Port Dolphin Energy LLC, Port Dolphin Energy Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port License Application, 38116-38118 [E7-13505]

Download as PDF 38116 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 133 / Thursday, July 12, 2007 / Notices 2. Statutory Basis The Exchange believes that the proposed rule change is consistent with and furthers the objectives of Section 6(b)(5) of the Act,9 in that it is designed to promote just and equitable principles of trade, to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism of a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest. B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Burden on Competition The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others No written comments were solicited or received with respect to the proposed rule change. III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action Because the forgoing rule change does not: (1) Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public interest; (2) impose any significant burden on competition; and (3) become operative for 30 days after the date of this filing, or such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 10 and Rule 19b– 4(f)(6) thereunder.11 A proposed rule change filed under 19b–4(f)(6) normally may not become operative prior to 30 days after the date of filing.12 However, Rule 19b– 4(f)(6)(iii) 13 permits the Commission to designate a shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest. The Exchange has requested that the Commission waive the 30-day operative delay. The Commission believes that waiving the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of investors and the public interest 9 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5). U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A). 11 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). 12 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6)(iii). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii) requires that a self-regulatory organization submit to the Commission written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission. The Exchange has satisfied the fiveday pre-filing notice requirement. 13 Id. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 10 15 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:42 Jul 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 because such waiver would permit position and exercise limits for options on IWM to continue at 500,000 option contracts for an approximately sixmonth pilot period. For this reason, the Commission designates the proposed rule change to be operative upon filing with the Commission.14 At any time within 60 days of the filing of such proposed rule change the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of NYSE Arca. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca-2007–58 and should be submitted on or before August 2, 2007. IV. Solicitation of Comments For the Commission, by the Division of Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated authority.15 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–13506 Filed 7–11–07; 8:45 am] Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views, and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic Comments BILLING CODE 8010–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–NYSEArca-2007–58 on the subject line. Maritime Administration [USCG–2007–28532] Port Dolphin Energy LLC, Port Dolphin Energy Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port License Application Maritime Administration, DOT. Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for comments. Paper Comments AGENCY: • Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. All submissions should refer to File Number SR–NYSEArca-2007–58. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission’s Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in ACTION: 14 For the purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay, the Commission has considered the proposed rule’s impact on efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C. 78c(f). PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration announces that the Coast Guard, in coordination with the Maritime Administration, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of this license application. The application describes a project that would be located approximately 28 miles off the western coast of Florida, and approximately 42 miles from Port Manatee, Manatee County, Florida. Publication of this notice begins a scoping process that will help identify and determine the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process and provides information on how to participate. DATES: The public meeting in Palmetto, FL will be held on July 25, 2007. The public meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be preceded by an open house from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The public meeting may end later than the stated time, depending on the 15 17 E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 12JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 133 / Thursday, July 12, 2007 / Notices number of persons wishing to speak. Material submitted in response to the request for comments must reach the Docket Management Facility by August 13, 2007. ADDRESSES: Public open house and meeting: The Manatee Convention Center, Conference Center, One Haben Blvd., Palmetto, Florida 34221. (941) 722–3244. Address docket submissions for USCG–2007–28532 to: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered submissions, and makes docket contents available for public inspection and copying at this address, in room W12–140, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Facility’s telephone is 202–366–9329, its fax 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: Ray Martin, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone: 202–372–1449, e-mail: raymond.w.martin@uscg.mil, Lieutenant Commander Brian Moore, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone: 202–372–1442, email: brian.e.moore@uscg.mil, or Chris Hanan, U.S. Maritime Administration, telephone: 202–366–1900, e-mail: Christopher.Hanan@dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–493– 0402. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Public Meeting and Open House We invite you to learn about the proposed deepwater port at an informational open house, and to comment at a public meeting on environmental issues related to the proposed deepwater port. Your comments will help us identify and refine the scope of the environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. 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 VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:42 Jul 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 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. Our public meeting location is wheelchair-accessible. If you plan to attend the open house or public meeting, 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 environmental issues related to the proposed deepwater port. The public meeting 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. Submissions should include: • Docket number USCG–2007–28532. • 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 website (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 website, 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 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38117 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 the proposed Port Dolphin liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port appeared in the Federal Register on June 25, 2007 (72 FR 34741). The ‘‘Summary of the Application’’ from that publication is reprinted below for your convenience. Consideration of a deepwater port license application includes review of the proposed deepwater port’s natural and human environmental impacts. The Coast Guard, in coordination with the Maritime Administration, is the lead agency for determining the scope of this review, and in this case has determined that review must include preparation of an EIS. This notice of intent is required by 40 CFR 1501.7, and briefly describes the proposed action and possible alternatives and the proposed scoping process. You can address any questions about the proposed action, the scoping process, or the EIS to the Coast Guard project manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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. Scoping Process Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping begins with this notice, continues through the public comment period (see DATES), and ends when the Coast Guard has completed the following actions: • Invites the participation of Federal, State, and local agencies, any affected Indian tribe, the applicant, and other interested persons; • Determines the actions, alternatives, and impacts described in 40 CFR 1508.25; • Identifies and eliminates, from detailed study, those issues that are not significant or that have been covered elsewhere; • Allocates responsibility for preparing EIS components; E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM 12JYN1 38118 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 133 / Thursday, July 12, 2007 / Notices rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES • Indicates any related environmental assessments or environmental impact statements that are not part of the EIS; • Identifies other relevant environmental review and consultation requirements; • Indicates the relationship between timing of the environmental review and other aspects of the application process; and • At its discretion, exercises the options provided in 40 CFR 1501.7(b). Once the scoping process is complete, the Coast Guard will prepare a draft EIS, and publish a Federal Register notice announcing its public availability. (If you want that notice to be sent to you, please contact the Coast Guard project manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You will have an opportunity to review and comment on the draft EIS. The Coast Guard will consider those comments in the preparation of the final EIS. As with the draft EIS, the availability of the final EIS will be announced and an opportunity for review and comment will again be provided. Summary of the Application Port Dolphin Energy LLC, proposes to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port, named Port Dolphin, in the Federal waters of the Outer Continental Shelf in the St. Petersburg (PB) blocks: PB545, PB589 and PB590, approximately 28 miles off the west coast of Florida to the southwest of Tampa Bay, in a water depth of approximately 100 feet. Port Dolphin would consist of a permanently moored unloading buoy system with two submersible buoys separated by a distance of approximately three miles. Each unloading buoy would be permanently secured to eight mooring lines, consisting of wire rope, chain, and buoyancy elements, each attached to anchor points on the seabed. Anchor points will most likely consist of driven piles. The buoys would be designed to moor a specialized type of LNG vessel called a Shuttle and Regasification Vessel (SRV) of between 145,000 and 217,000 cubic meter capacity. SRV vessels are equipped to vaporize cryogenic LNG cargo to natural gas through an onboard closed loop vaporization system, and to odorize and meter gas for send-out by means of the unloading buoy to conventional subsea pipelines. The SRVs would moor to the unloading buoys which connect through the hull of the vessels to specially designed VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:42 Jul 11, 2007 Jkt 211001 turrets that would enable the vessels to weathervane or rotate in response to prevailing wind, wave, and current directions. When the vessels are not present, the buoys would be submerged on a special landing pad on the seabed, 60–70 feet below the sea surface. Each unloading buoy would connect through a 16-inch flexible riser and a 36-inch flowline to a Y intersection and then a 36-inch pipeline approximately 42 miles in length that would connect onshore in Port Manatee, Manatee County, Florida. The pipeline would connect with the Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) System. The 36-inch gas transmission line would make landfall on Port Manatee property. From there, the transmission pipeline would proceed in a generally easterly direction to the first interconnection point with the Gulfstream system at 3.6-miles. The Gulfstream Interconnection Station would occupy an approximately twoacre site. Up to approximately 80 percent of the natural gas or 800 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) is expected to be delivered to the Gulfstream Pipeline. The remaining portion of the natural gas, up to approximately 360 mmscfd, would be transported by 14-inch line to the TECO interconnection station; located 2.1-miles east of the Gulfstream interconnect. Only shuttle and regasification vessels (SRVs) will call on Port Dolphin. Offloading would require between 4–8 days and when empty the SRV would disconnect from the buoy and leave the port. Initially it is expected that Port Dolphin would be capable of a natural gas throughput of 400 mmscfd and would eventually be capable of 800 mmscfd with a peak capacity of 1200 mmscfd by having at least one SRV regasifying and discharging at all times. The system would be designed so that two SRVs can be moored simultaneously for continuous unloading of natural gas. Port Dolphin Energy LLC is seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for the onshore pipelines concurrent with this deepwater port application. As required by FERC regulations, FERC will also maintain a docket for the FERC portion of the project. The docket numbers are CP07–191–000 and CP07–192–000. The filing may also be viewed on the Web at https://www.ferc.gov using the PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call (866) 208–3767 or TYY, (202) 502–8659. In addition, pipelines and structures such as the moorings may require permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act which are administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Port Dolphin will also require permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Air Act, as amended, and the Clean Water Act, as amended. The new pipeline will be included in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review as part of the deepwater port application process. FERC, EPA, and the USACE among others, are cooperating agencies and will assist in the NEPA process as described in 40 CFR 1501.6; will be participating in the scoping meetings; and will incorporate the EIS into their permitting processes. Comments sent to the FERC docket, EPA or USACE will also be incorporated into the DOT docket and EIS to ensure consistency with the NEPA Process. Construction of the deepwater port would be expected to take approximately 22 months with startup of commercial operations following construction, should a license be issued by the Maritime Administration. The deepwater port would be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with applicable codes and standards. Privacy Act The electronic form of all comments received into the DOT docket are available to any person and may be searched by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477– 78) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov. (Authority 49 CFR 1.66) Dated: July 6, 2007. By order of the Maritime Administrator. Daron T. Threet, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. E7–13505 Filed 7–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM 12JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 133 (Thursday, July 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38116-38118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13505]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[USCG-2007-28532]


Port Dolphin Energy LLC, Port Dolphin Energy Liquefied Natural 
Gas Deepwater Port License Application

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration announces that the Coast Guard, in 
coordination with the Maritime Administration, will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environmental 
review of this license application. The application describes a project 
that would be located approximately 28 miles off the western coast of 
Florida, and approximately 42 miles from Port Manatee, Manatee County, 
Florida. Publication of this notice begins a scoping process that will 
help identify and determine the scope of environmental issues to be 
addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the 
scoping process and provides information on how to participate.

DATES: The public meeting in Palmetto, FL will be held on July 25, 
2007. The public meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be 
preceded by an open house from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The public 
meeting may end later than the stated time, depending on the

[[Page 38117]]

number of persons wishing to speak. Material submitted in response to 
the request for comments must reach the Docket Management Facility by 
August 13, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Public open house and meeting: The Manatee Convention 
Center, Conference Center, One Haben Blvd., Palmetto, Florida 34221. 
(941) 722-3244.
    Address docket submissions for USCG-2007-28532 to: Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 
20590.
    The Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered submissions, 
and makes docket contents available for public inspection and copying 
at this address, in room W12-140, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Facility's telephone is 
202-366-9329, its fax 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: Ray Martin, U.S. Coast Guard, 
telephone: 202-372-1449, e-mail: raymond.w.martin@uscg.mil, Lieutenant 
Commander Brian Moore, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone: 202-372-1442, e-
mail: brian.e.moore@uscg.mil, or Chris Hanan, U.S. Maritime 
Administration, telephone: 202-366-1900, e-mail: 
Christopher.Hanan@dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing the docket, 
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 
202-493-0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meeting and Open House

    We invite you to learn about the proposed deepwater port at an 
informational open house, and to comment at a public meeting on 
environmental issues related to the proposed deepwater port. Your 
comments will help us identify and refine the scope of the 
environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS.
    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.
    Our public meeting location is wheelchair-accessible. If you plan 
to attend the open house or public meeting, 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 
environmental issues related to the proposed deepwater port. The public 
meeting 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.
    Submissions should include:
     Docket number USCG-2007-28532.
     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 website 
(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 
website, 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 the proposed Port Dolphin liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater 
port appeared in the Federal Register on June 25, 2007 (72 FR 34741). 
The ``Summary of the Application'' from that publication is reprinted 
below for your convenience.
    Consideration of a deepwater port license application includes 
review of the proposed deepwater port's natural and human environmental 
impacts. The Coast Guard, in coordination with the Maritime 
Administration, is the lead agency for determining the scope of this 
review, and in this case has determined that review must include 
preparation of an EIS. This notice of intent is required by 40 CFR 
1501.7, and briefly describes the proposed action and possible 
alternatives and the proposed scoping process. You can address any 
questions about the proposed action, the scoping process, or the EIS to 
the Coast Guard project manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.

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.

Scoping Process

    Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and 
determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping 
begins with this notice, continues through the public comment period 
(see DATES), and ends when the Coast Guard has completed the following 
actions:
     Invites the participation of Federal, State, and local 
agencies, any affected Indian tribe, the applicant, and other 
interested persons;
     Determines the actions, alternatives, and impacts 
described in 40 CFR 1508.25;
     Identifies and eliminates, from detailed study, those 
issues that are not significant or that have been covered elsewhere;
     Allocates responsibility for preparing EIS components;

[[Page 38118]]

     Indicates any related environmental assessments or 
environmental impact statements that are not part of the EIS;
     Identifies other relevant environmental review and 
consultation requirements;
     Indicates the relationship between timing of the 
environmental review and other aspects of the application process; and
     At its discretion, exercises the options provided in 40 
CFR 1501.7(b).
    Once the scoping process is complete, the Coast Guard will prepare 
a draft EIS, and publish a Federal Register notice announcing its 
public availability. (If you want that notice to be sent to you, please 
contact the Coast Guard project manager identified in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT). You will have an opportunity to review and 
comment on the draft EIS. The Coast Guard will consider those comments 
in the preparation of the final EIS. As with the draft EIS, the 
availability of the final EIS will be announced and an opportunity for 
review and comment will again be provided.

Summary of the Application

    Port Dolphin Energy LLC, proposes to own, construct, and operate a 
deepwater port, named Port Dolphin, in the Federal waters of the Outer 
Continental Shelf in the St. Petersburg (PB) blocks: PB545, PB589 and 
PB590, approximately 28 miles off the west coast of Florida to the 
southwest of Tampa Bay, in a water depth of approximately 100 feet. 
Port Dolphin would consist of a permanently moored unloading buoy 
system with two submersible buoys separated by a distance of 
approximately three miles. Each unloading buoy would be permanently 
secured to eight mooring lines, consisting of wire rope, chain, and 
buoyancy elements, each attached to anchor points on the seabed. Anchor 
points will most likely consist of driven piles.
    The buoys would be designed to moor a specialized type of LNG 
vessel called a Shuttle and Regasification Vessel (SRV) of between 
145,000 and 217,000 cubic meter capacity. SRV vessels are equipped to 
vaporize cryogenic LNG cargo to natural gas through an onboard closed 
loop vaporization system, and to odorize and meter gas for send-out by 
means of the unloading buoy to conventional subsea pipelines. The SRVs 
would moor to the unloading buoys which connect through the hull of the 
vessels to specially designed turrets that would enable the vessels to 
weathervane or rotate in response to prevailing wind, wave, and current 
directions. When the vessels are not present, the buoys would be 
submerged on a special landing pad on the seabed, 60-70 feet below the 
sea surface.
    Each unloading buoy would connect through a 16-inch flexible riser 
and a 36-inch flowline to a Y intersection and then a 36-inch pipeline 
approximately 42 miles in length that would connect onshore in Port 
Manatee, Manatee County, Florida. The pipeline would connect with the 
Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC and Tampa Electric Company (TECO) 
System.
    The 36-inch gas transmission line would make landfall on Port 
Manatee property. From there, the transmission pipeline would proceed 
in a generally easterly direction to the first interconnection point 
with the Gulfstream system at 3.6-miles. The Gulfstream Interconnection 
Station would occupy an approximately two-acre site. Up to 
approximately 80 percent of the natural gas or 800 million standard 
cubic feet per day (mmscfd) is expected to be delivered to the 
Gulfstream Pipeline.
    The remaining portion of the natural gas, up to approximately 360 
mmscfd, would be transported by 14-inch line to the TECO 
interconnection station; located 2.1-miles east of the Gulfstream 
interconnect. Only shuttle and regasification vessels (SRVs) will call 
on Port Dolphin. Offloading would require between 4-8 days and when 
empty the SRV would disconnect from the buoy and leave the port.
    Initially it is expected that Port Dolphin would be capable of a 
natural gas throughput of 400 mmscfd and would eventually be capable of 
800 mmscfd with a peak capacity of 1200 mmscfd by having at least one 
SRV regasifying and discharging at all times. The system would be 
designed so that two SRVs can be moored simultaneously for continuous 
unloading of natural gas.
    Port Dolphin Energy LLC is seeking Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) approval for the onshore pipelines concurrent with 
this deepwater port application. As required by FERC regulations, FERC 
will also maintain a docket for the FERC portion of the project. The 
docket numbers are CP07-191-000 and CP07-192-000. The filing may also 
be viewed on the Web 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, call (866) 
208-3767 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.
    In addition, pipelines and structures such as the moorings may 
require permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 
of the Rivers and Harbors Act which are administered by the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE).
    Port Dolphin will also require permits from the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the provisions of the Clean Air 
Act, as amended, and the Clean Water Act, as amended.
    The new pipeline will be included in the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) review as part of the deepwater port application 
process. FERC, EPA, and the USACE among others, are cooperating 
agencies and will assist in the NEPA process as described in 40 CFR 
1501.6; will be participating in the scoping meetings; and will 
incorporate the EIS into their permitting processes. Comments sent to 
the FERC docket, EPA or USACE will also be incorporated into the DOT 
docket and EIS to ensure consistency with the NEPA Process.
    Construction of the deepwater port would be expected to take 
approximately 22 months with startup of commercial operations following 
construction, should a license be issued by the Maritime 
Administration. The deepwater port would be designed, constructed and 
operated in accordance with applicable codes and standards.

Privacy Act

    The electronic form of all comments received into the DOT docket 
are available to any person and may be searched by the name of the 
individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted 
on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or 
you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.

(Authority 49 CFR 1.66)

    Dated: July 6, 2007.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Daron T. Threet,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-13505 Filed 7-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
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