83 FR 45427 - Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Rio Grande LNG, LLC and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC Rio Grande LNG Project
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 174 (September 7, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 174 (September 7, 2018)
| Page Range | 45427-45428 | |
| FR Document | 2018-19398 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 45427-45428] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-19398] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. CP16-454-000; CP16-455-000] Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Rio Grande LNG, LLC and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC Rio Grande LNG Project On May 5, 2016, Rio Grande LNG, LLC (RG LNG) filed an application in Docket No. CP16-454-000 requesting authorization pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to construct and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities. On the same day, Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC (RB Pipeline) filed an application in Docket No. CP16-455-000, requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the NGA to construct, operate, and maintain certain natural gas pipeline facilities. The combined projects, collectively referred to as the Rio Grande LNG Project, would provide gas and processing to produce up to 27 million tons per annum of LNG for export. On August 17, 2016, in Order No. 3869, the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, granted to RG LNG a long-term, multi-contract authorization to export LNG to Free Trade Agreement nations. On May 19, 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued its Notice of Application for the project. Among other things, that notice alerted other agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on the request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Rio Grande LNG Project. This instant notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS for the project, which is based on an issuance of the draft EIS in October 2018. The forecasted schedule for both the draft and final EIS is based upon RG LNG and RB Pipeline providing complete and timely responses to any future data requests. In addition, the schedule assumes that the cooperating agencies will provide input on their areas of responsibility on a timely basis. Schedule for Environmental Review Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS--April 26, 2019 90-Day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--July 25, 2019 If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final EIS, an additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the project's progress. Project Description RG LNG and RB Pipeline, collectively the Rio Grande Developers (RG Developers), propose to construct and operate natural gas pipelines and liquefaction facilities in Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy, and Cameron Counties, Texas. The Rio Bravo Pipeline would include two new parallel 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipelines, each about 135.5 miles long, capable of transporting 4.5 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. In addition, a 2.4-mile-long header system at the origin of the pipelines would interconnect with existing natural gas transmission pipelines. The pipeline facilities would include three new compressor stations in Kleberg, Kenedy, and Cameron Counties and two new interconnect booster stations in Kenedy County. The Rio Grande LNG Terminal would be located on 750.4 acres of an approximately 1,000-acre site along the Brownsville Ship Channel about 5.5 miles inland from the channel entrance, in Cameron County, Texas. The terminal would include six liquefaction trains capable of producing 27 million tons per annum of LNG; marine facilities, including two LNG berths, a turning basin, and a material offloading facility; truck loading and unloading facilities for LNG and natural gas liquids; and four LNG storage tanks. If approved, RG Developers would construct the project in stages. Operation of the first liquefaction train, and one of the two parallel pipelines, is proposed to begin during the fourth quarter of 2021; operation of the full project is proposed for early 2025. Background On April 13, 2015, the Commission staff granted the RG Developers' request to use the FERC's Pre-filing environmental review process. On July 23, 2015, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Rio Grande LNG Project and Rio Bravo Pipeline Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings (NOI) in Docket No. PF15- 20-000. The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the project, and was sent to federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes and regional organizations; commentors and other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. Major issues raised during scoping include impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitat (including threatened and endangered species), aquatic resources, surface water, wetlands, public lands, visual resources, local ecotourism, public health and safety, air and noise quality, and cumulative impacts. The U.S Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S Department of Transportation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Park Service, and Federal Aviation Administration are cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. [[Page 45428]] Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EIS 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 website (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., CP16-454 or CP16-455), 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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. Dated: August 31, 2018. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-19398 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 174 / Friday, September 7, 2018 / Notices 45427
The U.S. Department of NGA to construct, operate, and maintain include three new compressor stations
Transportation, U.S. Environmental certain natural gas pipeline facilities. in Kleberg, Kenedy, and Cameron
Protection Agency, and U.S. Department The combined projects, collectively Counties and two new interconnect
of Energy are cooperating agencies in referred to as the Rio Grande LNG booster stations in Kenedy County.
the preparation of the EA. Project, would provide gas and The Rio Grande LNG Terminal would
Additional Information processing to produce up to 27 million be located on 750.4 acres of an
tons per annum of LNG for export. On
In order to receive notification of the approximately 1,000-acre site along the
August 17, 2016, in Order No. 3869, the
issuance of the EA and to keep track of Brownsville Ship Channel about 5.5
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of
all formal issuances and submittals in miles inland from the channel entrance,
Fossil Energy, granted to RG LNG a
specific dockets, the Commission offers in Cameron County, Texas. The terminal
long-term, multi-contract authorization
a free service called eSubscription. This to export LNG to Free Trade Agreement would include six liquefaction trains
can reduce the amount of time you nations. capable of producing 27 million tons
spend researching proceedings by On May 19, 2016, the Federal Energy per annum of LNG; marine facilities,
automatically providing you with Regulatory Commission (FERC or including two LNG berths, a turning
notification of these filings, document Commission) issued its Notice of basin, and a material offloading facility;
summaries, and direct links to the Application for the project. Among truck loading and unloading facilities
documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs- other things, that notice alerted other for LNG and natural gas liquids; and
filing/esubscription.asp. agencies issuing federal authorizations four LNG storage tanks. If approved, RG
Additional information about the of the requirement to complete all Developers would construct the project
Project is available from the necessary reviews and to reach a final in stages. Operation of the first
Commission’s Office of External Affairs decision on the request for a federal liquefaction train, and one of the two
at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC parallel pipelines, is proposed to begin
authorization within 90 days of the date
website (www.ferc.gov). Using the during the fourth quarter of 2021;
of issuance of the Commission staff’s
eLibrary link, select General Search operation of the full project is proposed
final Environmental Impact Statement
from the eLibrary menu, enter the for early 2025.
(EIS) for the Rio Grande LNG Project.
selected date range and Docket Number
This instant notice identifies the FERC Background
excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
staff’s planned schedule for completion
CP17–470), and follow the instructions.
of the final EIS for the project, which is On April 13, 2015, the Commission
For assistance with access to eLibrary,
based on an issuance of the draft EIS in staff granted the RG Developers’ request
the helpline can be reached at (866)
October 2018. The forecasted schedule to use the FERC’s Pre-filing
208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at
for both the draft and final EIS is based environmental review process. On July
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
The eLibrary link on the FERC upon RG LNG and RB Pipeline 23, 2015, the Commission issued a
website also provides access to the texts providing complete and timely Notice of Intent to Prepare an
of formal documents issued by the responses to any future data requests. In Environmental Impact Statement for the
Commission, such as orders, notices, addition, the schedule assumes that the Planned Rio Grande LNG Project and
and rule makings. cooperating agencies will provide input Rio Bravo Pipeline Project, Request for
on their areas of responsibility on a Comments on Environmental Issues,
Dated: August 31, 2018. timely basis.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings
Schedule for Environmental Review (NOI) in Docket No. PF15–20–000. The
Deputy Secretary.
NOI was issued during the pre-filing
[FR Doc. 2018–19402 Filed 9–6–18; 8:45 am] Issuance of Notice of Availability of the
review of the project, and was sent to
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P final EIS—April 26, 2019
federal, state, and local government
90-Day Federal Authorization Decision agencies; elected officials; affected
Deadline—July 25, 2019 landowners; environmental and public
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
If a schedule change becomes interest groups; Native American tribes
Federal Energy Regulatory necessary for the final EIS, an additional and regional organizations; commentors
Commission notice will be provided so that the and other interested parties; and local
relevant agencies are kept informed of libraries and newspapers. Major issues
[Docket Nos. CP16–454–000; CP16–455– the project’s progress.
000] raised during scoping include impacts
Project Description on wildlife and wildlife habitat
Notice of Schedule for Environmental (including threatened and endangered
RG LNG and RB Pipeline, collectively species), aquatic resources, surface
Review of the Rio Grande LNG, LLC
the Rio Grande Developers (RG water, wetlands, public lands, visual
and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC
Developers), propose to construct and resources, local ecotourism, public
Rio Grande LNG Project
operate natural gas pipelines and
health and safety, air and noise quality,
On May 5, 2016, Rio Grande LNG, liquefaction facilities in Jim Wells,
and cumulative impacts.
LLC (RG LNG) filed an application in Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy, and Cameron
Docket No. CP16–454–000 requesting Counties, Texas. The Rio Bravo Pipeline The U.S Coast Guard, U.S.
authorization pursuant to Section 3(a) of would include two new parallel 42- Department of Energy, U.S Department
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to construct inch-diameter natural gas pipelines, of Transportation, U.S. Environmental
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) each about 135.5 miles long, capable of Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of
export facilities. On the same day, Rio transporting 4.5 billion cubic feet per Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC (RB day of natural gas. In addition, a 2.4- Service, National Marine Fisheries
Pipeline) filed an application in Docket mile-long header system at the origin of Service, National Park Service, and
No. CP16–455–000, requesting a the pipelines would interconnect with Federal Aviation Administration are
Certificate of Public Convenience and existing natural gas transmission cooperating agencies in the preparation
Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the pipelines. The pipeline facilities would of the EIS.
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![45428 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 174 / Friday, September 7, 2018 / Notices
Additional Information decision-making process to determine However, if the Commission approves
In order to receive notification of the whether the project is in the public the project, that approval conveys with
issuance of the EIS and to keep track of convenience and necessity. it the right of eminent domain.
This notice announces the opening of Therefore, if you and the company do
all formal issuances and submittals in
the scoping process the Commission not reach an easement agreement, the
specific dockets, the Commission offers
will use to gather input from the public pipeline company could initiate
a free service called eSubscription. This
and interested agencies about issues condemnation proceedings in court. In
can reduce the amount of time you
regarding the project. The National such instances, compensation would be
spend researching proceedings by
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determined by a judge in accordance
automatically providing you with
requires the Commission to take into with state law.
notification of these filings, document
account the environmental impacts that Gulf South provided landowners with
summaries, and direct links to the
could result from its action whenever it a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
considers the issuance of a Certificate of entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
filing/esubscription.asp.
Public Convenience and Necessity. Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
Additional information about the
NEPA also requires the Commission to To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a
project is available from the
discover concerns the public may have number of typically asked questions,
Commission’s Office of External Affairs
about proposals. This process is referred including the use of eminent domain
at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC
to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the and how to participate in the
website (www.ferc.gov). Using the
scoping process is to focus the analysis Commission’s proceedings. It is also
eLibrary link, select General Search
in the EA on the important available for viewing on the FERC
from the eLibrary menu, enter the
environmental issues. By this notice, the website (www.ferc.gov).
selected date range and Docket Number
Commission requests public comments
excluding the last three digits (i.e., Public Participation
on the scope of the issues to address in
CP16–454 or CP16–455), and follow the
the EA. To ensure that your comments For your convenience, there are three
instructions. For assistance with access
are timely and properly recorded, please methods you can use to submit your
to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached
submit your comments so that the comments to the Commission. The
at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659,
Commission receives them in Commission encourages electronic filing
or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The
Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. of comments and has staff available to
eLibrary link on the FERC website also
Eastern Time on October 1, 2018. assist you at (866) 208–3676 or
provides access to the texts of formal You can make a difference by
documents issued by the Commission, FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
submitting your specific comments or carefully follow these instructions so
such as orders, notices, and rule concerns about the project. Your
makings. that your comments are properly
comments should focus on the potential recorded.
Dated: August 31, 2018. environmental effects, reasonable
(1) You can file your comments
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., alternatives, and measures to avoid or
electronically using the eComment
Deputy Secretary. lessen environmental impacts. Your
feature, which is located on the
[FR Doc. 2018–19398 Filed 9–6–18; 8:45 am] input will help the Commission staff
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
determine what issues they need to
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P under the link to Documents and
evaluate in the EA. Commission staff
Filings. Using eComment is an easy
will consider and address all filed
method for submitting brief, text-only
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY comments during the preparation of the
comments on a project;
EA.
Federal Energy Regulatory If you sent comments on this project (2) You can file your comments
Commission to the Commission before the opening of electronically by using the eFiling
this docket on July 13, 2018, you will feature, which is located on the
[Docket No. CP18–525–000] Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
need to file those comments in Docket
No. CP18–525–000 to ensure they are under the link to Documents and
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
considered as part of this proceeding. Filings. With eFiling, you can provide
Environmental Assessment for the
This notice is being sent to the comments in a variety of formats by
Proposed Gulf South Pipeline
Commission’s current environmental attaching them as a file with your
Company, LP Willis Lateral Project,
mailing list for this project. State and submission. New eFiling users must
and Request for Comments on
local government representatives should first create an account by clicking on
Environmental Issues
notify their constituents of this ‘‘eRegister.’’ You will be asked to select
The staff of the Federal Energy proposed project and encourage them to the type of filing you are making; a
Regulatory Commission (FERC or comment on their areas of concern. comment on a particular project is
Commission) will prepare an If you are a landowner receiving this considered a ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or
environmental assessment (EA) that will notice, a pipeline company (3) You can file a paper copy of your
discuss the environmental impacts of representative may contact you about comments by mailing them to the
the Willis Lateral Project involving the acquisition of an easement to following address. Be sure to reference
construction and operation of facilities construct, operate, and maintain the the project docket number (CP18–525–
by Gulf South Pipeline Company, LP proposed facilities. The company would 000) with your submission: Kimberly D.
(Gulf South) in Montgomery and San seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Jacinto Counties, Texas. The easement agreement. You are not Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
Commission will use this EA in its required to enter into an agreement. NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Sep 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM 07SEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_45601/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-09-07 00:15:28
Document Modified: 2018-09-07 00:15:28
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 45427 |
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