Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Liberty Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Deepwater Port License Application, 4417-4419 [2011-1448]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Notices Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget. Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 2500 hours. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention MARAD Desk Officer. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. scoping process and provides information on how to participate. DATES: There will be a series of three public scoping meetings held in connection with the application. The first public meeting will be held in Rockaway Park, New York on February 8, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will be preceded by an open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The second public meeting will be held in Long Branch, New Jersey on February 9, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will be preceded by an open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The third public meeting will be held in Edison, New Jersey on February 10, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be preceded by an open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Each of the three public meetings may end later than the stated time, depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally, materials submitted in response to the request for comments on the license application must reach the Docket Management Facility by February 23, 2011. By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Dated: January 19, 2011. Christine Gurland, Secretary, Maritime Administration. ADDRESSES: [FR Doc. 2011–1449 Filed 1–24–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration [USCG–2010–0993] Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Liberty Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Deepwater Port License Application Maritime Administration, DOT. Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The Maritime Administration, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of the Liberty Deepwater Port License Application. The application describes an offshore natural gas deepwater port facility that would be located approximately 16.2 miles off the coast of New Jersey and will connect via offshore pipeline to a 9.2 mile onshore pipeline. 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 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:40 Jan 24, 2011 Jkt 223001 The open house and public meeting in Rockaway Park will be held at Beach Channel High School, 100–00 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694–2818, (718) 945–6900. The New York City Department of Education disclaims involvement in the open house and public meeting to be held on the premises of Beach Channel High School. The open house and public meeting in Long Branch will be held at Long Branch Middle School, 350 Indiana Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740–6198, (732) 229–5533. The open house and public meeting in Edison will be held atthe New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center at Raritan Center, Edison, 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837–3810, (732) 417–1400. The license application, comments and associated documentation are available for viewing at the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Web site: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number USCG–2010– 0993. Docket submissions for USCG–2010– 0993 should be addressed to: Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001. The Federal Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered submissions, and makes docket contents available for public inspection and PO 00000 Frm 00140 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4417 copying at the above address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Facility telephone number is 202–366– 9329, the fax number is 202–493–2251, and the Web site for electronic submissions or for electronic access to docket contents is https:// www.regulations.gov. Mr. Ray Martin, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone: 202–372–1449, e-mail: Raymond.W.Martin@uscg.mil, or Ms. Yvette M. Fields, Director, Office of Deepwater Ports and Offshore Activities, Maritime Administration, telephone: 202–366–0926, e-mail: Yvette.Fields@dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing the Docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–493– 0402. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Meeting and Open House We invite you to learn about the proposed deepwater port at any of the above informational open houses, and to comment at any of the above public meetings 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 a 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 a 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 Federal Docket Management Facility (see Request for Comments). Our public meeting locations are wheelchair-accessible. If you plan to attend an open house or public meeting, and need special assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation, please notify the U.S. 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 E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1 4418 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Notices mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 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 Federal 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–2010–0993. • Your name and address. Submit comments or material using only one of the following methods: • Electronic submission to the Federal Docket Management Facility, https://www.regulations.gov. • Fax, mail, or hand deliver to the Federal 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 FDMS Web site (https:// www.regulations.gov), and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy and Use Notice that is available on the FDMS Web site, and the Department of Transportation Privacy Act Notice that appeared in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), see PRIVACY ACT. You may view docket submissions at the Department of Transportation Docket Management Facility or electronically on the FDMS Web site (see ADDRESSES). Background Information about deepwater ports, the statutes, and regulations governing their licensing, and the receipt of the current application for the proposed Liberty Deepwater Port appears in the November 17, 2010 Federal Register (75 FR 70350.) 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 U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency for determining the scope of this review, and in this case the U.S. Coast Guard has determined that review must include preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement. This notice of intent is required by 40 CFR 1501.7, and briefly describes the VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:40 Jan 24, 2011 Jkt 223001 proposed action, possible alternatives, and our proposed scoping process. You can address any questions about the proposed action, the scoping process, or the Environmental Impact Statement to the U.S. Coast Guard project manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. the draft EIS. The Coast Guard will consider those comments, and then prepare the final EIS. As with the draft EIS, we will announce the availability of the final EIS, and once again give you an opportunity for review and comment. Summary of the Application Liberty Natural Gas, LLC, proposes to Proposed Action and Alternatives own, construct, and operate a natural gas deepwater port, known as Liberty The proposed action requiring Deepwater Port. It would be located environmental review is the Federal approximately 16 miles off the coast of licensing of the proposed deepwater New Jersey to the east of Asbury Park port described in ‘‘Summary of the in a water depth of approximately 100 Application’’ below. The alternatives to to 120 feet. It will connect via offshore licensing the proposed port are: (1) pipeline to a 9.2 mile onshore pipeline Licensing with conditions (including that will traverse through Perth Amboy, conditions designed to mitigate Woodbridge and Carteret in Middlesex environmental impact), or (2) denying County, New Jersey and terminate in the application, which for purposes of environmental review is the ‘‘no-action’’ Linden, Union County, New Jersey. Liberty Deepwater Port would receive alternative. and transfer natural gas from purposeScoping Process built LNG regasification vessels (LNGRVs) with a total cargo tank Public scoping is an early and open process for identifying and determining capacity of approximately 145,000 m3. The vessels would be equipped to the scope of issues to be addressed in vaporize LNG cargo to natural gas the Environmental Impact Statement. through onboard closed loop Scoping begins with this notice, vaporization systems and odorize and continues through the public comment meter gas for send-out by means of a period (see DATES), and ends when the Submerged Turret LoadingTM (STL) U.S. Coast Guard has completed the Buoy system. When the vessels are not following actions: • Invites the participation of Federal, present, the buoy would be submerged on a special landing pad on the seafloor, State, and local agencies, any affected 100–120 feet below the sea surface. The Indian tribe, the applicant, and other top of the buoy would be approximately interested persons; • Determines the actions, alternatives, 50–70 feet below the surface of the water. and impacts described in 40 CFR Liberty Deepwater Port would consist 1508.25; of up to four Submerged Turret • Identifies and eliminates, from LoadingTM (STL) Buoy systems. Each detailed study, those issues that are not buoy system would connect to an 18significant or that have been covered inch diameter pipeline, called a Lateral, elsewhere; at a pipeline end manifold (PLEM) • Allocates responsibility for installed on the seafloor. The Laterals preparing EIS components; • Indicates any related environmental would be approximately 0.6 miles to 1 mile in length. Natural gas would flow assessments or environmental impact through each Lateral to the 36-inch statements that are not part of the EIS; diameter, 44.37 mile long Offshore • Identifies other relevant Pipeline. The Offshore Pipeline would environmental review and consultation connect to a 36-inch diameter, 9.2 mile requirements; long Onshore Pipeline that would • Indicates the relationship between timing of the environmental review and traverse through Perth Amboy, other aspects of the application process; Woodbridge and Carteret in Middlesex County, New Jersey and terminate in and • At its discretion, exercises the Linden, Union County, New Jersey. The options provided in 40 CFR 1501.7(b). Onshore Pipeline would connect to Once the scoping process is complete, Transco and TETCO pipeline systems. The Liberty Deepwater Port would be the U.S. Coast Guard will prepare a draft installed in two phases, with the first EIS, and in conjunction with the Maritime Administration, will publish a two Submerged Turret LoadingTM (STL) Federal Register notice announcing Buoy systems and accompanying public availability of the draft EIS. (If onshore and offshore pipeline you want that notice to be sent to you, infrastructure proposed to be installed please contact the Coast Guard project and operational by the end of 2013. The manager identified in FOR FURTHER second phase, consisting of an INFORMATION CONTACT.) You will have an additional pair of Submerged Turret LoadingTM (STL) Buoy systems and opportunity to review and comment on PO 00000 Frm 00141 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1 mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 25, 2011 / Notices associated Laterals, would be constructed at a later date. The Offshore Pipeline ultimately used by four STL Buoy systems will have a delivery capacity of approximately 2.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas. Each LNGRV will have an average natural gas delivery capacity of 600 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/ d) with a maximum capacity of 750 MMcf/d. Liberty Natural Gas LLC is currently seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for the onshore pipelines. As required by FERC regulations, FERC will also maintain a docket for the FERC portion of the project. The docket number is CP11–10. The filing may also be viewed on the web at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Choose ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call (866) 208–3676 or TYY, (202) 502–8659. In addition, pipelines and structures, such as the Submerged Turret LoadingTM (STL) Buoy systems, 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). Liberty Deepwater Port may 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 offshore and onshore pipelines 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. Also, these agencies may participate in the scoping meetings and will incorporate the EIS into their permitting processes. Comments sent to the FERC docket, or to the EPA, USACE, and/or other agencies will be incorporated into the DOT docket and considered as the EIS is developed to ensure consistency with the NEPA Process. Should a license be issued, construction of the deepwater port would be expected to take approximately 18 months over a twoyear period with startup of commercial operations following construction. The deepwater port would be designed, constructed, and operated in accordance with applicable codes and standards. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:40 Jan 24, 2011 Jkt 223001 Privacy Act The electronic form of all comments received into the Federal Docket Management System can 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.). The DOT Privacy Act Statement can be viewed in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, pages 19477–78) or you may visit https:// www.regulations.gov. Authority: 49 CFR 1.66. By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Dated: January 19, 2011. Christine Gurland, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 2011–1448 Filed 1–24–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration [Docket No. MARAD–2011–0004] Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation. ACTION: Invitation for public comments on a requested administrative waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws for the vessel FIRST CAST. AGENCY: As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket MARAD–2011– 0004 at https://www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD’s regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), 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 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00142 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 4419 application, and address the waiver criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s regulations at 46 CFR part 388. Submit comments on or before February 24, 2011. DATES: Comments should refer to docket number MARAD–2011–0004. Written comments may be submitted by hand or by mail to the Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. You may also send comments electronically via the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov. 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:// www.regulations.gov. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joann Spittle, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W21–203, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202– 366–5979. As described by the applicant the intended service of the vessel FIRST CAST is: Intended Commercial Use of Vessel: ‘‘Excursion charter fishing’’. Geographic Region: ‘‘Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and their respective inland tributaries.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Privacy Act Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets 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). Dated: January 19, 2011. By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Christine Gurland, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 2011–1452 Filed 1–24–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–81–P E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4417-4419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1448]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[USCG-2010-0993]


Liberty Natural Gas LLC, Liberty Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
Deepwater Port License Application

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

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

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

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration, in coordination with the U.S. 
Coast Guard, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as 
part of the environmental review of the Liberty Deepwater Port License 
Application. The application describes an offshore natural gas 
deepwater port facility that would be located approximately 16.2 miles 
off the coast of New Jersey and will connect via offshore pipeline to a 
9.2 mile onshore pipeline. 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: There will be a series of three public scoping meetings held in 
connection with the application. The first public meeting will be held 
in Rockaway Park, New York on February 8, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 
p.m., and will be preceded by an open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    The second public meeting will be held in Long Branch, New Jersey 
on February 9, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will be preceded by 
an open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    The third public meeting will be held in Edison, New Jersey on 
February 10, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be preceded by an 
open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    Each of the three public meetings may end later than the stated 
time, depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. 
Additionally, materials submitted in response to the request for 
comments on the license application must reach the Docket Management 
Facility by February 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The open house and public meeting in Rockaway Park will be 
held at Beach Channel High School, 100-00 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway 
Park, NY 11694-2818, (718) 945-6900. The New York City Department of 
Education disclaims involvement in the open house and public meeting to 
be held on the premises of Beach Channel High School.
    The open house and public meeting in Long Branch will be held at 
Long Branch Middle School, 350 Indiana Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740-
6198, (732) 229-5533.
    The open house and public meeting in Edison will be held atthe New 
Jersey Convention & Exposition Center at Raritan Center, Edison, 97 
Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837-3810, (732) 417-1400.
    The license application, comments and associated documentation are 
available for viewing at the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) 
Web site: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number USCG-2010-
0993.
    Docket submissions for USCG-2010-0993 should be addressed to: 
Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West 
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    The Federal Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered 
submissions, and makes docket contents available for public inspection 
and copying at the above address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Facility telephone number 
is 202-366-9329, the fax number is 202-493-2251, and the Web site for 
electronic submissions or for electronic access to docket contents is 
https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ray Martin, U.S. Coast Guard, 
telephone: 202-372-1449, e-mail: Raymond.W.Martin@uscg.mil, or Ms. 
Yvette M. Fields, Director, Office of Deepwater Ports and Offshore 
Activities, Maritime Administration, telephone: 202-366-0926, e-mail: 
Yvette.Fields@dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing the Docket, 
call Ms. 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 any of 
the above informational open houses, and to comment at any of the above 
public meetings 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 a 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 a 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 
Federal Docket Management Facility (see Request for Comments).
    Our public meeting locations are wheelchair-accessible. If you plan 
to attend an open house or public meeting, and need special assistance 
such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation, 
please notify the U.S. 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

[[Page 4418]]

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 Federal 
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-2010-0993.
     Your name and address.
    Submit comments or material using only one of the following 
methods:
     Electronic submission to the Federal Docket Management 
Facility, https://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax, mail, or hand deliver to the Federal 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 FDMS Web site 
(https://www.regulations.gov), and will include any personal information 
you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. 
You may wish to read the Privacy and Use Notice that is available on 
the FDMS Web site, and the Department of Transportation Privacy Act 
Notice that appeared in the Federal Register on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477), see PRIVACY ACT. You may view docket submissions at the 
Department of Transportation Docket Management Facility or 
electronically on the FDMS Web site (see ADDRESSES).

Background

    Information about deepwater ports, the statutes, and regulations 
governing their licensing, and the receipt of the current application 
for the proposed Liberty Deepwater Port appears in the November 17, 
2010 Federal Register (75 FR 70350.) 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 U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency for determining the 
scope of this review, and in this case the U.S. Coast Guard has 
determined that review must include preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement. This notice of intent is required by 40 CFR 1501.7, 
and briefly describes the proposed action, possible alternatives, and 
our proposed scoping process. You can address any questions about the 
proposed action, the scoping process, or the Environmental Impact 
Statement to the U.S. 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), or (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 Environmental 
Impact Statement. Scoping begins with this notice, continues through 
the public comment period (see DATES), and ends when the U.S. 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;
     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 U.S. Coast Guard will 
prepare a draft EIS, and in conjunction with the Maritime 
Administration, will publish a Federal Register notice announcing 
public availability of the draft EIS. (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, and then prepare the final EIS. As with the draft EIS, 
we will announce the availability of the final EIS, and once again give 
you an opportunity for review and comment.

Summary of the Application

    Liberty Natural Gas, LLC, proposes to own, construct, and operate a 
natural gas deepwater port, known as Liberty Deepwater Port. It would 
be located approximately 16 miles off the coast of New Jersey to the 
east of Asbury Park in a water depth of approximately 100 to 120 feet. 
It will connect via offshore pipeline to a 9.2 mile onshore pipeline 
that will traverse through Perth Amboy, Woodbridge and Carteret in 
Middlesex County, New Jersey and terminate in Linden, Union County, New 
Jersey.
    Liberty Deepwater Port would receive and transfer natural gas from 
purpose-built LNG regasification vessels (LNGRVs) with a total cargo 
tank capacity of approximately 145,000 m3. The vessels would 
be equipped to vaporize LNG cargo to natural gas through onboard closed 
loop vaporization systems and odorize and meter gas for send-out by 
means of a Submerged Turret Loading\TM\ (STL) Buoy system. When the 
vessels are not present, the buoy would be submerged on a special 
landing pad on the seafloor, 100-120 feet below the sea surface. The 
top of the buoy would be approximately 50-70 feet below the surface of 
the water.
    Liberty Deepwater Port would consist of up to four Submerged Turret 
Loading\TM\ (STL) Buoy systems. Each buoy system would connect to an 
18-inch diameter pipeline, called a Lateral, at a pipeline end manifold 
(PLEM) installed on the seafloor. The Laterals would be approximately 
0.6 miles to 1 mile in length. Natural gas would flow through each 
Lateral to the 36-inch diameter, 44.37 mile long Offshore Pipeline. The 
Offshore Pipeline would connect to a 36-inch diameter, 9.2 mile long 
Onshore Pipeline that would traverse through Perth Amboy, Woodbridge 
and Carteret in Middlesex County, New Jersey and terminate in Linden, 
Union County, New Jersey. The Onshore Pipeline would connect to Transco 
and TETCO pipeline systems.
    The Liberty Deepwater Port would be installed in two phases, with 
the first two Submerged Turret Loading\TM\ (STL) Buoy systems and 
accompanying onshore and offshore pipeline infrastructure proposed to 
be installed and operational by the end of 2013. The second phase, 
consisting of an additional pair of Submerged Turret Loading\TM\ (STL) 
Buoy systems and

[[Page 4419]]

associated Laterals, would be constructed at a later date.
    The Offshore Pipeline ultimately used by four STL Buoy systems will 
have a delivery capacity of approximately 2.4 billion cubic feet per 
day (bcf/d) of natural gas. Each LNGRV will have an average natural gas 
delivery capacity of 600 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) with a 
maximum capacity of 750 MMcf/d.
    Liberty Natural Gas LLC is currently seeking Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for the onshore pipelines. As 
required by FERC regulations, FERC will also maintain a docket for the 
FERC portion of the project. The docket number is CP11-10. The filing 
may also be viewed on the web at https://www.ferc.gov using the 
``eLibrary'' link. Choose ``General Search'' and enter the docket 
number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to 
access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at 
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call (866) 208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-
8659.
    In addition, pipelines and structures, such as the Submerged Turret 
Loading\TM\ (STL) Buoy systems, 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).
    Liberty Deepwater Port may 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 offshore and onshore pipelines 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. Also, these agencies may participate in the scoping 
meetings and will incorporate the EIS into their permitting processes. 
Comments sent to the FERC docket, or to the EPA, USACE, and/or other 
agencies will be incorporated into the DOT docket and considered as the 
EIS is developed to ensure consistency with the NEPA Process.
    Should a license be issued, construction of the deepwater port 
would be expected to take approximately 18 months over a two-year 
period with startup of commercial operations following construction. 
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 Federal 
Docket Management System can 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.). The DOT Privacy Act 
Statement can be viewed in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, pages 19477-78) or you may visit https://www.regulations.gov.

    Authority:  49 CFR 1.66.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: January 19, 2011.
Christine Gurland,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-1448 Filed 1-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.