[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33519-33520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12414]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP16-454-000, CP16-455-000, PF15-14-000]


Rio Grande LNG, LLC, Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC; Notice of 
Application

    Take notice that on May 5, 2016, Rio Grande LNG, LLC (Rio Grande), 
3 Water-way Square Place, Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, filed 
an application, in Docket No. CP16-454-000, pursuant to section 3(a) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Part 153 of the Commission's Regulations, 
requesting authorization to site, construct, modify, and operate a 
natural gas liquefaction facility and liquefied natural gas export and 
truck loading terminal, located in Cameron County, Texas.
    Also, take notice that on May 5, 2016, Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, 
LLC (Rio Bravo), 3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 400, The Woodlands, 
Texas 77380, filed an application pursuant to Section 7(c) of the NGA, 
and Parts 157 and 284 of the Commission's regulations, an application 
in Docket No. CP16-455-000 for (1) a certificate of public convenience 
and necessity (i) authorizing Rio Bravo to construct, own, and operate 
a natural gas pipeline system, (ii) approving a pro forma Tariff, and 
(iii) approving the proposed initial rates for service; (2) a Part 157, 
Subpart F blanket certificate authorizing Rio Bravo to engage in 
certain self-implementing routine activities; and (3) a Part 284, 
Subpart G blanket certificate authorizing Rio Bravo to transport 
natural gas, on an open access and self-implementing basis.
    These filings may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using 
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. For 
assistance, contact FERC at [email protected] or call toll-
free (886) 208-3676 or TYY (202) 502-8659.
    Any questions regarding this application should be directed to 
Shaun Davison, Senior Vice President, Rio Grande LNG, LLC/Rio Bravo 
Pipeline Company, LLC, 3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 400, The 
Woodlands, Texas

[[Page 33520]]

77380, (832) 403-3040, [email protected], or Erik J.A. 
Swenson, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, 799 9th Street NW., Suite 1000, 
Washington, DC 20001-4501, (202) 662-4555, 
[email protected], with written and electronic 
correspondence copied to Krysta De Lima, General Counsel, Rio Grande 
LNG, LLC/Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC, 3 Waterway Square Place, 
Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, [email protected].
    Specifically, Rio Grande proposes to construct an LNG export 
terminal on the Port of Brownsville ship channel. The terminal will 
consist of six liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 3.6 Bcf per 
day, four LNG tanks capable of storing 15.26 Bcf of LNG, marine and 
truck loading facilities, and all necessary ancillary and support 
facilities.
    Rio Bravo proposes to construct 139.4 miles of pipeline, three 
compressor stations and two booster stations totaling 600,000 hp, and 
associated facilities to deliver up to 4.5 Bcf per day of natural gas 
from the Agua Dulce Market area to the Rio Grande terminal. The 
facilities will be located in Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy and 
Cameron Counties, Texas. The pipeline facilities cost an estimated 
$2,173,362,909.
    On April 13, 2015, the Commission staff granted Rio Grande/Rio 
Bravo's request to use the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF15-20-000 to staff 
activities involving the proposed facilities. Now, as of the filing of 
this application on May 5, 2016, the NEPA Pre-Filing Process for this 
project has ended. From this time forward, this proceeding will be 
conducted in Docket Nos. CP16-454-000 and CP16-455-000, as noted in the 
caption of this Notice.
    Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission's rules, 18 CFR 157.9, 
within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: 
complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the 
Commission's public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding, or issue a 
Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule 
for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other 
milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff's issuance of 
the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or EA for this 
proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission's public record for 
this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule will serve to 
notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of 
all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal 
authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission 
staff's FEIS or EA.
    There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of 
this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or 
before the comment date stated below, file with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, a 
motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 
385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person 
obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by 
the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must 
submit 5 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a 
copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only 
parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders 
in the proceeding.
    However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have 
comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with 
the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and 
two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. 
The Commission will consider these comments in determining the 
appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will 
not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission's 
rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project 
provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly 
involved in the protest.
    Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of 
this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments 
to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be 
placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive 
copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings 
associated with the Commission's environmental review process. 
Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed 
documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will 
not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by 
the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents 
issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court 
review of the Commission's final order.
    Motions to intervene, protests and comments may be filed 
electronically via the internet in lieu of paper; see, 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site 
under the ``e-Filing'' link. The Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filings.
    Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time May 9, 2016.

    Dated: May 19, 2016.
 Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-12414 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P