[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42810-42812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13474]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2023-0119]


Deepwater Port License Application: Grand Isle LNG Operating 
Company, LLC; Notice of Intent; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and 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 Grand Isle LNG 
Operating Company, 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 the Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development 
Project, that would be located in Federal waters approximately 11.3 
nautical miles (13 statute miles, or 20.9 kilometers) offshore 
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 68 to 
72 feet (20.7 to 21.9 meters). 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. Pursuant to the criteria 
provided in the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, Louisiana is 
the designated Adjacent Coastal State (ACS) for this application.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before 30 days from the date of 
publication of this Federal Register notice. MARAD and USCG will hold 
one in-person Public Meeting in connection with scoping for the Grand 
Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project.
    The in-person public meeting will be held on July 27, 2023, at the 
Grand Isle Multiplex, 3101 LA-1, Grand Isle, LA 70358 from 4 p.m. to 6 
p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT). The public meeting will be preceded 
by an open house from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CDT. The public meeting may end 
later than the stated time, depending on the number of persons who wish 
to make a comment on the record.
    Additionally, materials submitted in response to this request for 
comments on the Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development 
Project deepwater port license application must be submitted to the 
www.regulations.gov website or the Federal Docket Management Facility 
as detailed in the ADDRESSES section below by the close of the comment 
period.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Number 
MARAD-2023-0119 by any one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Search MARAD-2023-0119 and follow the instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: The Docket Management Facility is 
in the West Building, Ground Floor of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation. The Docket Management Facility location address is U.S. 
Department of Transportation, MARAD-2023-0119, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590. Call 202-493-
0402 to determine facility hours prior to hand delivery.

    Note:  If you mail or hand-deliver your comments, we recommend 
that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, 
and/or a telephone number in a cover page so that we can contact you 
if we have questions regarding your submission.

    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and specific docket number. All comments received will be posted 
without change to the docket at www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments, see the section entitled Public Participation.
    For assistance, please contact either the Maritime Administration 
via email at [email protected], or the U.S. Coast Guard via email 
at [email protected]. Include ``MARAD-2023-0119'' in the subject 
line of the message. This email will not be relied on for the intake of 
comments for this deepwater port license application. To submit written 
comments and other material submissions, please follow the directions 
above. Please do not submit written comments or other materials to the 
email addresses in this section. Improperly submitted comments 
interfere with MARAD and USCG's ability to help others seeking 
assistance with comment submission or public meeting attendance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meetings 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.
    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 through docket submission 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).
    If you plan to participate in the open house or public meetings and 
require special assistance such as sign language interpretation, non-
English language interpretation services or other reasonable 
accommodation, please notify MARAD or the USCG (see ADDRESSES) at least 
5 business days in advance of the public meetings. Include

[[Page 42811]]

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, including those on alternatives or relevant information, 
studies, or analysis with respect to the licensing of the deepwater 
port. All comments will be accepted. The public meeting is not the only 
opportunity you have to comment on the Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater 
Port Development Project 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 substantive 
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-2023-0119.
    Public comment submissions should include:
     Docket number MARAD-2023-0119.
     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-2023-0119.
     By mail to the Federal Docket Management Facility (MARAD-
2023-0119), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.
     By fax to the Federal Docket Management Facility at 202-
366-9826.
    Faxed or mailed 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.
    For additional information please contact USCG via email at 
[email protected] and MARAD via email at [email protected]. 
Include ``MARAD-2023-0119'' in the subject line of the message. These 
email addresses will not be relied on for the intake of comments on the 
Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project deepwater port 
license application. To submit written comments and other material 
submissions, please follow the directions above.
    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 U.S. 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 Grand Isle 
LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project appears in the Grand Isle 
LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project Notice of Application, 
June 27, 2023, edition of the Federal Register. 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 it has been determined 
that review must include preparation of an EIS. This NOI is required by 
40 CFR 1501.9. 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 
MARAD or USCG (see ADDRESSES).

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.

Summary of the Application

    The application proposes the ownership, construction, operation, 
and eventual decommissioning of the Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater 
Port Development Project deepwater port (``DWP'') terminal to be 
located approximately 11.3 nautical miles (13 statute miles, or 20.9 
kilometers) offshore Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The project would 
involve the installation of two nominal 2.1 MTPA liquefaction systems 
installed in the West Delta Outer Continental Shelf Lease Block 35 (WD-
35), in approximately 68 to 72 feet of water. The proposed Grand Isle 
LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project DWP would export 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) up to 4.2 million metric tons per annum 
(MMTPA).
    The proposed Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development 
Project DWP would consist of fixed and floating components. These 
components would include eight (8) platforms, two (2) floating storage 
units (FSUs), and three (3) interconnecting lateral pipelines for feed 
gas supply. The eight platforms would include two (2) gas treatment 
platforms; two (2) LNG liquefaction platforms; two (2) LNG loading 
platforms; one (1) accommodations platform; and one (1) thermal 
oxidizer platform. Each platform would be connected via a series of 
eight (8) linking bridges; the two FSUs would be connected using two 
(2) telescopic gangways.
    The LNG would be loaded onto standard LNG carriers with nominal 
cargo capacities between 125,000 and 180,000 cubic meters (m3) (average 
expected size is 155,000 m3) for the export of LNG, including to Free 
Trade Agreement (FTA) and non-FTA nations.
    The project would be completed in two phases. Phase 1 construction 
would include five (5) platforms (a gas treatment platform, an LNG 
liquefaction platform, an LNG loading platform, the accommodations 
platform, and the thermal oxidizer platform), one (1) FSU, and 
interconnect lateral pipelines. Phase 1 would produce 2.1 MMTPA of LNG. 
Phase 2 construction would be expected to begin one year after the 
beginning of Phase 1 construction. Phase 2 would include the remaining 
three (3) platforms (a gas treatment platform, an LNG liquefaction 
platform, and an LNG loading platform) and an additional FSU. Phase 2 
would increase

[[Page 42812]]

the production of the project to 4.2 MMTPA of LNG.
    The feed gas supply to the project would be transported via three 
(3) new pipeline laterals. A new 24-inch-diameter lateral, 1.11 statute 
miles (1.79 kilometers) in length, would tie-in to the existing 
Kinetica Partners 24-inch (61-centimeter) pipeline. A new 20-inch 
lateral, 0.43 statute mile (0.69 kilometer) in length, would tie-in to 
the existing 20-inch (51-centimeter) Kinetica Partners pipeline. 
Finally, a new 20-inch-diameter lateral, 4.75 statute miles (7.64 
kilometers) in length, would tie-in to the existing 18-inch (46-
centimeter) High Point Gas Transmission pipeline.
    The fabrication and assembly yards for the DWP's fixed components 
would be located in south Louisiana. One (1) purpose-built transport 
barge and three (3) project-specific tugs would also be built in south 
Louisiana. The two (2) FSUs proposed for the project would be 
repurposed LNG carriers. These would be converted to FSUs in a shipyard 
located in Europe or Asia.
    The onshore components would consist of an existing receiving area/
warehouse with an onsite office. These components would be located at 
one of the existing fabrication yards in Louisiana.
    For Phases 1 and 2, platform and pile fabrication and assembly 
would be contracted to various existing fabrication yards in south 
Louisiana with the capacity to build and load out up to a 10,000-short-
ton deck. Most of the major equipment (e.g., generators, cranes, gas 
compressors, and gas treating equipment) would be purchased, 
fabricated, and assembled at vendor suppliers and then shipped pre-
commissioned and ready to install on each of the platform topsides.
    The living quarters and helideck that are part of the 
accommodations platform would be prefabricated and shipped separately. 
The selected contractor would install the prefabricated quarters onto 
the accommodations platform deck at the onshore fabrication yard. The 
piles and risers would be fabricated at a fabrication yard in the south 
Louisiana region. Subsea assemblies would be fabricated and tested at a 
fabrication yard.
    The purpose-built transport barge and the three project-specific 
tugs would be built in a south Louisiana shipyard. The tugs and barge 
would be used during both installation phases of the DWP.

Scoping Process

    Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and 
determining 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, Tribal, and 
local agencies, 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.
    Once the scoping process is complete, USCG, in coordination with 
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 see ADDRESSES). 
You will have an opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EIS. 
MARAD, the USCG, and other appropriate cooperating agencies will 
consider the received substantive comments and then prepare the Final 
EIS. As with the Draft EIS, we will announce the availability of the 
Final EIS. The Act requires a final public hearing be held in the ACS. 
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 after the 
Final EIS is made available for public review.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into 
any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment 
(or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). For information on DOT's compliance with 
the Privacy Act, please visit https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.

(Authority: 49 CFR 1.93.)

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-13474 Filed 6-30-23; 8:45 am]
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