[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 45433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19406]



[[Page 45433]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. CP18-512-000, CP18-513-000]


Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III, LLC; Corpus Christi 
Liquefaction, LLC; and Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P.; Notice 
of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Stage 3 Project

    On June 28, 2018, Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage III, LLC and 
Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC (collectively with Cheniere Corpus 
Christi Pipeline, L.P. referred to as Cheniere) filed an application in 
Docket No. CP18-512-000 requesting an authorization for siting, 
construction, and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export 
facility pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). On the 
same day, Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. filed an application 
in Docket No. CP18-513-000 requesting a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the NGA to 
construct, operate, and maintain certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities. Combined, the proposed project is known as the Stage 3 
Project (Project) and would provide gas and processing to produce up to 
11.45 million tonnes per annum of LNG for export.
    On July 12, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. Among 
other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on the request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of the EA 
for the Project. The forecasted schedule for the EA is based upon 
Cheniere providing complete and timely responses to any data requests. 
In addition, the schedule assumes that the cooperating agencies will 
provide input on their areas of responsibility on a timely basis.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA: February 8, 2019
90-Day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline: May 9, 2019

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    Cheniere proposes to install seven mid-scale liquefaction trains 
and one new LNG storage tank expanding the previously authorized and 
currently under construction Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project in 
Nueces County, Texas. The proposed LNG facilities would be located 
primarily within areas previously disturbed for construction and/or 
operation of the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project. Cheniere would 
also construct a new 21-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter natural gas 
pipeline from the recently completed Sinton Compressor Station (FERC 
Docket No. CP12-508-000) to the proposed Stage 3 liquefaction 
facilities, all of which would be located within Nueces County, Texas. 
The Project would also include the addition of two compressor units 
totaling approximately 44,000 horsepower at the Sinton Compressor 
Station. No new marine facilities would be installed as part of the 
Project; however, Cheniere anticipates that an annual increase of 100 
LNG carriers would utilize the LNG terminal during operation of the 
Project.

Background

    On June 9, 2015, the Commission staff granted Cheniere's request to 
use the FERC's pre-filing environmental review process and assigned the 
Stage 3 Project Docket No. PF15-26-000. On August 17, 2015, the 
Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Planned Stage 3 Project, and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Issues (NOI). The NOI was issued during the pre-filing 
review of the Project in Docket No. PF15-26-000 and was sent to 
federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; 
affected landowners; environmental and public interest groups; Native 
American tribes and regional organizations; commenters and other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to 
the NOI, the Commission received comments from the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tonkawa Tribe 
of Oklahoma, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Texas Parks and 
Wildlife Department. The primary issues raised by the commenters 
include effects on threatened and endangered species and vegetation, 
water quality impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and cumulative 
impacts.
    The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Energy, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency are cooperating agencies in the 
preparation of the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the eLibrary link, select General 
Search from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and Docket 
Number excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP18-512 and CP18-513), 
and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, 
the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or 
at [email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC website 
also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the 
Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

    Dated: August 31, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-19406 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P