[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36769-36770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10128]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP06-361-000]


Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Freeport LNG Phase II Project

June 19, 2006.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 
construction and operation of the expansion of the Freeport liquefied 
natural gas (LNG) import terminal (referred to as the Freeport LNG 
Phase II Project or Project) as proposed by Freeport LNG Development, 
L.P. (Freeport) in the above-referenced docket.
    The EA was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The staff concludes that approval of 
the Freeport LNG Phase II Project, with appropriate mitigating measures 
as recommended, would not constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The EA 
also contains our final General Conformity Determination.
    The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the 
construction and operation of the proposed expansion of the Freeport 
LNG terminal in Brazoria County, Texas including the construction of:
     An additional LNG ship berth and associated unloading 
facilities that would have the capacity to unload up to 200 LNG ships 
per year;
     Additional vaporizers and associated systems, including an 
air tower; and
     An additional LNG storage tank and associated systems.
    The purpose of the Project is to provide the facilities necessary 
for shippers, including MC Global Gas Corporation (a subsidiary of 
Mitsubishi Corporation [Mitsubishi]), to deliver up to 2.5 Mcfd of 
natural gas derived from LNG to the Texas intrastate pipeline system in 
Stratton Ridge. Delivery of gas to the Stratton Ridge area would allow 
to gas to be delivered to the intrastate market or potentially 
transported to the interstate pipeline system for delivery elsewhere.
    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 
Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-
8371.
    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 an original and 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 
Gas Branch 2, PJ11.2.
     Reference Docket No. CP06-361-000; and
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before July 19, 2006.
    Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail 
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will include 
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our 
environmental analysis of this project. However, 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 a free account which can be 
created by clicking on ``Sign-up.''
    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).\1\ Only intervenors have the right to seek 
rehearing of the Commission's decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 comments considered.
    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:

[[Page 36770]]

[email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY 
at (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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-10128 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P