Deepwater Port License Application: Delfin LNG LLC, Delfin LNG Deepwater Port, 45270-45274 [2015-18594]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Notices
County, Pa.; Consumptive Use of
Up to 4.999 mgd; Approval Date:
June 25, 2015.
69. EOG Resources, Inc., Pad ID: COP
Pad B, ABR–20100645.R1,
Lawrence Township, Clearfield
County, Pa.; Consumptive Use of
Up to 4.999 mgd; Approval Date:
June 25, 2015.
70. EOG Resources, Inc., Pad ID: PHC
Pad T, ABR–201009039.R1,
Lawrence Township, Clearfield
County, Pa.; Consumptive Use of
Up to 4.999 mgd; Approval Date:
June 25, 2015.
71. EXCO Resources (PA), LLC, Pad ID:
Falk Unit #1H, ABR–20090920.R1,
Penn Township, Lycoming County,
Pa.; Consumptive Use of Up to
5.000 mgd; Approval Date: June 25,
2015.
Authority: Pub. L. 91–575, 84 Stat. 1509 et
seq., 18 CFR parts 806, 807, and 808.
Dated: July 23, 2015.
Stephanie L. Richardson,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015–18521 Filed 7–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7040–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. MARAD–2015 0091]
Requested Administrative Waiver of
the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel
BLUEWATER; Invitation for Public
Comments
Maritime Administration,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice.
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.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
August 28, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to
docket number MARAD–2015–0091.
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
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SUMMARY:
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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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Williams, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Room W23–453,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202–
366–0903, Email Linda.Williams@
dot.gov.
As
described by the applicant the intended
service of the vessel BLUEWATER is:
Intended Commercial Use of Vessel:
‘‘Vessel will be used to carry passengers
for diving trips.’’
Geographic Region: ‘‘Michigan.’’
The complete application is given in
DOT docket MARAD–2015–0091 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, that the issuance of the waiver will
have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.vessel builder or a business that uses
U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a
waiver will not be granted. Comments
should refer to the docket number of
this notice and the vessel name in order
for MARAD to properly consider the
comments. Comments should also state
the commenter’s interest in the waiver
application, and address the waiver
criteria given in § 388.4 of MARAD’s
regulations at 46 CFR part 388.
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).
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Date: July 21, 2015.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015–18504 Filed 7–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. USCG–2015–0472]
Deepwater Port License Application:
Delfin LNG LLC, Delfin LNG Deepwater
Port
Maritime Administration,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public
meeting; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Maritime Administration
(MARAD), in coordination with the U.S.
Coast Guard (USCG), will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) as
part of the environmental review of the
Delfin LNG LLC (Delfin LNG) deepwater
port license application. The
application proposes the ownership,
construction, operation and eventual
decommissioning of an offshore
liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater
port export facility that would be
located in Federal waters within the
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) West
Cameron Area, West Addition
Protraction Area (Gulf of Mexico),
approximately 37.4 to 40.8 nautical
miles off the coast of Cameron Parish,
Louisiana, in water depths ranging from
approximately 64 to 72 feet (19.5 to 21.9
meters). The deepwater port would
consist of four semi-permanently
moored floating liquefaction natural gas
vessels (FLNGVs), and would reuse and
repurpose two existing offshore natural
gas pipelines: The former U–T
Operating System (UTOS) pipeline and
the High Island Operating System
(HIOS) pipeline (see Summary of the
Application for additional project
specifics).
The onshore components of the
proposed deepwater port would be
located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana
and would be reviewed by the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
under a separate authorization process
(see FERC Docket No. CP15–490–000;
80 FR 30226 (May 27, 2015)). The
onshore facility would consist of
reactivating approximately 1.1 miles of
the existing UTOS pipeline; the
addition of 74,000 horsepower of new
compression and associated metering
and regulation facilities; the installation
of new supply header pipelines (which
would consist of 0.25 miles of new 42inch pipeline to connect the former
UTOS line to the new meter station);
and 0.6 miles of new twin 30-inch
pipelines between Transco Station 44
and the new compressor station site.
Publication of this Notice of Intent
(NOI) begins a 30 day scoping process
that will help identify and determine
SUMMARY:
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the scope of environmental issues to be
addressed in the EIS. MARAD and the
USCG will consider both the Delfin LNG
deepwater port license application and
the FERC application to be included in
this review. For your convenience, we
have included the Delfin LNG
application to FERC under docket
number USCG–2015–0472. This NOI
requests public participation in the
scoping process, provides information
on how to participate and announces
informational open houses and public
meetings in Louisiana and Texas.
Pursuant to the criteria provided in the
Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as
amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (the
Act), both Louisiana and Texas are the
Adjacent Coastal States for this
application.
DATES: There will be two public scoping
meetings held in connection with the
application. The first public meeting
will be held in Lake Charles, Louisiana
on August 18, 2015, from 6 p.m. to 8
p.m. The second public meeting will be
held in Beaumont, Texas on August 19,
2015, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both public
meetings will be preceded by an
informational open house from 4 p.m. to
5:30 p.m.
Each of the public meetings may end
later than the stated time, depending on
the number of persons wishing to speak.
Additionally, materials submitted in
response to this request for comments
on the Delfin LNG deepwater port
license application must reach the
Federal Docket Management Facility as
detailed below by August 28, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The open house and public
meeting in Lake Charles, Louisiana will
be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center,
900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles,
Louisiana 70601, telephone: 337–491–
1256. The open house and public
meeting in Beaumont, Texas will be
held at the Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza,
3950 Walden Road, Beaumont, Texas
77705, telephone: 409–842–5995. Free
parking is available at both the Lake
Charles Civic Center and the Holiday
Inn Beaumont Plaza locations.
The public docket for USCG–2015–
0472 is maintained by the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket
Management Facility, West Building,
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590.
The Federal Docket Management
Facility accepts hand-delivered
submissions, and makes docket contents
available for public inspection and
copying at this address between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The Federal
Docket Management Facility’s telephone
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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. keyword
search ‘‘USCG–2015–0472’’.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Roddy Bachman, USCG, telephone:
202–372–1451, email:
Roddy.C.Bachman@uscg.mil, or Ms.
Yvette M. Fields, MARAD, telephone:
202–366–0926, email: Yvette.Fields@
dot.gov. For questions regarding viewing
the Docket, call Docket Operations,
telephone 202–366–9826.
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.
Speaker registrations will be available
at the door. Speakers at the public
scoping meetings will be recognized in
the following order: Elected officials,
public agencies, individuals or groups
in the sign-up order and then anyone
else who wishes to speak.
In order to allow everyone a chance
to speak at a public meeting, we may
limit speaker time, 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 Web site
(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, non-English
language translator services or other
reasonable accommodation, please
notify the USCG (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5
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
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issues related to the proposed
deepwater port. The public meeting is
not the only opportunity you have to
comment on the Delfin LNG deepwater
port license application. In addition to
or in place of attending a meeting, you
can submit comments directly to the
Federal Docket Management Facility
during the public comment period (see
DATES). We will consider all comments
and material received during the 30-day
scoping period. The license application,
comments and associated
documentation as well as the draft and
final EISs (when published) are
available for viewing at the Federal
Docket Management System (FDMS)
Web site: https://www.regulations.gov
under docket number USCG–2015–
0472.
Public comment submissions should
include:
• Docket number USCG–2015–0472.
• Your name and address.
Submit comments or material using
only one of the following methods:
• Electronically (preferred for
processing) to the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Web site:
https://www.regulations.gov under
docket number USCG–2015–0472.
• By mail to the Federal Docket
Management Facility (USCG–2015–
0472), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building, Ground
Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–
0001
• By personal delivery to the room
and address listed above between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
• By fax to the Federal Docket
Management Facility at 202–493–2251.
Faxed, mailed or hand delivered
submissions must be unbound, no larger
than 81⁄2 by 11 inches and suitable for
copying and electronic scanning. The
format of electronic submissions should
also be no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches.
If you mail your submission and want
to know when it reaches the Federal
Docket Management Facility, please
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
to the docket 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
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view docket submissions at the Federal
Docket Management Facility or
electronically on the FDMS Web site.
Background
Information about deepwater ports,
the statutes, and regulations governing
their licensing, including the
application review process, and the
receipt of the current application for the
proposed Delfin LNG deepwater port
appears in the July 16, 2015 edition of
the Federal Register. 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 impact
on the natural and human environment.
For the proposed deepwater port, USCG
and MARAD are the co-lead Federal
agencies for determining the scope of
this review, and in this case, it has been
determined that review must include
preparation of an EIS. This NOI is
required by 40 CFR 1501.7. It 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 EIS to the USCG project
manager identified in this notice (see
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), (2) proposed
deepwater port site alternatives or (3)
denying the application, which for
purposes of environmental review is the
‘‘no-action’’ alternative.
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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
USCG and MARAD have completed the
following actions:
• Invites the participation of Federal,
state, and local agencies, any affected
Indian tribe, the applicant, in this case
Delfin LNG, 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
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significant or that have been covered
elsewhere;
• Identifies other relevant permitting,
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,
USCG will prepare a draft EIS in
conjunction with MARAD. Also,
MARAD 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 USCG
project manager identified in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You
will have an opportunity to review and
comment on the draft EIS. USCG 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
and include final public hearings as
required by the Act.
Summary of the Application
Delfin LNG is proposing to construct,
own, operate, and eventually
decommission a deepwater port
(referred to hereafter as the Delfin
deepwater port) in the Gulf of Mexico to
liquefy domestically-sourced natural gas
for export to nations with which the
United States has a Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) and with non-FTA
nations.
The proposed Delfin deepwater port
has both onshore and offshore
components. As previously described,
the proposed Delfin deepwater port
would be located in Federal waters
within the OCS West Cameron Area,
West Addition Protraction Area (Gulf of
Mexico) approximately 37.4 to 40.8
nautical miles off the coast of Cameron
Parish, Louisiana, in water depths
ranging from approximately 64 to 72
feet (19.5 to 21.9 meters). The Delfin
deepwater port would consist of four
semi-permanently moored FLNGVs
located as follows: #1 (29°8′13.1″ N./
93°32′2.2″ W.), #2 (29°6′13.6″N./
93°32′42.4″ W.), #3 (29°6′40.7″ N./
93°30′10.1″ W.), and #4 (29°4′40.9″ N./
93°30′51.8″ W.) located in West
Cameron (WC) lease blocks 319, 327,
328, and 334, respectively. Delfin LNG
would reuse and repurpose two existing
offshore natural gas pipelines, the
former UTOS pipeline and the HIOS
pipeline. Four new 30-inch diameter
pipeline laterals, each approximately
6,400 feet in length, connecting the
HIOS pipeline to each of the FLNGVs,
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would be constructed. In addition, a
700-foot 42-inch diameter new pipeline
would be constructed to bypass a
platform at WC lease block 167 (WC
167) and connect the UTOS and HIOS
pipelines. Feed gas would be supplied
through the new pipeline laterals to
each of the FLNGVs where it would be
super cooled to produce LNG. The LNG
would be stored onboard the FLNGVs
and transferred via ship-to-ship transfer
to properly certified LNG trading
carriers. Each of the FLNGVs would be
semi-permanently moored to four new
weathervaning tower yoke mooring
systems (TYMS).
The onshore components in Cameron
Parish, Louisiana are described
specifically in an application submitted
to FERC. The onshore components of
the Delfin deepwater port will consist of
constructing and operating a new
natural gas compressor station, gas
supply header and a metering station at
an existing gas facility (see the FERC
Application referenced below). The
proposal would require: (1) Reactivation
of approximately 1.1 miles of existing
42-inch pipeline, formerly owned by
UTOS, which runs from
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company
Station No. 44 (Transco Station 44) to
the mean highwater mark along the
Cameron Parish Coast; (2) installation of
74,000 horsepower of new compression;
(3) construction of 0.25 miles of 42-inch
pipeline to connect the former UTOS
line to the new meter station; and (4)
construction of 0.6 miles of twin 30inch pipelines between Transco Station
44 and the new compressor station.
Onshore pipeline quality natural gas
from the interstate grid would be sent to
the existing, but currently idle, 42-inch
UTOS pipeline. The gas transported
through the UTOS pipeline would then
bypass the existing manifold platform
located at WC 167 via a newly installed
pipeline segment, 700 feet in length,
connecting to the existing 42-inch HIOS
pipeline.
The bypass of the WC 167 platform
would be trenched so that the top of the
pipe is a minimum of 3 feet below the
seafloor. From the bypass, the feed gas
would then be transported further
offshore using the HIOS pipeline
portion leased by Delfin LNG between
WC 167 and High Island A264. The
existing UTOS and HIOS pipelines
transect OCS Lease Blocks WC 314, 318,
319, 327, and 335, and would transport
feed gas from onshore to offshore (onedirectional flow). Delfin LNG proposes
to install four new lateral pipelines
along the HIOS pipeline, starting
approximately 16.0 nautical miles south
of the WC 167 platform. Each subsea
lateral pipeline would be 30 inches in
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diameter and approximately 6,400 feet
in length, extending from the HIOS
pipeline to the Delfin deepwater port.
The maximum allowable operating
pressure of the pipeline system (UTOS,
bypass, HIOS and laterals) would be
1,250 pounds per square inch gauge
(psig).
The FLNGVs would receive pipeline
quality natural gas via the laterals and
TYMS where it would be cooled
sufficiently to completely condense the
gas and produce LNG. The produced
LNG would be stored in International
Maritime Organization (IMO) type B,
prismatic, independent LNG storage
tanks aboard each of the FLNGVs. Each
vessel would have a total LNG storage
capacity of 165,000 cubic meters (m3).
An offloading mooring system would
be provided on each FLNGV to moor an
LNG trading carrier side-by-side for
cargo transfer of LNG through loading
arms or cryogenic hoses using ship-toship transfer procedures. LNG carriers
would be moored with pilot and tug
assist. The FLNGVs would be equipped
with fenders and quick-release hooks to
facilitate mooring operations. The
offloading system would be capable of
accommodating standard LNG trading
carriers with nominal cargo capacities
up to 170,000 m3. Delfin LNG estimates
that the typical LNG cargo transfer
operation would be carried out within
24 hours, including LNG trading carrier
berthing, cargo transfer and sail-away.
Approximately 31 LNG trading carriers
are expected to visit each of the four
FLNGVs per year for a total of up to 124
cargo transfer operations per year. Each
LNG trading carrier would be assisted
by up to three tugs during approach and
mooring and up to two tugs while
departing the Delfin deepwater port.
The FLNGVs would be self-propelled
vessels and have the ability to
disconnect from the TYMS and set sail
to avoid hurricanes or to facilitate
required inspections, maintenance and
repairs.
In the nominal design case, each of
the four FLNGVs would process
approximately 330 million standard
cubic feet per day (MMscfd), which
would total 1.32 billion standard cubic
feet per day (Bscf/d) of input feed gas
for all four of the FLNGVs. Based on an
estimated availability of 92 percent and
allowance for consumption of feed gas
during the liquefaction process, each
FLNGV would produce approximately
97.5 billion standard cubic feet per year
(Bscf/y) of gas (or approximately 2.0
million metric tonnes per annum
[MMtpa]) for export in the form of LNG.
Together, the four FLNGVs are designed
to have the capability to export 390.1
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Bscf/y of gas (or approximately 8.0
MMtpa) in the form of LNG.
As detailed engineering and
equipment specification advances
during the design process and operating
efficiencies are gained postcommissioning, the liquefaction process
could perform better than this nominal
design case. It is therefore anticipated
that LNG output, based on the high-side
design case of 375 MMscfd of input feed
gas, would be as much as approximately
110.8 Bscf/y of gas (or approximately
2.3 MMtpa) for each FLNGV. Taken
together, the four FLNGVs would be
capable of exporting the equivalent of
443.3 Bscf/y of natural gas in the form
of LNG. Therefore, Delfin LNG is
requesting authorization to construct
and operate facilities capable of
exporting up to 443.3 Bscf/y of natural
gas in the form of LNG (which equates
to approximately 9.2 MMtpa).
The proposed Delfin deepwater port
would take a modular implementation
approach to allow for early market entry
and accommodate market shifts.
Offshore construction activities are
proposed to begin at the end of first
quarter of 2018 and would be completed
in four stages, with each stage
corresponding to the commissioning
and operation of an FLNGV. The
anticipated commissioning of FLNGV 1
is the third quarter of 2019 with startup of commercial operation of FLNGV
1 by the end of 2019. It is anticipated
that FLNGVs 2 through 4 would be
commissioned 12 months apart.
Following this schedule and barring
unforeseen events, the Delfin deepwater
port would be completed and all four
FLNGVs would be fully operational by
the summer of 2022.
FERC Application
The onshore component and
nearshore pipeline component of the
proposed Delfin deepwater port falls
under the jurisdiction of and is
processed under a separate
authorization by FERC. On May 8, 2015,
Delfin LNG filed an application with
FERC to construct and operate the
onshore/nearshore components of the
proposed deepwater port. This
application was noticed on FERC’s
Docket: No. CP15–490–000 on May 20,
2015, and in the Federal Register Vol.
80, No. 101/Wednesday, May 27, 2015/
Notices. The following is an excerpt
from FERC’s Federal Register Notice:
Take notice that on May 8, 2015 Delfin
LNG LLC (Delfin LNG), 1100 Louisiana
Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket
No. CP15–490–000, an Application pursuant
to section 7(c) of the Commission’s
Regulations under the Natural Gas Act and
Parts 157 of the Federal Energy Regulatory
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Commission’s (Commission) regulations
requesting authorization to (1) reactivate
approximately 1.1 miles of existing 42-inch
pipeline formerly owned by U–T Offshore
System (UTOS), which runs from
Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company
Station No. 44 (Transco Station 44) to the
mean highwater mark along the Cameron
Parish Coast; (2) install 74,000 horsepower of
new compression; (3) construct 0.25 miles of
42-inch pipeline to connect the former UTOS
line to the new meter station; and (4)
construct 0.6 miles of twin 30-inch pipelines
between Transco Station 44 and the new
compressor station in Cameron Parrish,
Louisiana that comprise the onshore portion
of Delfin LNG’s proposed deepwater port
(DWP), an offshore liquefied natural gas
facility located off the coast of Louisiana in
the Gulf of Mexico, all as more fully set forth
in the application, which is on file with the
Commission and open to public inspection.
Additionally, Delfin LNG requests a blanket
construction certificate under Part 17,
Subpart F of the Commission’s regulations.
This filing may 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,
please contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@
ferc.gov or call toll-free (866) 208–3676 or
TYY, (202) 502–8659.
It is important to note that the
onshore facilities will connect with the
offshore deepwater port facilities which
are subject to the jurisdiction of
MARAD and USCG. As previously
discussed, Delfin LNG proposes to lease
a segment of pipeline from HIOS that
extends from the terminus of the UTOS
pipeline offshore. Delfin LNG states in
its application that HIOS will submit a
separate application with FERC seeking
authorization to abandon by lease its
facilities to Delfin LNG. Because the
review of the deepwater port proposal is
the jurisdiction of MARAD and USCG,
FERC has acknowledged receipt of the
Delfin LNG application, provided under
Docket No. CP15–490–000 on May 8,
2015; however, FERC will not begin
processing the Delfin LNG application
until such time that HIOS submits an
abandonment application to FERC for
review and processing. Accordingly,
although the USCG and MARAD will
commence review and processing of the
Delfin deepwater port license
application, upon the publication of this
Notice of Intent, MARAD and USCG
will not publish the draft EIS until
FERC has received an application for
abandonment of the HIOS pipeline and
has begun to process Delfin’s
application for the construction and
operation of the onshore components of
the proposed deepwater port.
Privacy Act
The electronic form of all comments
received into the FDMS can be searched
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 145 / Wednesday, July 29, 2015 / Notices
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 Department of Transportation
Privacy Act Statement can be viewed in
the Federal Register published on April
11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, pages
19477–78) or by visiting https://
www.regulations.gov.
(Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1501, et seq., 49 CFR
1.93(h)).
Dated: July 24, 2015.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015–18594 Filed 7–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–81–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Office of the Comptroller of
the Currency (OCC), Treasury; Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (Board); and Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
ACTION: Joint notice and request for
comment.
AGENCIES:
In accordance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, and the
FDIC (collectively, the agencies) may
not conduct or sponsor, and the
respondent is not required to respond
to, an information collection unless it
displays a currently valid Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) control
number. The Federal Financial
Institutions Examination Council
(FFIEC), of which the agencies are
members, has approved the agencies’
publication for public comment of a
proposal to extend, with revision, the
Foreign Branch Report of Condition
(FFIEC 030 and FFIEC 030S), which is
a currently approved information
collection for each agency. The
proposed changes would be effective for
the FFIEC 030 and FFIEC 030S reports
as of the December 31, 2015, report date.
At the end of the comment period, the
comments and recommendations
received will be analyzed to determine
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the extent to which the FFIEC and the
agencies should modify the proposed
revisions prior to giving final approval.
The agencies will then submit the
revisions to OMB for review and
approval.
Comments must be submitted on
or before September 28, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments to
any or all of the agencies. All comments,
which should refer to the OMB control
number, will be shared among the
agencies.
OCC: Because paper mail in the
Washington, DC, area and at the OCC is
subject to delay, commenters are
encouraged to submit comments by
email, if possible. Comments may be
sent to: Legislative and Regulatory
Activities Division, Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency, Attention:
1557–0099, 400 7th Street SW., Suite
3E–218, Mail Stop 9W–11, Washington,
DC 20219. In addition, comments may
be sent by fax to (571) 465–4326 or by
electronic mail to prainfo@occ.treas.gov.
You may personally inspect and
photocopy comments at the OCC, 400
7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.
For security reasons, the OCC requires
that visitors make an appointment to
inspect comments. You may do so by
calling (202) 649–6700. Upon arrival,
visitors will be required to present valid
government-issued photo identification
and submit to security screening in
order to inspect and photocopy
comments.
All comments received, including
attachments and other supporting
materials, are part of the public record
and subject to public disclosure. Do not
include any information in your
comment or supporting materials that
you consider confidential or
inappropriate for public disclosure.
Board: You may submit comments,
identified by FFIEC 030 or FFIEC 030S,
by any of the following methods:
• Agency Web site: https://
www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments at:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/
generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: regs.comments@
federalreserve.gov. Include reporting
form number in the subject line of the
message.
• FAX: (202) 452–3819 or (202) 452–
3102.
• Mail: Robert DeV. Frierson,
Secretary, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20551.
All public comments are available
from the Board’s Web site at
www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/
foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted,
unless modified for technical reasons.
Accordingly, your comments will not be
edited to remove any identifying or
contact information. Public comments
may also be viewed electronically or in
paper in Room MP–500 of the Board’s
Martin Building (20th and C Streets
NW.) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
on weekdays.
FDIC: You may submit comments,
which should refer to ‘‘Foreign Branch
Report of Condition, 3064–0011,’’ by
any of the following methods:
• Agency Web site: https://
www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/
propose.html. Follow the instructions
for submitting comments on the FDIC’s
Web site.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: comments@FDIC.gov.
Include ‘‘FFIEC 030 and FFIEC 030S’’ in
the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Gary A. Kuiper, Counsel,
Attn: Comments, Room MB–3074,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
550 17th Street NW., Washington, DC
20429.
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be
hand delivered to the guard station at
the rear of the 550 17th Street Building
(located on F Street) on business days
between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Public Inspection: All comments
received will be posted without change
to https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/
federal/propose.html including any
personal information provided.
Comments may be inspected at the FDIC
Public Information Center, Room E–
1002, 3501 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA
22226, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
on business days.
Additionally, commenters may send a
copy of their comments to the OMB
desk officer for the agencies by mail to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, U.S. Office of Management and
Budget, New Executive Office Building,
Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20503; by fax to (202)
395–6974; or by email to oira_
submission@omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information about the revisions
discussed in this notice, please contact
any of the agency clearance officers
whose names appear below. In addition,
copies of the report forms can be
obtained at the FFIEC’s Web site
(https://www.ffiec.gov/ffiec_report_
forms.htm).
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45270-45274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18594]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. USCG-2015-0472]
Deepwater Port License Application: Delfin LNG LLC, Delfin LNG
Deepwater Port
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD), in coordination with the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), will prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS) as part of the environmental review of the Delfin LNG LLC (Delfin
LNG) deepwater port license application. The application proposes the
ownership, construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of an
offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port export facility
that would be located in Federal waters within the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) West Cameron Area, West Addition Protraction Area (Gulf of
Mexico), approximately 37.4 to 40.8 nautical miles off the coast of
Cameron Parish, Louisiana, in water depths ranging from approximately
64 to 72 feet (19.5 to 21.9 meters). The deepwater port would consist
of four semi-permanently moored floating liquefaction natural gas
vessels (FLNGVs), and would reuse and repurpose two existing offshore
natural gas pipelines: The former U-T Operating System (UTOS) pipeline
and the High Island Operating System (HIOS) pipeline (see Summary of
the Application for additional project specifics).
The onshore components of the proposed deepwater port would be
located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and would be reviewed by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under a separate
authorization process (see FERC Docket No. CP15-490-000; 80 FR 30226
(May 27, 2015)). The onshore facility would consist of reactivating
approximately 1.1 miles of the existing UTOS pipeline; the addition of
74,000 horsepower of new compression and associated metering and
regulation facilities; the installation of new supply header pipelines
(which would consist of 0.25 miles of new 42-inch pipeline to connect
the former UTOS line to the new meter station); and 0.6 miles of new
twin 30-inch pipelines between Transco Station 44 and the new
compressor station site. Publication of this Notice of Intent (NOI)
begins a 30 day scoping process that will help identify and determine
[[Page 45271]]
the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. MARAD and
the USCG will consider both the Delfin LNG deepwater port license
application and the FERC application to be included in this review. For
your convenience, we have included the Delfin LNG application to FERC
under docket number USCG-2015-0472. This NOI requests public
participation in the scoping process, provides information on how to
participate and announces informational open houses and public meetings
in Louisiana and Texas. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the
Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (the
Act), both Louisiana and Texas are the Adjacent Coastal States for this
application.
DATES: There will be two public scoping meetings held in connection
with the application. The first public meeting will be held in Lake
Charles, Louisiana on August 18, 2015, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The second
public meeting will be held in Beaumont, Texas on August 19, 2015, from
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both public meetings will be preceded by an
informational open house from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Each of the public meetings may end later than the stated time,
depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. Additionally,
materials submitted in response to this request for comments on the
Delfin LNG deepwater port license application must reach the Federal
Docket Management Facility as detailed below by August 28, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The open house and public meeting in Lake Charles, Louisiana
will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive,
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601, telephone: 337-491-1256. The open house
and public meeting in Beaumont, Texas will be held at the Holiday Inn
Beaumont Plaza, 3950 Walden Road, Beaumont, Texas 77705, telephone:
409-842-5995. Free parking is available at both the Lake Charles Civic
Center and the Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza locations.
The public docket for USCG-2015-0472 is maintained by the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
The Federal Docket Management Facility accepts hand-delivered
submissions, and makes docket contents available for public inspection
and copying at this address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Federal Docket Management
Facility's 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. keyword search
``USCG-2015-0472''.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roddy Bachman, USCG, telephone:
202-372-1451, email: Roddy.C.Bachman@uscg.mil, or Ms. Yvette M. Fields,
MARAD, telephone: 202-366-0926, email: Yvette.Fields@dot.gov. For
questions regarding viewing the Docket, call Docket Operations,
telephone 202-366-9826.
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.
Speaker registrations will be available at the door. Speakers at
the public scoping meetings will be recognized in the following order:
Elected officials, public agencies, individuals or groups in the sign-
up order and then anyone else who wishes to speak.
In order to allow everyone a chance to speak at a public meeting,
we may limit speaker time, 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 Web site (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, non-English language translator
services or other reasonable accommodation, please notify the USCG (see
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 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 on the Delfin
LNG deepwater port license application. In addition to or in place of
attending a meeting, you can submit comments directly to the Federal
Docket Management Facility during the public comment period (see
DATES). We will consider all comments and material received during the
30-day scoping period. The license application, comments and associated
documentation as well as the draft and final EISs (when published) are
available for viewing at the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)
Web site: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number USCG-2015-
0472.
Public comment submissions should include:
Docket number USCG-2015-0472.
Your name and address.
Submit comments or material using only one of the following
methods:
Electronically (preferred for processing) to the Federal
Docket Management System (FDMS) Web site: https://www.regulations.gov
under docket number USCG-2015-0472.
By mail to the Federal Docket Management Facility (USCG-
2015-0472), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-
0001
By personal delivery to the room and address listed above
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
By fax to the Federal Docket Management Facility at 202-
493-2251.
Faxed, mailed or hand delivered submissions must be unbound, no
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches and suitable for copying and electronic
scanning. The format of electronic submissions should also be no larger
than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches. If you mail your submission and want to know
when it reaches the Federal Docket Management Facility, please 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 to the docket 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
[[Page 45272]]
view docket submissions at the Federal Docket Management Facility or
electronically on the FDMS Web site.
Background
Information about deepwater ports, the statutes, and regulations
governing their licensing, including the application review process,
and the receipt of the current application for the proposed Delfin LNG
deepwater port appears in the July 16, 2015 edition of the Federal
Register. 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 impact on the natural and human
environment. For the proposed deepwater port, USCG and MARAD are the
co-lead Federal agencies for determining the scope of this review, and
in this case, it has been determined that review must include
preparation of an EIS. This NOI is required by 40 CFR 1501.7. It
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 EIS to the USCG project
manager identified in this notice (see 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), (2) proposed deepwater port site
alternatives or (3) 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 USCG and MARAD have completed the following
actions:
Invites the participation of Federal, state, and local
agencies, any affected Indian tribe, the applicant, in this case Delfin
LNG, 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;
Identifies other relevant permitting, 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, USCG will prepare a draft EIS
in conjunction with MARAD. Also, MARAD 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 USCG project manager
identified in For Further Information Contact). You will have an
opportunity to review and comment on the draft EIS. USCG 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 and include final public
hearings as required by the Act.
Summary of the Application
Delfin LNG is proposing to construct, own, operate, and eventually
decommission a deepwater port (referred to hereafter as the Delfin
deepwater port) in the Gulf of Mexico to liquefy domestically-sourced
natural gas for export to nations with which the United States has a
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and with non-FTA nations.
The proposed Delfin deepwater port has both onshore and offshore
components. As previously described, the proposed Delfin deepwater port
would be located in Federal waters within the OCS West Cameron Area,
West Addition Protraction Area (Gulf of Mexico) approximately 37.4 to
40.8 nautical miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, in
water depths ranging from approximately 64 to 72 feet (19.5 to 21.9
meters). The Delfin deepwater port would consist of four semi-
permanently moored FLNGVs located as follows: #1 (29[deg]8'13.1'' N./
93[deg]32'2.2'' W.), #2 (29[deg]6'13.6''N./93[deg]32'42.4'' W.), #3
(29[deg]6'40.7'' N./93[deg]30'10.1'' W.), and #4 (29[deg]4'40.9'' N./
93[deg]30'51.8'' W.) located in West Cameron (WC) lease blocks 319,
327, 328, and 334, respectively. Delfin LNG would reuse and repurpose
two existing offshore natural gas pipelines, the former UTOS pipeline
and the HIOS pipeline. Four new 30-inch diameter pipeline laterals,
each approximately 6,400 feet in length, connecting the HIOS pipeline
to each of the FLNGVs, would be constructed. In addition, a 700-foot
42-inch diameter new pipeline would be constructed to bypass a platform
at WC lease block 167 (WC 167) and connect the UTOS and HIOS pipelines.
Feed gas would be supplied through the new pipeline laterals to each of
the FLNGVs where it would be super cooled to produce LNG. The LNG would
be stored onboard the FLNGVs and transferred via ship-to-ship transfer
to properly certified LNG trading carriers. Each of the FLNGVs would be
semi-permanently moored to four new weathervaning tower yoke mooring
systems (TYMS).
The onshore components in Cameron Parish, Louisiana are described
specifically in an application submitted to FERC. The onshore
components of the Delfin deepwater port will consist of constructing
and operating a new natural gas compressor station, gas supply header
and a metering station at an existing gas facility (see the FERC
Application referenced below). The proposal would require: (1)
Reactivation of approximately 1.1 miles of existing 42-inch pipeline,
formerly owned by UTOS, which runs from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline
Company Station No. 44 (Transco Station 44) to the mean highwater mark
along the Cameron Parish Coast; (2) installation of 74,000 horsepower
of new compression; (3) construction of 0.25 miles of 42-inch pipeline
to connect the former UTOS line to the new meter station; and (4)
construction of 0.6 miles of twin 30-inch pipelines between Transco
Station 44 and the new compressor station.
Onshore pipeline quality natural gas from the interstate grid would
be sent to the existing, but currently idle, 42-inch UTOS pipeline. The
gas transported through the UTOS pipeline would then bypass the
existing manifold platform located at WC 167 via a newly installed
pipeline segment, 700 feet in length, connecting to the existing 42-
inch HIOS pipeline.
The bypass of the WC 167 platform would be trenched so that the top
of the pipe is a minimum of 3 feet below the seafloor. From the bypass,
the feed gas would then be transported further offshore using the HIOS
pipeline portion leased by Delfin LNG between WC 167 and High Island
A264. The existing UTOS and HIOS pipelines transect OCS Lease Blocks WC
314, 318, 319, 327, and 335, and would transport feed gas from onshore
to offshore (one-directional flow). Delfin LNG proposes to install four
new lateral pipelines along the HIOS pipeline, starting approximately
16.0 nautical miles south of the WC 167 platform. Each subsea lateral
pipeline would be 30 inches in
[[Page 45273]]
diameter and approximately 6,400 feet in length, extending from the
HIOS pipeline to the Delfin deepwater port. The maximum allowable
operating pressure of the pipeline system (UTOS, bypass, HIOS and
laterals) would be 1,250 pounds per square inch gauge (psig).
The FLNGVs would receive pipeline quality natural gas via the
laterals and TYMS where it would be cooled sufficiently to completely
condense the gas and produce LNG. The produced LNG would be stored in
International Maritime Organization (IMO) type B, prismatic,
independent LNG storage tanks aboard each of the FLNGVs. Each vessel
would have a total LNG storage capacity of 165,000 cubic meters (m\3\).
An offloading mooring system would be provided on each FLNGV to
moor an LNG trading carrier side-by-side for cargo transfer of LNG
through loading arms or cryogenic hoses using ship-to-ship transfer
procedures. LNG carriers would be moored with pilot and tug assist. The
FLNGVs would be equipped with fenders and quick-release hooks to
facilitate mooring operations. The offloading system would be capable
of accommodating standard LNG trading carriers with nominal cargo
capacities up to 170,000 m\3\. Delfin LNG estimates that the typical
LNG cargo transfer operation would be carried out within 24 hours,
including LNG trading carrier berthing, cargo transfer and sail-away.
Approximately 31 LNG trading carriers are expected to visit each of the
four FLNGVs per year for a total of up to 124 cargo transfer operations
per year. Each LNG trading carrier would be assisted by up to three
tugs during approach and mooring and up to two tugs while departing the
Delfin deepwater port.
The FLNGVs would be self-propelled vessels and have the ability to
disconnect from the TYMS and set sail to avoid hurricanes or to
facilitate required inspections, maintenance and repairs.
In the nominal design case, each of the four FLNGVs would process
approximately 330 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd), which
would total 1.32 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d) of input
feed gas for all four of the FLNGVs. Based on an estimated availability
of 92 percent and allowance for consumption of feed gas during the
liquefaction process, each FLNGV would produce approximately 97.5
billion standard cubic feet per year (Bscf/y) of gas (or approximately
2.0 million metric tonnes per annum [MMtpa]) for export in the form of
LNG. Together, the four FLNGVs are designed to have the capability to
export 390.1 Bscf/y of gas (or approximately 8.0 MMtpa) in the form of
LNG.
As detailed engineering and equipment specification advances during
the design process and operating efficiencies are gained post-
commissioning, the liquefaction process could perform better than this
nominal design case. It is therefore anticipated that LNG output, based
on the high-side design case of 375 MMscfd of input feed gas, would be
as much as approximately 110.8 Bscf/y of gas (or approximately 2.3
MMtpa) for each FLNGV. Taken together, the four FLNGVs would be capable
of exporting the equivalent of 443.3 Bscf/y of natural gas in the form
of LNG. Therefore, Delfin LNG is requesting authorization to construct
and operate facilities capable of exporting up to 443.3 Bscf/y of
natural gas in the form of LNG (which equates to approximately 9.2
MMtpa).
The proposed Delfin deepwater port would take a modular
implementation approach to allow for early market entry and accommodate
market shifts. Offshore construction activities are proposed to begin
at the end of first quarter of 2018 and would be completed in four
stages, with each stage corresponding to the commissioning and
operation of an FLNGV. The anticipated commissioning of FLNGV 1 is the
third quarter of 2019 with start-up of commercial operation of FLNGV 1
by the end of 2019. It is anticipated that FLNGVs 2 through 4 would be
commissioned 12 months apart. Following this schedule and barring
unforeseen events, the Delfin deepwater port would be completed and all
four FLNGVs would be fully operational by the summer of 2022.
FERC Application
The onshore component and nearshore pipeline component of the
proposed Delfin deepwater port falls under the jurisdiction of and is
processed under a separate authorization by FERC. On May 8, 2015,
Delfin LNG filed an application with FERC to construct and operate the
onshore/nearshore components of the proposed deepwater port. This
application was noticed on FERC's Docket: No. CP15-490-000 on May 20,
2015, and in the Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 101/Wednesday, May 27,
2015/Notices. The following is an excerpt from FERC's Federal Register
Notice:
Take notice that on May 8, 2015 Delfin LNG LLC (Delfin LNG),
1100 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, filed in Docket No.
CP15-490-000, an Application pursuant to section 7(c) of the
Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act and Parts 157 of
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations
requesting authorization to (1) reactivate approximately 1.1 miles
of existing 42-inch pipeline formerly owned by U-T Offshore System
(UTOS), which runs from Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company
Station No. 44 (Transco Station 44) to the mean highwater mark along
the Cameron Parish Coast; (2) install 74,000 horsepower of new
compression; (3) construct 0.25 miles of 42-inch pipeline to connect
the former UTOS line to the new meter station; and (4) construct 0.6
miles of twin 30-inch pipelines between Transco Station 44 and the
new compressor station in Cameron Parrish, Louisiana that comprise
the onshore portion of Delfin LNG's proposed deepwater port (DWP),
an offshore liquefied natural gas facility located off the coast of
Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, all as more fully set forth in the
application, which is on file with the Commission and open to public
inspection. Additionally, Delfin LNG requests a blanket construction
certificate under Part 17, Subpart F of the Commission's
regulations. This filing may 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, please contact FERC at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free (866) 208-3676 or TYY,
(202) 502-8659.
It is important to note that the onshore facilities will connect
with the offshore deepwater port facilities which are subject to the
jurisdiction of MARAD and USCG. As previously discussed, Delfin LNG
proposes to lease a segment of pipeline from HIOS that extends from the
terminus of the UTOS pipeline offshore. Delfin LNG states in its
application that HIOS will submit a separate application with FERC
seeking authorization to abandon by lease its facilities to Delfin LNG.
Because the review of the deepwater port proposal is the jurisdiction
of MARAD and USCG, FERC has acknowledged receipt of the Delfin LNG
application, provided under Docket No. CP15-490-000 on May 8, 2015;
however, FERC will not begin processing the Delfin LNG application
until such time that HIOS submits an abandonment application to FERC
for review and processing. Accordingly, although the USCG and MARAD
will commence review and processing of the Delfin deepwater port
license application, upon the publication of this Notice of Intent,
MARAD and USCG will not publish the draft EIS until FERC has received
an application for abandonment of the HIOS pipeline and has begun to
process Delfin's application for the construction and operation of the
onshore components of the proposed deepwater port.
Privacy Act
The electronic form of all comments received into the FDMS can be
searched
[[Page 45274]]
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 Department of Transportation Privacy Act Statement
can be viewed in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000
(Volume 65, Number 70, pages 19477-78) or by visiting https://www.regulations.gov.
(Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1501, et seq., 49 CFR 1.93(h)).
Dated: July 24, 2015.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-18594 Filed 7-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
