[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72388-72391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19889]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP24-494-000]


Black Bayou Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting 
Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Black Bayou Gas 
Storage Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Session

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental document, that will discuss 
the environmental impacts of the Black Bayou Gas Storage Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Black Bayou Gas 
Storage, LLC (Black Bayou) in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, 
Louisiana. The Commission will use this environmental document 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 regarding the project. As part of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission takes into account 
concerns the public may have about proposals and the environmental 
impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the 
issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This 
gathering of public input is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal 
of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the environmental 
document on the important environmental issues. Additional information 
about the Commission's NEPA process is described below in the NEPA 
Process and Environmental Document section of this notice.
    By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. 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 5:00pm Eastern Time on September 27, 2024. Comments may be 
submitted in written or oral form. Further details on how to submit 
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this 
notice.
    Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, 
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts.

[[Page 72389]]

Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they 
need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission staff will 
consider all written or oral comments during the preparation of the 
environmental document.
    If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before 
the opening of this docket on July 17, 2024, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP24-494-000 to ensure they are considered 
as part of this proceeding.
    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, the Natural Gas Act conveys the right of eminent 
domain to the company. 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. The Commission does 
not subsequently grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of that 
eminent domain authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle 
eminent domain cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these 
matters.
    Black Bayou 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?'' which addresses typically asked questions, including 
the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's 
proceedings. This fact sheet along with other landowner topics of 
interest are available for viewing on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the Natural Gas, Landowner Topics link.

Public Participation

    There are four methods you can use to submit your comments to the 
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your 
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected].
    (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 FERC Online. 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 also located on the Commission's website 
(www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. 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 Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP24-
494-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, 
DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852; or
    (4) 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, September 25, 2024, 4:30-     Ward 7 Community Center, 1615
 7:30 pm (Central Standard Time).         Horridge Street, Vinton,
                                          Louisiana 70668, (337) 589-
                                          5181.
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    The primary goal of the scoping session is to have you identify the 
specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in 
the environmental document. Individual oral comments will be taken on a 
one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is designed to 
receive the maximum amount of oral comments in a convenient way during 
the timeframe allotted.
    The scoping session is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
Central Standard Time. You may arrive at any time after 4:30 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 7:30 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''. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. For 
assistance, contact FERC at [email protected] or call toll 
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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    Your oral 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 oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit of 5 
minutes may be implemented for each commentor. 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 Black Bayou will also be present 
to answer project-specific questions.
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided orally at a scoping session.
    Additionally, 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

[[Page 72390]]

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. Go to 
https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for 
eSubscription.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Black Bayou proposes to construct and operate an underground 
natural gas storage facility consisting of four caverns with a working 
capacity of about 34.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in Cameron Parish, 
Louisiana. The Black Bayou Gas Storage Project would provide up to 1.6 
Bcf of peak daily natural gas injection capability, and up to 2.0 Bcf 
of peak daily natural gas deliverability. According to Black Bayou, its 
project would provide highly flexible natural gas storage, wheeling and 
balancing services, with an ability to cycle between injection and 
withdrawal services on short notice.
    The Black Bayou Gas Storage Project would consist of the following 
facilities:
     four underground salt dome natural gas storage caverns;
     a Central Operations Site inside the natural gas storage 
area, to include:
    [cir] a 44,000 horsepower compressor station;
    [cir] a brine leaching plant;
    [cir] a non-jurisdictional electrical supply facility;
     nine freshwater wells;
     nine saltwater disposal wells located on 3 pads;
     associated piping and valve settings and;
     two 27.1-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter, looped bi-
directional header pipelines in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, 
Louisiana; \2\
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    \2\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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     metering and regulation stations;
     mainline valve sites; and
     permanent and temporary access roads.
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed facilities would disturb about 670 
acres of land for the aboveground facilities and the loop pipelines. 
Following construction, Black Bayou would maintain about 288 acres for 
permanent operation of the project's facilities; Black Bayou would 
restore the remaining acreage and allow it to revert to former uses. 
About 89 percent of the proposed pipeline route parallels existing 
pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way.

NEPA Process and the Environmental Document

    Any environmental document issued by the Commission will discuss 
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation 
of the proposed project under the relevant general resource areas:
     geology and soils;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     socioeconomics;
     environmental justice;
     air quality and noise; and
     reliability and safety.
    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. Your 
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues 
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially 
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental 
document.
    Following this scoping period, Commission staff will determine 
whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present Commission 
staff's independent analysis of the issues. If Commission staff 
prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may be issued for an 
allotted public comment period. The Commission would consider timely 
comments on the EA before making its decision regarding the proposed 
project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued, which will open an 
additional comment period. Staff will then prepare a draft EIS which 
will be issued for public comment. Commission staff will consider all 
timely comments received during the comment period on the draft EIS and 
revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any EA 
or draft and final EIS will be available in electronic format in the 
public record through eLibrary \3\ and the Commission's natural gas 
environmental documents web page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents). If eSubscribed, you 
will receive instant email notification when the environmental document 
is issued.
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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 environmental document.\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, Section 1501.8.
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), 
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, 
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential 
effects on historic properties.\5\ The environmental document 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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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

[[Page 72391]]

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 and includes a mailing address with 
their comments. 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 you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would 
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of 
the following steps:
    (1) Send an email to [email protected] stating your 
request. You must include the docket number CP24-494-000 in your 
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure 
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to 
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and 
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to 
accept comments.
    OR
    (2) 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. 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 https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events along with 
other related information.

    Dated: August 28, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-19889 Filed 9-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P