[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32451-32452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14432]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-178-000]


Alaska Gasline Development Corporation; Notice of Availability of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Alaska LNG 
Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) with the participation of the cooperating agencies listed 
below, has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for 
the Alaska LNG Project (Project) proposed by the Alaska Gasline 
Development Corporation (AGDC). AGDC requests authorization to 
construct and operate new gas treatment facilities, an 806.6-mile-long 
natural gas pipeline and associated aboveground facilities, and a 20-
million-metric-ton per annum liquefaction facility to commercialize the 
natural gas resources of Alaska's North Slope. The Project would have 
an annual average inlet design capacity of up to 3.7 billion standard 
cubic feet per day and a 3.9 billion standard cubic feet per day peak 
capacity.
    The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of 
Project construction and operation in accordance with the requirements 
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As described in the 
EIS, the FERC staff concludes that approval of the Project would result 
in a number of significant environmental impacts, but the majority of 
impacts would be less than significant based on the impact avoidance, 
minimization, and mitigation measures proposed by AGDC and those 
recommended by staff in the draft EIS. However, some of the adverse 
impacts would be significant even after the implementation of 
mitigation measures.
    The United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, and National Marine 
Fisheries Service participated as cooperating agencies in the 
preparation of this EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law 
or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by 
the proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. Although the 
cooperating agencies provided input to the conclusions and 
recommendations presented in the draft EIS, the agencies will present 
their own conclusions and recommendations in their respective Records 
of Decision for the Project.
    The BLM will adopt and use the EIS to consider issuing a right-of-
way grant for the portion of the Project on BLM-managed lands. Other 
cooperating agencies will use this EIS in their regulatory processes 
and to satisfy compliance with NEPA and other related federal 
environmental laws (e.g., the National Historic Preservation Act).
    Section 810(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation 
Act, 16 United States Code 3120(a), also requires the BLM to evaluate 
the effects of the alternatives presented in the draft EIS on 
subsistence activities, and to hold public hearings if it finds that 
any alternative may significantly restrict subsistence uses. The 
preliminary evaluation of subsistence impacts indicates that the 
cumulative case analyzed in the draft EIS may significantly restrict 
subsistence uses for the communities of Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, Utqiagvik, 
and Anaktuvuk Pass. Therefore, the BLM will hold public hearings and 
solicit public testimony in these potentially affected communities.

Distribution and Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

    The Commission mailed a copy of the draft EIS to federal, state, 
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
Alaska Native tribal governments and Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act Corporations; and local libraries and newspapers in the area of the 
Alaska LNG Project. The draft EIS was also mailed to property owners 
that could be affected by Project facilities, individuals requesting 
intervenor status in the FERC's proceedings, and other interested 
parties (i.e., individuals and environmental and public interest groups 
who provided scoping comments or asked to remain on the mailing list). 
Paper copy versions of this EIS were mailed to subsistence communities, 
libraries, and those specifically requesting them; all others received 
a CD version.

[[Page 32452]]

    The draft EIS is also available in electronic format. It may be 
viewed and downloaded from the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov) on the 
Environmental Documents page (http://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). In addition, the draft EIS may be accessed by using 
the eLibrary link on the FERC's website. Click on the eLibrary link 
(https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp), then click on General 
Search and enter the docket number in the ``Docket Number'' field, 
excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP17-178). 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.
    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS may do so. Your 
comments should focus on the draft EIS's disclosure and discussion of 
potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures 
to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. To ensure consideration of 
your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that 
the Commission receive your comments on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time on October 3, 2019.
    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. In all instances, please reference the 
Project docket number (CP17-178-000) with your submission. The 
Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff 
available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 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 website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to 
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, 
text-only comments on the Project.
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature on the Commission's website (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.
    (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 
(CP17-178-000) 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 comment meetings 
held in the Project area to receive comments on the draft EIS. The 
dates, locations, and times of these meetings, along with the BLM 
public hearings, will be provided in a supplemental notice.
    Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (18 Code of Federal Regulations Part 385.214). 
Motions to intervene are more fully described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Only intervenors have the right 
to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision. The Commission grants 
affected landowners and others with environmental concerns intervenor 
status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and 
direct interest in this proceeding that no other party can adequately 
represent. Simply filing environmental comments will not give you 
intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your 
comments considered. Subsequent decisions, determination, permits, and 
authorization by the cooperating agencies are subject to the 
administrative procedures of each respective agency.

Questions?

    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. 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 that 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.

    Dated: June 28, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-14432 Filed 7-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P