[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 146 (Monday, July 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36659-36660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16241]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10479]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Mainline Alternative Route in 
Nebraska

ACTION: Notice of availability; solicitation of comments.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (Department) announces the 
availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for the 
Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Mainline Alternative Route in Nebraska 
for public review and comment. The Draft EA evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts of the proposed Keystone XL Mainline Alternative 
Route --consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969-- 
in support of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) review of 
TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P.'s (TransCanada) application for a 
right-of-way.

DATES: The public comment period ends on August 29, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov by 
entering the title of this Notice or Docket Number: DOS-2018-0031 into 
the search field, and then following the prompts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Draft EA, along with detailed 
records on the proposed project and general information about the 
Presidential permit process, are available at: https://keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov.
    Marko Velikonja, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary 
Issues, (202) 647-4828, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 26, 2017, TransCanada resubmitted 
its Presidential permit application for the proposed Keystone XL 
pipeline. 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 national interest.

[[Page 36660]]

Accordingly, the Under Secretary issued a Presidential permit to 
TransCanada for the Keystone XL pipeline. Later, on November 20, 2017, 
the Nebraska Public Service Commission approved the Mainline 
Alternative Route for that pipeline in the State of Nebraska. 
TransCanada's application to BLM for a right-of-way remains pending 
with that agency.
    The Department invites members of the public, government agencies, 
tribal governments, and all other interested parties to comment on the 
Draft EA for the proposed Keystone XL Mainline Alternative Route during 
the 30-day public comment period. Comments provided by agencies and 
organizations should list a designated contact person. All comments 
received during the public comment 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.

Robert D. Wing,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary 
Issues.
[FR Doc. 2018-16241 Filed 7-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P