[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26353-26354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10812]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7869]


Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and the National Interest 
Determination for the Vantage Pipeline Project

    Vantage US LP has applied to the Department of State (DOS) for a 
Presidential Permit to construct and operate facilities at the border 
for a proposed pipeline carrying ethane from North Dakota to Canada. 
The DOS has released an Environmental Assessment (EA) that discusses 
the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Vantage Pipeline 
Project. This EA will be used by the DOS in its decision-making process 
to determine whether the project would serve the national interest and 
whether the applicant should receive a Presidential Permit. This notice 
announces the opening of the public comment process the DOS will use to 
gather input from the public on the proposed project. Your input will 
help the DOS determine the next steps in the environmental review of 
this project and whether the project would serve the national interest. 
The DOS is requesting comments on: (1) The EA, and (2) whether the 
Vantage Pipeline Project serves the national interest. Please note that 
the public comment period will close on June 2, 2012.

[[Page 26354]]

Summary of the Proposed Project

    The proposed Vantage Pipeline Project would be an underground high 
vapor pressure pipeline that would carry liquid ethane from Tioga, 
North Dakota to Alberta, Canada. In the United States, Vantage proposes 
to construct and operate 79.8 miles of 10-inch-diameter ethane pipeline 
in Williams and Divide Counties, North Dakota. Aboveground, the project 
would include the installation of mainline valves at seven locations 
along the pipeline and the use of various ancillary facilities (e.g., 
access roads, yards).
    The Vantage Pipeline would export ethane to Canada that is 
extracted from North Dakota-produced natural gas and compressed to a 
liquid form at an existing natural gas facility in North Dakota. The 
ethane that would be transported in the Vantage Pipeline is a flammable 
liquid that is non-corrosive, odorless, and colorless. It has similar 
characteristics to natural gas, the fuel that is used in furnaces to 
heat homes. Ethane is currently used as a petrochemical feedstock and 
is ultimately converted to plastics, anti-freeze, rubber, detergents, 
solvents, and like products. Vantage anticipates that the ethane 
transported through the proposed pipeline would be used for these 
purposes by the Alberta petrochemical industry. The Canadian National 
Energy Board approved the Canadian portion of the pipeline system on 
January 19, 2012.

The Presidential Permit Process

    The Secretary of State is designated and empowered under Executive 
Order 13337 to receive all applications for Presidential permits for 
the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance at the borders 
of the United States, of facilities for the exportation or importation 
of petroleum, petroleum products, coal, or other liquid or solid fuels 
to or from a foreign country. As a part of the review of an application 
for a Presidential Permit, the Secretary of State must determine 
whether or not the project would be in the national interest. The 
determination of national interest involves consideration of many 
factors, which can include energy security, environmental, cultural, 
economic and foreign policy impacts. The EA that is the subject of this 
notification is considered in the national interest determination.

The Environmental Review Process

    Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended, regulations developed by the Council on Environmental 
Quality (40 CFR 1500), and DOS regulations for implementing NEPA (22 
CFR 161), the DOS is undertaking an environmental review of the 
proposed pipeline in the United States. DOS now has issued an EA for 
the proposed Vantage Pipeline Project.
    In the EA, the DOS discusses impacts that could occur as a result 
of the construction and operation and maintenance of pipeline 
facilities of natural gas liquids and also evaluates reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed project. The potential environmental 
impacts of the Project are based on currently available information.
    In addition, the DOS is carrying out the Section 106 review process 
under Section 101(d)(6)(b) of the National Historic Preservation Act of 
1966 through which it consults with any Indian tribe that attaches 
religious or cultural significance to historic properties that may be 
affected by construction of the Vantage Pipeline.
    The EA is available to the public from the Web site http://vantagepipeline.state.gov/ and by mail. Following the 30-day public 
comment period, and after taking into account any comments received 
during that period, the DOS will decide whether to issue a Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI) or proceed with further environmental 
review through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). To ensure that 
your comments are considered, please carefully follow the instructions 
detailed in the Public Participation section below.

Public Participation

    You are encouraged to become involved in this process and provide 
your comments or concerns about the proposed project. As noted above, 
we are requesting comments on two aspects of the Vantage Pipeline 
Project. First, we request comments on the EA that focus on the 
potential environmental impacts of the project, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. 
The EA is available on the DOS Web site for the project at http://vantagepipeline.state.gov/.
    Second, we are requesting comments on whether this project is in 
the national interest. The determination of national interest involves 
consideration of many factors, which can include energy security, 
environmental, cultural, and economic impacts.
    To ensure that we have the opportunity to consider your comments, 
please make sure that comments on one or both of these issues described 
above are postmarked by June 2, 2012.
    For your convenience, there are two methods that you can use to 
submit your comments. In all instances please reference the project 
(i.e., Vantage) with your submission. We encourage electronic filing of 
comments.
    (1) You may mail your comments to the following address: State 
Department Vantage Comments, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Box 
501, Washington, DC 20006.
    (2) You may enter your comments directly on the DOS Web site at: 
http://vantagepipeline.state.gov/.

Environmental Mailing List

    The DOS sends information related to this environmental review to 
individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/
or potentially affected by the proposed project and maintains an 
environmental mailing list for this purpose. 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 who are 
potential right-of-way grantors, whose property may be used temporarily 
for project purposes, and anyone who submits comments on the project. 
The DOS will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis 
proceeds. If you would like to be included on the mailing list, please 
submit your address by accessing the DOS Web site at http://vantagepipeline.state.gov/.

Additional Information

    The EA and related documents to be considered by the DOS in 
connection with this application, including environmental information 
and associated maps, are downloadable at: http://www.vantagepipeline.state.gov. The Vantage Pipeline Project toll free 
number is 1-877-918-6818 (United States).

    Dated: Issued in Washington, DC on May 1, 2012.
George N. Sibley,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2012-10812 Filed 5-2-12; 8:45 am]
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