[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2386-2387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-931]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP99-579-000 and CP99-580-000]
Southern LNG Inc.; Notice of Availability of the Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Elba Island Terminal Recommissioning
Project
January 10, 2000.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the
natural gas facilities proposed by Southern LNG Inc. (Southern LNG) in
the above-referenced docket.
The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act. The staff concludes that approval of the
proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment.
[[Page 2387]]
The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of facilities by Southern LNG. The project
involves returning to active service Southern LNG's existing,
certificated liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine import terminal near
Savannah, Georgia (Elba Island Terminal). The existing authorized
facilities at the Elba Island Terminal include the following:
LNG unloading facilities, including marine berth, pier,
and arms for unloading LNG from vessels;
LNG storage facilities, including three double-wall
storage tanks, each with the capacity of 400,000 barrels (4 billion
cubic feet vaporized equivalent);
LNG sendout facilities, including pumps and vaporizers
with a maximum capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day;
Boil-off compressors;
Pressure relief, vent, and disposal systems;
Spill containment facilities, including a 400,000-barrel
capacity main spill containment for each LNG storage tank; and
Fire water system sourced from a fresh-water pond and
river water.
The storage and vaporization facilities would not be significantly
altered, replaced or relocated. The storage and throughput capacity of
the facilities would remain the same as originally placed in service in
1978. The recommissioning work will include the following:
Install suction drum level control and minimum flow
piping;
Replace two LNG pumps;
Install LNG recirculation piping;
Install an additional boil-off compressor (1,000-
horsepower);
Install LNG tank level, density and temperature gauges;
Upgrade fire protection system;
Upgrade hazard detection system;
Install intrusion detection system;
Renew dredging of berthing area and turning basin;
Increase dredged material basin capacity;
Modify power distribution switchgear to allow parallel
operation with utility (under consideration); and
Install distributed control and data acquisition system.
The proposed improvements would bring the facilities into compliance
with applicable current code requirements and would update the safety,
security, operability and reliability of the terminal.
The purpose of the proposed facilities would be to provide open-
access service to shippers desiring to contract for receipt, storage,
and vaporization of LNG and delivery of vaporized LNG at the existing
point of interconnect with the interstate pipeline of Southern Natural
Gas Company. The Elba Island Terminal has an average design natural gas
sendout rate of 322 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), with
a maximum capacity of 540 MMSCFD.
The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited
number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public
inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference
and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A,
Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, state and local
agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers,
and parties to this proceeding.
Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure
consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is
important that we receive your comments before the date specified
below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your
comments are received in time and properly recorded:
Send two copies of your comments to: Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE, Room 1A, Washington,
DC 20426;
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the
Environmental Review and Compliance Branch, PR-11.1;
Reference Docket Nos. CP99-579-000 and CP99-588-000; and
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before February 11, 2000.
Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to
make the commentor a party to the proceeding. 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 385.214).
The date for filing timely motions to intervene in this proceeding
has passed. Therefore, parties now seeking to file later interventions
must show good cause, as required by section 385.214(b)(3), why this
time limitation should be waived. Environmental issues have been viewed
as good cause for later intervention. You do not need intervenor status
to have your comments considered.
Additional information about the proposed project is available from
Paul McKee in the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (202)
208-1088 or on the FERC Internet website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the
``RIMS'' link to information in this docket number. Click on the
``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the RIMS Menu, and follow the
instructions. For assistance with access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can
be reached at (202) 208-2222.
Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website,
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and
follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-931 Filed 1-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M