[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53218-53221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21567]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2019-0095]


Deepwater Port License Application: West Delta LNG LLC

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Maritime 
Administration (MARAD), will prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) as part of the environmental review of the West Delta LNG LLC 
(Applicant) deepwater port license application. The application 
proposes the ownership, construction, operation and eventual 
decommissioning of an offshore natural gas export deepwater port known 
as West Delta LNG (West Delta LNG) that would be located in Federal 
waters approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the coast of Plaquemines 
Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 57 to 60 feet. The 
deepwater port would allow for the loading of liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) trading carriers.
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) requests public participation in the 
scoping process, provides information on how to participate and 
announces an informational open house and public meeting in Belle 
Chasse, Louisiana. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the Deepwater 
Port Act of 1974, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (the Act), 
Louisiana is the designated Adjacent Coastal State for this 
application.

DATES: There will be one public scoping meeting held in connection with 
the West Delta LNG deepwater port application. The meeting will be held 
in Belle Chasse, Louisiana on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m. The public meeting will be preceded by an informational 
open house from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    The public meeting may end later than the stated time, depending on 
the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally, materials 
submitted in response to this request for comments on the West Delta 
LNG deepwater port license application must reach the Federal Docket 
Management Facility as detailed below by Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The open house and public meeting in Belle Chasse, Louisiana 
will be held at the Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 Highway 23, Belle 
Chasse, Louisiana, 70037, phone: (504) 208-1455. The public docket for 
the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application is maintained by 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West 
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590.
    The license application is available for viewing at the 
Regulations.gov website: http://www.regulations.gov under docket number 
MARAD-2019-0095.
    We encourage you to submit comments electronically through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If you submit 
your comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard 
copy. If you cannot submit material using http://www.regulations.gov, 
please contact either Mr. Matthew Layman, USCG or Ms. Yvette Fields, 
MARAD, as listed in the following FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this document, which also provides alternate instructions 
for submitting written comments. Additionally, if you go to the online 
docket and sign up for email

[[Page 53219]]

alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted. Anonymous 
comments will be accepted. All comments received will be posted without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal 
information you have provided. The Federal Docket Management Facility's 
telephone number is 202-366-9317 or 202-366-9826, the fax number is 
202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew Layman, U.S. Coast Guard, 
telephone: 202-372-1421, email: [email protected], or Ms. 
Yvette Fields, Maritime Administration, telephone: 202-366-0926, email: 
[email protected]. For questions regarding viewing the Docket, call 
Docket Operations, telephone: 202-366-9317 or 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meeting and Open House

    We encourage you to attend the informational open house and public 
meeting to learn about, and comment on, the proposed deepwater port. 
You will have the opportunity to submit comments on the scope and 
significance of the issues related to the proposed deepwater port that 
should be addressed in the EIS.
    Speaker registrations will be available at the door. Speakers at 
the public scoping meeting will be recognized in the following order: 
Elected officials, public agencies, individuals or groups in the sign-
up order and then anyone else who wishes to speak.
    In order to allow everyone a chance to speak at a public meeting, 
we may limit speaker time, extend the meeting hours, or both. You must 
identify yourself, and any organization you represent, by name. Your 
remarks will be recorded and/or transcribed for inclusion in the public 
docket.
    You may submit written material at the public meeting, either in 
place of, or in addition to, speaking. Written material should include 
your name and address and will be included in the public docket.
    Public docket materials will be made available to the public on the 
Federal Docket Management Facility website (see ADDRESSES).
    Our public meeting location is wheelchair-accessible and compliant 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you plan to attend the 
open house or public meeting and need special assistance such as sign 
language interpretation, non-English language translator services or 
other reasonable accommodation, please notify the USCG or MARAD (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 business days in advance of 
the public meeting. Include your contact information as well as 
information about your specific needs.

Request for Comments

    We request public comment on this proposal. The comments may relate 
to, but are not limited to, the environmental impact of the proposed 
action. All comments will be accepted. The public meeting is not the 
only opportunity you have to comment on the West Delta LNG deepwater 
port license application. In addition to, or in place of, attending a 
meeting, you may submit comments directly to the Federal Docket 
Management Facility during the public comment period (see DATES). We 
will consider all comments and material received during the 30-day 
scoping period.
    The license application, comments and associated documentation, as 
well as the draft and final EISs (when published), are available for 
viewing at the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website: http://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD-2019-0095.
    Public comment submissions should include:
     Docket number MARAD-2019-0095.
     Your name and address.
    Submit comments or material using only one of the following 
methods:
     Electronically (preferred for processing) to the Federal 
Docket Management System (FDMS) website: http://www.regulations.gov 
under docket number MARAD-2019-0095.
     By mail to the Federal Docket Management Facility (MARAD-
2019-0095), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.
     By personal delivery to the room and address listed above 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
     By fax to the Federal Docket Management Facility at 202-
493-2251.
    Faxed, mailed or hand delivered submissions must be unbound, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches and suitable for copying and electronic 
scanning. The format of electronic submissions should also be no larger 
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches. If you mail your submission and want to know 
when it reaches the Federal Docket Management Facility, please include 
a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    Regardless of the method used for submitting comments, all 
submissions will be posted, without change, to the FDMS website (http://www.regulations.gov) and will include any personal information you 
provide. Therefore, submitting this information to the docket makes it 
public. You may wish to read the Privacy and Use Notice that is 
available on the FDMS website and the Department of Transportation 
Privacy Act Notice that appeared in the Federal Register on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477), see Privacy Act. You may view docket submissions at 
the Federal Docket Management Facility or electronically on the FDMS 
website.

Background

    Information about deepwater ports, the statutes, and regulations 
governing their licensing, including the application review process, 
and the receipt of the current application for the proposed West Delta 
LNG deepwater port appears in the West Delta LNG Notice of Application, 
Thursday, September 26, 2019 edition of the Federal Register (84 FR 
50880). The ``Summary of the Application'' from that publication is 
reprinted below for your convenience.
    Consideration of a deepwater port license application includes 
review of the proposed deepwater port's impact on the natural and human 
environment. For the proposed deepwater port, USCG and MARAD are the 
co-lead Federal agencies for determining the scope of this review, and 
in this case, it has been determined that review must include 
preparation of an EIS. This NOI is required by 40 CFR 1501.7. It 
briefly describes the proposed action, possible alternatives and our 
proposed scoping process. You can address any questions about the 
proposed action, the scoping process or the EIS to the USCG or MARAD 
project managers identified in this notice (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The proposed action requiring environmental review is the Federal 
licensing of the proposed deepwater port described in ``Summary of the 
Application'' below. The alternatives to licensing the proposed port 
are: (1) Licensing with conditions (including conditions designed to 
mitigate environmental impact), (2) evaluation of proposed deepwater 
port and onshore site/pipeline route alternatives or (3) denying the 
application, which for purposes of environmental review is the ``no-
action'' alternative.

Scoping Process

    Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and 
determining

[[Page 53220]]

the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping begins with 
this notice, continues through the public comment period (see DATES), 
and ends when USCG and MARAD have completed the following actions:
     Invites the participation of Federal, state, and local 
agencies, any affected Indian tribe, the Applicant, and other 
interested persons;
     Determines the actions, alternatives and impacts described 
in 40 CFR 1508.25;
     Identifies and eliminates from detailed study, those 
issues that are not significant or that have been covered elsewhere;
     Identifies other relevant permitting, environmental review 
and consultation requirements;
     Indicates the relationship between timing of the 
environmental review and other aspects of the application process; and
     At its discretion, exercises the options provided in 40 
CFR 1501.7(b).
    Once the scoping process is complete, USCG and MARAD will prepare a 
draft EIS. When complete, MARAD will publish a Federal Register notice 
announcing public availability of the Draft EIS. (If you want that 
notice to be sent to you, please contact the USCG or MARAD project 
manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You will have 
an opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EIS. The USCG, MARAD 
and other appropriate cooperating agencies will consider the received 
comments and then prepare the Final EIS. As with the Draft EIS, we will 
announce the availability of the Final EIS and give you an opportunity 
for review and comment. The Act requires a final public hearing be held 
in the Adjacent Coastal State. Its purpose is to receive comments on 
matters related to whether or not a deepwater port license should be 
issued to the applicant by the Maritime Administrator. The final public 
hearing will be held in Belle Chasse, Louisiana after the Final EIS is 
made available for public review and comment.

Summary of the Application

    The application proposes the ownership, construction, operation and 
eventual decommissioning of a deepwater port terminal in the Gulf of 
Mexico to export domestically produced natural gas. In the nominal 
design case, the Venice Pretreatment Plant would process approximately 
750 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of feed natural gas 
for the proposed West Delta LNG deepwater port. Based on an estimated 
production unit availability of 95.4 percent and an allowance for 
consumption of feed gas during the liquefaction process, the proposed 
West Delta LNG deepwater port would nominally produce 5.0 MMtpa of LNG 
for export. In the optimized case, the proposed project would process 
approximately 900 MMscfd of feed natural gas to produce approximately 
6.1 MMtpa of LNG for export, or the equivalent of 306 billion standard 
cubic feet per year of LNG.
    The trading carriers calling on the West Delta LNG deepwater port 
would have nominal cargo capacities ranging from 30,000 cubic meters 
(m\3\) to 180,000 m\3\. For trading carriers of 180,000 m\3\ capacity, 
the Applicant anticipates a steady state loading rate of 12,000 m\3\ 
that would allow a 24-hour turnaround period, including time for 
berthing, system connections, and custody transfer administration. For 
LNG trading carriers of 30,000 m\3\ capacity, the Applicant anticipates 
a shorter loading and turnaround time of 14 hours. The overall project 
would consist of offshore and marine components as well as onshore 
components as described below.

Offshore and Marine Components of the Deepwater Port

    The West Delta LNG deepwater port offshore and marine components 
would consist of an LNG production and storage unit, a loading platform 
and marine berth unit and support facilities, as described below:
     The proposed deepwater port will consist of thirteen (13) 
fixed bridge connected platforms with piles in Outer Continental Shelf 
West Delta Lease Block 44, approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the 
coast of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of 
approximately 57 to 60 feet, with the gas arrival platform located at 
latitude 29[deg] 04' 56.11'' N and longitude 89[deg] 39' 16.00'' W. 
Eleven (11) bridges would connect the platforms and marine berth and 
provide for piping, electrical, instrument/automation, and personnel 
transit between platforms.
     The LNG production and storage unit will contain a gas 
arrival platform where liquefaction-ready gas would be supplied by the 
Venice Pretreatment Plant described below and a proposed 30-inch subsea 
pipeline that would terminate at the gas arrival platform. The 
production platform will consist of three (3) LNG production platforms 
capable of accommodating a total of six (6) liquefaction trains (two 
[2] trains per platform), with each liquefaction train system 
consisting of one (1) 0.83-MMtpa liquefaction unit and one (1) ethane 
extraction system. Additionally, the West Delta LNG deepwater port 
would have five (5) LNG storage platforms outfitted with three (3) 
20,000 m\3\ FSP storage tanks providing 60,000 m\3\ of LNG per storage 
platform for a total storage capacity of 300,000 m\3\. A flare tripod 
platform equipped with a flare stack, smokeless tips, and ignition 
system(s) and scrubbers would be provided to safely burn all vented 
gas.
     The West Delta LNG loading platform and marine berthing 
facilities will contain a loading arm system located on the LNG loading 
platform that would be used to load LNG onto a single LNG trading 
carrier. The loading and marine berth would be capable of handling LNG 
trading carriers with nominal capacities ranging from 30,000 m\3\ up to 
180,000 m\3\. The West Delta LNG deepwater port would include six (6) 
mooring dolphins and four (4) breasting dolphins. Breasting dolphins 
and mooring dolphins are marine structures used for berthing and 
mooring of vessels.
     The support facilities will contain an accommodation 
platform for West Delta LNG personnel and shall include living quarters 
for up to 36 people, a control station, helideck, and an auxiliary 
command room. All main power and essential power, other than the 
dedicated emergency generator located on the accommodations platform 
would be created and distributed from the utilities platform.
     The loading platform is connected to offshore LNG tankers 
with a 180,000 m\3\ nominal capacity for loading by two (2) 16-inch 
(40.6-centimeter) diameter standard liquid arms; one (1) hybrid 
(liquid/vapor) 16-inch diameter arm; and one (1) 16-inch diameter 
standard vapor arm. Depending on manifold restrictions, two (2) liquid 
arms and one (1) vapor arm would be used to load the 30,000 m\3\ 
nominal capacity LNG trading carriers.

Onshore Components of the Deepwater Port

    The West Delta LNG deepwater port onshore components would consist 
of the proposed Venice Pretreatment Plant which would be located in 
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana within the grounds of an existing 121-
acre onshore natural gas processing facility known as the Venice Gas 
Complex. The onshore components are as follows:
     The Venice Pretreatment Plant would receive natural gas 
from offshore Gulf of Mexico midstream pipelines and/or interstate 
pipeline feed gas from pipelines already interconnected with the Venice 
Gas Complex. The natural gas would be pre-treated to meet liquefaction 
specifications, compressed

[[Page 53221]]

onshore, and sent to the West Delta LNG offshore deepwater port.
     The proposed Venice Pretreatment Plant would contain the 
following major components for the pre-treatment and processing of 
sourced natural gas: Cryogenic trains to process offshore-sourced gas, 
natural gas compressors, gas pretreatment packages, power generation 
units driven by gas turbines, waste heat recovery units, utilities to 
support the new gas pretreatment and compression equipment and a flare 
to combust waste gas from the pretreatment process.
    The onshore components connect to the offshore components by a 
single pipeline. This pipeline would be constructed to transfer the 
liquefaction-ready gas from the proposed onshore Venice Pretreatment 
Plant to the West Delta LNG deepwater port. The proposed pipeline's 
outgoing onshore assembly is a 4.3 statute mile 30-inch diameter 
connection from the Venice Pretreatment Plant (measured from the 
proposed pig launcher to the high water mark) where this pipeline 
becomes the subsea pipeline supplying the offshore deepwater port. At 
this point, the pipeline continues, extending 15.5 statute miles beyond 
the high water mark to terminate at the proposed West Delta LNG 
offshore deepwater port.

Privacy Act

    The electronic form of all comments received into the FDMS can be 
searched by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). The Department of Transportation Privacy 
Act Statement can be viewed in the Federal Register published on April 
11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, pages 19477-78) or by visiting http://www.regulations.gov.

(Authority: 49 CFR 1.93).

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Gabriel Chavez,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-21567 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P