[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 77 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20894-20895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1896]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP04-395-000 and CP04-405-000]


Vista del Sol LNG Terminal LP, Vista del Sol Pipeline LP; Notice 
of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Vista del Sol LNG Terminal Project

April 15, 2005.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
import terminal and natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Vista 
del Sol LNG Terminal LP and Vista del Sol Pipeline LP (collectively 
referred to as Vista del Sol) in the above-referenced dockets.
    The final EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that 
approval of the proposed project with appropriate mitigating measures 
as recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact. The 
final EIS also evaluates alternatives to the proposal, including system 
alternatives, alternative sites for the LNG import terminal, and 
pipeline alternatives.
    Vista del Sol's proposed facilities would transport up to 1.4 
billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) of imported natural gas to the United 
States market. In order to provide LNG import, storage, and pipeline 
transportation services, Vista del Sol requests Commission 
authorization to construct, install, and operate an LNG terminal and 
natural gas pipeline facilities.
    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the following LNG terminal and natural 
gas pipeline facilities:
     A ship unloading facility with berthing capabilities for 
one LNG ship with cargo capacities of up to 250,000 cubic meters 
(m3);
     Three 155,000 m3 full containment LNG storage 
tanks;
     Vaporization equipment capable of an average sendout 
capacity of 1.1 Bcfd and a maximum sendout capacity of 1.4 Bcfd;
     Ancillary utilities, buildings, and service facilities;
     One 25.3 mile-long, 36-inch-diameter natural gas sendout 
pipeline; and
     Associated pipeline support facilities, including six 
meter stations at

[[Page 20895]]

interconnects with nine existing pipeline systems, one pig launcher, 
and one pig receiver.
    The final EIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and 
is available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., 
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8371.
    A limited number of copies are available from the Public Reference 
Room identified above. In addition, copies of the final EIS have been 
mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies; public interest groups; 
individuals and affected landowners who requested a copy of the final 
EIS; libraries; newspapers; and parties to this proceeding.
    In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) 
regulations implementing NEPA, no agency decision on a proposed action 
may be made until 30 days after the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) publishes a notice of availability of a final EIS. 
However, the CEQ regulations provide an exception to this rule when an 
agency decision is subject to a formal internal process that allows 
other agencies or the public to make their views known. In such cases, 
the agency decision may be made at the same time the notice of the 
final EIS is published, allowing both periods to run concurrently. 
Should the FERC issue Vista del Sol authorizations for the proposed 
project, it would be subject to a 30-day rehearing period. Therefore, 
the Commission could issue its decision concurrently with the EPA's 
notice of availability.
    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the 
FERC Internet Web site (http://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. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site 
also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission now 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 the eSubscription link on the FERC Internet Web 
site.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-1896 Filed 4-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P