[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28114-28115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10841]


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

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9549]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment and 
Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact for the NuStar Burgos 
Pipelines Presidential Permit Applications Review, Hidalgo County, 
Texas

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of availability, solicitation of comments.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (Department) announces 
availability for public review and comment of the Draft Environmental 
Assessment (Draft EA) and the Preliminary Finding of No Significant 
Impact for the NuStar Burgos Pipelines Presidential Permit Applications 
Review (Preliminary FONSI). These documents evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts of issuing Presidential Permits to NuStar 
Logistics, L.P. (NuStar) to authorize in Hidalgo County, Texas: The 
construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of a proposed new 
NuStar Burgos pipeline (New Burgos Pipeline); a proposed change in 
petroleum products for an existing Burgos pipeline (Existing Burgos 
Pipeline), for which a Presidential Permit was issued in 2006; and a 
name change of the owner and operator of the Existing Burgos Pipeline. 
The Draft EA and Preliminary FONSI were prepared consistent with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321, 
et seq.), the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
(40 CFR 1500-1508), and the Department's implementing regulations (22 
CFR part 161).

DATES: The Department invites the public, governmental agencies, tribal 
governments, and all other interested parties to provide comments on 
the Draft EA and Preliminary FONSI during the 30-day public comment 
period. The public comment period starts on May 9, 2016, with the 
publication of this Federal Register Notice and will end June 8, 2016.
    All comments received during the review period may be made public, 
no matter how initially submitted. Comments are not private and will 
not be edited to remove identifying or contact information. Commenters 
are cautioned against including any information that they would not 
want publicly disclosed. Any party soliciting or aggregating comments 
from other persons is further requested to direct those persons not to 
include any identifying or contact information, or information they 
would not want publicly disclosed, in their comments.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EA and Preliminary FONSI may be 
submitted at www.regulations.gov by entering the title of this Notice 
into the search field and following the prompts. Comments may also be 
submitted by mail, addressed to: Burgos Project Manager, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues (OES/EQT): Suite 2726, 
U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20520. All 
comments from agencies or organizations should indicate a contact 
person for the agency or organization.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project details for the Burgos 
Pipelines and copies of the Presidential Permit applications, as well 
as information on the Presidential Permit process are available at the 
following: http://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/c66757.htm. 
Please refer to this Web site or contact the Department at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department evaluates Presidential permit 
applications under E.O. 13337 and E.O. 14432. E.O. 13337 delegates to 
the Secretary of State the President's authority to receive 
applications for permits for the construction, connection, operation, 
or maintenance of facilities for the exportation or importation of 
petroleum, petroleum products, coal, or other fuels (except for natural 
gas), at the borders of the United States, and to issue or deny such 
Presidential Permits upon a national interest determination.
    In December 2014, NuStar submitted two applications to the 
Department. The first application requests a new Presidential Permit to 
replace a 2006 Presidential Permit, that would: (1) Reflect NuStar's 
name change from Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. to NuStar Logistics, 
L.P. as the owner and operator of the Existing Burgos Pipeline, the 34-
mile-long 8-inch outer diameter pipeline and border facilities issued a 
Presidential Permit in 2006 authorizing import and export of light 
naphtha and (2) allow the Existing Burgos Pipeline and border 
facilities to transport a broader range of petroleum products than 
originally authorized, including diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, liquefied

[[Page 28115]]

petroleum gas, and natural gas liquids. The second application requests 
that the Department issue a Presidential Permit for construction, 
connection, operation, and maintenance of a new 10-inch outer diameter 
pipeline and associated facilities in the same right of way as the 
Existing Burgos Pipeline to transport the same range of products as the 
Existing Burgos Pipeline. Both pipelines would connect the Petroleos 
Mexicanos (PEMEX) Burgos Gas Plant near Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico and 
the NuStar terminal near Edinburg, Texas in Hidalgo County, Texas at 
the United States-Mexico border.
    Availability of the Draft EA and Preliminary FONSI: Copies of the 
Draft EA and Preliminary FONSI have been distributed to state and 
governmental agencies, tribal governments and other interested parties. 
Printed copies of the document may be obtained by visiting the McAllen 
Public Library, 4001 N. 23rd St., McAllen, TX 78504, or by contacting 
the Burgos Project Manager at the above address. They are also 
available at http://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/c66757.htm.

Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-10841 Filed 5-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P