[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 154 (Monday, August 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46793-46796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18897]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF13-4-000]


Gulf LNG Liquefaction Company, LLC, Gulf LNG Energy, LLC, Gulf 
LNG Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Planned Gulf LNG Liquefaction Project, Request for 
Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that 
will identify and address the environmental impacts that could result 
from the construction and operation of the Gulf LNG Liquefaction 
Project (Project) planned by Gulf LNG Liquefaction Company, LLC, Gulf 
LNG Energy, LLC, and Gulf LNG Pipeline, LLC (collectively GLLC). The 
Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to 
determine whether the Project is in the public interest.
    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 will help the Commission staff 
determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EIS. Please note 
that the scoping period will close on September 1, 2014.
    You may submit comments in written form or verbally. Further 
details on how to submit written comments are in the Public 
Participation section of this notice. In lieu of or in addition to 
sending written comments, the Commission invites you to attend the 
public scoping meeting scheduled as follows: FERC Public Scoping 
Meeting, Gulf LNG Liquefaction Project, August 18, 2014, 6:00-8:00 
p.m., Pelican Landing Convention Center, 6217 Mississippi Highway 613, 
Moss Point, MS 39563, 228-474-1406.
    This public meeting is designed to provide you with more detailed 
information and another opportunity to offer your comments on the 
Project. GLLC representatives will be present one hour before the 
meeting (starting at 5:00 p.m.) to describe the Project, present maps, 
and answer questions. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged 
to attend the meeting and present comments on the issues they believe 
should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of the meeting will be 
made so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this Project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned 
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if 
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the 
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to 
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with 
state law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural 
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for 
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses 
a number of typically-asked questions, including the use of eminent 
domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.

Summary of the Planned Project

    GLLC plans to expand the existing LNG import terminal in Jackson 
County, Mississippi to enable the terminal to liquefy natural gas (LNG) 
for export. The planned facility would have an export capacity of 
approximately 10 million metric tons per year (MTPY). The Project would 
use both the planned and existing facilities to liquefy domestic 
natural gas delivered by an existing interstate natural gas pipeline. 
The LNG

[[Page 46794]]

would be stored in the existing import facility LNG storage tanks, and 
loaded and stored on LNG carriers at the existing marine berthing and 
LNG transfer facility. The terminal would retain its capability to 
import, store, regasify, and deliver natural gas into the existing 
interstate natural gas pipeline system. GLLC is not planning to 
increase the size or frequency of LNG carriers currently authorized to 
call on the existing terminal. The Project would require minor 
modifications to three existing Gulf LNG Interstate Pipeline 
interconnections and metering stations. The general locations of 
Project facilities are depicted in the figures included as Appendix 1 
to this notice.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Gulf LNG Liquefaction Project would include construction and 
operation of the following key facilities:
     Two liquefaction trains, with each train including a feed 
gas treatment unit, a heavy hydrocarbon removal unit, and a 
liquefaction unit (with a maximum LNG production capacity of 
approximately 5 million MTPY each);
     a new natural gas liquids (NGL) and refrigerant storage 
area;
     a new truck loading/unloading facility to unload 
refrigerants for transport to the storage area and to load NGLs 
produced during the gas liquefaction process;
     new in-tank LNG loading pumps in the existing LNG storage 
tanks to transfer LNG through the existing transfer lines to LNG 
carriers;
     minor changes to the piping of the marine loading arms to 
permit bi-directional flow;
     modifications to the existing metering stations at the 
existing Gulfstream Pipeline Company and Destin Pipeline Company 
interconnection facilities;
     modifications to the existing interconnection with the 
pipeline owned by the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company and 
Florida Gas Transmission Company;
     modification of the existing surge protection sea wall to 
enclose the expanded terminal;
     additional utility and support facilities; and
     a new dock designed to receive barges transporting large 
equipment during construction.
    GLLC plans to initiate construction of the Project in June 2016 and 
complete construction and initiate service of the first LNG 
liquefaction train in the third quarter of 2019. GLLC plans to have the 
second train constructed and operational by the second quarter of 2020.

Land Requirements for Construction

    The Gulf LNG Liquefaction Project would be constructed on and 
adjacent to (north of) the existing Gulf LNG Terminal. The Project 
would require about 193 acres for construction, including some land 
within the existing Gulf LNG Terminal, and the use of previously 
established offsite storage areas. After construction, GLLC would 
maintain about 80 acres for operation of the Project, in addition to 
the land currently occupied by the existing terminal. The remaining 75 
acres of construction wareyards would be offsite of the existing 
terminal and expansion area footprint due to space limitations. These 
off-site workspace areas would be restored and allowed to revert to 
their former uses.

The EIS Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (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 under section 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) for authorization to construct, install, and 
operate LNG facilities and under Section 3(a) of the NGA to import or 
export natural gas including LNG. 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 our analysis in the EIS on the important environmental issues. 
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of 
issues to be addressed in the EIS. We will consider all filed comments 
during the preparation of the EIS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the EIS, we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of 
the construction and operation of the planned Gulf LNG Liquefaction 
Project under the following general headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources;
     wetlands and vegetation;
     fish and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     land use, recreation, and visual resources;
     air quality and noise;
     cultural resources;
     socioeconomics;
     reliability and safety;
     engineering and design material; and
     cumulative environmental impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned Project 
or portions of the Project in the EIS, and make recommendations on how 
to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.
    Although no formal application has been filed by GLLC, we have 
initiated our NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing process. 
The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage the early 
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve 
issues before the FERC receives an application. 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 EIS.
    The EIS will present our independent analysis of the issues. We 
will publish and distribute the draft EIS for public comment. After the 
comment period, we will consider all timely comments and revise the 
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. To ensure we have 
the opportunity to consider and address your comments, please carefully 
follow the instructions in the Public Participation section beginning 
on page 6.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law 
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues 
related to this Project to formally cooperate with us in the 
preparation of the EIS.\3\ 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 U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department 
of Transportation, and the U.S. Coast Guard have agreed to participate 
as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS to satisfy their 
NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 46795]]

notice to initiate consultation with the Office of the Mississippi 
Department of Archives and History, which has been given the role of 
State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and to solicit its views and 
those of other government agencies, interested Indian tribes, and the 
public on the Project's potential effects on historic properties.\4\ We 
will define the Project-specific Area of Potential Effects in 
consultation with the SHPO as the Project develops. On natural gas 
facility projects, the Area of Potential Effects at a minimum 
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include 
contractor/pipe storage yards and access roads). Our EIS for the 
Project will document our findings on the impacts on historic 
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register for Historic 
Places.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified many issues that we think deserve 
attention based on a preliminary review of the Project site and 
facilities and information provided by GLLC. The following preliminary 
list of key issues is not all inclusive and may be changed based on 
your comments and our analysis:
     Evaluation of temporary and permanent impacts on wetlands 
and the development of appropriate mitigation;
     potential impacts to fish and wildlife habitat, including 
potential impacts to federally and state-listed threatened and 
endangered species;
     potential visual effects of the aboveground facilities on 
surrounding areas;
     potential impacts and potential benefits of construction 
workforce on local housing, infrastructure, public services, 
transportation, and economy;
     impacts on air quality and noise associated with 
construction and operation of the Project; and
     public safety and hazards associated with the transport of 
natural gas and LNG.

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 the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 
September 1, 2014. This is not your only public input opportunity; 
please refer to the Environmental Review Process flow chart in Appendix 
2.
    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 No. (PF13-4-000) 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 located on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the 
link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for interested 
persons to submit brief, text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically using the eFiling 
feature located 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.'' You must select the type of filing you are making. If 
you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select 
``Comment on a Filing''; 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.

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 with a mailing address 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.
    Copies of the completed draft EIS 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 GLLC 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 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 the Commission 
receives a formal application for the planned Project.

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 (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 no. field (i.e., enter 
PF13-4). 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 summaries, and direct links to 
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

[[Page 46796]]

    Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 
with other related information.
    In addition, GLLC has also created a Project-specific Internet Web 
site at http://GulfLNG.kindermorgan.com. This Web site contains a 
description of the Project, information for landowners, Project 
updates, and other types of useful information. This Web site will be 
updated as the review of the Project proceeds. You can also request 
additional information or provide comments directly to GLLC at 1-800-
622-4481 or email [email protected].

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-18897 Filed 8-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P