[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51533-51534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21140]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP19-484-000; Docket No. CP19-488-000]


Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review of the Kinder Morgan 
Louisiana Pipeline LLC Acadiana Project and Columbia Gulf Transmission, 
LLC Louisiana Xpress Project

    On June 28, 2019, Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline LLC (KMLP) filed 
an application in Docket No. CP19-484-000 requesting a Certificate of 
Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 7(c) of the 
Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline 
facilities in Louisiana. The proposed project is known as the Acadiana 
Project, and would increase the north-south natural gas delivery 
capacity on its pipeline system by approximately 894 million cubic feet 
per day. According to KMLP, its project would meet the needs of Sabine 
Pass Liquefaction, LLC at its liquefied natural gas export terminal in 
Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
    On July 16, 2019, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC (Columbia Gulf) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP19-488-000 requesting a 
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to Section 
7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to construct and operate certain natural 
gas pipeline facilities in Louisiana. The proposed project is known as 
the Louisiana Xpress Project, and would provide open access firm 
transportation of about 850 million cubic feet of natural gas per day 
from a primary receipt point at Columbia Gulf's Mainline Pool to a 
primary delivery point at an interconnection with KMLP in Evangeline 
Parish, Louisiana.
    On July 12, 2019, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application (NOA) for the 
Acadiana Project, and on July 26, 2019, FERC issued its NOA for the 
Louisiana Xpress Project. Among other things, the notices alerted 
agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete 
all necessary reviews and reach a final decision on a request for a 
federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the 
Commission staff's Environmental Assessment (EA) for the projects. This 
instant notice identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the 
completion of the combined EA for both projects.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--February 8, 2020

[[Page 51534]]

90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--May 9, 2020

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

Project Descriptions

Acadiana Project

    KMLP proposes to install three new natural gas-fired compressor 
units (31,900 horsepower [hp] each) and re-wheel two existing 
compressor units at its existing Compressor Station 760 in Acadia 
Parish, make modifications to meter piping and new control valves at 
its existing Columbia Gulf Meter Station in Evangeline Parish, as well 
as install auxiliary facilities at both locations.

Louisiana Xpress Project

    Columbia Gulf proposes to construct and operate three new 
greenfield compressor stations, and modify one existing compressor 
station. Each new compressor station (Shelburn Compressor Station in 
East Carroll Parish, Red Mountain Compressor Station in Catahoula 
Parish, and Chicot Compressor Station in Evangeline Parish) would 
include two 23,470 hp natural gas turbine driven compressors (totaling 
46,940 hp), filter/separators, gas cooling bays, 48-inch-diameter 
suction and 42-inch-diameter discharge piping, and related appurtenant 
facilities.
    Modifications to the existing Alexandria Compressor Station in 
Rapides Parish would include additional cooling bays with associated 
piping and appurtenant facilities.

Background

    On August 28, 2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Acadiana Project 
and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). Also on August 
28, 2019, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Louisiana Xpress Project, 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public 
Scoping Session. The NOIs were sent to affected landowners; federal, 
state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental 
and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested 
parties; and local libraries and newspapers.
    In response to the NOI for the Acadiana Project, the Commission 
received comments from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and 
Fisheries and Cheniere Energy. The primary issues raised by the 
commentors are potential impacts on the wild coco orchid. The comment 
from Cheniere Energy was a statement in support of the Acadiana 
Project. In response to the NOI for the Louisiana Xpress Project, the 
Commission received comments from SKL Farm Inc., and the Choctaw Nation 
of Oklahoma. The primary issues raised by the commentors are adverse 
effects of artificial light, noise, and increased activity from the 
proposed compressor stations. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma requested 
GIS shapefiles, and the cultural resource surveys for the Louisiana 
Xpress Project. All substantive comments will be addressed in 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., 
CP19-484 or CP19-488), 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 rule makings.

    Dated: September 24, 2019.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-21140 Filed 9-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P