[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80353-80354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32398]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD16-3-000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Guidance Manual for 
Environmental Report Preparation and Request for Comments

    The staff of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP) has revised its 
Guidance Manual for Environmental Report Preparation (Guidance Manual), 
dated August 2002, to incorporate regulation changes and provide 
updated guidance on how to prepare resource reports and how interstate 
and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects may demonstrate compliance 
with certain regulatory requirements. The staff is asking for public 
input and suggestions for modifications to the Guidance Manual from 
federal and state agencies, Native American tribes, environmental 
consultants, inspectors, the natural gas industry, construction 
contractors, and other interested parties with special expertise in 
regards to preparation of resource reports associated with natural gas 
projects. Please note that this comment period will close on January 
19, 2016.
    The OEP staff anticipates issuing our final updated version of the 
Guidance Manual in early 2016. We will consider all timely comments on 
the draft before issuing the final version.
    The revised Guidance Manual, for which we are seeking comment, can 
be found in Docket Number AD16-3-000. The full text of the 2002 version 
of the Guidance Manual can be viewed on the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC or Commission) Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/guidelines.asp and can be used as a reference to 
see the changes made.
    Applicable sections of the Code of Federal Regulations Title 18 are 
referenced or summarized throughout the Guidance Manual. We stress that 
OEP staff is not seeking comment on any existing regulations or 
contemplating any changes to regulations within the context of the 
Guidance Manual. The Guidance Manual is not the appropriate vehicle for 
changes to federal regulations. Comments pertaining to our regulations 
will not be considered as we develop the final Guidance Manual.
    The Guidance Manual is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 relates 
to the preparation of resource reports for both interstate natural gas 
projects and Commission jurisdictional LNG facilities. Volume 2 is 
specific to LNG facilities and includes supplemental information needed 
to comply with: 18 CFR 380.12(h)(5) to demonstrate information 
reflected in National Bureau of Standards Information Report (NBSIR) 
84-2833; 18 CFR 380.12(m) to demonstrate the potential hazard to the 
public from failure of facility components resulting from natural 
catastrophes; and 18 CFR 380.12(o) to demonstrate the proposed 
engineering design would be safe and reliable and would likely comply 
with the regulatory requirements in 49 CFR 193. Volume 2 is intended to 
replace a series of guidance documents that were previously developed 
and issued by staff to assist in the preparation and review of LNG 
applications. Specifically, Volume 2 is meant to replace Draft Guidance 
on Resource Report 11 and 13 issued on December 15, 2005, Draft 
Preferred Format Submittal Guidance issued on April 12, 2006, and Draft 
FERC Seismic Design Guidelines and Data Submittal Requirements for LNG 
Facilities issued on January 23, 2007. The previous versions of these 
documents should be considered obsolete.
    Interested parties can help us determine the appropriate updates 
and improvements by providing comments or suggestions that focus on the 
specific sections of the Guidance Manual requiring clarification, 
updates to reflect current laws and regulations, or additional 
information that should be included in each resource report. The more 
specific your comments, the more useful they will be. A detailed 
explanation of the rationale underlying your suggested modifications 
and/or any references to scientific studies associated with your 
comments would greatly help us with this process.
    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
docket number (AD16-3-000) 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 interested persons to 
submit brief, text-only comments;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically 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.'' You must select the type of filing you are making, 
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.
    All of the information related to the proposed updates to the 
Guidance Manual and submitted comments can be found 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., AD16-
3). 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

[[Page 80354]]

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.

    Dated: December 18, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-32398 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P