[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 235 (Monday, December 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 78849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26825]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP20-527-000]


Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the East Lateral Xpress 
Project

    On September 24, 2020, Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC (Columbia 
Gulf) filed an application in Docket No. CP20-527-000 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 East Lateral XPress Project (Project), and would provide a total of 
725 million standard cubic feet per day of firm transportation 
capacity, on Columbia Gulf's interstate natural gas pipeline system, to 
supply feed gas for Venture Global LNG's Plaquemines LNG facility in 
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
    On October 8, 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to 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 document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule 
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\
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    \1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020)
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA March 16, 2021
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline June 14, 2021

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

Project Description

    The East Lateral XPress Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     8.1 miles of 30-inch-diameter pipeline lateral within 
Barataria Bay in Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana;
     a new 23,470-horsepower compressor station at an existing 
Columbia Gulf abandoned compressor station site in St. Mary Parish, 
Louisiana (Centerville Compressor Station);
     a new 23,470-horsepower compressor station adjacent to an 
existing tie-in facility in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana (Golden Meadow 
Compressor Station);
     one new delivery meter station;
     one new tie-in facility in Barataria Bay; and
     two new mainline valves.

Background

    On October 21, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
East Lateral XPress Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of Scoping 
was 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 Notice of Scoping, the Commission 
received comments from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, and the Teamsters National Pipeline 
Labor Management Cooperation Trust. The primary issues raised by the 
commenters are essential fish habitat; air quality; environmental 
justice populations; and tribal impacts. 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 service 
provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    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 (i.e., 
CP20-527), 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: December 1, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-26825 Filed 12-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P