[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68347-68350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27991]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF10-24-000]


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

October 29, 2010.
    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of the Sabine Pass Liquefaction 
Project (Project) involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, and Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. (collectively 
referred to as Sabine Pass) in Cameron County, Louisiana. This EA will 
be used by the Commission in its decision-making process to determine 
whether the Project is in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies on the project. Your input during the scoping process will 
help the Commission staff determine what issues need to be evaluated in 
the EA. The Commission staff will also use the scoping process to help 
determine whether preparation of an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) is more appropriate for this Project based upon the potential 
significance of the anticipated levels of impact. Please note that the 
scoping period will close on November 29, 2010. This is not your only 
public input opportunity; please refer to the Environmental Review 
Process flow chart in Appendix 1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to 
all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
http://www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' 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.
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    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this Project. 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.

Involvement of U.S. Department of Energy

    The FERC is the lead federal agency in preparation of an EA that 
will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA). The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy (DOE) 
has agreed to participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of 
the EA to satisfy its NEPA responsibilities. DOE proposes to authorize 
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal (SPLNG Terminal) if DOE determines 
that such export is in the public interest.
    The DOE must meet its obligation under section 3 of the Natural Gas 
Act of 1938, as amended (NGA), to authorize the import and export of 
natural gas,

[[Page 68348]]

including LNG, unless it finds that the proposed import or export will 
not be consistent with the public interest. The purpose and need for 
DOE action is to respond to the September 7, 2010, application filed 
with DOE (FE Docket No. 10-111-LNG) by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC, 
in conjunction with the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project. Sabine Pass 
Liquefaction, LLC has applied to DOE for blanket authorization to 
export up to 16 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) of domestic 
natural gas as LNG for a 20-year period, commencing the earlier of the 
date of first export or five years from the date of issuance of the 
requested authorization, from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal to any 
country: (1) With which the United States does not have a free trade 
agreement requiring the national treatment for trade in natural gas and 
LNG; (2) that has, or in the future develops, the capacity to import 
LNG; and (3) with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy.

Summary of the Planned Project Before FERC

    Sabine Pass plans to add natural gas liquefaction and exportation 
capabilities to the existing Sabine Pass LNG Import Terminal in Cameron 
Parish, Louisiana. The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project would consist 
of the construction and installation of facilities to be used for the 
liquefaction and exportation of natural gas. All Project facilities 
would be constructed and operated within the existing 853-acre SPLNG 
Terminal Site. Sabine Pass plans to construct the Project in two 
stages, with anticipated in-service starting in January 2015.
    The Project would be capable of processing an average of 
approximately 2.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of pipeline 
quality natural gas from the Creole Trail Pipeline, which interconnects 
with the SPLNG Terminal. Sabine Pass would liquefy the natural gas, 
store the LNG, and export approximately 16 mtpa of LNG via LNG 
carriers.
    According to Sabine Pass, its Project would improve the outlook for 
domestic natural gas production, owing to drilling productivity gains 
that have enabled rapid growth in supplies from unconventional, and 
particularly shale, gas-bearing formations in the United States. The 
exportation of LNG would provide a market solution to allow the further 
deliberate development of these sources of natural gas.
    More specifically, the Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     Four LNG liquefaction trains (each train contains gas 
treatment facilities, six gas turbine-driven refrigerant compressors, 
waste heat recovery systems, induced draft air coolers, fire and gas 
detection and safety systems, control systems, and associated 
infrastructure);
     Additional power generation (including up to two gas 
turbine-driven generators, transformers, and other electrical 
accessories to supplement existing onsite power generation);
     Other infrastructure and modifications (including storage 
tanks for propane and ethylene refrigerants and the amine make up, 
replacement of in-tank LNG pumps and piping modifications to increase 
flow capacity and facilitate loading of LNG carriers, impoundments for 
the liquefaction trains, flares, recycle boil-off gas compressors, 
potable water, service water, and demineralized water systems); and
     New and remodeled buildings.
    In addition, a LNG storage tank and impoundment that were 
previously authorized under FERC Docket CP05-396-000 but not built 
would be constructed to provide additional LNG storage for the Project.
    The general location of the Project facilities is shown in Appendix 
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 243 
acres of land. Following construction, about 203 acres would be 
maintained for permanent operation of the Project's facilities; the 
remaining acreage would be restored and allowed to revert to former 
uses. All planned activities would occur within the existing 853-acre 
SPLNG Terminal site.

The EA Process

    NEPA 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 \2\ 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, the Commission requests 
public comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. All 
comments received will be considered during the preparation of the EA.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned Project under these 
general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and fisheries;
     floodplains and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     endangered and threatened species;
     socioeconomics;
     land use;
     cultural resources;
     air quality and noise; and
     public safety.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned Project 
or portions of the Project, including the no action alternative, and 
make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various 
resource areas.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's 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. As part of our pre-filing review, 
we have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss 
their involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA. 
In addition, representatives from FERC participated in the public open 
house sponsored by Sabine Pass in the Project area in September 2010 to 
explain the Environmental Review Process to interested stakeholders.
    Our independent analysis of the issues will be presented in the EA. 
If the Commission staff determines the preparation of an EA is 
appropriate, the EA will be placed in the public record and be 
published and distributed to the public. A comment period will be 
allotted when the EA is noticed. We will consider all comments on the 
EA before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure your 
comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions in 
the Public Participation section beginning on page 6.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction and/or 
special expertise with respect to environmental issues to formally 
cooperate with us in the preparation of the EA. These agencies may 
choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to 
their responsibilities. Agencies that would like to request cooperating 
agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments 
provided under the Public Participation section of this notice. 
Currently, the DOE has expressed its intention to participate as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to

[[Page 68349]]

satisfy its NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.

Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation 
with applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), and to solicit 
their views and those of other government agencies, interested Indian 
tribes, and the public on the Project's potential effects on historic 
properties.\3\ We will define the project-specific Area of Potential 
Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) as the Project is 
further developed. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a 
minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples 
include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, 
compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA for this Project will 
document our findings on the impacts on historic properties and 
summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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    \3\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Historic 
properties are defined in those regulations as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register for Historic 
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and 
the environmental information provided by Sabine Pass. This preliminary 
list of issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
     Floodplains;
     Socioeconomics;
     Air quality; and
     Public safety.

Notice of Floodplain Involvement

    Because the proposed Project may involve actions in floodplains, in 
accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1022, 
Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review 
Requirements, the EA will include a floodplain assessment as 
appropriate, and a floodplain statement of findings will be included in 
any DOE finding of no significant impact.

Public Participation

    You can make a difference by providing us with your specific 
comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on 
the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, 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 send your comments so 
that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before November 29, 
2010.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
Project docket number PF10-24-000 with your submission. The Commission 
encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert eFiling staff 
available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected].
    (1) You may file your comments electronically by using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. An eComment is an 
easy method for interested persons to submit brief, text-only comments 
on a project;
    (2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling you 
can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a 
file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an 
account by clicking on ``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the 
type of filing you are making. A comment on a particular project is 
considered a ``Comment on a Filing''; or
    (3) You may mail a paper copy of your comments to the Commission at 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the Project. We will update the environmental mailing list 
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related 
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
planned Project.
    When an EA is published for distribution, copies will be sent to 
the environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you 
would prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD 
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please 
return the attached Information Request (Appendix 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Sabine Pass files its application with the Commission, you may 
want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the 
Commission's 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 the 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 the Commission will not accept 
requests for intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a 
formal application for the Project is filed with the Commission.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC 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 
(i.e., PF10-24). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. 
For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
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 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

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summaries, and direct links to the documents. 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, Sabine Pass has established a Web site for this Project at 
http://www.cheniere.com. The Web site includes a Project overview, 
timeline, environmental information, and answers to frequently asked 
questions. You can also request additional information by contacting 
Patricia Outtrim at Sabine Pass via e-mail at [email protected] 
or by calling (713) 375-5212.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-27991 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P