[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 230 (Friday, November 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72471-72472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28292]



[[Page 72471]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP04-47-001; CP05-396-001]


Sabine Pass LNG, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Sabine Pass LNG Export 
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

November 21, 2008.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
address the environmental impacts of the Sabine Pass LNG Export Project 
(Sabine Export Project or Project) proposed by Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. 
(Sabine Pass). The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making 
process to determine whether or not to authorize the project. This 
notice explains the scoping process we \1\ will use to gather 
environmental input from the public and interested agencies on the 
projects. Your input will help the Commission determine the issues that 
need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period 
will close on December 19, 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ `We,' `us,' and `our' refer to the environmental staff of 
the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Details on how to submit written comments are provided in the 
Public Participation section of this notice.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted 
by a Sabine Pass representative about the proposed project facilities.
    This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state, 
and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; Native American tribes; 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.

Summary of the Proposed Projects

    The purpose of the project is to add Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
export capabilities/functionality to the previously authorized Sabine 
Pass LNG Terminal Facilities located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. 
Sabine Pass is seeking authorization to operate its facility for the 
purpose of exporting LNG. Sabine proposes to operate its existing 
Sabine Pass LNG Terminal facility to export LNG on a short term basis 
by holding cargos of imported LNG in its LNG tanks for re-export. To 
accomplish this, Sabine Pass would modify up to four 24-inch check 
valves on unloading arms A & D on the West and East Jetty Platforms in 
the marine portion of the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal. The general 
location of the proposed project is shown in the figure included as 
Appendix 1.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of the 
appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail. 
Requests for detailed maps of the proposed facilities should be made 
directly to Sabine Pass.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed modification of the check valves would allow the LNG 
to be transferred from the LNG storage tanks to a receiving ship. The 
existing in-situ in-tank pumps would be used to pump/push LNG from the 
tanks through the LNG transfer lines to the unloading/loading arms and 
then into the ship for export and transportation. Since the Sabine Pass 
LNG Terminal already includes all required plant components to 
facilitate the proposed activity other than the valve modifications, no 
land disturbance would be required. The valves are located on the 
accessible portion of the Jetty Platforms.

Total Land Requirements

    Based on the preliminary information, construction of Sabine Pass 
Export Project facilities would not involve new land disturbance; 
therefore, there would be no land requirements.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the 
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could 
result from an action. The FERC will use the EA to consider the 
environmental impact that could result if the project is authorized 
under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to 
discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals to be 
considered by the Commission. 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. With this 
Notice of Intent, the Commission staff is requesting public comments on 
the scope of the issues to be addressed in the EA. All comments 
received will be considered during preparation of the EA.
    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     Land use;
     Water resources, fisheries, ballast water, and wetlands;
     Cultural resources;
     Vegetation and wildlife;
     Threatened and endangered species;
     Air quality and noise;
     Hazardous waste; and
     Public safety.
    In the EA, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the 
proposed project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid 
impacts on affected resources.
    The FERC staff has initiated its NEPA review and FERC encourages 
the early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify 
issues/concerns.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the proposed project. By becoming a 
commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EA and considered by 
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives and measures to avoid or 
lessen environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more 
useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and 
properly recorded, please carefully follow these instructions:
     Send an original and two copies of your letter to: 
Kimberly D. Bose, 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 2, PJ11.2.
     Reference Docket Nos. CP04-47-001 and CP05-396-001 on the 
original and both copies.
     Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before December 22, 2008.
    Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic 
filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. 
See 18 Code of Federal Regulations 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's Internet Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to ``Documents and Filings'' and 
``eFiling.'' eFiling is a file attachment process and requires that you 
prepare your submission in the same manner as you would if filing on 
paper, and save it to a file on your hard drive. New eFiling

[[Page 72472]]

users must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or 
``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are 
making. This filing is considered a ``Comment on Filing.'' In addition, 
there is a ``Quick Comment'' option available, which is an easy method 
for interested persons to submit text only comments on a project. The 
Quick-Comment User Guide can be viewed at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/quick-comment-guide.pdf. Quick Comment does not require 
a FERC eRegistration account; however, you will be asked to provide a 
valid email address. All comments submitted under either eFiling or the 
Quick Comment option are placed in the public record for the specified 
docket or project number(s).
    We might mail the EA for comment. If you are interested in 
receiving it, please return the Information Request (Appendix 2). If 
you do not return the Information Request, you will be taken off the 
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., CP04-
47) 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 TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet 
website 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-28292 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P