[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4558-4560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01497]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF15-2-000]


Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Calcasieu Pass 
Project, and 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 discuss the environmental impacts of the Calcasieu Pass Project 
involving construction and operation of LNG export facilities by 
Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC (Venture Global) in Cameron Parish, 
Louisiana. The Commission will use this EIS 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 will help the Commission staff 
determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EIS. Please note 
that the scoping period will close on February 19, 2015.
    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. If you sent comments on this 
project to the Commission before the opening of this docket on October 
10, 2014, you will need to file those comments in Docket No. PF15-2-000 
to ensure they are considered as part of this proceeding. 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, Calcasieu Pass Project, February 5, 2015/7-9 p.m. CST, 
Cameron Parish School Board Educational Conference Center, 510 Marshall 
Street, Cameron, LA 70631.
    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.
    The purpose of this scoping meeting is to provide the public an 
opportunity to learn more about the Commission's environmental review 
process, and to verbally comment on the project. The scoping meeting 
will start at 6:00 p.m. and representatives from Venture Global will be 
present one hour prior to the start of the meeting to answer questions 
about the project. Additionally, Venture Global has established an 
Internet Web site at www.venturegloballng.com that will be updated as 
the environmental review of its project proceeds.
    Affected landowners and interested groups and individuals are 
encouraged to attend the scoping meetings and present comments on the 
issues they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of the 
meeting will be added to the Commission's administrative record to 
ensure that your comments are accurately recorded.
    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

    Venture Global plans to construct and operate an LNG export 
facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana adjacent to the Calcasieu Ship 
Channel. The facility would receive natural gas from North American 
sources and would liquefy and store it for export. When constructed, 
the project could process about 487.2 billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/
yr) of natural gas.
    The Calcasieu Pass project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     Ten (10) liquefaction blocks;
     two (2) LNG storage tanks, each with approximately 200,000 
cubic meter (``m\3\'') storage capacity;
     two (2) marine berthing docks, to accommodate LNG carriers 
ranging from 120,000 m\3\ to 185,000 m\3\ of carrying capacity;
     a temporary floating LNG storage vessel berthed at one of 
the LNG berthing docks, which would be discontinued after the first 
permanent LNG storage tank becomes operational;
     a turning basin on the Calcasieu Ship Channel;
     a utility dock;
     a gas-fired electric generation facility with generating 
capacity of approximately 600 megawatts (``MW'') that will be 
constructed to provide power for the project facilities;
     two natural gas pipelines to connect to existing 
transmission pipelines, a 23.8-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline and 
a 42-inch-diameter, 18.5-mile-long pipeline;
     a Gas Gate Station to receive gas from the two lateral 
pipelines and will include pig \1\ receivers, filter/separators, 
custody transfer meters, pressure regulators, emergency shutdown 
valves, and gas analyzers;
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    \1\ A ``pig'' is a tool that the pipeline company inserts into 
and pushes through the pipeline for cleaning the pipeline, 
conducting internal inspections, or other purposes.
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     various buildings, including administration, control 
rooms, electrical equipment, workshop, and warehouse buildings and 
structures;
     connection to the existing municipal water supply for 
construction and potable water requirements, and the potential drilling 
of groundwater wells to allow for water-cooling of the power plant;
     facilities associated with the project site's 
communication system; and
     facilities associated with plant safety and security.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in Appendix 
1.\2\
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    \2\ 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.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 914.1 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the pipeline. 
Following construction, Venture Global would maintain about 347.6 acres 
for permanent operation of the project's facilities and pipeline.
    The Terminal facilities will occupy an approximately 203.6-acre 
property

[[Page 4559]]

adjacent to the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Of the 203.6 acres, 86.8 acres 
will support permanent operational facilities and 116.8 acres will be 
used for temporary workspace. Of the 86.8 acres supporting permanent 
operational facilities, 8.6 acres will be converted to open water 
through excavation and dredging to create the LNG berthing area.
    Collectively, the approximately 42.3-mile long pipelines would 
require 665.7 acres of construction workspace (of which 415.78 acres 
will be temporary workspace and 250.0 acres will remain as the 
permanent operational right-of-way).

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. NEPA also requires us 
\3\ 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 EIS on the important 
environmental issues. By this notice, the Commission requests public 
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. We will 
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EIS.
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    \3\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EIS 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;
     land use;
     socioeconomics;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     reliability and safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible alternatives to the planned project 
or portions of the project, 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 
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 on the 
following page.
    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.\4\ 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.
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    \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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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 the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), 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.\5\ We will define the project-specific Area of 
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the project 
develops. 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 EIS 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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    \5\ 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 of 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 Venture Global. This 
preliminary list of issues may change based on your comments and our 
analysis:
     Protected species;
     cultural resources;
     water resources;
     Coastal Zone Management Act;
     fisheries;
     site alternatives;
     ship traffic;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.

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 
February 19, 2015.
    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 (PF15-2-000) 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

[[Page 4560]]

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.
    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 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once Venture Global 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 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 Number field (i.e., PF15-
2). 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.
    Finally, 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.

    Dated: January 20, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-01497 Filed 1-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P