuing this                            comments on a project;
                                                  (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call               supplemental notice to provide these                     (2) You can file your comments
                                                  (202) 502–8659.                                         new landowners an opportunity to                      electronically by using the eFiling
                                                     Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern                      comment on the Project. You can access                feature on the Commission’s Web site
                                                  Time on September 19, 2016.                             detailed mapping of the modifications                 (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
                                                    Dated: August 30, 2016.                               to the proposed pipeline route on the                 Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
                                                  Kimberly D. Bose,                                       Commission’s Web site (www.ferc.gov)                  you can provide comments in a variety
                                                  Secretary.                                              using eLibrary. For instructions on                   of formats by attaching them as a file
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–21417 Filed 9–6–16; 8:45 am]              connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last             with your submission. New eFiling
                                                  BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                          page of this notice.                                  users must first create an account by
                                                                                                             Comments submitted during the                      clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing
                                                                                                          original comment period have been                     a comment on a particular project,
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                    made part of the docket and do not need               please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as
                                                                                                          to be resubmitted.                                    the filing type; or
                                                  Federal Energy Regulatory                                  You can make a difference by                          (3) You can file a paper copy of your
                                                  Commission                                              providing us with your specific                       comments by mailing them to the
                                                  [Docket No. PF15–25–000]                                comments or concerns about the Project.               following address. Be sure to reference
                                                                                                          Your comments should focus on the                     the project docket number (PF15–25–
                                                  Freeport LNG Development, L.P.;                         potential environmental effects,                      000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
                                                  Supplemental Notice of Intent To                        reasonable alternatives, and measures to              Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
                                                  Prepare an Environmental Assessment                     avoid or lessen environmental impacts.                Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
                                                  for the Planned Freeport LNG Train 4                    Your input will help the Commission                   NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
                                                  Project and Request for Comments on                     staff determine what issues they need to              Summary of the Planned Project
                                                  Environmental Issues                                    evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your
                                                                                                          comments are timely and properly                         Freeport LNG intends to add a fourth
                                                    The staff of the Federal Energy                       recorded, comments may be submitted                   liquefaction unit (Train 4), a supply
                                                  Regulatory Commission (FERC or                                                                                pipeline, and associated infrastructure
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                          in writing as described in the public
                                                  Commission) will prepare an                             participation section of this notice.                 and utilities to Freeport LNG’s natural
                                                  environmental assessment (EA) that will                 Please note that comments on this                     gas Liquefaction Plant on Quintana
                                                  discuss the environmental impacts of                    supplemental notice should be filed                   Island in Brazoria County, Texas
                                                  the expanded Freeport LNG Train 4                                                                             (Appendix 1, Figure 1). The Project
                                                  Project (Project) involving construction                  1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the          would be located adjacent to the
                                                  and operation of facilities by Freeport                 environmental staff of the Commission’s Office of     facilities authorized and currently under
                                                  LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG)                    Energy Projects.                                      construction for the Phase II


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:30 Sep 06, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00016   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM   07SEN1


                                                  61678                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2016 / Notices

                                                  Modification Project (Docket No. CP12–                  Land Requirements for Construction                    avoid impacts on the various resource
                                                  29–000) and Liquefaction Project                          The operational and construction                    areas.
                                                  (Docket No. CP12–509–000), which                                                                                 Although no formal application has
                                                                                                          footprint for the Train 4 Project would
                                                  comprises three liquefaction trains and                                                                       been filed, we have already initiated our
                                                                                                          be primarily within Freeport LNG’s
                                                  related facilities. The planned Train 4                                                                       NEPA review under the Commission’s
                                                                                                          previously disturbed areas authorized as
                                                  liquefaction unit would be within the                                                                         pre-filing process. The purpose of the
                                                                                                          part of the Liquefaction and Phase II
                                                  existing Freeport LNG site boundary.                                                                          pre-filing process is to encourage early
                                                                                                          Modification Projects (Docket Nos.
                                                  The modified and extended pipeline                                                                            involvement of interested stakeholders
                                                                                                          CP12–29–000 and CP12–509–000) on                      and to identify and resolve issues before
                                                  route (Apendix 1, Figure 3) would                       Quintana Island in Brazoria County,
                                                  connect the existing Stratton Ridge                                                                           the FERC receives an application. As
                                                                                                          Texas.                                                part of our pre-filing review, we have
                                                  meter station, the proposed                               The Train 4 Project would affect about
                                                  pretreatment unit within the existing                                                                         begun to contact some federal and state
                                                                                                          558 acres during construction and the                 agencies to discuss their involvement in
                                                  Pretreatment Plant, and the existing                    permanent operational footprint would
                                                  Liquefaction Plant.                                                                                           the scoping process and the preparation
                                                                                                          be about 235 acres. Following                         of the EA.
                                                     Freeport LNG would expand the                        construction, temporary construction
                                                  Pretreatment Plant that was approved                                                                             The EA will present our independent
                                                                                                          areas would be restored and revert to                 analysis of the issues. The EA will be
                                                  under Docket CP12–509 (Appendix 1,                      former uses in areas other than the
                                                  Figure 2).                                                                                                    available in the public record through
                                                                                                          Quintana Island Terminal and                          eLibrary. If we publish and distribute
                                                     Freeport LNG indicates that the Train
                                                                                                          Pretreatment Plant which have been                    the EA to the public there will be an
                                                  4 Project would provide additional
                                                                                                          disturbed by prior and present                        allotted comment period. We will
                                                  liquefaction capacity of approximately
                                                                                                          construction. These areas would be                    consider all comments on the EA before
                                                  5.1 million metric tonnes per annum
                                                                                                          permanently maintained for industrial                 we make our recommendations to the
                                                  (‘‘mtpa’’) of LNG for export. The
                                                                                                          use.                                                  Commission. To ensure we have the
                                                  additional liquefaction capacity
                                                  provided by Train 4 would equate to a                   The EA Process                                        opportunity to consider and address
                                                  natural gas throughput capacity of                                                                            your comments, please carefully follow
                                                                                                             The National Environmental Policy                  the instructions in the Public
                                                  approximately 0.74 billion cubic feet                   Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
                                                  per day. This would enable Freeport                                                                           Participation section, beginning on page
                                                                                                          take into account the environmental                   2.
                                                  LNG to respond favorably and                            impacts that could result from an action
                                                  proactively to short- and longer-term                                                                            With this notice, we are asking
                                                                                                          whenever it considers an authorization                agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
                                                  fluctuations in domestic and global gas                 to export natural gas under Section 3 of
                                                  markets.                                                                                                      or special expertise with respect to the
                                                                                                          the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires               environmental issues related to this
                                                     The Freeport LNG Train 4 Project                     us to discover and address concerns the
                                                  would consist of the following major                                                                          project to formally cooperate with us in
                                                                                                          public may have about proposals. This                 the preparation of the EA.3 Agencies
                                                  components:                                             process is referred to as scoping. The                that would like to request cooperating
                                                  Quintana Island Terminal                                main goal of the scoping process is to                agency status should follow the
                                                  • A propane pre-cooled mixed                            focus the analysis in the EA on the                   instructions for filing comments
                                                    refrigerant LNG unit                                  important environmental issues. By this               provided under the Public Participation
                                                  • An electrical high-voltage substation                 notice, the Commission requests public                section of this notice. Currently, the
                                                                                                          comments on the scope of the issues to                U.S. Department of Transportation, and
                                                  Pretreatment Plant                                      address in the EA. We will consider all               the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of
                                                  • A natural gas pretreatment unit                       filed comments during the preparation                 Fossil Energy have expressed their
                                                  • Tank storage for amine solution,                      of the EA.                                            intention to participate as cooperating
                                                    aqueous ammonia, heating medium,                         In the EA we will discuss impacts that             agencies in the preparation of the EA to
                                                    slop, and demineralized water                         could occur as a result of the                        satisfy their NEPA responsibilities
                                                  • Inlet and outlet compression                          construction and operation of the                     related to this project.
                                                  • Emergency electric generator                          planned project under these general
                                                  • An electric substation                                headings:                                             Consultations Under Section 106 of the
                                                                                                          • geology and soils;                                  National Historic Preservation Act
                                                  Pipeline Facilities
                                                                                                          • land use;                                             In accordance with the Advisory
                                                  • An 11.5-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter                   • water resources, fisheries, and                     Council on Historic Preservation’s
                                                    pipeline with a maximum allowable                        wetlands;                                          implementing regulations for section
                                                    operating pressure of 1,440 pounds                    • cultural resources;                                 106 of the National Historic
                                                    per square inch between the existing                  • vegetation and wildlife;                            Preservation Act, we are using this
                                                    Stratton Ridge meter station,                         • endangered and threatened species;                  notice to initiate consultation with the
                                                    Pretreatment Plant, and the Quintana                  • socioeconomics;                                     applicable State Historic Preservation
                                                    Island Terminal                                       • visual impacts;                                     Office(s), and to solicit their views and
                                                  • Pig launcher and receiver                             • air quality and noise;                              those of other government agencies,
                                                  • Mainline valves                                       • public safety; and                                  interested Indian tribes, and the public
                                                  • Stratton Ridge Meter Station                          • cumulative impacts.                                 on the project’s potential effects on
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                                                    The general locations of project                         We will also evaluate possible                     historic properties.4 We will define the
                                                  facilities are shown in Appendix 1.2                    alternatives to the planned project or                  3 The Council on Environmental Quality
                                                    2 The
                                                                                                          portions of the project, and make                     regulations addressing cooperating agency
                                                          appendices referenced in this notice will
                                                  not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the       recommendations on how to lessen or                   responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
                                                  appendices were sent to all those receiving this                                                              Regulations, Part 1501.6.
                                                  notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov    Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)         4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

                                                  using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the          502–8371. For instructions on connecting to           regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
                                                  Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First           eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.      Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 7, 2016 / Notices                                                61679

                                                  project-specific Area of Potential Effects                attached Information Request                           Dated: August 31, 2016.
                                                  (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s)                    (Appendix 2).                                        Kimberly D. Bose,
                                                  as the project develops. On natural gas                                                                        Secretary.
                                                  facility projects, the APE at a minimum                   Becoming an Intervenor
                                                                                                                                                                 [FR Doc. 2016–21421 Filed 9–6–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  encompasses all areas subject to ground                      Once Freeport LNG files its                       BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                  disturbance (examples include                             application with the Commission, you
                                                  construction right-of-way, contractor/                    may want to become an ‘‘intervenor,’’
                                                  pipe storage yards, compressor stations,                  which is an official party to the                    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  and access roads). Our EA for this                        Commission’s proceeding. Intervenors
                                                  project will document our findings on                                                                          Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                                                                            play a more formal role in the process               Commission
                                                  the impacts on historic properties and
                                                                                                            and are able to file briefs, appear at
                                                  summarize the status of consultations                                                                          [Docket No. OR16–23–000]
                                                                                                            hearings, and be heard by the courts if
                                                  under section 106.
                                                                                                            they choose to appeal the Commission’s
                                                                                                                                                                 Delta Air Lines, Inc., Atlas Air, Inc.,
                                                  Currently Identified Environmental                        final ruling. An intervenor formally                 Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. v.
                                                  Issues                                                    participates in the proceeding by filing             Enterprise TE Products Pipeline
                                                     We have already identified several                     a request to intervene. Motions to                   Company LLC; Notice of Complaint
                                                  issues that we think deserve attention                    intervene are more fully described at:
                                                  based on a preliminary review of the                      http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/                   Take notice that on August 30, 2016,
                                                  planned facilities and the                                how-to/intervene.asp.                                pursuant to Rule 206 of the Federal
                                                  environmental information provided by                                                                          Energy Regulatory Commission’s
                                                                                                               Instructions for becoming an                      (Commission) Rules of Practice and
                                                  Freeport LNG. This preliminary list of                    intervenor are in the ‘‘Document-less
                                                  issues may change based on your                                                                                Procedure, 18 CFR 385.206, section
                                                                                                            Intervention Guide’’ under the ‘‘e-filing’’          343.2 of the Commission’s Rules
                                                  comments and our analysis.                                link on the Commission’s Web site.                   Applicable to Oil Pipeline Proceedings,
                                                  • geology and soils                                       Please note that the Commission will                 18 CFR 343.2 (2016), and sections 1, 8,
                                                  • water resources, fisheries, and                         not accept requests for intervenor status            9, 13(1), 15, and 16(1) of the Interstate
                                                     wetlands                                               at this time. You must wait until the                Commerce Act (ICA), 49 U.S.C. app.
                                                  • visual impacts                                          Commission receives a formal                         §§ 1, 8, 9, 13(1), 15, & 16(1) (1988), Delta
                                                  • noise and air emissions                                 application for the project.                         Air Lines, Inc., Atlas Air, Inc., and Polar
                                                  • traffic
                                                                                                                                                                 Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc.
                                                  • cumulative impacts                                      Additional Information
                                                                                                                                                                 (Complainants) filed a formal complaint
                                                  Environmental Mailing List                                   Additional information about the                  against Enterprise TE Products Pipeline
                                                     The environmental mailing list                         project is available from the                        Company LLC, (Enterprise TEPPCO or
                                                  includes federal, state, and local                        Commission’s Office of External Affairs,             Respondent) challenging the lawfulness
                                                  government representatives and                            at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web                of the existing jet fuel rates and charges
                                                  agencies; elected officials;                              site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary               for services on the interstate oil pipeline
                                                  environmental and public interest                         link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on           of Enterprise TEPPCO running from
                                                  groups; Native American Tribes; other                     ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket              Lima, Ohio to Cincinnati/Northern
                                                  interested parties; and local libraries                   number, excluding the last three digits              Kentucky International Airport, as more
                                                  and newspapers. This list also includes                   in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF15–              fully explained in the complaint.
                                                                                                                                                                    Complainants certify that copies of
                                                  all affected landowners (as defined in                    25). Be sure you have selected an
                                                                                                                                                                 the complaint were served on the
                                                  the Commission’s regulations) who are                     appropriate date range. For assistance,
                                                                                                                                                                 contacts for Enterprise TEPPCO as listed
                                                  potential right-of-way grantors, whose                    please contact FERC Online Support at                on the Commission’s list of Corporate
                                                  property may be used temporarily for                      FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free              Officials.
                                                  project purposes, or who own homes                        at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact                  Any person desiring to intervene or to
                                                  within certain distances of aboveground                   (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also               protest this filing must file in
                                                  facilities, and anyone who submits                        provides access to the texts of formal               accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
                                                  comments on the project. We will                          documents issued by the Commission,                  the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
                                                  update the environmental mailing list as                  such as orders, notices, and                         Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
                                                  the analysis proceeds to ensure that we                   rulemakings.                                         385.214). Protests will be considered by
                                                  send the information related to this                                                                           the Commission in determining the
                                                  environmental review to all individuals,                     In addition, the Commission offers a
                                                                                                            free service called eSubscription which              appropriate action to be taken, but will
                                                  organizations, and government entities                                                                         not serve to make protestants parties to
                                                  interested in and/or potentially affected                 allows you to keep track of all formal
                                                                                                            issuances and submittals in specific                 the proceeding. Any person wishing to
                                                  by the planned project.                                                                                        become a party must file a notice of
                                                     If we publish and distribute the EA,                   dockets. This can reduce the amount of
                                                                                                            time you spend researching proceedings               intervention or motion to intervene, as
                                                  copies of the EA will be sent to the                                                                           appropriate. The Respondent’s answer
                                                  environmental mailing list for public                     by automatically providing you with
                                                                                                            notification of these filings, document              and all interventions, or protests must
                                                  review and comment. If you would                                                                               be filed on or before the comment date.
                                                  prefer to receive a paper copy of the                     summaries, and direct links to the
                                                                                                                                                                 The Respondent’s answer, motions to
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                                                  document instead of the CD version or                     documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
                                                                                                                                                                 intervene, and protests must be served
                                                  would like to remove your name from                       filing/esubscription.asp.
                                                                                                                                                                 on the Complainants.
                                                  the mailing list, please return the                          Finally, public meetings or site visits              The Commission encourages
                                                                                                            will be posted on the Commission’s                   electronic submission of protests and
                                                  historic properties as any prehistoric or historic        calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
                                                  district, site, building, structure, or object included
                                                                                                                                                                 interventions in lieu of paper using the
                                                  in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register     EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along                  ‘‘eFiling’’ link at http://www.ferc.gov.
                                                  of Historic Places.                                       with other related information.                      Persons unable to file electronically


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Document Created: 2016-09-07 11:50:24
Document Modified: 2016-09-07 11:50:24
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
FR Citation81 FR 61677 

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