AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC and Mid-Atlantic Express, LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Sparrows Point Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of a Joint Public Meeting, 29941-29944 [E6-7888]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 24, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 7758–004–MA]
[Docket No. PF06–22–000]
City of Holyoke Gas & Electric
Department; Notice of Availability of
Environmental Assessment
AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC and
Mid-Atlantic Express, LLC; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Proposed
Sparrows Point Project, Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
and Notice of a Joint Public Meeting
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
May 18, 2006.
In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s regulations, 18 CFR part
380 (Order No. 486, 52 FR 47879), the
Office of Energy Projects has reviewed
the application for a subsequent license
for the Holyoke No. 4 Project, located on
the Holyoke Canal adjacent to the
Connecticut River, in the City of
Holyoke, Hampden County,
Massachusetts, and has prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA). In the
EA, Commission staff analyze the
potential environmental effects of
relicensing the project and conclude
that issuing a subsequent license for the
project, with appropriate environmental
measures, would not constitute a major
Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment.
A copy of the EA is on file with the
Commission and is available for public
inspection. The EA may also be viewed
on the Commission’s Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov using the
‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket
number excluding the last three digits in
the docket number field to access the
document. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY,
(202) 502–8659.
Any comments should be filed within
30 days from the issuance date of this
notice, and should be addressed to the
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Room 1–A, Washington, DC 20426.
Please affix ‘‘Holyoke No. 4 Project No.
7758’’ to all comments. Comments may
be filed electronically via Internet in
lieu of paper. The Commission strongly
encourages electronic filings. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission’s Web
site under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link. For further
information, contact Jack Hannula at
(202) 502–8917.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–7962 Filed 5–23–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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May 16, 2006.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) and the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard
(Coast Guard) are in the process of
evaluating the Sparrows Point Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) Project planned by
AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC (AES)
and the associated pipeline planned by
Mid-Atlantic Express LLC (Mid-Atlantic
Express). The project would consist of
an onshore LNG import and storage
terminal located on the west shore of
Sparrows Point, south of Dundalk,
Maryland, and an approximately 87mile natural gas sendout pipeline,
extending north from the terminal to
interconnects with existing pipelines of
Transco, Tetco, and Columbia Gas
Transmission near Eagle, Pennsylvania.
As a part of this evaluation, FERC
staff will prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) that will address
the environmental impacts of the project
and the Coast Guard will assess the
maritime safety and security of the
project. As described below, the FERC
and the Coast Guard will hold a joint
public meeting at Sparrows Point to
allow the public to provide input to
these assessments. The FERC will host
additional public meetings along the
pipeline route to provide input to the
assessment of the pipeline component
of the project.
The Commission will use the EIS in
its decision-making process to
determine whether or not to authorize
the project. This Notice of Intent (NOI)
explains the scoping process we 1 will
use to gather information on the project
from the public and interested agencies
and summarizes the process that the
Coast Guard will use. Your input will
help identify the issues that need to be
evaluated in the EIS and in the Coast
Guard’s maritime safety and security
assessment. Please note that scoping
1 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the
environmental staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy
Projects.
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29941
comments are requested by June 16,
2006.
Comments on the project may be
submitted in written form or verbally.
Further details on how to submit
written comments are provided in the
Public Participation section of this NOI.
In lieu of sending written comments, we
invite you to attend any of the following
public scoping meetings or site visits
scheduled as follows:
Monday, June 5, 2006, 7 p.m.:
North Point/Edgemere Volunteer Fire
Co., 7500 North Point Road, Sparrows
Point, MD, 410–477–1310.
Tuesday, June 6, 2006, 7 p.m.:
East Brandywine Fire Hall, 2096
Bondsville Road, Downingtown, PA,
610–269–1817.
Wednesday, June 7, 2006, 7 p.m.:
Harford Community College, 401
Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD, 410–
836–4000.
FERC will be conducting a site visit
of the proposed project route over a twoday period. The tour each day will begin
and end at the locations and times listed
below. Please note that no private
property will be entered and all
locations of anticipated alignment of the
project pipeline will be viewed from
public rights-of-way.
Tour Day 1, June 6, 2006
Tour Start Location—Sparrows Point
Shipyard. Note: The Shipyard may not
be open to the public on the day of the
tour depending upon site work
scheduled that day. Persons wishing to
enter the Shipyard site must have photo
identification. The Shipyard may not be
entered without a security escort and all
tour participants will need to meet in a
marshalling area outside the security
entrance for Sparrows Point Shipyard at
the location shown on the map in
Appendix 1. Follow signs for Bethlehem
Blvd. west off of Rt 695 at Sparrows
Point. Bethlehem Blvd. will turn into
Riverside Drive as you near Bear Creek
on the west side of Sparrows Point.
Take the right hand turn at the flashing
sign that says ‘‘All Shipyard Traffic to
Sparrows Point’’ and park in the parking
area before the security guard trailer.
Tour Start Time—8 a.m. The tour will
depart promptly at 8:15 a.m. and will
proceed from the marshalling area
northerly along the proposed primary
pipeline route. All attendees must
provide their own transportation.
Several locations that are publicly
accessible will be visited along the route
section between Sparrows Point and Bel
Air, MD where the tour will end on Day
1. The Day 1 Tour will end on or near
Walter’s Mill Road north of Bel Air, MD,
by 1 p.m.
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Tour Day 2, June 7, 2006
Tour Start Location—East
Brandywine Fire Hall, 2096 Bondsville
Road, near the intersection of
Bondsville Road and Route 322. Tour
Start Time—8 a.m. The Day 2 Tour will
view the proposed pipeline route
starting from an existing Columbia Gas
Transmission compressor station in
Eagle, PA, and will proceed south. All
attendees must provide their own
transportation. Several locations that are
publicly accessible will be visited along
the route section between Eagle, PA and
Bel Air, MD where the tour will end on
Day 2. The Day 2 Tour will end south
of the Susquehanna River and north of
Bel Air, MD in the area of Walter’s Mill
Road, by 1 p.m.
The first public scoping meeting
listed above (Sparrows Point, MD) will
be combined with the Coast Guard’s
public meeting regarding the maritime
safety and security of the project. At the
meeting, the Coast Guard will discuss:
(1) The waterway suitability assessment
that the applicant will conduct to
determine whether or not the waterway
can safely accommodate the LNG carrier
traffic and operation of the planned
LNG marine terminal; and (2) the
facility security assessment that the
applicant will conduct in accordance
with the regulations of the Maritime
Transportation Security Act to assist
with the preparation of a Facility
Security Plan. The Coast Guard will not
be issuing a separate meeting notice for
the maritime safety and security aspects
of the project.
The Coast Guard is responsible for
matters related to navigation safety,
vessel engineering and safety standards,
and all matters pertaining to the safety
of facilities or equipment located in or
adjacent to navigable waters up to the
last valve immediately before the
receiving tanks. The Coast Guard also
has authority for LNG facility security
plan review, approval, and compliance
verification as provided in Title 33 CFR
105, and recommendation for siting as
it pertains to the management of vessel
traffic in and around the LNG facility.
Upon receipt of a letter of intent from
an owner or operator intending to build
a new LNG facility, the Coast Guard
Captain of the Port (COTP) conducts an
analysis that results in a letter of
recommendation issued to the owner or
operator and to the state and local
governments having jurisdiction,
addressing the suitability of the
waterway to accommodate LNG vessels.
Specifically the letter of
recommendation addresses the
suitability of the waterway based on:
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• The physical location and layout of
the facility and its berthing and mooring
arrangements.
• The LNG vessels’ characteristics
and the frequency of LNG shipments to
the facility.
• Commercial, industrial,
environmentally sensitive, and
residential area in and adjacent to the
waterway used by the LNG vessels en
route to the facility.
• Density and character of the marine
traffic on the waterway.
• Bridges or other manmade
obstructions in the waterway.
• Depth of water.
• Tidal range.
• Natural hazards, including rocks
and sandbars.
• Underwater pipelines and cables.
• Distance of berthed LNG vessels
from the channel, and the width of the
channel.
In addition, the Coast Guard will
review and approve the facility’s
operations manual and emergency
response plan (33 CFR 127.019), as well
as the facility’s security plan (33 CFR
105.410). The Coast Guard will also
provide input to other federal, state, and
local government agencies reviewing the
project.
In order to complete a thorough
analysis and fulfill the regulatory
mandates cited above, the applicant will
be conducting a Waterway Suitability
Assessment, a formal risk assessment
evaluating the various safety and
security aspects associated with the
Sparrows Point LNG proposed project.
This risk assessment will be
accomplished through a series of
workshops focusing on the areas of
waterways safety, port security, and
consequence management, with
involvement from a broad cross-section
of government and port stakeholders
with expertise in each of the respective
areas. The workshops will be by
invitation only. However, comments
received during the public comment
period will be considered as input in
the risk assessment process. The results
of the Waterway Suitability Assessment
will be submitted to the Coast Guard to
be used in determining whether the
waterway is suitable for LNG traffic.
This NOI is being sent to Federal,
state, and local government agencies;
elected officials; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest
groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations;
commentors and other interested
parties; and local libraries and
newspapers. We encourage government
representatives to notify their
constituents of this planned project and
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encourage them to comment on their
areas of concern.
Summary of the Proposed Project
The proposed project will consist of a
1.5 billion standard cubic feet per day
(bscfd) LNG import terminal with
unloading platforms, process
equipment, boil-off compression system,
and storage tanks, and a 28-inchdiameter, 87-mile send-out pipeline
with ancillary facilities such as metering
and flow-control facilities.
LNG Terminal Marine Facility
The Sparrows Point LNG Terminal
will consist of the following:
• 500-foot marine finger pier/access
trestle and unloading platform,
supporting two unloading berths;
• Breasting and mooring dolphins;
• Turning basin and entrance channel
• Aids to navigation;
• Retractable security barrier;
• Three 1 million barrel (160,000 m3)
net capacity full containment LNG
storage tanks.
• Process equipment;
• Boil-off gas (BOG) compression
system; and
• Electrical, control, and hazard
protection system.
Sendout Pipeline
The Mid-Atlantic Express sendout
pipeline will consist of the following:
• A 87-mile, 28-inch-diameter natural
gas pipeline with capacity to deliver 1.5
bscfd, and a maximum allowable
operating pressure (MAOP) of 2200
pounds per square inch (psig).
• A SCADA system for remote
monitoring, control and leak detection;
• Local interconnections with the
Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E)
pipeline system;
• Three interconnections with
Columbia, Tetco and Transco pipeline
systems near Eagle, PA.
• Mainline valve facilities, at
approximately four to six locations;
• Metering, flow control/pressure
control, and security systems; and
• Scrapper launcher/receiver
facilities (pigging facilities).
AES and Mid-Atlantic Express
propose to begin construction of the
project in mid-2007 with a projected inservice date of the 1st quarter of 2011.
A location map depicting AES’s
proposed facilities, including its
preferred pipeline route and several
pipeline options, is attached to this NOI
as Appendix 1 (Figures 1 and 2).2
2 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies are
available on the Commission’s Web site (excluding
maps) at the ‘‘e-Library’’ link or from the
Commission’s Public Reference Room or call (202)
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The EIS Process
The NEPA requires the Commission
to take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action
when it considers whether or not an
LNG import terminal or an interstate
natural gas pipeline should be
approved. The FERC will use the EIS to
consider the environmental impacts that
could result if it issues project
authorizations to AES and Mid-Atlantic
Express under sections 3 and 7 of the
Natural Gas Act. The NEPA also
requires us to discover and address
concerns the public may have about
proposals. This process is referred to as
‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the
EIS on the important environmental
issues. With this NOI, the Commission
staff is requesting public comments on
the scope of the issues to be addressed
in the EIS. All comments received will
be considered during preparation of the
EIS.
In the EIS we will discuss impacts
that could occur as a result of the
construction, operation, maintenance,
and abandonment of the proposed
project under these general headings:
• Geology and Soils
• Water Resources
• Aquatic Resources
• Vegetation and Wildlife
• Threatened and Endangered
Species
• Land Use, Recreation, and Visual
Resources
• Cultural Resources
• Socioeconomics
• Marine Transportation
• Air Quality and Noise
• Reliability and Safety
• Cumulative Impacts
In the EIS, we will also evaluate
possible alternatives to the proposed
project or portions of the project, and
make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on affected
resources.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be included in a draft EIS.
The draft EIS will be mailed to federal,
state, and local government agencies;
elected officials; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest
groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations;
commentors; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and the
FERC’s official service list for this
proceeding. A 45-day comment period
will be allotted for review of the draft
EIS. We will consider all comments on
502–8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary refer to the end of this notice. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail.
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17:08 May 23, 2006
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the draft EIS and revise the document,
as necessary, before issuing a final EIS.
We will consider all comments on the
final EIS before we make our
recommendations to the Commission.
To ensure that your comments are
considered, please follow the
instructions in the Public Participation
section of this NOI.
Although no formal application has
been filed, the FERC staff has already
initiated its NEPA review under its prefiling process. The purpose of the prefiling process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders
and to identify and resolve issues before
an application is filed with the FERC. In
addition, the Coast Guard, which would
be responsible for reviewing the
maritime safety and security aspects of
the planned project and regulating
maritime safety and security if the
project is approved, has initiated its
review of the project as well.
With this NOI, we are asking federal,
state, and local agencies with
jurisdiction and/or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues,
especially those identified in Appendix
2, to express their interest in becoming
cooperating agencies for the preparation
of the EIS. These agencies may choose
to participate once they have evaluated
the proposal relative to their
responsibilities. Agencies that would
like to request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided in Appendix 2.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified issues that
we think deserve attention based on a
preliminary review of the project area,
the planned facility information
provided by AES and Mid-Atlantic
Express, and the public open houses
sponsored by AES and attended by
FERC. This preliminary list of issues,
which is presented below, may be
revised based on your comments and
our continuing analyses.
• Impact of LNG ship traffic on other
Chesapeake Bay and Patapsco River
users, including fishing and recreational
boaters.
• Safety issues relating to LNG ship
traffic, including transit through
Chesapeake Bay, passage under the Bay
Bridge, and transit through the
Brewerton Channel to Sparrows Point.
• Potential impacts on residents in
the project area, including safety issues
at the import and storage facility, noise,
air quality, and visual resources.
• Potential impacts of the
construction of the LNG terminal and
the pipeline on property values.
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• Potential impacts of dredging
contaminated sediments on water
quality and estuarine fishery resources
(contaminants may include tri-butyl tin
and PCBs).
• Project impacts on threatened and
endangered species.
• Project impacts on wetlands,
vegetation, and wildlife habitat.
• Project impacts on cultural
resources.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the
planned project. By becoming a
commentor, your concerns will be
addressed in the EIS and considered by
the Commission. Your comments
should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and
measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impacts. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your
comments are timely and properly
recorded, please follow these
instructions:
• Send an original and two copies of
your letter to: Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room
1A, Washington, DC 20426.
• Label one copy of your comments
for the attention of Gas Branch 2, DG2E.
• Reference Docket No. PF06–22–000
on the original and both copies.
• Mail your comments so that they
will be received in Washington, DC on
or before June 16, 2006. Appropriate
copies will be provided to the Coast
Guard.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing of any comments in
response to this NOI. For information on
electronically filing comments, please
see the instructions on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
www.ferc.gov under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link
and the link to the User’s Guide as well
as information in 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii). Before you can file
comments you will need to create a free
account, which can be accomplished
on-line.
The public scoping meetings (dates,
times, and locations listed above) are
designed to provide another opportunity
to offer comments on the proposed
project. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend the
meetings and to present comments on
the environmental issues that they
believe should be addressed in the EIS.
A transcript of each meeting will be
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generated so that your comments will be
accurately recorded.
Once AES and Mid-Atlantic Express
formally file their application with the
Commission, you may want to become
an ‘‘intervenor,’’ which is an official
party to the proceeding. Intervenors
play a more formal role in the process
and are able to file briefs, appear at
hearings, and be heard by the courts if
they choose to appeal the Commission’s
final ruling. An intervenor formally
participates in a Commission
proceeding by filing a request to
intervene. Instructions for becoming an
intervenor are included in the User’s
Guide under the ‘‘e-filing’’ link on the
Commission’s Web site. Please note that
you may not request intervenor status at
this time. You must wait until a formal
application is filed with the
Commission.
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Environmental Mailing List
If you wish to remain on the
environmental mailing list, please
return the attached Mailing List
Retention Form (Appendix 3 of this
NOI). If you do not return this form, we
will remove your name from our
mailing list.
To reduce printing and mailing costs,
the draft and final EIS will be issued in
both compact disk (CD–ROM) and hard
copy formats. The FERC strongly
encourages the use of CD–ROM format
in its publication of large documents.
Thus, all recipients will automatically
receive the EIS on CD–ROM. If you wish
to receive a paper copy of the draft EIS
instead of a CD–ROM, you must
indicate that choice on the return
mailer.
Additional Information
Additional information about the
project is available from the
Commission’s Office of External Affairs,
at 1–866–208–FERC (3372) or on the
FERC Internet Web site (https://
www.ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary link.’’
Click on the eLibrary link, select
‘‘General Search’’ and enter the project
docket number excluding the last three
digits (i.e., PF06–22) in the ‘‘Docket
Number’’ field. Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary
helpline can be reached at 1–866–208–
3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or by e-mail
at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The
eLibrary link on the FERC Internet
website also provides access to the texts
of formal documents issued by the
Commission, such as orders, notices,
and rule makings.
In addition, the FERC now offers a
free service called eSubscription that
allows you to keep track of all formal
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issuances and submittals in specific
dockets. This can reduce the amount of
time you spend researching proceedings
by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document
summaries, and direct links to the
documents. To register for this service,
go to https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at https://www.ferc.gov/
EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along
with other related information.
Finally, AES has established an
Internet Web site for this project at
https://www.AESsparrowspointLNG.com.
The Web site includes a project
overview, status, answers to frequently
asked questions, and links to related
documents. You can also request
additional information by calling AES
directly at (866) 640–9080.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–7888 Filed 5–23–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP03–12–001]
Egan Hub Storage, LLC; Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Assessment for the Proposed Egan
Horsepower Reconfiguration Project
and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues
May 18, 2006.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
the Egan Horsepower Reconfiguration
Project involving construction and
operation of facilities by Egan Hub
Storage, LLC (Egan Hub). The project
would include an additional 3,080
horsepower (hp) and about 2,700 feet of
suction and discharge piping at the Egan
Gas Storage Facility in Evangeline,
Acadia Parish, Louisiana.1 This EA will
be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the project is in the public
convenience and necessity.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, you may be contacted by a
pipeline company representative about
the acquisition of an easement to
1 Egan
Hub’s application was filed with the
Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act
and part 157 of the Commission’s regulations.
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construct, operate, and maintain the
proposed facilities. The pipeline
company would seek to negotiate a
mutually acceptable agreement.
However, if the project is approved by
the Commission, that approval conveys
with it the right of eminent domain.
Therefore, if easement negotiations fail
to produce an agreement, the pipeline
company could initiate condemnation
proceedings in accordance with state
law.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ was attached to the project
notice Egan Hub provided to
landowners. This fact sheet addresses a
number of typically asked questions,
including the use of eminent domain
and how to participate in the
Commission’s proceedings. It is
available for viewing on the FERC
Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov).
Summary of the Proposed Project
Egan Hub proposes to:
1. Install two 13,330-hp turbine
compressors in lieu of the three
certificated not-yet-installed 7,860-hp
reciprocating compressors;
2. Install seven catalytic converters on
seven existing reciprocating
compressors; and
3. Install 1,200 feet of 24-inch
diameter suction piping and 1,500 feet
of 20-inch diameter of discharge piping
and associated appurtenant facilities.
Egan Hub also requests authorization
to extend the construction period for the
three storage caverns and associated
facilities to October 1, 2009.
Egan Hub indicates that the project
would not increase the maximum
operating capacity of the three storage
caverns (31.5 Bcf of certificated
maximum aggregate operating capacity).
In support of its proposal, Egan Hub
indicates that the increase of 3,080 hp
would allow Egan Hub to increase the
maximum daily injection capability
from 0.8 Bcf to 1.3 Bcf and the
maximum daily withdrawal capability
from 1.5 Bcf to 2.5 Bcf.
Egan Hub requests authorization on or
before August 1, 2006 to begin
construction by November 1, 2006.
Egan Hub indicates that it would
‘‘install minor non-jurisdictional
facilities comprised of 500 feet of new
below-ground powerline and a 480 volt
transformer.’’
The location of the project facilities is
shown in Appendix 1.2
2 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all
appendices, other than Appendix 1 (map), are
available on the Commission’s Web site at the
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[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29941-29944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7888]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF06-22-000]
AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC and Mid-Atlantic Express, LLC; Notice
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed
Sparrows Point Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues
and Notice of a Joint Public Meeting
May 16, 2006.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast
Guard (Coast Guard) are in the process of evaluating the Sparrows Point
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project planned by AES Sparrows Point LNG,
LLC (AES) and the associated pipeline planned by Mid-Atlantic Express
LLC (Mid-Atlantic Express). The project would consist of an onshore LNG
import and storage terminal located on the west shore of Sparrows
Point, south of Dundalk, Maryland, and an approximately 87-mile natural
gas sendout pipeline, extending north from the terminal to
interconnects with existing pipelines of Transco, Tetco, and Columbia
Gas Transmission near Eagle, Pennsylvania.
As a part of this evaluation, FERC staff will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) that will address the
environmental impacts of the project and the Coast Guard will assess
the maritime safety and security of the project. As described below,
the FERC and the Coast Guard will hold a joint public meeting at
Sparrows Point to allow the public to provide input to these
assessments. The FERC will host additional public meetings along the
pipeline route to provide input to the assessment of the pipeline
component of the project.
The Commission will use the EIS in its decision-making process to
determine whether or not to authorize the project. This Notice of
Intent (NOI) explains the scoping process we \1\ will use to gather
information on the project from the public and interested agencies and
summarizes the process that the Coast Guard will use. Your input will
help identify the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS and in
the Coast Guard's maritime safety and security assessment. Please note
that scoping comments are requested by June 16, 2006.
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\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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Comments on the project may be submitted in written form or
verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are
provided in the Public Participation section of this NOI. In lieu of
sending written comments, we invite you to attend any of the following
public scoping meetings or site visits scheduled as follows:
Monday, June 5, 2006, 7 p.m.:
North Point/Edgemere Volunteer Fire Co., 7500 North Point Road,
Sparrows Point, MD, 410-477-1310.
Tuesday, June 6, 2006, 7 p.m.:
East Brandywine Fire Hall, 2096 Bondsville Road, Downingtown, PA, 610-
269-1817.
Wednesday, June 7, 2006, 7 p.m.:
Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD, 410-836-
4000.
FERC will be conducting a site visit of the proposed project route
over a two-day period. The tour each day will begin and end at the
locations and times listed below. Please note that no private property
will be entered and all locations of anticipated alignment of the
project pipeline will be viewed from public rights-of-way.
Tour Day 1, June 6, 2006
Tour Start Location--Sparrows Point Shipyard. Note: The Shipyard
may not be open to the public on the day of the tour depending upon
site work scheduled that day. Persons wishing to enter the Shipyard
site must have photo identification. The Shipyard may not be entered
without a security escort and all tour participants will need to meet
in a marshalling area outside the security entrance for Sparrows Point
Shipyard at the location shown on the map in Appendix 1. Follow signs
for Bethlehem Blvd. west off of Rt 695 at Sparrows Point. Bethlehem
Blvd. will turn into Riverside Drive as you near Bear Creek on the west
side of Sparrows Point. Take the right hand turn at the flashing sign
that says ``All Shipyard Traffic to Sparrows Point'' and park in the
parking area before the security guard trailer.
Tour Start Time--8 a.m. The tour will depart promptly at 8:15 a.m.
and will proceed from the marshalling area northerly along the proposed
primary pipeline route. All attendees must provide their own
transportation. Several locations that are publicly accessible will be
visited along the route section between Sparrows Point and Bel Air, MD
where the tour will end on Day 1. The Day 1 Tour will end on or near
Walter's Mill Road north of Bel Air, MD, by 1 p.m.
[[Page 29942]]
Tour Day 2, June 7, 2006
Tour Start Location--East Brandywine Fire Hall, 2096 Bondsville
Road, near the intersection of Bondsville Road and Route 322. Tour
Start Time--8 a.m. The Day 2 Tour will view the proposed pipeline route
starting from an existing Columbia Gas Transmission compressor station
in Eagle, PA, and will proceed south. All attendees must provide their
own transportation. Several locations that are publicly accessible will
be visited along the route section between Eagle, PA and Bel Air, MD
where the tour will end on Day 2. The Day 2 Tour will end south of the
Susquehanna River and north of Bel Air, MD in the area of Walter's Mill
Road, by 1 p.m.
The first public scoping meeting listed above (Sparrows Point, MD)
will be combined with the Coast Guard's public meeting regarding the
maritime safety and security of the project. At the meeting, the Coast
Guard will discuss: (1) The waterway suitability assessment that the
applicant will conduct to determine whether or not the waterway can
safely accommodate the LNG carrier traffic and operation of the planned
LNG marine terminal; and (2) the facility security assessment that the
applicant will conduct in accordance with the regulations of the
Maritime Transportation Security Act to assist with the preparation of
a Facility Security Plan. The Coast Guard will not be issuing a
separate meeting notice for the maritime safety and security aspects of
the project.
The Coast Guard is responsible for matters related to navigation
safety, vessel engineering and safety standards, and all matters
pertaining to the safety of facilities or equipment located in or
adjacent to navigable waters up to the last valve immediately before
the receiving tanks. The Coast Guard also has authority for LNG
facility security plan review, approval, and compliance verification as
provided in Title 33 CFR 105, and recommendation for siting as it
pertains to the management of vessel traffic in and around the LNG
facility.
Upon receipt of a letter of intent from an owner or operator
intending to build a new LNG facility, the Coast Guard Captain of the
Port (COTP) conducts an analysis that results in a letter of
recommendation issued to the owner or operator and to the state and
local governments having jurisdiction, addressing the suitability of
the waterway to accommodate LNG vessels. Specifically the letter of
recommendation addresses the suitability of the waterway based on:
The physical location and layout of the facility and its
berthing and mooring arrangements.
The LNG vessels' characteristics and the frequency of LNG
shipments to the facility.
Commercial, industrial, environmentally sensitive, and
residential area in and adjacent to the waterway used by the LNG
vessels en route to the facility.
Density and character of the marine traffic on the
waterway.
Bridges or other manmade obstructions in the waterway.
Depth of water.
Tidal range.
Natural hazards, including rocks and sandbars.
Underwater pipelines and cables.
Distance of berthed LNG vessels from the channel, and the
width of the channel.
In addition, the Coast Guard will review and approve the facility's
operations manual and emergency response plan (33 CFR 127.019), as well
as the facility's security plan (33 CFR 105.410). The Coast Guard will
also provide input to other federal, state, and local government
agencies reviewing the project.
In order to complete a thorough analysis and fulfill the regulatory
mandates cited above, the applicant will be conducting a Waterway
Suitability Assessment, a formal risk assessment evaluating the various
safety and security aspects associated with the Sparrows Point LNG
proposed project. This risk assessment will be accomplished through a
series of workshops focusing on the areas of waterways safety, port
security, and consequence management, with involvement from a broad
cross-section of government and port stakeholders with expertise in
each of the respective areas. The workshops will be by invitation only.
However, comments received during the public comment period will be
considered as input in the risk assessment process. The results of the
Waterway Suitability Assessment will be submitted to the Coast Guard to
be used in determining whether the waterway is suitable for LNG
traffic.
This NOI is being sent to Federal, state, and local government
agencies; elected officials; affected landowners; environmental and
public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional Native American
organizations; commentors and other interested parties; and local
libraries and newspapers. We encourage government representatives to
notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to
comment on their areas of concern.
Summary of the Proposed Project
The proposed project will consist of a 1.5 billion standard cubic
feet per day (bscfd) LNG import terminal with unloading platforms,
process equipment, boil-off compression system, and storage tanks, and
a 28-inch-diameter, 87-mile send-out pipeline with ancillary facilities
such as metering and flow-control facilities.
LNG Terminal Marine Facility
The Sparrows Point LNG Terminal will consist of the following:
500-foot marine finger pier/access trestle and unloading
platform, supporting two unloading berths;
Breasting and mooring dolphins;
Turning basin and entrance channel
Aids to navigation;
Retractable security barrier;
Three 1 million barrel (160,000 m3) net
capacity full containment LNG storage tanks.
Process equipment;
Boil-off gas (BOG) compression system; and
Electrical, control, and hazard protection system.
Sendout Pipeline
The Mid-Atlantic Express sendout pipeline will consist of the
following:
A 87-mile, 28-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline with
capacity to deliver 1.5 bscfd, and a maximum allowable operating
pressure (MAOP) of 2200 pounds per square inch (psig).
A SCADA system for remote monitoring, control and leak
detection;
Local interconnections with the Baltimore Gas & Electric
(BG&E) pipeline system;
Three interconnections with Columbia, Tetco and Transco
pipeline systems near Eagle, PA.
Mainline valve facilities, at approximately four to six
locations;
Metering, flow control/pressure control, and security
systems; and
Scrapper launcher/receiver facilities (pigging
facilities).
AES and Mid-Atlantic Express propose to begin construction of the
project in mid-2007 with a projected in-service date of the 1st quarter
of 2011.
A location map depicting AES's proposed facilities, including its
preferred pipeline route and several pipeline options, is attached to
this NOI as Appendix 1 (Figures 1 and 2).\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's Web site (excluding maps) at the ``e-Library'' link or
from the Commission's Public Reference Room or call (202) 502-8371.
For instructions on connecting to e-Library refer to the end of this
notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving
this notice in the mail.
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[[Page 29943]]
The EIS Process
The NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the
environmental impacts that could result from an action when it
considers whether or not an LNG import terminal or an interstate
natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC will use the EIS to
consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues
project authorizations to AES and Mid-Atlantic Express under sections 3
and 7 of the Natural Gas Act. The NEPA also requires us to discover and
address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to
focus the analysis in the EIS on the important environmental issues.
With this NOI, the Commission staff is requesting public comments on
the scope of the issues to be addressed in the EIS. All comments
received will be considered during preparation of the EIS.
In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of the
proposed project under these general headings:
Geology and Soils
Water Resources
Aquatic Resources
Vegetation and Wildlife
Threatened and Endangered Species
Land Use, Recreation, and Visual Resources
Cultural Resources
Socioeconomics
Marine Transportation
Air Quality and Noise
Reliability and Safety
Cumulative Impacts
In the EIS, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the
proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations
on how to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials; affected landowners;
environmental and public interest groups; Indian tribes and regional
Native American organizations; commentors; other interested parties;
local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's official service list
for this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for
review of the draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the draft EIS
and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We
will consider all comments on the final EIS before we make our
recommendations to the Commission. To ensure that your comments are
considered, please follow the instructions in the Public Participation
section of this NOI.
Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has
already initiated its NEPA review under its pre-filing process. The
purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early involvement of
interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an
application is filed with the FERC. In addition, the Coast Guard, which
would be responsible for reviewing the maritime safety and security
aspects of the planned project and regulating maritime safety and
security if the project is approved, has initiated its review of the
project as well.
With this NOI, we are asking federal, state, and local agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues, especially those identified in Appendix 2, to
express their interest in becoming cooperating agencies for the
preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once
they have evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities.
Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should
follow the instructions for filing comments provided in Appendix 2.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the project area, the planned facility
information provided by AES and Mid-Atlantic Express, and the public
open houses sponsored by AES and attended by FERC. This preliminary
list of issues, which is presented below, may be revised based on your
comments and our continuing analyses.
Impact of LNG ship traffic on other Chesapeake Bay and
Patapsco River users, including fishing and recreational boaters.
Safety issues relating to LNG ship traffic, including
transit through Chesapeake Bay, passage under the Bay Bridge, and
transit through the Brewerton Channel to Sparrows Point.
Potential impacts on residents in the project area,
including safety issues at the import and storage facility, noise, air
quality, and visual resources.
Potential impacts of the construction of the LNG terminal
and the pipeline on property values.
Potential impacts of dredging contaminated sediments on
water quality and estuarine fishery resources (contaminants may include
tri-butyl tin and PCBs).
Project impacts on threatened and endangered species.
Project impacts on wetlands, vegetation, and wildlife
habitat.
Project impacts on cultural resources.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the planned project. By becoming a
commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by
the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative
facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen
environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly
recorded, please follow these instructions:
Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 2, DG2E.
Reference Docket No. PF06-22-000 on the original and both
copies.
Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before June 16, 2006. Appropriate copies will be
provided to the Coast Guard.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any
comments in response to this NOI. For information on electronically
filing comments, please see the instructions on the Commission's Web
site at https://www.ferc.gov under the ``e-Filing'' link and the link to
the User's Guide as well as information in 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii).
Before you can file comments you will need to create a free account,
which can be accomplished on-line.
The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations listed
above) are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on
the proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged
to attend the meetings and to present comments on the environmental
issues that they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript
of each meeting will be
[[Page 29944]]
generated so that your comments will be accurately recorded.
Once AES and Mid-Atlantic Express formally file their application
with the Commission, you may want to become an ``intervenor,'' which is
an official party to the proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal
role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings,
and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's
final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in a Commission
proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming
an intervenor are included in the User's Guide under the ``e-filing''
link on the Commission's Web site. Please note that you may not request
intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a formal
application is filed with the Commission.
Environmental Mailing List
If you wish to remain on the environmental mailing list, please
return the attached Mailing List Retention Form (Appendix 3 of this
NOI). If you do not return this form, we will remove your name from our
mailing list.
To reduce printing and mailing costs, the draft and final EIS will
be issued in both compact disk (CD-ROM) and hard copy formats. The FERC
strongly encourages the use of CD-ROM format in its publication of
large documents. Thus, all recipients will automatically receive the
EIS on CD-ROM. If you wish to receive a paper copy of the draft EIS
instead of a CD-ROM, you must indicate that choice on the return
mailer.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on
the FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary
link.'' Click on the eLibrary link, select ``General Search'' and enter
the project docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e., PF06-
22) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary
helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-
mail at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC
Internet website also provides access to the texts of formal documents
issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.
In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called
eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and
submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you
spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. To register for this service, go to https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx
along with other related information.
Finally, AES has established an Internet Web site for this project
at https://www.AESsparrowspointLNG.com. The Web site includes a project
overview, status, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to
related documents. You can also request additional information by
calling AES directly at (866) 640-9080.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-7888 Filed 5-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
