[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24383-24384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11240]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10427]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Mainline Alternative Route in Nebraska

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: On November 20, 2017, the Nebraska Public Service Commission 
approved the Mainline Alternative Route in Nebraska. The Department 
issues this Notice of Intent (NOI) to announce that it will prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA)--consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969--to evaluate the potential 
environmental impacts of the Mainline Alternative Route in support of 
the Bureau of Land Management's review of TransCanada's application for 
a right-of-way. This NOI solicits participation and comment from 
interested federal, tribal, state, and local government entities, as 
well as members of the public, to help inform EA scope and content.

DATES: The Department invites members of the public, government 
agencies, tribal governments, and all other interested parties to 
comment on the scope of the EA during the 30-day public scoping period. 
Comments are due by June 25, 2018.
    Please note that all comments received during the scoping period 
may be publicized. Comments will be neither private nor edited to 
remove either identifying or contact information. Commenters should 
omit information that they do not want disclosed. Any party who will 
either solicit or aggregate other people's comments should convey this 
cautionary message.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov by 
entering the title of this Notice into the search field, and then 
following the prompts. Comments also may be submitted by mail, 
addressed to: Ms. Jill Reilly, Office of Environmental Quality and 
Transboundary Issues, OES/EQT, Room 2727, U.S. Department of State, 
2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520.
    Please note that all comments provided by agencies and 
organizations should list a designated contact person.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 26, 2017, TransCanada resubmitted 
its Presidential Permit application for the proposed Keystone XL 
pipeline. Subsequently, on March 23, 2017, the Under Secretary of State 
for Political Affairs determined that issuance of a Presidential Permit 
to TransCanada to construct, connect, operate, and maintain at the 
border of the United States pipeline facilities to transport crude oil 
from Canada to the United States would serve the U.S. national 
interest. Accordingly, the Under Secretary issued a Presidential Permit 
to TransCanada. TransCanada's application to BLM for a right-of-way 
remains pending before the agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jill Reilly, Acting NEPA 
Coordinator, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
(202) 647-9798, [email protected].
    Detailed records on the proposed project, along with general 
information about the Presidential Permit process,

[[Page 24384]]

are available at: https://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov.

Brian P. Doherty,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2018-11240 Filed 5-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P