[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2356-2357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00549]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-3-000]


Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Tres Palacios Cavern 
4 Expansion Project

    On October 12, 2022, Tres Palacios Gas Storage LLC (Tres Palacios) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP23-3-000 requesting a Certificate 
of Public Convenience and Necessity and Authorization pursuant to 
sections 7(c) and 7(b) of the Natural Gas Act to construct, operate, 
and abandon certain natural gas storage facilities. The proposed 
project is known as the Tres Palacios Cavern 4 Expansion Project 
(Project), and would add approximately 6.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of 
new working gas capacity and 3.5 Bcf of base gas capacity at its 
existing natural gas storage facility in Matagorda County, Texas.
    On October 26, 2022, 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--April 14, 2023
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\--July 13, 2023
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    \2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other 
Federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally 
delegated authority, that are responsible for Federal 
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed 
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the 
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a 
schedule is otherwise established by Federal law.

    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 Project would consist of the following facilities and 
activities, all in Matagorda County, Texas:
     conversion of an existing third-party brine production 
well (Trull 11) into a natural gas storage cavern (Cavern 4);
     development of the Trull 11 well pad site for Cavern 4 
(Cavern 4 Well Pad);
     construction of a 0.6-mile-long, 16-inch-diameter pipeline 
(New Cavern 4 Pipeline) connecting Cavern 4 to the existing 
certificated facilities at the Storage Facility;
     abandonment in place of a 15,300 horsepower electric-motor 
driven centrifugal compressor unit;
     installation of a new 5,500 horsepower electric-motor 
driven reciprocating compressor unit;
     addition of a new 2.5 million British thermal units per 
hour dehydration unit;

[[Page 2357]]

     construction of various related facilities, including a 
new permanent access road for the Cavern 4 Well Pad; and
     non-jurisdictional facilities consisting of a new electric 
service line to the Cavern 4 Well Pad and a new fiber optic line from 
the Cavern 4 Well Pad to the Storage Facility.

Background

    On November 23, 2022, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Tres Palacios Cavern 4 Expansion Project. 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 Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The 
primary issues raised by the Department concerned impacts of the 
Project on wildlife and wildlife habitat; bird nesting areas; Federal 
and state-listed rare, threatened, and endangered species and their 
habitat; and control of the spread of non-native plant species. 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 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'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP23-3), 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: January 6, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-00549 Filed 1-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P