[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 104 (Thursday, June 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25270-25281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11277]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF17-5-000]


Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Louisiana Connector 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Sessions

    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 Port Arthur Louisiana 
Connector Project involving construction and operation of facilities by 
Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC (PAPL) in Jefferson County, Texas and 
Cameron, Calcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, Evangeline, and St. Landry 
Parishes, 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. 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. 
Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they 
need to evaluate in the EIS. 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 June 24, 2017.
    If you sent comments on this project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on February 24, 2017, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. PF17-5-000 to ensure they are considered 
as part of this proceeding.
    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.

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. The Commission will provide equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally. The Commission encourages electronic filing of 
comments and has expert staff available to assist you at (202) 502-8258 
or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these 
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (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 submitting brief, 
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by 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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project, 
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the following address. Be sure to reference the project docket number 
(PF17-5-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    (4) In lieu of sending written or electronic comments, the 
Commission invites you to attend one of the public scoping sessions its 
staff will conduct in the project area, scheduled as follows:

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           Date and time                          Location
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Monday, June 12, 2017, 4:30 p.m.    West-Cal Arena & Events Center,
 to 7:30 p.m.                        Exhibit Hall B and Cyprus Meeting
                                     Room, 401 Arena Road, Sulphur, LA
                                     70665, 337-528-9378.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 4:30 p.m.   Coushatta Casino Resort--Koasati
 to 7:30 p.m.                        Pines Golf Course, Veranda Room,
                                     300 Koasati Drive, Kinder, LA
                                     70648, 1-800-584-7263.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017, 4:30      Louisiana State University--Eunice,
 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.                   Community Education Building, Room
                                     C118, LSUE Campus Dr., Eunice, LA
                                     70535, 337-550-1390.
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    The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be 
considered in the EIS to be prepared for this project. Individual 
verbal comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court 
reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of 
verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted.
    Each scoping session is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
central daylight time. You may arrive at any time after 4:30 p.m. There 
will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session 
opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers 
in the order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 7:30 p.m. 
However, if no additional numbers have been handed out and all 
individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do 
so, staff may conclude the session at 7 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for 
additional information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \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.
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    Your scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter (with 
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public 
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on 
FERC's eLibrary system (see below for instructions on using eLibrary). 
If a significant number of people are interested in providing verbal 
comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 3 to 5 minutes may 
be implemented for each commentor.
    It is important to note that verbal comments hold the same weight 
as written or electronically submitted comments. Although there will 
not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available 
throughout the comment session to answer your questions about the 
environmental review process. Representatives from PAPL will also be 
present to answer project-specific questions.
    Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; please 
refer to the review process flow chart in appendix 2.

Summary of the Planned Project

    PAPL plans to construct and operate an interstate natural gas 
transmission system in Texas and Louisiana. The project would provide 
about 2.0 billion square cubic feet per day of natural gas to supply a 
proposed natural gas liquefaction and export project in Jefferson 
County, Texas.\2\
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    \2\ This export project is referred to as the Port Arthur 
Liquefaction Project. It, along with the Port Arthur Pipeline 
Project, is also being reviewed by FERC under Docket Nos. CP17-20-
000 and CP17-21-000 and will be evaluated in the same EIS as the 
Louisiana Connector Project. The Port Arthur Liquefaction Project 
would involve the installation of a liquefaction facility for the 
exportation of natural gas near Port Arthur in Jefferson County, 
Texas. The Port Arthur Pipeline Project would involve the 
construction and operation of about 34 miles of 42-inch-diameter 
pipeline in Orange and Jefferson Counties, Texas and Cameron Parish, 
Louisiana, and would also provide a source of gas for the 
liquefaction facility.
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    The Port Arthur Louisiana Connector Project would consist of the 
following facilities:
     A 131-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline in Jefferson 
County, Texas and Cameron, Calcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, Evangeline, 
and St. Landry Parishes, Louisiana;
     a new compressor station in Allen Parish, Louisiana;
     eight interconnects and meter stations in Jefferson 
County, Texas and Allen, Evangeline, and St. Landry Parishes, 
Louisiana; and
     appurtenant underground and aboveground facilities.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
3.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the planned project would disturb about 1,980 acres 
of land for the pipeline and aboveground facilities. Following 
construction, PAPL would maintain about 790 acres for permanent 
operation of the pipeline project; the remaining acreage would be 
restored and revert to former uses. About 83 percent of the planned 
pipeline route parallels existing pipeline, utility, or road rights-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;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     socioeconomics;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public 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

[[Page 25272]]

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 2.
    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. Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have expressed their intention to 
participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS to 
satisfy their NEPA responsibilities related to this project.
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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 applicable State Historic Preservation Offices (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 SHPOs 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, the 
environmental information provided by PAPL, comments received at PAPL's 
open houses, and those comments filed to date. This preliminary list of 
issues may change based on your additional comments and our analysis:
     Impacts on wetlands;
     construction in and potential impacts on aquatic resources 
in Sabine Lake;
     colocation with existing pipelines; and
     utilization of the same or similar rights-of-way as other 
proposed pipeline projects.

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 4).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once PAPL 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. Motions to intervene are more fully described at 
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions 
for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention 
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., PF17-
5). 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 sessions 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: May 25, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.

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[FR Doc. 2017-11277 Filed 5-31-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-C