Certification Notice-247; Notice of Filing of Self-Certification of Coal Capability Under the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, 20331-20332 [2017-08737]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Notices
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
impacts on cultural resources or eligible
historic properties; (5) presence of
known contamination due to industrial
activities; (6) presence of natural visual
screening; and (7) accessibility. For each
of the three proposed compressor
stations and their proposed sites, the
EIS determined the alternative either
offered no significant environmental
advantage or would have a more
substantial impact on wetlands
compared to the proposed site.
Regarding the associated aboveground
facilities for the pipeline expansion, the
proposed aboveground facilities were all
within the existing GPPL pipeline rightof-way. As a result, the EIS did not
identify any environmental concerns
that indicated the need to evaluate
alternative sites.
For alternative sites for pipe storage
and contractor yard, the EIS considered
one alternative to the proposed site. The
alternative site consisted of land with
varying commercial/industrial and
agricultural uses. If the alternative site
was selected, the agricultural use would
be displaced. The proposed site, in
comparison, is already previously
distributed industrial-use land used for
the construction of the existing GPPL
pipeline. As a result, the alternative site
did not offer a significant environmental
advantage over the proposed site.
Finally, the EIS included an
alternative compressor station design.
Instead of the proposed gas-fired
compressors, the alternative design
evaluated the use of electric-powered
compressors. When comparing the two
designs, the EIS focused on the issue of
additional infrastructure needed to
power the electric-power compressor
stations. Use of electricity would require
each station to install varying lengths of
distribution lines to the compressor
stations and a substation and/or switch
station to meet power requirements.
Additionally, the electrical power could
come from existing electrical generation
plants with varying fuel uses. However,
overall emissions reductions resulting
from the use of electric-powered versus
gas-powered compressor stations will
vary depending on the fuel used. As a
result, the EIS concluded the alternative
did not offer a significant environmental
advantage over the proposed
compressor station design.
Environmentally Preferred Alternative
When compared against the other
action alternatives assessed in the EIS,
as discussed above, the proposed GPP
Export Project and Pipeline Expansion
Project are the environmentally
preferred alternatives. While the NoAction Alternative would avoid the
environmental impacts identified in the
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EIS, adoption of this alternative would
not meet the GPP Export Project and
Pipeline Expansion Project objectives.
environmental harm from the GPP
Export Project have been adopted.
Decision
DOE prepared this Floodplain
Statement of Findings in accordance
with DOE’s regulations, entitled
‘‘Compliance with Floodplain and
Wetland Environmental Review
Requirements’’ (10 CFR part 1022). The
required floodplain assessment was
conducted during development and
preparation of the EIS (see Section
4.1.4.1 of the EIS). The EIS determined
that the proposed Golden Pass LNG
export terminal site is within the 100year floodplain, as are some portions of
the pipeline expansion facilities and
one compressor station. While the
placement of these facilities within
floodplains would be unavoidable, DOE
has determined that the current design
for the GPP Export Project minimizes
floodplain impacts to the extent
practicable.
DOE has decided to issue Order No.
3978 authorizing GPP to export
domestically produced LNG by vessel
from the GPP Export Project located
near Sabine Pass, Jefferson County,
Texas to non-FTA countries, in a
volume up to the equivalent to 808 Bcf/
yr of natural gas for a term of 20 years
to commence on the earlier of the date
of first commercial export or seven years
from the date that the Order is issued.
Concurrently with this Record of
Decision, DOE is issuing Order No.
3978, in which it finds that the
requested authorization has not been
shown to be inconsistent with the
public interest, and that the Application
should be granted subject to compliance
with the terms and conditions set forth
in the Order, including the 83
environmental conditions
recommended in the EIS and adopted in
the FERC Order at Appendix A.
Additionally, this authorization is
conditioned on GPP’s compliance with
any other mitigation measures imposed
by other federal or state agencies.
Floodplain Statement of Findings
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 25,
2017.
Douglas W. Hollett,
Assistant Secretary (Acting), Office of Fossil
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2017–08744 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
Basis of Decision
DOE’s decision is based upon the
analysis of potential environmental
impacts presented in the EIS, and DOE’s
determination in Order No. 3978 that
the opponents of GPP’s Application
have failed to overcome the statutory
presumption that the proposed export
authorization is not inconsistent with
the public interest. Although not
required by NEPA, DOE/FE also
considered the Addendum, which
summarizes available information on
potential upstream impacts associated
with unconventional natural gas
activities, such as hydraulic fracturing.
Mitigation
As a condition of its decision to issue
Order No. 3978 authorizing GPP to
export LNG to non-FTA countries, DOE
is imposing requirements that will avoid
or minimize the environmental impacts
of the GPP Export Project. These
conditions include the 83
environmental conditions
recommended in the EIS and adopted in
the FERC Order at Appendix A.
Mitigation measures beyond those
included in Order No. 3978 that are
enforceable by other Federal and state
agencies are additional conditions of
Order No. 3978. With these conditions,
DOE/FE has determined that all
practicable means to avoid or minimize
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Certification Notice—247; Notice of
Filing of Self-Certification of Coal
Capability Under the Powerplant and
Industrial Fuel Use Act
Office of Electricity Delivery
and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of filing.
AGENCY:
On March 31, 2017, PSEG
Power, LLC, as owner and operator of a
new baseload electric generating
powerplant, submitted a coal capability
self-certification to the Department of
Energy (DOE) pursuant to § 201(d) of the
Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act
of 1978 (FUA), as amended, and DOE
regulations. The FUA and regulations
thereunder require DOE to publish a
notice of filing of self-certification in the
Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of coal capability
self-certification filings are available for
public inspection, upon request, in the
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability, Mail Code OE–20, Room
8G–024, Forrestal Building, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christopher Lawrence at (202) 586–
5260.
SUMMARY:
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20332
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Notices
Title II of
FUA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 8301 et
seq.), provides that no new base load
electric powerplant may be constructed
or operated without the capability to use
coal or another alternate fuel as a
primary energy source. Pursuant to the
FUA, in order to meet the requirement
of coal capability, the owner or operator
of such a facility proposing to use
natural gas or petroleum as its primary
energy source shall certify to the
Secretary of Energy (Secretary) prior to
construction, or prior to operation as a
base load electric powerplant, that such
powerplant has the capability to use
coal or another alternate fuel. Such
certification establishes compliance
with FUA section 201(a) as of the date
it is filed with the Secretary. 42 U.S.C.
8311.
The following owner of a proposed
new baseload electric generating
powerplant has filed a self-certification
of coal-capability with DOE pursuant to
FUA section 201(d) and in accordance
with DOE regulations in 10 CFR 501.60,
61:
Owner: PSEG Power, LLC
Capacity: 540 megawatts (MW)
Plant Location: PSEG Fossil Sewaren
Generating Station, Sewaren, NJ
In-Service Date: April 2018
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11,
2017.
Brian Mills,
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2017–08737 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[OE Docket No. EA–328–B]
Application To Export Electric Energy;
RBC Energy Services LP
Office of Electricity Delivery
and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of application.
AGENCY:
RBC Energy Services LP
(Applicant or RBC Energy) has applied
to renew its authority to transmit
electric energy from the United States to
Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the
Federal Power Act.
DATES: Comments, protests, or motions
to intervene must be submitted on or
before May 31, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests,
motions to intervene, or requests for
more information should be addressed
to: Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability, Mail Code: OE–20,
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Washington, DC 20585–0350. Because
of delays in handling conventional mail,
it is recommended that documents be
transmitted by overnight mail, by
electronic mail to Electricity.Exports@
hq.doe.gov, or by facsimile to 202–586–
8008.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of
electricity from the United States to a
foreign country are regulated by the
Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to
sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the
Department of Energy Organization Act
(42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require
authorization under section 202(e) of
the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C.
824a(e)).
On September 28, 2012, DOE issued
Order No. EA–328–A to RBC Energy,
which authorized the Applicant to
transmit electric energy from the United
States to Canada as a power marketer for
a five-year term using existing
international transmission facilities.
That authority expires on September 26,
2017. On March 24, 2017, RBC Energy
filed an application with DOE for
renewal of the export authority
contained in Order No. EA–328 for an
additional five-year term.
In its application, RBC Energy states
that it does not own or operate any
electric generation or transmission
facilities, and it does not have a
franchised service area. The electric
energy that RBC Energy proposes to
export to Canada would be surplus
energy purchased from third parties
such as electric utilities and Federal
power marketing agencies pursuant to
voluntary agreements. The existing
international transmission facilities to
be utilized by RBC Energy have
previously been authorized by
Presidential Permits issued pursuant to
Executive Order 10485, as amended,
and are appropriate for open access
transmission by third parties.
Procedural Matters: Any person
desiring to be heard in this proceeding
should file a comment or protest to the
application at the address provided
above. Protests should be filed in
accordance with Rule 211 of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC)
Rules of Practice and Procedures (18
CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to
become a party to these proceedings
should file a motion to intervene at the
above address in accordance with FERC
Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Five copies
of such comments, protests, or motions
to intervene should be sent to the
address provided above on or before the
date listed above.
Comments and other filings
concerning RBC Energy’s application to
export electric energy to Canada should
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be clearly marked with OE Docket No.
EA–328–B. An additional copy is to be
provided directly to both Chantal
Marchese, Royal Bank of Canada, 200
Bay Street, 30th Floor, North Tower,
Toronto, Ontario Canada M5J 2J5 and
Marcus Chun, RBC Capital Markets, 200
Bay Street, 9th Floor, South Tower,
Toronto, Ontario Canada M5J 2J2.
A final decision will be made on this
application after the environmental
impacts have been evaluated pursuant
to DOE’s National Environmental Policy
Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR
part 1021) and after a determination is
made by DOE that the proposed action
will not have an adverse impact on the
sufficiency of supply or reliability of the
U.S. electric power supply system.
Copies of this application will be
made available, upon request, for public
inspection and copying at the address
provided above, by accessing the
program Web site at https://energy.gov/
node/11845, or by emailing Angela Troy
at Angela.Troy@hq.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11,
2017.
Brian Mills,
Senior Planning Advisor, Office of Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2017–08735 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Extension
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The Department of Energy’s
(DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy (EERE), pursuant to
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
intends to extend for three years with
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), the EERE Environmental
Questionnaire (OMB No. 1910–5175).
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of DOE, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
DOE’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 82 (Monday, May 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20331-20332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08737]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Certification Notice--247; Notice of Filing of Self-Certification
of Coal Capability Under the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of filing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On March 31, 2017, PSEG Power, LLC, as owner and operator of a
new baseload electric generating powerplant, submitted a coal
capability self-certification to the Department of Energy (DOE)
pursuant to Sec. 201(d) of the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act
of 1978 (FUA), as amended, and DOE regulations. The FUA and regulations
thereunder require DOE to publish a notice of filing of self-
certification in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of coal capability self-certification filings are
available for public inspection, upon request, in the Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Mail Code OE-20, Room 8G-
024, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Lawrence at (202) 586-
5260.
[[Page 20332]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title II of FUA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 8301
et seq.), provides that no new base load electric powerplant may be
constructed or operated without the capability to use coal or another
alternate fuel as a primary energy source. Pursuant to the FUA, in
order to meet the requirement of coal capability, the owner or operator
of such a facility proposing to use natural gas or petroleum as its
primary energy source shall certify to the Secretary of Energy
(Secretary) prior to construction, or prior to operation as a base load
electric powerplant, that such powerplant has the capability to use
coal or another alternate fuel. Such certification establishes
compliance with FUA section 201(a) as of the date it is filed with the
Secretary. 42 U.S.C. 8311.
The following owner of a proposed new baseload electric generating
powerplant has filed a self-certification of coal-capability with DOE
pursuant to FUA section 201(d) and in accordance with DOE regulations
in 10 CFR 501.60, 61:
Owner: PSEG Power, LLC
Capacity: 540 megawatts (MW)
Plant Location: PSEG Fossil Sewaren Generating Station, Sewaren, NJ
In-Service Date: April 2018
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 11, 2017.
Brian Mills,
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2017-08737 Filed 4-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
