Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the NuStar Burgos Pipelines Projects, 36579-36580 [2015-15676]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36579-36580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15676]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9174]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the 
NuStar Burgos Pipelines Projects

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (the Department) is issuing this 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the public that it intends to prepare 
an environmental assessment (EA) consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (as implemented by the Council 
on Environmental Quality Regulations found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508) 
to evaluate the potential impacts of the construction and operation of 
a proposed new NuStar Burgos pipeline and a proposed change in 
petroleum products for an existing Burgos pipeline. In December 2014, 
NuStar submitted two applications to the Department. One application 
requests a new Presidential Permit allowing changes to the operation of 
an existing 8-inch outer diameter pipeline (the Existing Burgos 
pipeline) at the United States-Mexico border, as well as a name change 
of the owner and operator. The other application requests a new 
Presidential Permit for construction, connection, operation, and 
maintenance of a new 10-inch outer diameter pipeline and associated 
facilities parallel to the Existing Burgos pipeline also at the United 
States-Mexico border (the New Burgos pipeline). Both pipelines would 
connect the Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) Burgos Gas Plant near Reynosa, 
Tamaulipas, Mexico and the NuStar terminal near Edinburg, Texas. This 
NOI informs the public about the proposed projects and solicits 
participation and comments from interested federal, tribal, state, and 
local government entities and the public for consideration in 
establishing the scope and content of the environmental review.
    Project Description:

Proposed Changes to the Existing Burgos Pipeline

    NuStar has applied for a new Presidential Permit to replace a 2006 
Presidential Permit, that would: (1) Reflect NuStar's name change from 
Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. to NuStar Logistics, L.P. as the 
owner and operator of the Existing Burgos pipeline and (2) allow the 
Existing Burgos pipeline border facilities to transport a broader range 
of petroleum products than allowed by the 2006 Presidential Permit, 
including liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas liquids. The 2006 
Presidential Permit only allows transportation of light naphtha.
    The U.S. portion of the Existing Burgos pipeline is approximately 
34 miles long, running between a location on the Rio Grande southeast 
of Pe[ntilde]itas, Texas and the NuStar terminal approximately 6 miles 
north of downtown Edinburg, Texas. The pipeline crosses under the Rio 
Grande. The border segment of the pipeline extends from the center line 
of the Rio Grande approximately 8,450 feet (1.6 miles) to the first 
mainline shut-off valve in the United States. The Mexican portion of 
the Existing Burgos pipeline runs approximately 12.5 miles between the 
Rio Grande crossing and the PEMEX Burgos Gas Plant. Maximum throughput 
based on the design of the pipe is 64,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Proposed New Burgos Pipeline

    NuStar has also applied for a new Presidential Permit to construct, 
connect, operate, and maintain a new pipeline and associated facilities 
at the U.S.-Mexico border for the transportation of a broad range of 
petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas 
liquids. NuStar proposes to construct the New Burgos pipeline parallel 
to the Existing Burgos pipeline and, to the extent possible, in the 
same right-of-way. The border segment subject to a Presidential Permit, 
if granted, would extend from the center line of the Rio Grande 
approximately 8,450 feet (1.6 miles) to the first mainline shut-off 
valve planned for construction in the United States. Maximum throughput 
based on the design of the pipe would be 108,000 bpd.
    Project Location: The U.S. portion of the proposed projects is 
located in Hidalgo County, Texas.
    Environmental Effects: The environmental review will describe the 
environmental impacts of the proposed actions; any adverse 
environmental impacts that cannot be avoided should the proposals be 
implemented; the reasonable alternatives to the proposed actions; 
comparison between short-term and long-term impacts on the environment; 
any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of natural,

[[Page 36580]]

physical or other resources that would occur if the proposed actions 
are implemented, and any proposed mitigation measures if needed. The 
analysis will focus on air quality, biological resources, cultural 
resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and 
hazardous materials, potential accidents and spills, hydrology and 
water quality, noise, socioeconomics, environmental justice, 
transportation and any other topics that arise during scoping.
    While the President has delegated authority to the Department to 
issue permits for pipeline facilities at the U.S. border, the 
environmental review will analyze impacts of the proposed projects in 
the United States that are dependent upon Permit issuance.
    Scoping Period: The Department invites the public, governmental 
agencies, tribal governments and all other interested parties to 
comment on the scope of the EA. All such comments should be provided in 
writing, within thirty (30) days of the publication of this notice, at 
the address listed below. The comment period for the NOI begins on June 
25, 2015 and ends on July 27, 2015.
    Solicitation of Comments: All comments in response to the NOI must 
be submitted by July 27, 2015. Comments may be submitted at 
www.regulations.gov by entering the title of this Notice into the 
search field and following the prompts. Comments may also be submitted 
by U.S. mail and should be addressed to: NuStar Burgos Project Manager, 
U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW., Room 2726, Washington, DC 
20520. All comments from agencies or organizations should indicate a 
contact person for the agency or organization.
    All comments received during the scoping period may be made public, 
no matter how initially submitted. Comments are not private and will 
not be edited to remove identifying or contact information. Commenters 
are cautioned against including any information that they would not 
want publicly disclosed. Any party soliciting or aggregating comments 
from other persons is further requested to direct those persons not to 
include any identifying or contact information, or information they 
would not want publicly disclosed, in their comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The NuStar Burgos Presidential Permit 
applications that provide project details are available at the 
following Web site: https://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/c66757.htm. Information on the Presidential Permit process is available 
on the following Web site: https://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/. Please refer to this Web site or contact the Department at 
the address listed in the Solicitation of Comments section of this 
notice.

     Dated: June 19, 2015.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-15676 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P