Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port License Application; Final Application Public Hearings and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 62657-62659 [E6-17942]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 207 / Thursday, October 26, 2006 / Notices
that the issuance of the waiver will have
an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.vessel builder or a business that uses
U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a
waiver will not be granted. Comments
should refer to the docket number of
this notice and the vessel name in order
for MARAD to properly consider the
comments. Comments should also state
the commenter’s interest in the waiver
application, and address the waiver
criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s
regulations at 46 CFR part 388.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
November 27, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to
docket number MARAD–2006 26112.
Written comments may be submitted by
hand or by mail to the Docket Clerk,
U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL–401,
Department of Transportation, 400 7th
St., SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001.
You may also send comments
electronically via the Internet at https://
dmses.dot.gov/submit/. All comments
will become part of this docket and will
be available for inspection and copying
at the above address between 10 a.m.
and 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. An
electronic version of this document and
all documents entered into this docket
is available on the World Wide Web at
https://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joann Spittle, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
Administration, MAR–830 Room 7201,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20590. Telephone 202–366–5979.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
described by the applicant the intended
service of the vessel MY WAY is:
Intended Use: ‘‘charter.’’
Geographic Region: California.
Dated: October 18, 2006.
By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–17974 Filed 10–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
[USCG–2005–22219]
Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge,
L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas
Deepwater Port License Application;
Final Application Public Hearings and
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Maritime Administration, DOT.
Notice of availability; notice of
public hearings; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:21 Oct 25, 2006
Jkt 211001
SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration
(MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) announce the availability of the
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) for the Northeast Gateway Energy
Bridge, L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas
Deepwater Port license application.
Also, public hearings will be held on
matters relevant to the approval or
denial of the 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 FEIS and application. Publication of
this notice begins a 30-day public
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.
The Neptune FEIS should be noticed as
available and public hearing
information published on November 3,
2006.
DATES: Public hearings will be held in
Gloucester, MA on November 8, 2006
and in Salem, MA on November 9, 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 hearings 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 FEIS and
application must reach the Docket
Management Facility by November 25,
2006 ending the 30-day public comment
period.
Federal and State agencies must
submit comments, recommended
conditions for licensing, or letters of no
objection by December 26, 2006 (45
days after the final public hearings).
Also by December 26, 2006, the
Governor of Massachusetts (the adjacent
coastal state) may approve, disapprove,
or notify MARAD of inconsistencies
with State programs relating to
environmental protection, land and
water use, and coastal zone management
for which MARAD may condition the
license to make consistent.
MARAD must issue a record of
decision (ROD) to approve, approve
with conditions, or deny the DWP
license application by February 7, 2007
(90 days after the public hearings).
For dates required by the
Massachusetts Environmental Policy
Act (MEPA) schedule, please see that
section at the end of this notice.
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62657
The public hearing in
Gloucester will be held at the Gloucester
High School Auditorium, 32 Leslie O.
Johnson Road, Gloucester, MA,
telephone: 617–635–4100. The public
hearing in Salem will be at the Salem
State College Library, Charlotte Forten
Hall, 360 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA,
telephone: 978–542–7192.
The FEIS, the application, comments
and associated documentation are
available for viewing at the DOT’s
Docket Management System Web site:
https://dms.dot.gov under docket number
22219. The FEIS is also available at
public libraries in Beverly, Boston
(Central Library), Gloucester,
Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead,
Rockport, and Salem.
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, its fax number is 202–493–2251,
and its 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:
Roddy.C.Bachman@uscg.mil. If you
have questions on viewing the docket,
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
Docket Operations, telephone: 202–493–
0402.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
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 FEIS. Speaker
registrations will be available at the
door. In order to allow everyone a
chance to speak at the public hearings,
we may limit speaker time, or extend
the hearing 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 hearing, 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.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
62658
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 207 / Thursday, October 26, 2006 / Notices
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
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 of our public hearing locations are
wheelchair-accessible. If you plan to
attend an 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 FEIS and
application. The public hearing is not
the only opportunity you have to
comment. In addition to or in place of
attending a hearing, you can submit
comments to the Docket Management
Facility during the public comment
period (see DATES). The Coast Guard and
MARAD will consider all comments and
material received during the comment
period.
Submissions should include:
• 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 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.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:21 Oct 25, 2006
Jkt 211001
Background
We published the Notice of
Application for the proposed Northeast
Gateway liquefied natural gas (LNG)
deepwater port and information on
regulations and statutes governing
licensing in the Federal Register at 70
FR 52422, September 2, 2005; the Notice
of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the
proposed action was published at 70 FR
58228, October 5, 2005; and the Notice
of Availability of the Draft EIS was
published at 71 FR 29211, May 19,
2006. The FEIS, application materials
and associated comments and
documentation 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), and (2) denying
the application, which for purposes of
environmental review is the ‘‘no-action’’
alternative. These alternatives are more
fully discussed in the FEIS. 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 FEIS to the Coast Guard project
manager identified in 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
PO 00000
Frm 00078
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 would
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
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’’
link and FERC Docket number CP05–
383. The eLibrary helpline is 1–866–
208–3676 or e-mail online support at
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
As required by their regulations, the
USACE has maintained 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 have been incorporated into the
EIS; will continue to be incorporated
into the DOT docket; and will continue
to be considered in the licensing,
USACE permitting and FERC order
decisions. FERC and the USACE, among
others, are cooperating agencies and are
assisting in the NEPA process as
described in 40 CFR 1501.6., and have
conducted joint public hearings with
the Coast Guard and MARAD.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 207 / Thursday, October 26, 2006 / Notices
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 a 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
Environmental Impact Report can be
viewed at https://www.mass.gov/envir/
mepa/thirdlevelpages/monitorarchives/
archives/25july06.htm. The EIR was
published in the Environmental Monitor
on October 25, 2006; ENF comments
will be due November 14, 2006; ENF
decisions will be due November 24,
2006; the Secretary of Environmental
Affairs will accept written comments on
the Environmental Impact Report
through November 24, 2006; and the EIR
decisions (Certificate) will be due
December 1, 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 Robert W. Golledge, Jr., EOEA,
Attn: MEPA Office, Richard Bourre,
EOEA No.13473/13474, 100 Cambridge
Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114.
Dated: October 23, 2006.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E6–17942 Filed 10–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request for Revenue Procedure 06–XX
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of the
Treasury, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent
burden, invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on proposed
and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13(44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is
soliciting comments concerning
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:21 Oct 25, 2006
Jkt 211001
Revenue Procedure 06–XX (RP–135718–
06), Automatic Consent to Change
Certain Elections Relating to the
Apportionment of Interest Expense,
Research and Experimental
Expenditures Under Section 1.861.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before December 26, 2006
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Glenn Kirkland, Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6516, 1111 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the revenue procedure should
be directed to Allan Hopkins, at (202)
622–6665, or at Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6516, 1111 Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224, or
through the internet, at
Allan.M.Hopkins@irs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Automatic Consent to Change
Certain Elections Relating to the
Apportionment of Interest Expense,
Research and Experimental
Expenditures Under Section 1.861.
OMB Number: 1545–XXXX. Revenue
Procedure Number: Revenue Procedure
06–XX.
Abstract: This revenue procedure
provides administrative guidance under
which a taxpayer may obtain automatic
consent to change (a) from the fair
market value method or from the
alternative tax book method to
apportion interest expense or (b) from
the sales method or the optional gross
income methods to apportion research
and experimental expenditures.
Current Actions: This is a new
revenue procedure.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit institutions, and individuals or
households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
200.
Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 100.
The following paragraph applies to all
of the collections of information covered
by this notice:
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a valid OMB control number.
Books or records relating to a collection
of information must be retained as long
as their contents may become material
in the administration of any internal
revenue law. Generally, tax returns and
tax return information are confidential,
as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
PO 00000
Frm 00079
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
62659
Request for Comments: Comments
submitted in response to this notice will
be summarized and/or included in the
request for OMB approval. All
comments will become a matter of
public record. Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the collection of
information; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including
through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology; and (e) estimates of capital
or start-up costs and costs of operation,
maintenance, and purchase of services
to provide information.
Approved: October 12, 2006.
Glenn Kirkland,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–17990 Filed 10–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
[IA–56–87 and IA–53–87]
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request for Regulation Project
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of the
Treasury, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent
burden, invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on proposed
and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13(44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is
soliciting comments concerning an
existing final regulation, IA–56–87 and
IA–53–87 (TD 8416), Minimum Tax—Tax Benefit Rule (§§ 1.58–9(c)(5)(iii)(B),
and 1.58–9(e)(3)).
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before December 26, 2006
to be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Glenn Kirkland, Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6516, 1111 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20224.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62657-62659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17942]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[USCG-2005-22219]
Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C., Liquefied Natural Gas
Deepwater Port License Application; Final Application Public Hearings
and Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public hearings; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) announce the availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) for the Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge, L.L.C.,
Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port license application. Also, public
hearings will be held on matters relevant to the approval or denial of
the 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 FEIS and application.
Publication of this notice begins a 30-day public 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. The
Neptune FEIS should be noticed as available and public hearing
information published on November 3, 2006.
DATES: Public hearings will be held in Gloucester, MA on November 8,
2006 and in Salem, MA on November 9, 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 hearings 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
FEIS and application must reach the Docket Management Facility by
November 25, 2006 ending the 30-day public comment period.
Federal and State agencies must submit comments, recommended
conditions for licensing, or letters of no objection by December 26,
2006 (45 days after the final public hearings). Also by December 26,
2006, the Governor of Massachusetts (the adjacent coastal state) may
approve, disapprove, or notify MARAD of inconsistencies with State
programs relating to environmental protection, land and water use, and
coastal zone management for which MARAD may condition the license to
make consistent.
MARAD must issue a record of decision (ROD) to approve, approve
with conditions, or deny the DWP license application by February 7,
2007 (90 days after the public hearings).
For dates required by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
(MEPA) schedule, please see that section at the end of this notice.
ADDRESSES: The public hearing in Gloucester will be held at the
Gloucester High School Auditorium, 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road,
Gloucester, MA, telephone: 617-635-4100. The public hearing in Salem
will be at the Salem State College Library, Charlotte Forten Hall, 360
Lafayette Street, Salem, MA, telephone: 978-542-7192.
The FEIS, the application, comments and associated documentation
are available for viewing at the DOT's Docket Management System Web
site: https://dms.dot.gov under docket number 22219. The FEIS is also
available at public libraries in Beverly, Boston (Central Library),
Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Rockport, and Salem.
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, its fax number is 202-493-2251, and its 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: Roddy.C.Bachman@uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager,
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 FEIS. Speaker
registrations will be available at the door. In order to allow everyone
a chance to speak at the public hearings, we may limit speaker time, or
extend the hearing 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 hearing, 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.
[[Page 62658]]
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 of our public hearing locations are wheelchair-accessible. If
you plan to attend an 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
FEIS and application. The public hearing is not the only opportunity
you have to comment. In addition to or in place of attending a hearing,
you can submit comments to the Docket Management Facility during the
public comment period (see DATES). The Coast Guard and MARAD will
consider all comments and material received during the comment period.
Submissions should include:
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
We published the Notice of Application for the proposed Northeast
Gateway liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port and information on
regulations and statutes governing licensing in the Federal Register at
70 FR 52422, September 2, 2005; the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS
for the proposed action was published at 70 FR 58228, October 5, 2005;
and the Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published at 71 FR
29211, May 19, 2006. The FEIS, application materials and associated
comments and documentation 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), and (2) denying the application, which
for purposes of environmental review is the ``no-action'' alternative.
These alternatives are more fully discussed in the FEIS. 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 FEIS to the
Coast Guard project manager identified in 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 would 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 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'' link and FERC Docket number
CP05-383. The eLibrary helpline is 1-866-208-3676 or e-mail online
support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
As required by their regulations, the USACE has maintained 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 have been incorporated
into the EIS; will continue to be incorporated into the DOT docket; and
will continue to be considered in the licensing, USACE permitting and
FERC order decisions. FERC and the USACE, among others, are cooperating
agencies and are assisting in the NEPA process as described in 40 CFR
1501.6., and have conducted joint public hearings with the Coast Guard
and MARAD.
[[Page 62659]]
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 a 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
Environmental Impact Report can be viewed at https://www.mass.gov/envir/
mepa/thirdlevelpages/monitorarchives/archives/25july06.htm. The EIR was
published in the Environmental Monitor on October 25, 2006; ENF
comments will be due November 14, 2006; ENF decisions will be due
November 24, 2006; the Secretary of Environmental Affairs will accept
written comments on the Environmental Impact Report through November
24, 2006; and the EIR decisions (Certificate) will be due December 1,
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
Robert W. Golledge, Jr., EOEA, Attn: MEPA Office, Richard Bourre, EOEA
No.13473/13474, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114.
Dated: October 23, 2006.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-17942 Filed 10-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
