Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port License Application; Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement, 29211-29213 [E6-7660]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2006 / Notices
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
information, FRA is able to correlate
accident data and equipment
malfunctions with the types of circuits
and age of equipment. FRA can then
identify the causes of grade crossing
system failures and investigate them to
determine whether periodic
maintenance, inspection, and testing
standards are effective. FRA also uses
the information collected to alert
railroad employees and appropriate
highway traffic authorities of warning
system malfunctions so that they can
take the necessary measures to protect
motorists and railroad workers at the
grade crossing until repairs have been
made.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours:
4,151 hours.
Title: Bridge Worker Safety Rules.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0535.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: Section 21039 of Title 49 of
the United States Code required FRA to
issue rules, regulations, orders, and
standards for the safety of maintenanceof-way employees on railroad bridges,
including for ‘‘bridge safety equipment’’
such as nets, walkways, handrails, and
safety lines, and requirements for the
use of vessels when work is performed
on bridges located over bodies of water.
FRA has added 49 CFR part 214 to
establish minimum workplace safety
standards for railroad employees as they
apply to railroad bridges. Specifically,
section 214.15(c) establishes standards
and practices for safety net systems.
Safety nets and net installations are to
be drop-tested at the job site after initial
installation and before being used as a
fall protection system, after major
repairs, and at six-month intervals if left
at one site. If a drop-test is not feasible
and is not performed, then a written
certification must be made by the
railroad or railroad contractor, or a
designated certified person, that the net
does comply with the safety standards
of this section. FRA and State inspectors
use the information to enforce Federal
regulations. The information that is
maintained is at the job site promotes
safe bridge worker practices.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 1
hour.
Title: Railroad Police Officers.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0537.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Affected Public: Railroads.
Form(s): N/A.
Abstract: Under 49 CFR part 207,
railroads are required to notify states of
all designated police officers who are
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:37 May 18, 2006
Jkt 208001
discharging their duties outside of their
respective jurisdictions. This
requirement is necessary to verify
proper police authority.
Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 181
hours.
Addressee: Send comments regarding
any of these information collections to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, Attention: FRA
Desk Officer.
Comments are invited on the
following: Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Department, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
Department’s estimate of the burden of
the proposed information collection;
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
A comment to OMB is best assured of
having its full effect if OMB receives it
within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Issued in Washington, DC on May 15,
2006.
D.J. Stadlter,
Director, Office of Budget, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–7619 Filed 5–18–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[USCG–2005–22219]
Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge,
L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas
Deepwater Port License Application;
Preparation of Environmental Impact
Statement
Maritime Administration, DOT.
Notice of availability; notice of
public meeting; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration
(MARAD) announces the availability of
the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Northeast
Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C.,
Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port
license application. The application
describes a project that would be
located in Federal waters of
Massachusetts Bay, in Block 125,
PO 00000
Frm 00093
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29211
approximately 13 miles south-southeast
of Gloucester, MA. The Coast Guard and
MARAD request public comments on
the DEIS. Publication of this notice
begins a 45 day comment period and
provides information on how to
participate in the process. As a point of
clarification, there is another deepwater
port application by Neptune LNG, L.L.C.
in the same vicinity. These applications
are being processed and reviewed
independently.
Public hearings will be held in
Gloucester, MA on June 14, 2006 and in
Salem, MA on June 15, 2006. Both
hearings will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
and will be preceded by an
informational open house from 4:30
p.m. to 6 p.m. The public meetings may
end later than the stated time,
depending on the number of persons
wishing to speak. Material submitted in
response to the request for comments on
the DEIS must reach the Docket
Management Facility by July 3, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting in
Gloucester will be held at the Gloucester
High School Auditorium, 32 Leslie O.
Johnson Road, Gloucester, MA,
telephone: 617–635–4100. The public
meeting in Salem will be at the Salem
State College Library, Charlotte Forten
Hall, 360 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA,
telephone: 978–542–7192.
The DEIS, the application, and
associated documentation are available
for viewing at the DOT Docket
Management System Web site: https://
dms.dot.gov under docket number
22219. The DEIS is also available at
public libraries in Beverly, MA, Boston,
MA, Gloucester, MA, Manchester-bythe-Sea, MA, Marblehead, MA,
Rockport, MA, and Salem, MA.
Address docket submissions for
USCG–2005–22219 to: Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street
SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001.
The Docket Management Facility
accepts hand-delivered submissions,
and makes docket contents available for
public inspection and copying at this
address, in room PL–401, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The
Facility’s telephone number is 202–366–
9329, the fax number is 202–493–2251,
and the Web site for electronic
submissions or for electronic access to
docket contents is https://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Roddy Bachman, U.S. Coast Guard,
telephone: 202–372–1451, e-mail:
rbachman@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM
19MYN1
29212
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2006 / Notices
Docket Operations, telephone: 202–493–
0402.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Public Hearing and Open House
We invite you to learn about the
proposed deepwater port at an
informational open house, and to
comment at a public hearing on the
proposed action and the evaluation
contained in the DEIS. In order to allow
everyone a chance to speak at the public
meeting, we may limit speaker time, or
extend the meeting hours, or both. You
must identify yourself, and any
organization you represent, by name.
Your remarks will be recorded or
transcribed for inclusion in the public
docket.
You may submit written material at
the public meeting, either in place of or
in addition to speaking. Written
material must 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 Docket
Management Facility’s Docket
Management System (DMS). See
‘‘Request for Comments’’ for
information about DMS and your rights
under the Privacy Act.
All our public meeting locations are
wheelchair-accessible. If you plan to
attend the open house or public hearing,
and need special assistance such as sign
language interpretation or other
reasonable accommodation, please
notify the Coast Guard (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 3
business days in advance. Include your
contact information as well as
information about your specific needs.
Request for Comments
We request public comments or other
relevant information on the DEIS. The
public hearing is not the only
opportunity you have to comment. In
addition to or in place of attending a
meeting, you can submit comments to
the Docket Management Facility during
the public comment period (see DATES).
We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment
period and prepare the Final EIS (FEIS).
We will announce the availability of the
FEIS and once again give you the
opportunity to review and comment. If
you want that notice sent directly to you
please contact representatives at the
public hearing or the Coast Guard
representative identified in this notice
under the section titled FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Written submissions should include
the following information:
• Docket number USCG–2005–22219.
• Your name and address.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:37 May 18, 2006
Jkt 208001
• Your reasons for making each
comment or for bringing information to
our attention.
Submit comments or material using
only one of the following methods:
• Electronic submission to DMS,
https://dms.dot.gov.
• Fax, mail, or hand delivery to the
Docket Management Facility (see
ADDRESSES). Faxed or hand delivered
submissions must be unbound, no larger
than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, and suitable for
copying and electronic scanning. If you
mail your submission and want to know
when it reaches the Facility, include a
stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope.
Regardless of the method used for
submitting comments or material, all
submissions will be posted, without
change, to the DMS Web site (https://
dms.dot.gov), and will include any
personal information you provide.
Therefore, submitting this information
makes it public. You may wish to read
the Privacy Act notice that is available
on the DMS Web site, or the Department
of Transportation Privacy Act Statement
that appeared in the Federal Register on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).
You may view docket submissions at
the Docket Management Facility (see
ADDRESSES), or electronically on the
DMS Web site.
Background
Information about deepwater ports,
the statutes, and regulations governing
their licensing, and the receipt of the
current application for a liquefied
natural gas (LNG) deepwater port
appears at 70 FR 52422, September 2,
2005. The Notice of Intent to Prepare an
EIS for the proposed action was
published in the Federal Register at 70
FR 58228, October 5, 2005. Application
materials and associated comments are
available on the docket. Information
from the ‘‘Summary of the Application’’
from previous Federal Register notices
is included below for your convenience.
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), or (2) denying
the application, which for purposes of
environmental review is the ‘‘no-action’’
alternative. These alternatives are more
fully discussed in the DEIS. The Coast
Guard is the lead Federal agency for the
preparation of the EIS. You can address
any questions about the proposed action
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
or the DEIS to the Coast Guard project
manager identified in this notice under
the section titled FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Summary of the Application
Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge,
L.L.C. has proposed a facility to import
liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the New
England region providing a base load
delivery of 400 million cubic feet per
day (MMcfd) and capable of peak
deliveries of approximately 800 MMcfd
or more. The facility would be located
offshore in Massachusetts Bay,
approximately 13 miles south-southeast
of the city of Gloucester, MA, in Federal
waters approximately 270 to 290 feet in
depth, commonly referred to as Block
125.
Northeast Gateway would deliver
natural gas to onshore markets via a new
24-inch-diameter-pipeline,
approximately 16.4 miles in length,
from the proposed deepwater port to the
existing offshore 30-inch-diameter
Algonquin HubLine Pipeline System.
The proposed new pipeline lateral
would be owned and operated by
Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC. The
new pipeline is included in the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
review as part of the deepwater port
application process.
The Northeast Gateway deepwater
port facility would consist of two subsea
submerged turret loading buoys (STL
Buoys), two flexible risers, two pipeline
end manifolds (PLEMs), and two subsea
flow lines. Each STL Buoy would
connect to a PLEM using the flexible
riser assembly, and the PLEM will
connect to the subsea flow line. A fleet
of specially designed Energy Bridge
Regasification Vessels (EBRVs), each
capable of transporting approximately
4.9 million cubic feet (138,000 cubic
meters) of LNG, would deliver natural
gas to the Northeast Gateway DWP. The
EBRVs will vaporize the LNG in a
closed loop mode of recirculating fresh
water on-board requiring no intake or
discharge of seawater for the
vaporization process. Natural gas will be
used to operate the regasification
facilities as well as to provide vessel
electrical needs in normal operation.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
and Army Corps of Engineers
Algonquin is seeking Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC)
approval for the proposed 24-inchdiameter-pipeline concurrent with this
deepwater port application. In addition,
pipelines within the three-mile limit
require an Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) permit under Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of
E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM
19MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 97 / Friday, May 19, 2006 / Notices
the Rivers and Harbors Act. Structures
such as the moorings and lateral
pipelines beyond the three-mile limit
require a Section 10 permit.
As required by their regulations,
FERC will also maintain a docket. This
is available at the FERC Web site
(https://www.ferc.gov) using the
‘‘Documents & Filing’’ then ‘‘eLibrary’’
links and the FERC Docket number
CP05–383. The eLibrary helpline is 1–
866–208–3676 and the e-mail address
for online support is
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
As required by their regulations, the
USACE will maintain a permit file. The
USACE New England District phone
number is 978–318–8338 and their Web
site is https://www.nae.usace.army.mil.
Comments sent to the FERC docket or
USACE will also be incorporated into
the DOT docket and EIS to ensure
consistency with the NEPA Process.
FERC and the USACE among others
are cooperating agencies and will assist
in the NEPA process as described in 40
CFR 1501.6 and will conduct joint
public hearings with the Coast Guard
and MARAD.
Massachusetts Environmental Policy
Act (MEPA)
Through a Special Review Procedure
established by the Massachusetts
Executive Office of Environmental
Affairs (EOEA), the USCG and the
MEPA Office are conducting a
coordinated NEPA/MEPA review
allowing this single set of documents to
serve simultaneously as both the EIS
under NEPA and the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) under MEPA. The
Certificates establishing the Special
Review Procedure and the Scope for the
Draft Environmental Impact Report can
be viewed at https://www.mass.gov/
envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/
recentdecisions.htm. The Secretary of
Environmental Affairs will accept
written comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Report through
Friday, June 30, 2006. Comments may
be submitted electronically, by mail, via
FAX, or by hand delivery. Please note
that comments submitted on MEPA
documents are public records. The
mailing address for comments is:
Secretary Stephen R. Pritchard, EOEA,
Attn: MEPA Office, Richard Bourre,
EOEA No. 13373/13374, 100 Cambridge
Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114.
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: May 16, 2006.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–7660 Filed 5–18–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:37 May 18, 2006
Jkt 208001
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
Reports, Forms and Record Keeping
Requirements; Agency Information
Collection Activity Under OMB Review
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, DOT
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice
announces that the Information
Collection Request (ICR) abstracted
below has been forwarded to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The ICR describes
the nature of the information collections
and their expected burden. The Federal
Register Notice with a 60-day comment
period was published on February 10,
2006, (71 FR 7113).
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before June 19, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori
Summers, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, Office of
Rulemaking, NVS–112, (202) 366–4917,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5320,
Washington, DC 20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
Title: Part 585—Advanced Air Bag
Phase-In Reporting Requirements.
OMB Number: 2127–0599.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: 49 U.S.C. 30111 authorizes
the issuance of Federal motor vehicle
safety standards (FMVSS) and
regulations. The agency, in prescribing
a FMVSS or regulation, considers
available relevant motor vehicle safety
data, and consults with other agencies,
as it deems appropriate. Further, the
statute mandates that in issuing any
FMVSS or regulation, the agency
considers whether the standard or
regulation is ‘‘reasonable, practicable
and appropriate for the particular type
of motor vehicle or item of motor
vehicle equipment for which it is
prescribed,’’ and whether such a
standard will contribute to carrying out
the purpose of the Act. The Secretary is
authorized to invoke such rules and
regulations as deemed necessary to
carry out these requirements.
Using this authority, the agency
issued FMVSS No. 208, ‘‘Occupant
crash protection,’’ to aid the agency in
achieving many of its safety goals. This
notice requests comments on the
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29213
extension of the phase-in reporting
requirements of this FMVSS related to
the implementation of advanced air
bags. Phase 1 of the advanced air bag
phase-in began September 1, 2003 with
100 percent compliance by September 1,
2005. Phase 2 of the advanced air bag
phase-in begins September 1, 2006 with
100 percent compliance by September 1,
2009.
NHTSA needs this information to
ensure that vehicle manufacturers are
certifying their applicable vehicles as
meeting the new advanced air bag
requirements of FMVSS No. 208.
NHTSA will use this information to
determine whether a manufacturer has
complied with the amended
requirements during the phase-in
period.
Affected Public: Individuals,
households, business, other for-profit,
not-for-profit, farms, Federal
Government and State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Estimated Total Annual Burden:
1,281 hours (21 affected manufacturers
× 61 hours).
Send comments, within 30
days, to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget, 725–17th
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503,
Attention: NHTSA Desk Officer.
Comments are invited on: Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; the accuracy of
the Department’s estimate of the burden
of the proposed information collection;
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
A Comment to OMB is most effective if
OMB receives it within 30 days of
publication.
ADDRESSES:
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15,
2006.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. E6–7657 Filed 5–18–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM
19MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 97 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29211-29213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7660]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[USCG-2005-22219]
Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas
Deepwater Port License Application; Preparation of Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public meeting; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces the availability
of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Northeast
Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port
license application. The application describes a project that would be
located in Federal waters of Massachusetts Bay, in Block 125,
approximately 13 miles south-southeast of Gloucester, MA. The Coast
Guard and MARAD request public comments on the DEIS. Publication of
this notice begins a 45 day comment period and provides information on
how to participate in the process. As a point of clarification, there
is another deepwater port application by Neptune LNG, L.L.C. in the
same vicinity. These applications are being processed and reviewed
independently.
DATES: Public hearings will be held in Gloucester, MA on June 14, 2006
and in Salem, MA on June 15, 2006. Both hearings will be from 6 p.m. to
8 p.m. and will be preceded by an informational open house from 4:30
p.m. to 6 p.m. The public meetings may end later than the stated time,
depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Material submitted
in response to the request for comments on the DEIS must reach the
Docket Management Facility by July 3, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting in Gloucester will be held at the
Gloucester High School Auditorium, 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road,
Gloucester, MA, telephone: 617-635-4100. The public meeting in Salem
will be at the Salem State College Library, Charlotte Forten Hall, 360
Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, telephone: 978-542-7192.
The DEIS, the application, and associated documentation are
available for viewing at the DOT Docket Management System Web site:
https://dms.dot.gov under docket number 22219. The DEIS is also
available at public libraries in Beverly, MA, Boston, MA, Gloucester,
MA, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, Marblehead, MA, Rockport, MA, and Salem,
MA.
Address docket submissions for USCG-2005-22219 to: Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh
Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
The Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered submissions,
and makes docket contents available for public inspection and copying
at this address, in room PL-401, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Facility's telephone
number is 202-366-9329, the fax number is 202-493-2251, and the Web
site for electronic submissions or for electronic access to docket
contents is https://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roddy Bachman, U.S. Coast Guard,
telephone: 202-372-1451, e-mail: rbachman@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
[[Page 29212]]
Docket Operations, telephone: 202-493-0402.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Hearing and Open House
We invite you to learn about the proposed deepwater port at an
informational open house, and to comment at a public hearing on the
proposed action and the evaluation contained in the DEIS. In order to
allow everyone a chance to speak at the public meeting, we may limit
speaker time, or extend the meeting hours, or both. You must identify
yourself, and any organization you represent, by name. Your remarks
will be recorded or transcribed for inclusion in the public docket.
You may submit written material at the public meeting, either in
place of or in addition to speaking. Written material must 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
Docket Management Facility's Docket Management System (DMS). See
``Request for Comments'' for information about DMS and your rights
under the Privacy Act.
All our public meeting locations are wheelchair-accessible. If you
plan to attend the open house or public hearing, and need special
assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable
accommodation, please notify the Coast Guard (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 3 business days in advance. Include your
contact information as well as information about your specific needs.
Request for Comments
We request public comments or other relevant information on the
DEIS. The public hearing is not the only opportunity you have to
comment. In addition to or in place of attending a meeting, you can
submit comments to the Docket Management Facility during the public
comment period (see DATES). We will consider all comments and material
received during the comment period and prepare the Final EIS (FEIS). We
will announce the availability of the FEIS and once again give you the
opportunity to review and comment. If you want that notice sent
directly to you please contact representatives at the public hearing or
the Coast Guard representative identified in this notice under the
section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Written submissions should include the following information:
Docket number USCG-2005-22219.
Your name and address.
Your reasons for making each comment or for bringing
information to our attention.
Submit comments or material using only one of the following
methods:
Electronic submission to DMS, https://dms.dot.gov.
Fax, mail, or hand delivery to the Docket Management
Facility (see ADDRESSES). Faxed or hand delivered submissions must be
unbound, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, and suitable for copying
and electronic scanning. If you mail your submission and want to know
when it reaches the Facility, include a stamped, self-addressed
postcard or envelope.
Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material,
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the DMS Web site
(https://dms.dot.gov), and will include any personal information you
provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You
may wish to read the Privacy Act notice that is available on the DMS
Web site, or the Department of Transportation Privacy Act Statement
that appeared in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477).
You may view docket submissions at the Docket Management Facility
(see ADDRESSES), or electronically on the DMS Web site.
Background
Information about deepwater ports, the statutes, and regulations
governing their licensing, and the receipt of the current application
for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port appears at 70 FR
52422, September 2, 2005. The Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for
the proposed action was published in the Federal Register at 70 FR
58228, October 5, 2005. Application materials and associated comments
are available on the docket. Information from the ``Summary of the
Application'' from previous Federal Register notices is included below
for your convenience.
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), or (2) denying the application, which
for purposes of environmental review is the ``no-action'' alternative.
These alternatives are more fully discussed in the DEIS. The Coast
Guard is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of the EIS. You
can address any questions about the proposed action or the DEIS to the
Coast Guard project manager identified in this notice under the section
titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Summary of the Application
Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C. has proposed a facility to
import liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the New England region
providing a base load delivery of 400 million cubic feet per day
(MMcfd) and capable of peak deliveries of approximately 800 MMcfd or
more. The facility would be located offshore in Massachusetts Bay,
approximately 13 miles south-southeast of the city of Gloucester, MA,
in Federal waters approximately 270 to 290 feet in depth, commonly
referred to as Block 125.
Northeast Gateway would deliver natural gas to onshore markets via
a new 24-inch-diameter-pipeline, approximately 16.4 miles in length,
from the proposed deepwater port to the existing offshore 30-inch-
diameter Algonquin HubLine Pipeline System. The proposed new pipeline
lateral would be owned and operated by Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC.
The new pipeline is included in the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) review as part of the deepwater port application process.
The Northeast Gateway deepwater port facility would consist of two
subsea submerged turret loading buoys (STL Buoys), two flexible risers,
two pipeline end manifolds (PLEMs), and two subsea flow lines. Each STL
Buoy would connect to a PLEM using the flexible riser assembly, and the
PLEM will connect to the subsea flow line. A fleet of specially
designed Energy Bridge Regasification Vessels (EBRVs), each capable of
transporting approximately 4.9 million cubic feet (138,000 cubic
meters) of LNG, would deliver natural gas to the Northeast Gateway DWP.
The EBRVs will vaporize the LNG in a closed loop mode of recirculating
fresh water on-board requiring no intake or discharge of seawater for
the vaporization process. Natural gas will be used to operate the
regasification facilities as well as to provide vessel electrical needs
in normal operation.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Army Corps of Engineers
Algonquin is seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
approval for the proposed 24-inch-diameter-pipeline concurrent with
this deepwater port application. In addition, pipelines within the
three-mile limit require an Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit
under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of
[[Page 29213]]
the Rivers and Harbors Act. Structures such as the moorings and lateral
pipelines beyond the three-mile limit require a Section 10 permit.
As required by their regulations, FERC will also maintain a docket.
This is available at the FERC Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) using the
``Documents & Filing'' then ``eLibrary'' links and the FERC Docket
number CP05-383. The eLibrary helpline is 1-866-208-3676 and the e-mail
address for online support is FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
As required by their regulations, the USACE will maintain a permit
file. The USACE New England District phone number is 978-318-8338 and
their Web site is https://www.nae.usace.army.mil.
Comments sent to the FERC docket or USACE will also be incorporated
into the DOT docket and EIS to ensure consistency with the NEPA
Process.
FERC and the USACE among others are cooperating agencies and will
assist in the NEPA process as described in 40 CFR 1501.6 and will
conduct joint public hearings with the Coast Guard and MARAD.
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
Through a Special Review Procedure established by the Massachusetts
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA), the USCG and the MEPA
Office are conducting a coordinated NEPA/MEPA review allowing this
single set of documents to serve simultaneously as both the EIS under
NEPA and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under MEPA. The
Certificates establishing the Special Review Procedure and the Scope
for the Draft Environmental Impact Report can be viewed at https://
www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/recentdecisions.htm. The
Secretary of Environmental Affairs will accept written comments on the
Draft Environmental Impact Report through Friday, June 30, 2006.
Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, via FAX, or by hand
delivery. Please note that comments submitted on MEPA documents are
public records. The mailing address for comments is: Secretary Stephen
R. Pritchard, EOEA, Attn: MEPA Office, Richard Bourre, EOEA No. 13373/
13374, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114.
Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Dated: May 16, 2006.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-7660 Filed 5-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
