82_FR_51446 82 FR 51234 - Fourchon LNG LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for The Planned Fourchon Lng Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session

82 FR 51234 - Fourchon LNG LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for The Planned Fourchon Lng Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 212 (November 3, 2017)

Page Range51234-51236
FR Document2017-23943

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 212 (Friday, November 3, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 212 (Friday, November 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51234-51236]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23943]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF17-9-000]


Fourchon LNG LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement for The Planned Fourchon Lng Project, Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Session

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Fourchon LNG Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Fourchon LNG LLC 
(Fourchon LNG)] in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The Commission will use 
this EIS in its decision-making process to determine whether the 
project is in the public interest.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. 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 EIS. To ensure that your comments are timely 
and properly recorded, please send your comments so that the Commission 
receives them in Washington, DC, on or before December 6, 2017.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on August 3, 2017, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. PF17-9-000 to ensure they are considered as part 
of this proceeding.
    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, including how to participate in 
the Commission's proceedings.

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. 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 
(PF17-9-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend the public scoping session its staff 
will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Date and time                           Location
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, November 16, 2017, 5:00 to     South LaFourche High School,
 8:00 p.m.                                16911 E Main Street, Cut Off,
                                          LA 70345, 985-632-5721.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The primary goal of the scoping session is to have you identify the 
specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in 
the EIS to be prepared by FERC for this project. Individual verbal 
comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with

[[Page 51235]]

a court reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount 
of verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.
    The scoping session is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
(Central time). You may arrive at any time after 4:30 p.m. If you wish 
to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of 
your arrival. Comments will be taken in the order of the numbers handed 
out until 8:00 p.m.; unless all numbers have been distributed before 
7:00 p.m., and all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an 
opportunity to do so by that time, in which case staff may conclude the 
session at 7:00 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional information 
on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \1\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Your scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter (with 
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public 
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on 
FERC's eLibrary system (see below for instructions on using eLibrary). 
If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal 
comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5 minutes per 
speaker may be implemented.
    There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when 
the session opens. Commission staff will be available throughout the 
session to answer your questions about the FERC's environmental review 
process. Representatives from Fourchon LNG will also be present to 
answer project-specific questions.
    It is important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight 
as written or electronically submitted comments. Likewise, the session 
is not your only public input opportunity; please refer to the review 
process flow chart in appendix 2.

Summary of the Planned Project

    Fourchon LNG plans to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) terminal on Belle Pass, within Port Fourchon, Lafourche Parish, 
Louisiana. The terminal would be located on land leased from the 
Greater Laforche Port Commission. Fourchon LNG intends to use the 
terminal to liquefy, store, and deliver LNG to domestic LNG fueled 
marine vessels and LNG carriers for export to overseas markets. The 
terminal would have a peak capacity of five million metric tonnes of 
LNG per annum (MTPA). Fourchon LNG would also dredge a ship berth and 
turning basin at the terminal.
    The Fourchon LNG Project would consist of the following facilities:
     Two 0.7-mile-long, parallel 16-inch-diameter natural gas 
receiving pipelines extending from existing pipelines operated by 
Kinetica Partners LLC to the terminal;
     five 1.0 MTPA gas pre-treatment trains;
     ten liquefaction trains, with a maximum LNG production 
capacity of approximately 0.5 MTPA each;
     two LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 88,000 
cubic meters (m\3\);
     electric plant powered by a 20-megawatt gas turbine;
     boil-off gas handling system, utilities, and 
communications system; and
     one marine berth sized to accommodate LNG carriers up to 
about 180,000 m\3\ in capacity.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
3.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 55 acres 
of land for the planned upland terminal and pipelines. About 40.6 acres 
would be affected in the Belle Pass Channel for the creation of the 
turning basin. Following construction, Fourchon LNG would maintain 
about 53 acres for permanent operation of the upland terminal and 
pipeline rights-of-way. Temporary construction areas would be restored 
and revert to former uses.

The EIS 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 the issuance of an Order 
under Sections 3 or 7 of the Natural Gas Act for authorization to 
construct, install, and operate LNG facilities. NEPA also requires us 
\2\ to discover and address concerns the public may have about 
proposals. This process is referred to as scoping. The main goal of the 
scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important 
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public 
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff of the 
Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     cultural resources;
     socioeconomics;
     land use, recreation, and visual resources;
     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 
FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we have 
begun to contact some other federal and state resources agencies to 
discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of 
the EIS.
    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 EIS.\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. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, 
and Lafourche Parish have expressed an interest in participating as 
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS to satisfy their 
NEPA responsibilities related to this project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
implementing NEPA addresses cooperating agency responsibilities at 
Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We 
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the 
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the 
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have 
the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section of this 
notice, above.

[[Page 51236]]

Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
regulations for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 
we are using this notice to initiate consultations with the Louisiana 
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), 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 project-specific Area of Potential 
Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project develops. On 
natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum encompasses all 
areas subject to ground disturbance. Our EIS for this project will 
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and 
summarize the status of consultations under Section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Fourchon LNG. This 
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our 
analysis.
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands 
and the development of appropriate mitigation;
     potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including 
potential impacts to federally listed threatened and endangered 
species;
     potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities;
     potential impacts of the construction workforce on local 
housing, infrastructure, public services, transportation, and economy;
     impacts on air quality and noise associated with 
construction and operation of the Fourchon LNG Project; and
     public safety and hazards associated with LNG facilities.

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list compiled by Commission staff 
includes federal, state, and local government representatives and 
agencies; elected officials; environmental groups and non-government 
organizations; Native Americans and Indian Tribes; 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 are directly adjacent to facilities. 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, and anyone who submits 
comments on the project.
    Copies of the completed draft EIS 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 compact disc 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (appendix 4).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Fourchon 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., PF17-
9). 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 sessions 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: October 30, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

 Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-23943 Filed 11-2-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                               51234                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Notices

                                               and the Regulations under the NGA (18                     Dated: October 30, 2017.                            the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This
                                               CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party                   Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                              fact sheet addresses a number of
                                               status will be placed on the service list               Deputy Secretary.                                     typically asked questions, including
                                               maintained by the Secretary of the                      [FR Doc. 2017–23940 Filed 11–2–17; 8:45 am]           how to participate in the Commission’s
                                               Commission and will receive copies of                   BILLING CODE 6717–01–P                                proceedings.
                                               all documents filed by the applicant and                                                                      Public Participation
                                               by all other parties. A party must submit
                                               five copies of filings made with the                    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                     For your convenience, there are four
                                               Commission and must mail a copy to                                                                            methods you can use to submit your
                                               the applicant and to every other party in               Federal Energy Regulatory                             comments to the Commission. The
                                               the proceeding. Only parties to the                     Commission                                            Commission will provide equal
                                               proceeding can ask for court review of                  [Docket No. PF17–9–000]                               consideration to all comments received,
                                               Commission orders in the proceeding.                                                                          whether filed in written form or
                                                                                                       Fourchon LNG LLC; Notice of Intent To                 provided verbally. The Commission
                                                  However, a person does not have to                                                                         encourages electronic filing of
                                                                                                       Prepare an Environmental Impact
                                               intervene in order to have comments                     Statement for The Planned Fourchon                    comments and has expert staff available
                                               considered. The second way to                           Lng Project, Request for Comments on                  to assist you at (202) 502–8258 or
                                               participate is by filing with the                       Environmental Issues, and Notice of                   FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
                                               Secretary of the Commission, as soon as                 Public Scoping Session                                carefully follow these instructions so
                                               possible, an original and two copies of                                                                       that your comments are properly
                                               comments in support of or in opposition                    The staff of the Federal Energy                    recorded.
                                               to this project. The Commission will                    Regulatory Commission (FERC or                           (1) You can file your comments
                                               consider these comments in                              Commission) will prepare an                           electronically using the eComment
                                               determining the appropriate action to be                environmental impact statement (EIS)                  feature on the Commission’s Web site
                                               taken, but the filing of a comment alone                that will discuss the environmental                   (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
                                               will not serve to make the filer a party                impacts of the Fourchon LNG Project                   Documents and Filings. This is an easy
                                               to the proceeding. The Commission’s                     involving construction and operation of               method for submitting brief, text-only
                                               rules require that persons filing                       facilities by Fourchon LNG LLC                        comments on a project;
                                               comments in opposition to the project                   (Fourchon LNG)] in Lafourche Parish,                     (2) You can file your comments
                                               provide copies of their protests only to                Louisiana. The Commission will use                    electronically by using the eFiling
                                               the party or parties directly involved in               this EIS in its decision-making process               feature on the Commission’s Web site
                                               the protest.                                            to determine whether the project is in                (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
                                                                                                       the public interest.                                  Documents and Filings. With eFiling,
                                                  Persons who wish to comment only                        This notice announces the opening of
                                               on the environmental review of this                                                                           you can provide comments in a variety
                                                                                                       the scoping process the Commission                    of formats by attaching them as a file
                                               project should submit an original and                   will use to gather input from the public
                                               two copies of their comments to the                                                                           with your submission. New eFiling
                                                                                                       and interested agencies on the project.               users must first create an account by
                                               Secretary of the Commission.                            You can make a difference by providing
                                               Environmental commenters will be                                                                              clicking on eRegister. If you are filing a
                                                                                                       us with your specific comments or                     comment on a particular project, please
                                               placed on the Commission’s                              concerns about the project. Your
                                               environmental mailing list, will receive                                                                      select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as the
                                                                                                       comments should focus on the potential                filing type; or
                                               copies of the environmental documents,                  environmental effects, reasonable
                                               and will be notified of meetings                                                                                 (3) You can file a paper copy of your
                                                                                                       alternatives, and measures to avoid or                comments by mailing them to the
                                               associated with the Commission’s                        lessen environmental impacts. Your                    following address. Be sure to reference
                                               environmental review process.                           input will help the Commission staff                  the project docket number (PF17–9–000)
                                               Environmental commenters will not be                    determine what issues they need to                    with your submission: Kimberly D.
                                               required to serve copies of filed                       evaluate in the EIS. To ensure that your              Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
                                               documents on all other parties.                         comments are timely and properly                      Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
                                               However, the non-party commenters                       recorded, please send your comments so                NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
                                               will not receive copies of all documents                that the Commission receives them in                     (4) In lieu of sending written or
                                               filed by other parties or issued by the                 Washington, DC, on or before December                 electronic comments, the Commission
                                               Commission (except for the mailing of                   6, 2017.                                              invites you to attend the public scoping
                                               environmental documents issued by the                      If you sent comments on this project
                                                                                                                                                             session its staff will conduct in the
                                               Commission) and will not have the right                 to the Commission before the opening of
                                                                                                                                                             project area, scheduled as follows:
                                               to seek court review of the                             this docket on August 3, 2017, you will
                                               Commission’s final order.                               need to file those comments in Docket                 Date and time               Location
                                                  The Commission strongly encourages                   No. PF17–9–000 to ensure they are
                                               electronic filings of comments, protests                considered as part of this proceeding.                Thursday, No-     South LaFourche High
                                                                                                          This notice is being sent to the                     vember 16,        School, 16911 E Main
                                               and interventions in lieu of paper using
                                                                                                       Commission’s current environmental                      2017, 5:00        Street, Cut Off, LA 70345,
                                               the eFiling link at http://www.ferc.gov.
                                                                                                       mailing list for this project. State and                to 8:00 p.m.      985–632–5721.
                                               Persons unable to file electronically
                                                                                                       local government representatives should
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                               should submit an original and five                                                                              The primary goal of the scoping
                                                                                                       notify their constituents of this planned
                                               copies of the protest or intervention to                project and encourage them to comment                 session is to have you identify the
                                               the Federal Energy Regulatory                           on their areas of concern.                            specific environmental issues and
                                               Commission, 888 First Street NE.,                          A fact sheet prepared by the FERC                  concerns that should be considered in
                                               Washington, DC 20426.                                   entitled An Interstate Natural Gas                    the EIS to be prepared by FERC for this
                                                  Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern                      Facility On My Land? What Do I Need                   project. Individual verbal comments
                                               Time on November 20, 2017.                              To Know? is available for viewing on                  will be taken on a one-on-one basis with


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:18 Nov 02, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00025   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM   03NON1


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Notices                                                     51235

                                               a court reporter. This format is designed               marine vessels and LNG carriers for                    filed comments during the preparation
                                               to receive the maximum amount of                        export to overseas markets. The terminal               of the EIS.
                                               verbal comments, in a convenient way                    would have a peak capacity of five                        In the EIS we will discuss impacts
                                               during the timeframe allotted.                          million metric tonnes of LNG per                       that could occur as a result of the
                                                  The scoping session is scheduled                     annum (MTPA). Fourchon LNG would                       construction and operation of the
                                               from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Central                    also dredge a ship berth and turning                   planned project under these general
                                               time). You may arrive at any time after                 basin at the terminal.                                 headings:
                                               4:30 p.m. If you wish to speak, the                        The Fourchon LNG Project would                         • Geology and soils;
                                               Commission staff will hand out                          consist of the following facilities:                      • water resources and wetlands;
                                               numbers in the order of your arrival.                      • Two 0.7-mile-long, parallel 16-inch-                 • vegetation and wildlife;
                                               Comments will be taken in the order of                                                                            • cultural resources;
                                                                                                       diameter natural gas receiving pipelines                  • socioeconomics;
                                               the numbers handed out until 8:00 p.m.;                 extending from existing pipelines                         • land use, recreation, and visual
                                               unless all numbers have been                            operated by Kinetica Partners LLC to the               resources;
                                               distributed before 7:00 p.m., and all                   terminal;                                                 • air quality and noise;
                                               individuals who wish to provide                            • five 1.0 MTPA gas pre-treatment                      • public safety; and
                                               comments have had an opportunity to                     trains;                                                   • cumulative impacts.
                                               do so by that time, in which case staff                    • ten liquefaction trains, with a                      We will also evaluate possible
                                               may conclude the session at 7:00 p.m.                   maximum LNG production capacity of                     alternatives to the planned project or
                                               Please see appendix 1 for additional                    approximately 0.5 MTPA each;                           portions of the project, and make
                                               information on the session format and                      • two LNG storage tanks, each with a                recommendations on how to lessen or
                                               conduct.1                                               capacity of 88,000 cubic meters (m3);                  avoid impacts on the various resource
                                                 Your scoping comments will be                            • electric plant powered by a 20-                   areas.
                                               recorded by the court reporter (with                    megawatt gas turbine;                                     Although no formal application has
                                               FERC staff or representative present)                      • boil-off gas handling system,                     been filed, we have already initiated our
                                               and become part of the public record for                utilities, and communications system;                  NEPA review under the Commission’s
                                               this proceeding. Transcripts will be                    and                                                    pre-filing process. The purpose of the
                                               publicly available on FERC’s eLibrary                      • one marine berth sized to                         pre-filing process is to encourage early
                                               system (see below for instructions on                   accommodate LNG carriers up to about                   involvement of interested stakeholders
                                               using eLibrary). If a significant number                180,000 m3 in capacity.                                and to identify and resolve issues before
                                               of people are interested in providing                      The general location of the project                 FERC receives an application. As part of
                                               verbal comments in the one-on-one                       facilities is shown in appendix 3.                     our pre-filing review, we have begun to
                                               settings, a time limit of 5 minutes per                                                                        contact some other federal and state
                                               speaker may be implemented.                             Land Requirements for Construction                     resources agencies to discuss their
                                                 There will not be a formal                               Construction of the planned facilities              involvement in the scoping process and
                                               presentation by Commission staff when                   would disturb about 55 acres of land for               the preparation of the EIS.
                                               the session opens. Commission staff will                the planned upland terminal and                           With this notice, we are asking
                                               be available throughout the session to                  pipelines. About 40.6 acres would be                   agencies with jurisdiction by law and/
                                               answer your questions about the FERC’s                  affected in the Belle Pass Channel for                 or special expertise with respect to the
                                               environmental review process.                           the creation of the turning basin.                     environmental issues related to this
                                               Representatives from Fourchon LNG                       Following construction, Fourchon LNG                   project to formally cooperate with us in
                                               will also be present to answer project-                 would maintain about 53 acres for                      the preparation of the EIS.3 Agencies
                                               specific questions.                                     permanent operation of the upland                      that would like to request cooperating
                                                 It is important to note that verbal                   terminal and pipeline rights-of-way.                   agency status should follow the
                                               comments hold the same weight as                        Temporary construction areas would be                  instructions for filing comments
                                               written or electronically submitted                     restored and revert to former uses.                    provided under the Public Participation
                                               comments. Likewise, the session is not                                                                         section of this notice. Currently, the
                                               your only public input opportunity;                     The EIS Process                                        U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
                                               please refer to the review process flow                   The National Environmental Policy                    Coast Guard, and Lafourche Parish have
                                               chart in appendix 2.                                    Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to                  expressed an interest in participating as
                                                                                                       take into account the environmental                    cooperating agencies in the preparation
                                               Summary of the Planned Project                                                                                 of the EIS to satisfy their NEPA
                                                                                                       impacts that could result from an action
                                                 Fourchon LNG plans to construct and                   whenever it considers the issuance of an               responsibilities related to this project.
                                               operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG)                                                                             The EIS will present our independent
                                                                                                       Order under Sections 3 or 7 of the
                                               terminal on Belle Pass, within Port                                                                            analysis of the issues. We will publish
                                                                                                       Natural Gas Act for authorization to
                                               Fourchon, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.                                                                         and distribute the draft EIS for public
                                                                                                       construct, install, and operate LNG
                                               The terminal would be located on land                                                                          comment. After the comment period, we
                                                                                                       facilities. NEPA also requires us 2 to
                                               leased from the Greater Laforche Port                                                                          will consider all timely comments and
                                                                                                       discover and address concerns the
                                               Commission. Fourchon LNG intends to                                                                            revise the document, as necessary,
                                                                                                       public may have about proposals. This
                                               use the terminal to liquefy, store, and                                                                        before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we
                                                                                                       process is referred to as scoping. The
                                               deliver LNG to domestic LNG fueled                                                                             have the opportunity to consider and
                                                                                                       main goal of the scoping process is to
                                                                                                                                                              address your comments, please carefully
                                                                                                       focus the analysis in the EIS on the
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                                                 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will
                                                                                                                                                              follow the instructions in the Public
                                               not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the       important environmental issues. By this
                                                                                                                                                              Participation section of this notice,
                                               appendices were sent to all those receiving this        notice, the Commission requests public
                                                                                                                                                              above.
                                               notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov    comments on the scope of the issues to
                                               using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the          address in the EIS. We will consider all
                                               Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First                                                                    3 The Council on Environmental Quality

                                               Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202)                                                                regulations implementing NEPA addresses
                                               502–8371. For instructions on connecting to               2 We, us, and our refer to the environmental staff   cooperating agency responsibilities at Title 40, Code
                                               eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.        of the Commission’s Office of Energy Projects.         of Federal Regulations, Part 1501.6.



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                                               51236                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 212 / Friday, November 3, 2017 / Notices

                                               Consultations Under Section 106 of the                    Americans and Indian Tribes; and local               provides access to the texts of formal
                                               National Historic Preservation Act                        libraries and newspapers. This list also             documents issued by the Commission,
                                                 In accordance with the Advisory                         includes all affected landowners (as                 such as orders, notices, and
                                               Council on Historic Preservation’s                        defined in the Commission’s                          rulemakings.
                                               regulations for Section 106 of the                        regulations) who are potential right-of-                In addition, the Commission offers a
                                               National Historic Preservation Act, we                    way grantors, whose property may be                  free service called eSubscription which
                                               are using this notice to initiate                         used temporarily for project purposes,               allows you to keep track of all formal
                                               consultations with the Louisiana State                    or who are directly adjacent to facilities.          issuances and submittals in specific
                                               Historic Preservation Office (SHPO),                      We will update the environmental                     dockets. This can reduce the amount of
                                               and to solicit their views and those of                   mailing list as the analysis proceeds to             time you spend researching proceedings
                                               other government agencies, interested                     ensure that we send the information                  by automatically providing you with
                                               Indian Tribes, and the public on the                      related to this environmental review to              notification of these filings, document
                                               project’s potential effects on historic                   all individuals, organizations, and                  summaries, and direct links to the
                                                                                                         government entities interested in and/or             documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
                                               properties.4 We will define the project-
                                                                                                         potentially affected by the planned                  filing/esubscription.asp.
                                               specific Area of Potential Effects (APE)
                                                                                                         project, and anyone who submits                         Finally, public sessions or site visits
                                               in consultation with the SHPO as the
                                                                                                         comments on the project.                             will be posted on the Commission’s
                                               project develops. On natural gas facility                    Copies of the completed draft EIS will
                                               projects, the APE at a minimum                                                                                 calendar located at www.ferc.gov/
                                                                                                         be sent to the environmental mailing list            EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
                                               encompasses all areas subject to ground                   for public review and comment. If you
                                               disturbance. Our EIS for this project will                                                                     with other related information.
                                                                                                         would prefer to receive a paper copy of
                                               document our findings on the impacts                      the document instead of the compact
                                                                                                                                                               Dated: October 30, 2017.
                                               on historic properties and summarize                      disc version or would like to remove                 Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
                                               the status of consultations under                         your name from the mailing list, please
                                               Section 106.                                              return the attached Information Request              Deputy Secretary.
                                               Currently Identified Environmental                        (appendix 4).                                        [FR Doc. 2017–23943 Filed 11–2–17; 8:45 am]
                                               Issues                                                    Becoming an Intervenor                               BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

                                                  We have already identified several                        Once Fourchon LNG files its
                                               issues that we think deserve attention                    application with the Commission, you                 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                               based on a preliminary review of the                      may want to become an intervenor
                                               planned facilities and the                                which is an official party to the                    Federal Energy Regulatory
                                               environmental information provided by                     Commission’s proceeding. Intervenors                 Commission
                                               Fourchon LNG. This preliminary list of                    play a more formal role in the process
                                               issues may change based on your                                                                                [Docket No. CP18–8–000]
                                                                                                         and are able to file briefs, appear at
                                               comments and our analysis.                                hearings, and be heard by the courts if
                                                  • Evaluation of temporary and                                                                               Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
                                                                                                         they choose to appeal the Commission’s               Company, LLC; Notice of Application
                                               permanent impacts on wetlands and the                     final ruling. An intervenor formally
                                               development of appropriate mitigation;                    participates in the proceeding by filing                Take notice that on October 16, 2017,
                                                  • potential impacts to fish and                        a request to intervene. Motions to                   Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
                                               wildlife habitat, including potential                     intervene are more fully described at                Company, LLC (Transco), P.O. Box
                                               impacts to federally listed threatened                    http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/                1396, Houston, Texas 77251 filed in
                                               and endangered species;                                   how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions for               Docket No. CP17–10–000 an abbreviated
                                                  • potential visual effects of the                                                                           application pursuant to section 7(b) of
                                                                                                         becoming an intervenor are in the
                                               aboveground facilities;                                                                                        the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 157
                                                  • potential impacts of the                             ‘‘Document-less Intervention Guide’’
                                                                                                         under the e-filing link on the                       of the Commission’s Regulations,
                                               construction workforce on local                                                                                requesting retroactive authorization to
                                               housing, infrastructure, public services,                 Commission’s Web site. Please note that
                                                                                                         the Commission will not accept requests              abandon certain natural gas facilities,
                                               transportation, and economy;                                                                                   including gas supply metering and
                                                  • impacts on air quality and noise                     for intervenor status at this time. You
                                                                                                         must wait until the Commission                       regulating facilities and pipeline
                                               associated with construction and
                                                                                                         receives a formal application for the                laterals, that are located in Louisiana,
                                               operation of the Fourchon LNG Project;
                                                                                                         project.                                             Mississippi, Texas, New Jersey, and
                                               and
                                                  • public safety and hazards                                                                                 offshore Louisiana and are no longer in
                                                                                                         Additional Information                               service. Transco is requesting this
                                               associated with LNG facilities.
                                                                                                            Additional information about the                  abandonment authorization to clarify
                                               Environmental Mailing List                                project is available from the                        the regulatory status of facilities that
                                                 The environmental mailing list                          Commission’s Office of External Affairs,             were previously erroneously abandoned
                                               compiled by Commission staff includes                     at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC Web                pursuant to Transco’s automatic blanket
                                               federal, state, and local government                      site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary               certificate authority, all as more fully set
                                               representatives and agencies; elected                     link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on           forth in the application which is on file
                                               officials; environmental groups and                       General Search and enter the docket                  with the Commission and open to
                                               non-government organizations; Native                      number, excluding the last three digits              public inspection.
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                                                                                                         in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF17–                 The filing may also be viewed on the
                                                 4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation         9). Be sure you have selected an                     web at http://www.ferc.gov using the
                                               regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal              appropriate date range. For assistance,              eLibrary link. Enter the docket number
                                               Regulations, Part 800. Those regulations define           please contact FERC Online Support at                excluding the last three digits in the
                                               historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
                                               district, site, building, structure, or object included
                                                                                                         FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free              docket number field to access the
                                               in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register     at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact               document. For assistance, please contact
                                               of Historic Places.                                       (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also               FERC Online Support at


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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:22:01
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:22:01
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 Citation82 FR 51234 

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