[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7985-7988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02822]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP20-21-000]


Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Louisiana Connector Amendment 
Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of 
Public Scoping Session

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will 
discuss the environmental impacts of

[[Page 7986]]

the Louisiana Connector Amendment Project (Project) involving 
construction and operation of facilities by Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC 
(PAPL) in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The Commission will use this EA 
in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is in 
the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the 
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested 
agencies about issues regarding the Project. The National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to take into account the 
environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it 
considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and 
Necessity. NEPA also requires the Commission to discover concerns the 
public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as 
``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the 
analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this 
notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of issues 
to address in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and 
properly recorded, please submit your comments so that the Commission 
receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 
March 6, 2020.
    You can make a difference by submitting your specific comments or 
concerns about the Project. Your comments should focus on the potential 
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid 
or lessen environmental impacts. Your input will help the Commission 
staff determine what issues they need to evaluate in the EA. Commission 
staff will consider all filed comments during the preparation of the 
EA.
    If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the 
opening of this docket on December 9, 2019, you will need to file those 
comments in Docket No. CP20-21-000 to ensure they are considered as 
part of this proceeding. If you have already filed comments in Docket 
No. CP20-21-000, you do not need to file those comments again.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental 
mailing list for this Project. State and local government 
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed 
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company 
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to 
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company 
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You 
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission 
approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the right of 
eminent domain. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach an 
easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation 
proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be 
determined by a judge in accordance with state law.
    PAPL provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the FERC 
entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I 
Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked 
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate 
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on 
the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) at https://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf.

Public Participation

    The Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which 
makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and submittals 
regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These instant 
email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification and 
provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of 
time you spend researching proceedings. To sign up go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    For your convenience, there are four methods you can use to submit 
your comments to the Commission. 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, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to Documents and Filings. Using eComment is an easy 
method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling 
feature, which is located 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.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment 
on a Filing'';
    (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 
(CP20-21-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, 
Washington, DC 20426;
    (4) Newly affected landowners wishing to obtain legal status by 
becoming a party to the proceeding for this project should, on or 
before the comment date (March 6, 2020), file with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, a 
motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 
385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person 
obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by 
the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all 
documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must 
submit 3 copies of filings made with the Commission and must provide a 
copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only 
parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders 
in the proceeding; or
    (5) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you 
to attend the public scoping session its staff will conduct in the 
Project area, scheduled as follows:

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           Date and time                          Location
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Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 4:00      South Beauregard Recreation District
 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Central Time.    Community Center, 6719 Highway 12,
                                     Ragley, LA 70657, 337-725-3717.
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Please note that staff may conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. if all
  attendees planning to provide comments have done so.


[[Page 7987]]

    The primary goal of the scoping session is to have you identify the 
specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in 
the EA. Individual verbal comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis 
with a court reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum 
amount of verbal comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe 
allotted.
    The scoping session is scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 
Central Time. You may arrive any time at or after 4:00 p.m.. There will 
not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session 
opens. If you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers 
in the order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 7:00 p.m. 
However, if no additional numbers have been handed out and all 
individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do 
so, staff may conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. Please see appendix 1 
for additional information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all 
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at 
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE, Washington, 
DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to 
eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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    Your scoping comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with 
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public 
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on 
FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page of this notice for 
instructions on using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are 
interested in providing verbal comments in the one-on-one settings, a 
time limit of 3 minutes may be implemented for each commentor.
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided verbally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a 
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the 
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review 
process. Representatives from PAPL will also be present to answer 
Project-specific questions.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    PAPL proposes to amend its April 18, 2019 Order Issuing Certificate 
for the Louisiana Connector Project (CP18-7-000) by constructing and 
operating a compressor station in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana (the 
Beauregard Parish Compressor Station or BPCS) in lieu of the compressor 
station previously certificated in Allen Parish, Louisiana. The 
compressor station proposed for this Project would be constructed as 
part of the Louisiana Connector Project.
    In its December 9, 2019 Amendment Application, PAPL proposed to 
locate the BPCS within the previously certificated Beauregard Parish 
Contractor Yard (LYBEA-01) and workspace associated with pipeline 
construction at milepost (MP) 72.3. However, on January 31, 2020, PAPL 
filed to relocate the new BPCS site approximately 0.75 mile south of 
Gaytine Road, to a location adjacent to and west-southwest of Cameron 
Interstate Pipeline, LLC's existing Ragley Compressor Station.\2\ The 
proposed site would be approximately 2,750 feet directly south of the 
initially proposed BPCS location described in PAPL's December 9, 2019 
Amendment Application. The new location for the BPCS would be south of 
and adjacent to the main pipeline corridor and would use the same 
mainline connection and interconnect location points near MP 72.3 as 
previously proposed.
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    \2\ Newly affected landowners have an opportunity to file for 
timely intervention during this scoping period, which ends on March 
6, 2020.
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    As part of the Project, PAPL would:
     Relocate the previously authorized compressor station 
consisting of four Solar Titan 130E gas turbine driven compressors in 
Allen Parish from MP 96.1, to MP 72.3 in Beauregard Parish, increasing 
horsepower from 89,900 to 93,880;
     relocate an interconnect with the Texas Eastern 
Transmission Company from MP 96.1 to MP 72.3;
     relocate pig launcher/receiver facilities from MP 96.1 to 
MP 72.3;
     construct three new pipeline interconnections with Cameron 
Intrastate Pipeline, Transcontinental Gas Pipeline, and Louisiana 
Storage at MP 72.3;
     construct one new mainline block valve at MP 72.3, 
resulting in a total of 10 mainline valves on the Louisiana Connector 
Project; and
     use the former Allen Parish compressor station site at MP 
96.1 as a contractor yard.
    The Project facilities would result in a slight increase in the 
overall capacity of feed gas to the approved Port Arthur Liquefaction 
facility from approximately 1.98 to 2.05 billion cubic feet per day. 
The Project would allow gas from additional sources to supply the 
liquefaction facility.
    The general location of the Project facilities is shown in appendix 
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    The Project facilities would disturb approximately 59.9 acres, all 
of which would be permanently maintained as aboveground facilities or 
right-of-way.

The EA Process

    The EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed Project under these general 
headings:
     Geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     socioeconomics;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     air quality and noise;
     alternatives;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts
    Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the 
proposed Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations 
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    The EA will present Commission staffs' independent analysis of the 
issues. The EA will be available in electronic format in the public 
record through eLibrary \3\ and the Commission's website (https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). If eSubscribed, you will 
receive instant email notification when the EA is issued. The EA may be 
issued for an allotted public comment period. Commission staff will 
consider all comments on the EA before making recommendations to the 
Commission. To ensure Commission staff have the opportunity to address 
your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the Public 
Participation section, beginning on page 2.
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    \3\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
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    With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with 
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental issues of this Project to formally cooperate in the 
preparation of the EA.\4\ Agencies that would like to request 
cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing 
comments provided under the Public Participation section of this 
notice.
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    \4\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's

[[Page 7988]]

implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, and 
to solicit its views and those of other government agencies, interested 
Indian tribes, and the public on the Project's potential effects on 
historic properties.\5\ The EA for this Project will document findings 
on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status of 
consultations under section 106.
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    \5\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those 
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or 
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in 
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic 
Places.
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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    Commission staff have already identified several issues that 
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed 
facilities; the environmental information provided by PAPL; and 
comments already received, as listed below. This preliminary list of 
issues may change based on your comments and our analysis.

     Alternative compressor station locations
     Traffic on Gaytine Road
     Impact on property values
     Proposed developments near the compressor station
     Cumulative impacts

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other 
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also 
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's 
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property 
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within 
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits 
comments on the Project. Commission staff will update the environmental 
mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices 
related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, 
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially 
affected by the proposed Project.
    If the Commission issues the EA for an allotted public comment 
period, a Notice of Availability of the EA will be sent to the 
environmental mailing list and will provide instructions to access the 
electronic document on the FERC's website (www.ferc.gov). If you need 
to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove 
your name from the mailing list, please return the attached ``Mailing 
List Update Form'' (appendix 3).

Additional Information

    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the 
FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number 
in the ``Docket Number'' field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP20-21). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 
502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all 
formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and 
rulemakings.
    Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along 
with other related information.

    Dated: February 5, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-02822 Filed 2-11-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P