[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 203 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56185-56186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22887]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP19-502-000]


Commonwealth LNG, LLC; Notice of Schedule for Environmental 
Review of the Commonwealth LNG Project

    On August 20, 2019, Commonwealth LNG, LLC (Commonwealth) filed an 
application in Docket No. CP19-502-000 requesting an authorization 
pursuant to Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), and Parts 153 and 
380 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC or Commission) 
regulations to site, construct, and operate a natural gas liquefaction 
and export facility and an associated natural gas pipeline in Cameron 
Parish, Louisiana. The proposed project is known as the Commonwealth 
LNG Project and would produce up to 8.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) 
of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export.
    On September 3, 2019, the Commission issued its Notice of 
Application for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted 
other 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 final Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Commonwealth LNG Project. This instant notice identifies 
the FERC staff's planned schedule for completion of the final EIS for 
the Commonwealth LNG Project, which is based on an issuance of the 
draft EIS in May 2020.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final EIS October 2, 2020
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline December 31, 2020

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

Project Description

    Commonwealth proposes to construct and operate the new LNG export 
facility and accompanying natural gas pipeline on the west side of the 
Calcasieu Ship Channel at its entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The LNG 
export facility would consist of six natural gas liquefaction trains 
(with nominal liquefaction and production capacities of 1.4 MTPA each), 
six LNG storage tanks (with storage capacities of 40,000 cubic meters 
each), and one marine berth capable of accommodating LNG carriers with 
capacities up to 216,000 cubic meters. Commonwealth would construct a 
30-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline from the LNG export facility, 
extending 3.04 miles north to interconnect with existing natural gas 
pipelines within Cameron Parish. The Commonwealth LNG Project would 
require about 165 acres to construct and would occupy about 130 acres 
during operation.

Background

    On August 15, 2017, the Commission staff granted Commonwealth's 
request to use the FERC's pre-filing environmental review process and 
assigned the Commonwealth LNG Project Docket No. PF17-8. On February 
22, 2018, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Planned Commonwealth LNG 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Session (NOI).
    The NOI was issued during the pre-filing review of the Commonwealth 
LNG Project 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. Major issues raised during scoping include 
impacts on wetlands, migratory birds, and migratory bird habitat; 
impacts on the ecological habitat of surrounding properties; impacts of 
rerouted storm-surge on surrounding properties; and impacts on 
recreational boating and fishing. All substantive comments will be 
addressed in the EIS.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department 
of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service are cooperating 
agencies in the preparation of the EIS.

[[Page 56186]]

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EIS 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 Commonwealth LNG 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., CP19-502), 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: October 15, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-22887 Filed 10-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P