Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Freeport LNG Export and Bog Liquefaction and Truck Delivery Facilities Projects and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, 3588-3590 [E9-1020]
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<![CDATA[
3588
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Notices
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Filed Date: 01/06/2009.
Accession Number: 20090107–0324.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. Eastern Time
on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211
and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date. It
is not necessary to separately intervene
again in a subdocket related to a
compliance filing if you have previously
intervened in the same docket. Protests
will be considered by the Commission
in determining the appropriate action to
be taken, but will not serve to make
protestants parties to the proceeding.
Anyone filing a motion to intervene or
protest must serve a copy of that
document on the Applicant. In reference
to filings initiating a new proceeding,
interventions or protests submitted on
or before the comment deadline need
not be served on persons other than the
Applicant.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with Internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 14 copies
of the intervention or protest to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First St., NE., Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above proceedings
are accessible in the Commission’s
eLibrary system by clicking on the
appropriate link in the above list. They
are also available for review in the
Commission’s Public Reference Room in
Washington, DC. There is an
eSubscription link on the Web site that
enables subscribers to receive e-mail
notification when a document is added
to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance
with any FERC Online service, please email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or
call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY,
call (202) 502–8659.
[Docket No. RP09–8–000]
[Docket Nos. CP03–75–003; CP03–75–004;
CP05–361–001; CP05–361–002]
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–1033 Filed 1–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
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Tuscarora Gas Transmission
Company; Notice Deferring Technical
Conference
January 12, 2009.
On January 12, 2009, Tuscarora Gas
Transmission Company (Tuscarora)
filed a request for deferral of the
technical conference scheduled in the
above-captioned proceeding for January
15, 2009.1 Tuscarora states that it has
reached a settlement in principle with
the active parties in this proceeding,
and that it anticipates filing an offer of
settlement that will resolve all of the
issues in this proceeding by February
12, 2009. Therefore, Tuscarora requests
that the Commission defer the date of
the technical conference until midFebruary 2009, to allow the parties time
to prepare and review the offer of
settlement. Tuscarora states that it is
authorized by the active parties in this
proceeding to express their support for
this request to defer both the technical
conference date and the effective date of
the suspended tariff sheets.2
By this notice, Tuscarora’s request for
deferral of the dates related to the
technical conference is granted. The
technical conference scheduled for
January 15, 2009, is thereby postponed
until further notice.
For further information please contact
Timothy Duggan at (202) 502–8326 or
e-mail Timothy.Duggan@ferc.gov.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–1017 Filed 1–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Freeport LNG Development, L.P.;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the
Proposed Freeport LNG Export and
Bog Liquefaction and Truck Delivery
Facilities Projects and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
January 12, 2009.
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental assessment (EA) that will
address the environmental impacts of
the Freeport LNG Export Project (Export
Project) and Bog Liquefaction and Truck
Delivery Facilities Project (BOG/Truck
Project) collective called the Freeport
Projects proposed by Freeport LNG
Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) in
Brazoria County, Texas.1 This EA will
be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine
whether or not to authorize the
projects.2
This notice announces the opening of
the scoping process we 3 will use to
gather environmental input from the
public and interested agencies on the
projects. Your input will help the
Commission staff determine which
issues need to be addressed.
This notice is being sent to affected
landowners; federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest
groups; Native American tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to
notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
Summary of the Proposed Projects
1 The
Commission directed that a technical
conference be held to address the issues raised by
Tuscarora’s October 1, 2008 tariff filing in this
proceeding. Tuscarora Gas Transmission Co., 125
FERC ¶ 61,133 (2008). The technical conference was
originally scheduled for December 11, 2008. At the
request of the active parties, the Commission issued
a notice on December 8, 2008, that postponed the
date of the technical conference to January 15, 2009.
2 Given agreement in principle among the active
parties, Tuscarora agrees not to move into effect the
tariff sheets previously suspended by the
Commission in this proceeding prior to June 1,
2009. This deferral of the effectiveness of the
suspended tariff sheets will afford time for a
possible settlement to be filed and considered by
the Commission.
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Export Project
The purpose of the project is to add
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export
1 During routine terminal operations, ambient
heat in the LNG storage tanks and piping causes
small amount of LNG to evaporate. The vaporizing
LNG is referred to as BOG or boil-off gas. The BOG
increases the storage tank pressure until a point
where it must be transferred, flared, or re-liquefied.
2 On November 19, and December 9, 2008,
Freeport LNG filed its applications with the
Commission under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act
and Part 157 of the Commission’s regulations. The
Commission issued its Notices of Application on
December 2, and 16, 2009.
3 ‘We,’ ‘us,’ and ‘our’ refer to the environmental
staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy Projects.
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Notices
capabilities/functionality to the
previously authorized Freeport LNG
Terminal Facilities located in Brazoria
County, Texas. Freeport LNG is seeking
authorization to operate its facility for
the purpose of exporting LNG. Freeport
LNG proposes to operate its existing
Freeport LNG Terminal facility to export
LNG on a short-term basis by holding
cargos of imported LNG in its LNG tanks
for re-export. To accomplish this,
Freeport LNG would replace a check
valve and upgrade a control valve. Both
valves are on the existing dock of the
Freeport LNG Terminal. The existing
dock is shown in the figure included as
Appendix 1.4
The proposed replacement and
modification of the valves would allow
the LNG to be transferred from the LNG
storage tanks through the existing LNG
transfer lines to the unloading/loading
arms and to a receiving ship for export
and transportation.
BOG/Truck Project
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The purpose of the project is to
provide greater latitude to acquire LNG
for maintenance and operation of the
existing Phase I facilities at the
previously authorized Freeport LNG
Terminal Facilities located in Brazoria
County, Texas during periods when
LNG deliveries may not otherwise be
available. The general locations of these
facilities are shown on the map in
Appendix 1. The BOG liquefaction
facilities would consist of:
• One BOG liquefaction heat
exchanger;
• One BOG liquefaction expandercompressor;
• Two BOG refrigeration compressor
units (approximately 1,380 horsepower
each);
• Natural gas piping, 4- to 12-inchdiameter aboveground piping; and
• LNG piping, 4-inch-diameter
aboveground piping.
These facilities would allow Freeport
to liquefy about 5 million cubic feet per
day of BOG and return it to the LNG
storage tanks in order to keep the tanks
in the necessary cryogenic state. The
BOG liquefaction system would also
require pressure and temperature
controllers; and associated electrical,
control, lighting instrumentation, and
communication systems.
4 The appendices referenced in this notice are not
being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all
appendices are available on the Commission’s Web
site at the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from the Commission’s
Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502–8371. For
instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
Public Participation section of this notice. Copies of
the appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail.
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18:54 Jan 16, 2009
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In addition, Freeport LNG is
proposing certain facility modifications
to enable it to undertake LNG truck
unloading activities in the event that the
BOG liquefaction facilities are not
available. LNG would be trucked in
from an existing commercial LNG
supplier (Clean Energy Fuels
Corporation) located 40 miles north of
Houston. The truck unloading facilities
would require the installation of a single
4-inch-diameter inlet connection and
valves on one of the existing LNG
transfer lines and a 25 horsepower
portable electric pump, if needed.
Freeport LNG would use these facilities
to transfer the LNG from the trucks to
the existing tanks. Freeport LNG
anticipates that it would receive truck
deliveries per day, totaling 66,000
gallons of LNG during the periods when
delivery by truck would be required.
If approved, Freeport LNG proposes to
commence construction of the proposed
facilities in spring of 2009.
Land Requirements
Since the Freeport LNG Terminal
already includes all required plant
components to facilitate the Export
Project other than the valve
modifications, no land disturbance
would be required.
The land that would be disturbed for
the BOG/Truck Project would be within
the footprint of the existing LNG
facility.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requires the Commission to
take into account the environmental
impacts that could result from an action.
The FERC will use the EA to consider
the environmental impact that could
result if the project is authorized under
section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. 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
EA on the important environmental
issues. By this Notice of Intent, the
Commission staff requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to
be addressed in the EA. All comments
received will be considered during
preparation of the EA.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that
could occur as a result of the
construction and operation of the
proposed project under these general
headings:
• Geology and soils;
• Land use;
• Water resources, fisheries, ballast
water, and wetlands;
• Cultural resources;
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3589
• Vegetation and wildlife;
• Threatened and endangered
species;
• Air quality and noise;
• Hazardous waste; and
• Public safety.
In the EA, we will also evaluate
possible alternatives to the proposed
projects, and make recommendations on
how to lessen or avoid impacts on
affected resources.
Our independent analysis of the
issues will be in the EA. Depending on
the comments received during the
scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state,
and local agencies, public interest
groups, interested individuals, affected
landowners, newspapers, libraries, and
the Commission’s official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will
be allotted for review if the EA is
published. We will consider all
comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the
Commission. To ensure your comments
are considered, please carefully follow
the instructions in the public
participation section below
With this NOI, we are asking federal,
state, and local agencies with
jurisdiction and/or special expertise
with respect to environmental issues to
formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA. These agencies
may choose to participate once they
have evaluated the proposal relative to
their responsibilities. Additional
agencies that would like to request
cooperating agency status should follow
the instructions for filing comments
provided under the Public Participation
section of this NOI.
Currently Identified Environmental
Issues
We have already identified several
issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the
proposed facilities and the
environmental information provided by
Freeport LNG. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your
comments and our analysis.
• Potential impacts on water quality.
• Potential impacts on air quality and
potential noise emissions may occur.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by
providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the
Freeport Projects. Your comments
should focus on the potential
environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives, and measures to avoid or
lessen environmental impacts. The more
specific your comments, the more useful
they will be. To ensure that your
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Notices
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comments are timely and properly
recorded, please send in your comments
so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before February
11, 2009.
For your convenience, there are three
methods which you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. In
all instances please reference the project
docket number CP03–75–003 and CP03–
75–004 with your submission. The
docket numbers can be found on the
front of this notice. The Commission
encourages electronic filing of
comments and has dedicated eFiling
expert staff available to assist you at
202–502–8258 or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments
electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on
the Commission’s Internet Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for
interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s Internet Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the link to
Documents and Filings. eFiling involves
preparing your submission in the same
manner as you would if filing on paper,
and then saving the file on your
computer’s hard drive. You will attach
that file as your submission. New
eFiling users must first create an
account by clicking on ‘‘Sign up’’ or
‘‘eRegister.’’ You will be asked to select
the type of filing you are making. A
comment on a particular project is
considered a ‘‘Comment on a Filing;’’ or
(3) You may file your comments via
mail to the Commission by sending an
original and two copies of your letter to:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC
20426.
Label one copy of the comments for
the attention of Gas Branch 2, PJ11.2.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this
notice to all individuals, organizations,
and government entities interested in
and/or potentially affected by the
proposed project. This includes all who
own homes within distances defined in
the Commission’s regulations of certain
aboveground facilities.
If you do not want to send comments
at this time but still want to remain on
our mailing list, please return the
Information Request (Appendix 2). If
you do not return the Information
Request, you will be taken off the
mailing list.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:54 Jan 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
Becoming an Intervenor
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
In addition to involvement in the EA
scoping process, 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.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. RP09–47–000]
Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd.;
Notice of Technical Conference
January 12, 2009.
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, click on
‘‘General Search’’ and enter the project
docket number excluding the last three
digits (i.e., CP03–75) in the ‘‘Docket
Number’’ field. Be sure you have
selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll
free at 1–866–208–3676, or TTY, contact
(202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link on
the FERC Internet Web site also
provides access to the texts of formal
documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and
rulemakings.
In addition, the FERC now offers a
free service called ‘‘eSubscription’’
which 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. Go to https://
www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm.
Take notice that the Commission will
convene a technical conference in the
above-referenced proceeding on
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at 10 a.m.
(EDT), in a room to be designated at the
offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
The Commission’s November 26, 2008
Order 1 in Docket No. RP09–47–000
directed that a technical conference be
held to address the issues raised by the
October 31, 2008 tariff filing by
Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd.
(WIC) to provide the first annual update
to the cost/revenue true-up accepted in
Docket No. RP07–699–000. Commission
Staff and interested persons will have
the opportunity to discuss all of the
issues raised by WIC’s filing including,
but not limited to, technical,
engineering and operational issues, and
issues related to the interpretation of
tariff provisions governing WIC’s fuel
tracking mechanism, and specifically,
its cost/revenue true-up.
FERC conferences are accessible
under section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973. For accessibility
accommodations please send an e-mail
to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free
(866) 208–3372 (voice) or (202) 502–
8659 (TTY), or send a fax to (202) 208–
2106 with the required
accommodations.
All interested persons are permitted
to attend. For further information please
contact Timothy Duggan at (202) 502–
8326 or e-mail
Timothy.Duggan@ferc.gov.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–1020 Filed 1–16–09; 8:45 am]
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–1019 Filed 1–16–09; 8:45 am]
Additional Information
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
PO 00000
1 Wyoming Interstate Co., Ltd., 125 FERC ¶ 61,240
(2008).
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3588-3590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1020]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP03-75-003; CP03-75-004; CP05-361-001; CP05-361-002]
Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Freeport LNG Export and Bog
Liquefaction and Truck Delivery Facilities Projects and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
January 12, 2009.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
address the environmental impacts of the Freeport LNG Export Project
(Export Project) and Bog Liquefaction and Truck Delivery Facilities
Project (BOG/Truck Project) collective called the Freeport Projects
proposed by Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) in Brazoria
County, Texas.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine whether or not to authorize the
projects.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ During routine terminal operations, ambient heat in the LNG
storage tanks and piping causes small amount of LNG to evaporate.
The vaporizing LNG is referred to as BOG or boil-off gas. The BOG
increases the storage tank pressure until a point where it must be
transferred, flared, or re-liquefied.
\2\ On November 19, and December 9, 2008, Freeport LNG filed its
applications with the Commission under section 3 of the Natural Gas
Act and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations. The Commission
issued its Notices of Application on December 2, and 16, 2009.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we \3\
will use to gather environmental input from the public and interested
agencies on the projects. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine which issues need to be addressed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ `We,' `us,' and `our' refer to the environmental staff of
the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state,
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. State and local
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
Summary of the Proposed Projects
Export Project
The purpose of the project is to add Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
export
[[Page 3589]]
capabilities/functionality to the previously authorized Freeport LNG
Terminal Facilities located in Brazoria County, Texas. Freeport LNG is
seeking authorization to operate its facility for the purpose of
exporting LNG. Freeport LNG proposes to operate its existing Freeport
LNG Terminal facility to export LNG on a short-term basis by holding
cargos of imported LNG in its LNG tanks for re-export. To accomplish
this, Freeport LNG would replace a check valve and upgrade a control
valve. Both valves are on the existing dock of the Freeport LNG
Terminal. The existing dock is shown in the figure included as Appendix
1.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices are
available on the Commission's Web site at the ``eLibrary'' link or
from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the Public Participation section of
this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed replacement and modification of the valves would allow
the LNG to be transferred from the LNG storage tanks through the
existing LNG transfer lines to the unloading/loading arms and to a
receiving ship for export and transportation.
BOG/Truck Project
The purpose of the project is to provide greater latitude to
acquire LNG for maintenance and operation of the existing Phase I
facilities at the previously authorized Freeport LNG Terminal
Facilities located in Brazoria County, Texas during periods when LNG
deliveries may not otherwise be available. The general locations of
these facilities are shown on the map in Appendix 1. The BOG
liquefaction facilities would consist of:
One BOG liquefaction heat exchanger;
One BOG liquefaction expander-compressor;
Two BOG refrigeration compressor units (approximately
1,380 horsepower each);
Natural gas piping, 4- to 12-inch-diameter aboveground
piping; and
LNG piping, 4-inch-diameter aboveground piping.
These facilities would allow Freeport to liquefy about 5 million
cubic feet per day of BOG and return it to the LNG storage tanks in
order to keep the tanks in the necessary cryogenic state. The BOG
liquefaction system would also require pressure and temperature
controllers; and associated electrical, control, lighting
instrumentation, and communication systems.
In addition, Freeport LNG is proposing certain facility
modifications to enable it to undertake LNG truck unloading activities
in the event that the BOG liquefaction facilities are not available.
LNG would be trucked in from an existing commercial LNG supplier (Clean
Energy Fuels Corporation) located 40 miles north of Houston. The truck
unloading facilities would require the installation of a single 4-inch-
diameter inlet connection and valves on one of the existing LNG
transfer lines and a 25 horsepower portable electric pump, if needed.
Freeport LNG would use these facilities to transfer the LNG from the
trucks to the existing tanks. Freeport LNG anticipates that it would
receive truck deliveries per day, totaling 66,000 gallons of LNG during
the periods when delivery by truck would be required.
If approved, Freeport LNG proposes to commence construction of the
proposed facilities in spring of 2009.
Land Requirements
Since the Freeport LNG Terminal already includes all required plant
components to facilitate the Export Project other than the valve
modifications, no land disturbance would be required.
The land that would be disturbed for the BOG/Truck Project would be
within the footprint of the existing LNG facility.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action. The FERC will use the EA to consider the
environmental impact that could result if the project is authorized
under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. 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 EA on the important
environmental issues. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in
the EA. All comments received will be considered during preparation of
the EA.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
Land use;
Water resources, fisheries, ballast water, and wetlands;
Cultural resources;
Vegetation and wildlife;
Threatened and endangered species;
Air quality and noise;
Hazardous waste; and
Public safety.
In the EA, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the
proposed projects, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid
impacts on affected resources.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public
participation section below
With this NOI, we are asking federal, state, and local agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation
of the EA. These agencies may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Additional
agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should
follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this NOI.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Freeport LNG. This
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and
our analysis.
Potential impacts on water quality.
Potential impacts on air quality and potential noise
emissions may occur.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Freeport Projects. Your comments should
focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives,
and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more
specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that
your
[[Page 3590]]
comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in your comments
so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before February
11, 2009.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number CP03-75-003 and CP03-75-004 with
your submission. The docket numbers can be found on the front of this
notice. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258
or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site
at https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site at
https://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users
must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or
``eRegister.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you are
making. A comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment on
a Filing;'' or
(3) You may file your comments via mail to the Commission by
sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 2,
PJ11.2.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals,
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially
affected by the proposed project. This includes all who own homes
within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of certain
aboveground facilities.
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request
(Appendix 2). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be
taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, 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.
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, click on ``General Search'' and
enter the project docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP03-75) in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676,
or TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called
``eSubscription'' which 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. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-1020 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
