[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35422-35423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3147]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP03-75-002]


Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare An 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Freeport LNG Development, 
L.P.'s Amended Freeport LNG (Pipeline) Project and Request for Comments 
on Environmental Issues

June 13, 2005.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of Freeport LNG Development, L.P.'s 
(Freeport LNG) proposal to amend its authorization for its Freeport LNG 
Project. Freeport LNG proposes to change the diameter of its previously 
approved pipeline from 36 inches to 42 inches. The larger pipeline 
would use the same right-of-way and workspaces as the previously 
approved route from Quintana Island to Stratton Ridge in Brazoria 
County, Texas. Freeport LNG is not requesting any additional work areas 
for the construction of the larger pipeline.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will 
be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. Please note that the scoping period will close 
on July 13, 2005.
    This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners; 
federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other 
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local 
government representatives are asked to 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 website (http://www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet 
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including how to 
participate in the Commission's proceedings. It is available for 
viewing on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov).

Background

    In the Commission's June 18, 2004 Order, Freeport LNG was 
authorized to construct and operate a 9.6 mile, 36-inch-diameter 
pipeline and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. At this time the 
authorized LNG terminal is under construction. Pipeline construction is 
planned to start in December 2005.
    Freeport LNG filed its original application on March 28, 2003. At 
that time Freeport LNG did not foresee a potential for additional 
customer demand. Since the project was authorized by the Commission 
other customers have expressed interest in using the LNG facility to 
import natural gas. Freeport proposes to meet this increased demand by 
expanding its authorized facilities. The proposal under consideration 
in this docket is only Freeport LNG's proposal to increase the diameter 
of its outlet pipeline from 36 inches to 42 inches.\1\
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    \1\ Freeport LNG has also filed an application to expand the LNG 
terminal in Docket No. CP05-361-000. This application will be the 
focus of a separate environment review and an NOI for this project 
will be issued in the near future.
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    We are looking at the increased pipeline diameter separately from 
the proposed expansion of the LNG terminal for several reasons. First, 
since the larger pipeline would be constructed in the same footprint as 
the previously authorized pipeline it appears that there would be no 
additional environmental impact from that described in the 
environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared for the original Freeport 
LNG Project. Second, although the increase in diameter would benefit 
future expansion, it would also benefit the already authorized 
terminal. The increase in diameter would provide Freeport LNG with more 
operational flexibility by maintaining higher delivery pressures at the 
Stratton Ridge delivery point at the terminus of the line. Staff 
estimates that the increase in pipe diameter would increase delivery 
pressures at the Stratton Ridge delivery point by as much as 13 
percent. Higher delivery pressures at the Stratton Ridge delivery would 
enable Freeport LNG to respond to larger hourly swings in demand on its 
pipeline system. Finally, there is a timing issue. In order to meet the 
in-service date for the authorized project, construction of the 
pipeline must start in December 2005. If the authorized 36-inch-
diameter pipeline is installed and the Commission decides to approve 
the expansion of the terminal a second pipeline would need to be 
installed to meet the volume requirements of the expansion. This would 
result in increased environmental impact. If the Commission decides not 
to approve the expansion the 42-inch-diameter pipeline would continue 
to be used for the existing customers.
    The location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 1.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other 
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Web site 
at the ``eLibrary'' link 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. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the 42-inch-diameter pipeline would disturb the 
same 87.9 acres of land that would have been disturbed by the 
previously approved 36-inch-diameter pipeline. Following construction, 
about 37.3 acres would be maintained as permanent right-of-way. The 
remaining 50.6 acres of land would be restored and allowed to revert to 
its former use.

[[Page 35423]]

The EA Process

    We \3\ are preparing this EA to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which requires the Commission to take 
into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action 
whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us 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 EA on the important environmental issues. By 
this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff requests public comments on 
the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All comments received are 
considered during the preparation of the EA. By this notice, we are 
also asking federal, state, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or 
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally 
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. Agencies that would 
like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for 
filing comments below.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending 
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be 
published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, public 
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners, 
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for 
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA 
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make 
our recommendations to the Commission.
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    \3\ ''We'', ``us'', and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP).
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    Since the proposed increase in pipeline diameter would not result 
in any environmental impacts that were not described in the Freeport 
LNG Environmental Impact Statement, in the EA, we will summarized the 
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation 
of the project. We will also evaluate possible alternatives to 
increasing the diameter of the pipeline.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your 
concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by the Commission. 
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative locations 
and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The 
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. Please 
carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are 
received in time and properly recorded:
     Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie 
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
     Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas 
Branch 2.
     Reference Docket Number CP03-75-002.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before July 13, 2005.
    Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic 
filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. 
See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's 
Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and the 
link to the User's Guide. Before you can file comments, you will need 
to create and account which can be created on-line.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an 
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process. 
Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of 
case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors. 
Likewise, each intervenor must send one electronic copy (using the 
Commission's eFiling system) or 14 paper copies of its filings to the 
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all 
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. If 
you want to become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene 
according to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214, see Appendix 2).\4\ Only intervenors have 
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
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    \4\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
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    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they 
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be 
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor 
status to have your environmental comments considered.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you wish to remain on our environmental mailing list, please 
return the Information Request Form included in Appendix 2. If you do 
not return this form, you will be removed from our mailing list.

Additional Information

    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 website (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 TYY, 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 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 www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-3147 Filed 6-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P