83 FR 58558 - Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC and Venture Global Gator Express, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express Pipeline Project
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 224 (November 20, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 224 (November 20, 2018)
| Page Range | 58558-58559 | |
| FR Document | 2018-25308 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 58558-58559] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-25308] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. CP17-66-000; CP17-67-000] Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC and Venture Global Gator Express, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express Pipeline Project The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express Pipeline Project, proposed by Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC and Venture Global Gator Express, LLC (collectively called Venture Global) in the above-referenced dockets. Venture Global requests authorization to construct and operate a new LNG export terminal and associated facilities along the west bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (LNG Terminal) and to construct and operate two new 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline laterals that would connect to the LNG Terminal. The new liquefaction facilities would have a design production capacity of 20 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum. The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express Pipeline Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with the mitigation measures recommended in the draft EIS, would have some adverse environmental impacts. These impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels with the implementation of Venture Global's proposed mitigation measures and the additional measures recommended in the draft EIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Transportation participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. The draft EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the following project facilities:LNG Terminal: Construction and operation of various liquefaction, LNG distribution, and appurtenant facilities within the boundaries of the site leased by Venture Global on the Mississippi River, including: [cir] Six pretreatment facilities (three in each phase); [cir] a liquefaction plant with 18 integrated single-mixed refrigerant blocks and support facilities (otherwise referred to as liquefaction blocks or blocks) to be constructed in two phases (nine blocks in each phase); [cir] four 200,000-cubic-meter aboveground LNG storage tanks; [cir] three LNG loading docks within a common LNG berthing area; and [cir] air-cooled electric power generation facilities. Pipeline System: Construction and operation of two parallel 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipelines that share one right- of-way corridor for the majority of their respective routes and appurtenant aboveground facilities, including the following: [cir] 15.1-mile-long Southwest Lateral Tennessee Gas Pipeline, LLC (TGP) Pipeline; [cir] 11.7-mile-long Southwest Lateral Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (TETCO) Pipeline; [cir] TGP metering and regulation station; and [cir] TETCO metering and regulation station. [[Page 58559]] The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. The draft EIS is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov), on the Environmental Documents page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). In addition, the draft EIS may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC's website. Click on the eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp), click on General Search, and enter the docket number in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e. CP17-66 or CP17-67). 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. Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. Your comments should focus on draft EIS's disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. To ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that the Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 7, 2019. 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 staff available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 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 website (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 website (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 numbers (CP17-66-000 and CP17-67-000) 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 comment session its staff will conduct in the project area to receive comments on the draft EIS, scheduled as follows: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date and time Location ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, December 11, 2018 (4:00 p.m.-7:00 Belle Chasse Library, 8442 p.m. CST). Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, Louisiana 70037, (504) 394- 3570. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The primary goal of these comment sessions is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns with the draft EIS. Individual verbal comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted. The comment session is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST. You may arrive at any time after 4:00 p.m. There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 7:00 p.m. However, if no additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional information on the session format and conduct.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \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 page 2 of this notice. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your verbal 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 may be implemented for each commentor. It is important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight as written or electronically submitted comments. Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the comment session to answer your questions about the environmental review process. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR part 385.214). Motions to intervene are more fully described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission's decision. The Commission grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Questions? 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. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription that 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. Dated: November 13, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-25308 Filed 11-19-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![58558 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2018 / Notices
Fiscal year FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018
Number of applications (Responses) .......................................................................................... 14 8 6
Average Cost per Response ....................................................................................................... $3,571,786 $3,735,714 $2,293,413
Total Burden Cost for All Applications (Responses) ................................................................... 50,005,004 29,885,712 13,760,478
The average burden cost per $3,344,686 5. We estimate a cost (salary for each application filed from FY 2016
application over the period FY 2016 plus benefits) of $79/hour.6 Using this to FY 2018 is 42,338 hours.
through FY 2018 was approximately hourly cost estimate, the average burden
FERC–500
Annual Cost per re-
Number of number of Total number Average burden hours & cost ($) per Total annual burden hours & total spondent
respondents responses per of responses response annual cos ($)t ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
9 ................... 1 9 42,337.79 hrs.; $3,344,685.50 .......... 381,040.11 hrs.; $30,102,169.50 ...... $3,344,685.50
Comments: Comments are invited on: Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC with respect to resources potentially
(1) Whether the collection of and Venture Global Gator Express, LLC affected by the proposal and participate
information is necessary for the proper (collectively called Venture Global) in in the NEPA analysis.
performance of the functions of the the above-referenced dockets. Venture The draft EIS addresses the potential
Commission, including whether the Global requests authorization to environmental effects of the
information will have practical utility; construct and operate a new LNG export construction and operation of the
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate terminal and associated facilities along following project facilities:
of the burden and cost of the collection the west bank of the Mississippi River • LNG Terminal: Construction and
of information, including the validity of in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (LNG operation of various liquefaction, LNG
the methodology and assumptions used; Terminal) and to construct and operate distribution, and appurtenant facilities
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility two new 42-inch-diameter natural gas within the boundaries of the site leased
and clarity of the information collection; pipeline laterals that would connect to by Venture Global on the Mississippi
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the LNG Terminal. The new liquefaction River, including:
the collection of information on those facilities would have a design Æ Six pretreatment facilities (three in
who are to respond, including the use production capacity of 20 million metric each phase);
of automated collection techniques or tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per Æ a liquefaction plant with 18
other forms of information technology. annum. integrated single-mixed refrigerant
The draft EIS assesses the potential blocks and support facilities (otherwise
Dated: November 14, 2018. referred to as liquefaction blocks or
Kimberly D. Bose, environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the blocks) to be constructed in two phases
Secretary. (nine blocks in each phase);
Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express
[FR Doc. 2018–25288 Filed 11–19–18; 8:45 am] Æ four 200,000-cubic-meter
Pipeline Project in accordance with the
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P aboveground LNG storage tanks;
requirements of the National
Æ three LNG loading docks within a
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The
common LNG berthing area; and
FERC staff concludes that approval of Æ air-cooled electric power generation
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
the proposed project, with the facilities.
Federal Energy Regulatory mitigation measures recommended in • Pipeline System: Construction and
Commission the draft EIS, would have some adverse operation of two parallel 42-inch-
environmental impacts. These impacts diameter natural gas pipelines that share
[Docket Nos. CP17–66–000; CP17–67–000] would be reduced to less-than- one right-of-way corridor for the
significant levels with the majority of their respective routes and
Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC
implementation of Venture Global’s appurtenant aboveground facilities,
and Venture Global Gator Express,
proposed mitigation measures and the including the following:
LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft
additional measures recommended in Æ 15.1-mile-long Southwest Lateral
Environmental Impact Statement for
the draft EIS. Tennessee Gas Pipeline, LLC (TGP)
the Proposed Plaquemines LNG and
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pipeline;
Gator Express Pipeline Project
U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Æ 11.7-mile-long Southwest Lateral
The staff of the Federal Energy Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Texas Eastern Transmission, LP
Regulatory Commission (FERC or Agency, and U.S. Department of (TETCO) Pipeline;
Commission) has prepared a draft Transportation participated as Æ TGP metering and regulation
environmental impact statement (EIS) cooperating agencies in the preparation station; and
for the Plaquemines LNG and Gator of the EIS. Cooperating agencies have Æ TETCO metering and regulation
Express Pipeline Project, proposed by jurisdiction by law or special expertise station.
5 $93,651,194 (Total burden cost from FY 2016– 6 FERC staff estimates that industry is similarly benefits. Therefore, we are using the FERC FY 2018
2018) ÷ 28 (total number of applications received situated in terms of the hourly cost for salary plus hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $79/hour.
from FY 2016–2018) = $3,344,686.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2018 / Notices 58559
The Commission mailed a copy of the with your submission. New eFiling this proceeding. Transcripts will be
Notice of Availability to federal, state, users must first create an account by publicly available on FERC’s eLibrary
and local government representatives clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ If you are filing system (see below for instructions on
and agencies; elected officials; a comment on a particular project, using eLibrary). If a significant number
environmental and public interest please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’ as of people are interested in providing
groups; Native American tribes; the filing type; or verbal comments in the one-on-one
potentially affected landowners and (3) You can file a paper copy of your settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may
other interested individuals and groups; comments by mailing them to the be implemented for each commentor.
and newspapers and libraries in the following address. Be sure to reference It is important to note that verbal
project area. The draft EIS is only the project docket numbers (CP17–66– comments hold the same weight as
available in electronic format. It may be 000 and CP17–67–000) with your written or electronically submitted
viewed and downloaded from the submission: Kimberly D. Bose, comments. Although there will not be a
FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov), on the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory formal presentation, Commission staff
Environmental Documents page (https:// Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room will be available throughout the
www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/ 1A, Washington, DC 20426 comment session to answer your
eis.asp). In addition, the draft EIS may (4) In lieu of sending written or questions about the environmental
be accessed by using the eLibrary link electronic comments, the Commission review process.
on the FERC’s website. Click on the invites you to attend the public
Any person seeking to become a party
eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/ comment session its staff will conduct
to the proceeding must file a motion to
docs-filing/elibrary.asp), click on in the project area to receive comments
intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the
General Search, and enter the docket on the draft EIS, scheduled as follows:
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field,
Procedures (18 CFR part 385.214).
excluding the last three digits (i.e. Date and time Location
Motions to intervene are more fully
CP17–66 or CP17–67). Be sure you have
Tuesday, December Belle Chasse Library, described at http://www.ferc.gov/
selected an appropriate date range. For
11, 2018 (4:00 8442 Hwy 23, Belle resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
p.m.–7:00 p.m. Chasse, Louisiana Only intervenors have the right to seek
CST). 70037, (504) 394– rehearing or judicial review of the
or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for 3570.
TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. Commission’s decision. The
Any person wishing to comment on Commission grants affected landowners
The primary goal of these comment and others with environmental concerns
the draft EIS may do so. Your comments sessions is to have you identify the
should focus on draft EIS’s disclosure intervenor status upon showing good
specific environmental issues and cause by stating that they have a clear
and discussion of potential concerns with the draft EIS. Individual
environmental effects, reasonable and direct interest in this proceeding
verbal comments will be taken on a one- which no other party can adequately
alternatives, and measures to avoid or on-one basis with a court reporter. This
lessen environmental impacts. To represent. Simply filing environmental
format is designed to receive the comments will not give you intervenor
ensure consideration of your comments maximum amount of verbal comments,
on the proposal in the final EIS, it is status, but you do not need intervenor
in a convenient way during the status to have your comments
important that the Commission receive timeframe allotted.
your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. considered.
The comment session is scheduled
Eastern Time on January 7, 2019. from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST. You Questions?
For your convenience, there are four may arrive at any time after 4:00 p.m.
methods you can use to submit your Additional information about the
There will not be a formal presentation
comments to the Commission. The project is available from the
by Commission staff when the session
Commission will provide equal Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
opens. If you wish to speak, the
consideration to all comments received, at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC
Commission staff will hand out
whether filed in written form or website (www.ferc.gov) using the
numbers in the order of your arrival.
provided verbally. The Commission eLibrary link. The eLibrary link also
Comments will be taken until 7:00 p.m.
encourages electronic filing of provides access to the texts of all formal
However, if no additional numbers have
comments and has staff available to documents issued by the Commission,
been handed out and all individuals
assist you at (866) 208–3676 or such as orders, notices, and
who wish to provide comments have
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please rulemakings.
had an opportunity to do so, staff may
carefully follow these instructions so In addition, the Commission offers a
conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. Please
that your comments are properly free service called eSubscription that
see appendix 1 for additional
recorded. allows you to keep track of all formal
(1) You can file your comments information on the session format and
conduct.1 issuances and submittals in specific
electronically using the eComment dockets. This can reduce the amount of
Your verbal comments will be
feature on the Commission’s website time you spend researching proceedings
recorded by the court reporter (with
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to by automatically providing you with
FERC staff or representative present)
Documents and Filings. This is an easy notification of these filings, document
and become part of the public record for
method for submitting brief, text-only summaries, and direct links to the
comments on a project; 1 The appendices referenced in this notice will documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-
(2) You can file your comments not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the filing/esubscription.asp.
electronically by using the eFiling appendices were sent to all those receiving this
feature on the Commission’s website notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
Dated: November 13, 2018.
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’ or from the Kimberly D. Bose,
Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First Secretary.
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–
you can provide comments in a variety 8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, [FR Doc. 2018–25308 Filed 11–19–18; 8:45 am]
of formats by attaching them as a file refer to page 2 of this notice. BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:31 Nov 19, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_58782/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-11-20 07:59:02
Document Modified: 2018-11-20 07:59:02
| 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 58558 |
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