82 FR 27808 - Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Sabine Pass Expansion Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 116 (June 19, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 116 (Monday, June 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27808-27809]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12677]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-22-000]


Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Sabine Pass Expansion Project

    On December 13, 2016, Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline, LLC (Kinder 
Morgan) filed an application in Docket No. CP17-22-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(b) and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain 
natural gas pipeline facilities. The proposed project is known as the 
Sabine Pass Expansion Project (Project), and would allow Kinder Morgan 
to provide firm incremental transportation service of up to 600 million 
cubic feet per day of natural gas to the existing Sabine Pass 
Liquefaction Facility, that is currently under expansion in Cameron 
Parish, Louisiana.
    On December 21, 2016 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

    Issuance of EA: July 28, 2017.
    90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: October 26, 2017.
    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    Kinder Morgan proposes to construct and operate the Sabine Pass 
Expansion Project in Louisiana which consists of the following: (1) 
Modifications to four existing meter stations (Columbia Gulf 
Transmission, LLC; Texas Gas Transmission, LLC; ANR Pipeline Company; 
and Pine Prairie Energy Center) in Evangeline and Acadia Parishes; (2) 
construction of one new 36-inch-diameter delivery interconnect 
consisting of a 36-inch-diameter tap and appurtenances and 1,200 feet 
of 36-inch-diameter lateral at the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Facility in 
Cameron Parish; (3) installation of three additional 15,900 horsepower 
compressor units at Kinder Morgan's previously approved Compressor 
Station 760 in Acadia Parish; \1\ (4) construction of 6,400 feet of 36-
inch-diameter and 700 feet of 24-inch-diameter header pipelines in 
Acadia Parish; and (5) replacement of a meter and increase in capacity 
from 200 to 650 million cubic feet per day at the existing Pine Prairie 
Meter Station in Acadia Parish. The proposed facilities would provide 
north-to-south transportation on Kinder Morgan's system.
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    \1\ The compressor station has not yet been constructed, but was 
approved by Commission Order dated April 15, 2016 as part of the 
Lake Charles Expansion Project in Docket No. CP14-511-000.
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    Kinder Morgan proposes to begin construction of the Project by 
April 2018 and to place the facilities in service by April 1, 2019.

[[Page 27809]]

Background

    On January 24, 2017, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Sabine Pass 
Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues 
(NOI). The NOI was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and 
local government agencies; elected officials; Native American tribes; 
other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In 
response to the NOI, the Commission received a comment from a 
stakeholder stating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits and 
authorizations that would be necessary for the various Project 
components. The Commission also received a comment letter from the 
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries stating the Project 
would have minimal or no long-term adverse impacts on wetland functions 
and a comment from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma requesting to receive 
a copy of the EA and the cultural resources survey.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    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, select General 
Search from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and Docket 
Number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP17-22), and follow the 
instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can 
be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at 
[email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC Web site also 
provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: June 8, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-12677 Filed 6-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P