[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55123-55125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-5127]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF05-10-000]


Northern Star Natural Gas LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Bradwood Landing LNG Project, 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of a Joint 
Public Meeting, and Site Visit

September 13, 2005.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) and 
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard (Coast 
Guard) are in the process of evaluating the Bradwood Landing Liquefied 
Natural Gas (LNG) Project planned by Northern Star Natural Gas LLC 
(Northern Star). The project would consist of an onshore LNG import and 
storage terminal, located about 38 miles up the Columbia River from its 
mouth, in Clatsop County, Oregon, and an approximately 34-mile-long 
natural gas sendout pipeline, extending from the terminal through 
Columbia County, Oregon, to an interconnection with the Williams 
Northwest Pipeline (Williams Northwest) system in Cowlitz County, 
Washington.
    As a part of this evaluation, FERC staff will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) that will address the 
environmental impacts of the project and the Coast Guard will assess 
the safety and security of the project. As described below, the FERC 
and the Coast Guard will hold a joint public meeting to allow the 
public to provide input to these assessments.
    The Commission will use the EIS in its decision-making process to 
determine whether or not to authorize the project. This Notice of 
Intent (NOI) explains the scoping process we \1\ will use to gather 
information on the project from the public and interested agencies and 
summarizes the process that the Coast Guard will use. Your input will 
help identify the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS and in 
the Coast Guard's safety and security assessment.
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    \1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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    The FERC will be the lead Federal agency in the preparation of an 
EIS that will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA). The Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
will serve as cooperating agencies during preparation of the EIS. In 
addition, we have invited the U.S. Department of Commerce, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries 
Service; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Department 
of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service; the Oregon Department of 
Energy; and the Washington Department of Ecology to serve as 
cooperating agencies in preparation of the EIS.
    Comments on the project may be submitted in written form or 
verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are 
provided in the Public Participation section of this NOI. In lieu of 
sending written comments, we invite you to attend the public scoping 
meeting scheduled as follows:
    Thursday, September 29, 2005, 7 p.m. (PST), Knappa High School, 
41535 Old Highway 30, Astoria, OR 97102, 503-458-6166.
    The public scoping meeting listed above will be combined with the 
Coast Guard's public meetings regarding the safety and security of the 
project. At the meeting, the Coast Guard will discuss: (1) the waterway 
safety assessment that it will conduct to determine whether or not the 
waterway can safely accommodate the LNG carrier traffic and operation 
of the planned LNG marine terminal; and (2) the security assessment it 
will conduct in accordance with the requirements of the Maritime 
Transportation Security Act. The Coast Guard will issue a separate 
meeting notice for the safety and security aspects of the project.
    This NOI is being sent to Federal, state, and local government 
agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and 
public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional Native American 
organizations; commentors and other interested parties; and local 
libraries and newspapers. We encourage government representatives to 
notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to 
comment on their areas of concern.

Site Visit

    Also, on Thursday, September 29, 2005, starting at 9 a.m., we will 
be conducting a site visit to view selected points along the proposed 
pipeline route, and the location of the LNG import terminal. Anyone 
interested in participating in the site visit should meet at the 
parking lot for the Cowlitz County Public Utilities District Building, 
961 12th Avenue, Longview, Washington 98632; (telephone: 360-423-2210). 
Participants must provide their own transportation. For additional 
information, please contact the Commission's Office of External Affairs 
at 1-866-208-FERC (3372).

Summary of the Planned Project

    Northern Star proposes to construct and operate an LNG import 
terminal and storage facility, and associated natural gas sendout 
pipeline with a capacity of 1.0 billion cubic feet per day. More 
specifically, Northern Star's facilities would consist of:
     A marine LNG terminal, including a dredged turning basin 
and a single dock, capable of handling about 125 LNG tankers per year, 
ranging in size from 100,000 to 200,000 cubic meters (m\3\) per ship;
     Four 16-inch-diameter unloading arms on the dock, with an 
unloading capacity rate of 12,000 m\3\ of LNG per hour, and 6-inch-
diameter and 30-inch-diameter unloading lines to transfer LNG from the 
dock to the storage tanks;
     Two insulated LNG storage tanks, each with a capacity of 
160,000 m\3\;
     Boil-off gas management system, and sendout pumps;
     Ambient air vaporizers to convert LNG into natural gas;

[[Page 55124]]

     Electric substation and distribution lines and emergency 
diesel-fueled generator at the terminal;
     Ancillary terminal facilities, including control room, 
maintenance shop, warehouse, office, security, and safety systems;
     Measurement controls and natural gas metering facilities;
     A ca. 34-mile-long, 30 and 36-inch-diameter natural gas 
sendout pipeline extending from the LNG terminal to the interconnection 
with Williams Northwest;
     Delivery points at the Georgia-Pacific paper mill at 
Wauna, Oregon, and the Portland General Electric (PGE) Beaver power 
plant at Port Westward, Oregon;
     Interconnections with the Northwest Natural intrastate 
pipeline adjacent to the PGE Beaver delivery point, and with Williams 
Northwest; and
     A pig launcher at the LNG terminal, pigging facilities 
along the pipeline at transitions between 30-inch-diameter and 36-inch-
diameter pipe sizes; and a pig receiver at the eastern end of the 
pipeline at its interconnection with Williams Northwest.
    A location map depicting Northern Star's proposed facilities is 
attached to this NOI as Appendix 1.\2\
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    \2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the 
Commission's Web site (excluding maps) at the ``e-Library'' link or 
from the Commission's Public Reference Room or call (202) 502-8371. 
For instructions on connecting to e-Library refer to the end of this 
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving 
this notice in the mail.
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The EIS Process

    The NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the 
environmental impacts that could result from an action when it 
considers whether or not an LNG import terminal or an interstate 
natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC will use the EIS to 
consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues 
project authorizations to Northern Star under Sections 3 and 7 of the 
Natural Gas Act. The 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 EIS on the important environmental issues. With this 
NOI, the Commission staff is requesting public comments on the scope of 
the issues to be addressed in the EIS. All comments received will be 
considered during preparation of the EIS.
    In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of the 
proposed project under these general headings:

     Geology and soils.
     Water resources.
     Aquatic resources.
     Vegetation and wildlife.
     Threatened and endangered species.
     Land use, recreation, and visual resources.
     Cultural resources.
     Socioeconomics.
     Marine transportation.
     Air quality and noise.
     Reliability and safety.
     Cumulative impacts.
    In the EIS, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 
proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations 
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft 
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal, state, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; 
environmental and public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional 
Native American organizations; commentors; other interested parties; 
local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's official service list 
for this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for 
review of the draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the draft EIS 
and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We 
will consider all comments on the final EIS before we make our 
recommendations to the Commission. To ensure that your comments are 
considered, please follow the instructions in the Public Participation 
section of this NOI.
    Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has 
already initiated its NEPA review under its pre-filing process. The 
purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of 
interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an 
application is filed with the FERC. In addition, the Coast Guard, which 
would be responsible for reviewing the safety and security aspects of 
the planned project and regulating safety and security if the project 
is approved, has initiated its review of the project as well.
    With this NOI, we are asking Federal, state, and local agencies 
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues, in addition to those agencies that have already 
agreed to serve as cooperating agencies (as noted above), to formally 
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may 
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to 
their responsibilities. Additional agencies that would like to request 
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this NOI.

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified issues that we think deserve attention 
based on comment letters received during our pre-filing process, 
interagency meetings, a preliminary review of the project area, and the 
planned facility information provided by Northern Star. This 
preliminary list of issues, which is presented below, may be revised 
based on your comments and our continuing analyses.
     Impact of LNG ship traffic on other river users, including 
recreational boaters and fishing.
     Safety issues relating to LNG ship traffic, including 
transit over the Columbia River bar.
     Potential impacts on the residents of Puget Island, 
including safety issues at the import and storage facility, noise, air 
quality, and visual resources.
     Potential impacts of dredging the LNG marine terminal 
turning basin on Clifton Channel and related fishery.
     Potential geological hazards at the Bradwood Landing 
terminal, including seismic issues and landslides.
     Impact of the Bradwood Landing terminal on the railroad 
through this site.
     Project impacts on threatened and endangered species and 
nearby National Wildlife Refuges.
     Project impacts on cultural resources.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the planned project. By becoming a 
commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by 
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative 
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen 
environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful 
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly 
recorded, please follow these instructions:

[[Page 55125]]

     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 your comments for the attention of OEP/
DG2E/Gas Branch 3, PJ-11.3.
     Reference Docket No. PF05-10-000 on the original and both 
copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 17, 2005.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any 
comments in response to this NOI. For information on electronically 
filing comments, please see 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 as well as information in 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii). 
Before you can file comments you will need to create a free account, 
which can be accomplished on-line.
    The public scoping meeting (date, time, and location listed above) 
is designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on the 
proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to 
attend the meeting and to present comments on the environmental issues 
that they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of the 
meeting will be generated so that your comments will be accurately 
recorded.
    Once Northern Star formally files its application with the 
Commission, you may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an 
official party to the proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role 
in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be 
heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final 
ruling. An intervenor formally participates in a Commission proceeding 
by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an 
intervenor are included in the User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link 
on the Commission's Web site. Please note that you may not request 
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a formal 
application is filed with the Commission.

Environmental Mailing List

    If you wish to remain on the environmental mailing list, please 
return the attached Mailing List Retention Form (Appendix 2 of this 
NOI). Also, indicate on the form your preference for receiving a paper 
or electronic version of the EIS. If you do not return this form, we 
will remove your name 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 (3372) or on 
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary 
link.'' Click on the eLibrary link, select ``General Search'' and enter 
the project docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF05-
10) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an 
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary 
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-
mail at [email protected]. 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 rule makings.
    In addition, the FERC now 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. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
    Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx 
along with other related information.
    Finally, Northern Star has established an Internet Web site for 
this project at http://www.Northernstar-NG.com. The Web site includes a 
project overview, status, potential impacts and mitigation, and answers 
to frequently asked questions. You can also request additional 
information by calling Northern Star directly at 503-914-1905 or 503-
325-3335.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-5127 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P