[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 65 (Thursday, April 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20312-20313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07795]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[ Docket Nos. CP07-52-000; CP07-53-000; CP07-53-001]


Downeast LNG, Inc., Downeast Pipeline, LLC.; Notice of 
Availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Downeast LNG Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Downeast LNG Project, proposed by Downeast LNG, 
Inc. and Downeast Pipeline, LLC (hereafter collectively referred to as 
Downeast) in the above-referenced dockets. Downeast requests 
authorization to construct and operate a new liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) import terminal, natural gas pipeline, and associated facilities 
in Washington County, Maine. The Downeast LNG Project would provide 
about 500 million cubic feet per day of imported natural gas to the New 
England region.
    The Commission previously issued a draft EIS for this project in 
May 2009. Since then the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has 
issued clarifications on its Title 49 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR), Part 193, which are relevant to the proposed 
Downeast LNG Project. In October 2011, DOT issued final decisions 
approving specific alternative models for use in complying with these 
federal safety standards. Downeast filed information with the FERC as 
required by the latest DOT interpretations in October and November 
2012. In 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) revised its 
regulations in Title 33, CFR, Part 127 on the process used to examine 
the suitability of the waterway for LNG carrier transits. In 2011, the 
Coast Guard also updated Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-
2011, ``Guidance Related to Waterfront LNG Facilities.'' In 2012, the 
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the report ``Liquefied Natural 
Gas Safety Research Report to Congress'' detailing the results of 
research conducted by Sandia National Laboratories on intentional 
breaches of LNG carrier cargo tanks and the resulting LNG spills on 
water.
    Based on the new information from the DOT, DOE, Coast Guard, and 
Downeast, FERC staff revised the reliability and safety analysis of the 
LNG terminal and carrier transit that was presented in the May 2009 
draft EIS and prepared the Supplemental draft EIS. This document 
presents FERC staff's: technical review of the proposed facility's 
preliminary design; siting analysis, prepared with the cooperation of 
the DOT; and conclusions on the waterway suitability based on input 
from the Coast Guard. The DOT participated as a cooperating agency in 
the preparation of the Supplemental draft EIS.
    We \1\ mailed copies of the Supplemental draft EIS to federal, 
state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American 
tribes; potentially affected landowners and other interested 
individuals and groups; newspapers and libraries in the project area; 
and parties to this proceeding. Paper copy versions of the Supplement 
to the draft EIS were mailed to those specifically requesting them; all 
others

[[Page 20313]]

received a CD version. In addition, the Supplemental draft EIS is 
available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site (www.ferc.gov) 
using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Any person wishing to comment on the Supplemental draft EIS may do 
so. If you previously filed comments on the 2009 draft EIS, it is not 
necessary to re-submit them. All the comments on the 2009 draft EIS, 
along with any comments on the Supplemental draft EIS, will be 
addressed in the final EIS. To ensure consideration of your comments on 
the Supplemental draft EIS, it is important that the Commission receive 
your comments before May 20, 2013.
    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 (CP07-52-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has expert 
staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 or [email protected].
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature on the Commission's Web site (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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426.
    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).\2\ Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The Commission 
grants affected landowners and others with environmental concerns 
intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a 
clear and direct interest in this proceeding which no other party can 
adequately represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not 
give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to 
have your comments considered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See the previous discussion on the methods for filing 
comments. If you have previously filed a motion to intervene in the 
proceeding, it is not necessary to re-submit an additional request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions?

    Additional information about the project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC (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., CP07-
52). 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; 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 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. Go to www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.

    Dated: March 28, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-07795 Filed 4-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P