Deepwater Port License Application: West Delta LNG LLC, 53218-53221 [2019-21567]

Download as PDF 53218 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 193 / Friday, October 4, 2019 / Notices khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES include the applicant’s knowledge of and expertise in international trade issues as relevant to the work of the TEPAC and USTR. USTR anticipates that almost all TEPAC members will serve in a representative capacity with a limited number serving in an individual capacity as subject matter experts. These members, known as special government employees, are subject to conflict of interest rules and will have to complete a financial disclosure report. III. Request for Nominations USTR is soliciting nominations for membership on the TEPAC. To apply for membership, an applicant must meet the following eligibility criteria: 1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen. 2. The applicant cannot be a full-time employee of a U.S. governmental entity. 3. If serving in an individual capacity, the applicant cannot be a federally registered lobbyist. 4. The applicant cannot be registered with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. 5. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. 6. For representative members, who will comprise the overwhelming majority of the TEPAC, the applicant must represent a U.S. organization whose members (or funders) have a demonstrated interest in issues relevant to trade and the environment or have personal experience or expertise in trade and the environment. 7. For eligibility purposes, a ‘‘U.S. organization’’ is an organization established under the laws of the United States, that is controlled by U.S. citizens, by another U.S. organization (or organizations), or by a U.S. entity (or entities), determined based on its board of directors (or comparable governing body), membership, and funding sources, as applicable. To qualify as a U.S. organization, more than 50 percent of the board of directors (or comparable governing body) and more than 50 percent of the membership of the organization to be represented must be U.S. citizens, U.S. organizations, or U.S. entities. Additionally, at least 50 percent of the organization’s annual revenue must be attributable to nongovernmental U.S. sources. 8. For members who will serve in an individual capacity, the applicant must possess subject matter expertise regarding international trade and environmental issues. In order to be considered for TEPAC membership, interested persons should VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:49 Oct 03, 2019 Jkt 250001 submit the following to Molly Foley, Molly.L.Foley@ustr.eop.gov: • Name, title, affiliation, and contact information of the individual requesting consideration. • If applicable, a sponsor letter on the organization’s letterhead containing a brief description of the manner in which international trade affects the organization and why USTR should consider the applicant for membership. • The applicant’s personal resume. • An affirmative statement that the applicant and the organization he or she represents meet all eligibility requirements. USTR will consider applicants who meet the eligibility criteria based on the following factors: Ability to represent the sponsoring U.S. entity’s or U.S. organization’s and its subsector’s interests on trade and environmental matters; knowledge of and experience in trade and environmental matters relevant to the work of the TEPAC and USTR; and ensuring that the TEPAC is balanced in terms of points of view, demographics, geography, and entity or organization size. Sam Scales, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2019–21669 Filed 10–3–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F0–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration [Docket No. MARAD–2019–0095] Deepwater Port License Application: West Delta LNG LLC Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public meeting; request for comments. AGENCY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of the West Delta LNG LLC (Applicant) deepwater port license application. The application proposes the ownership, construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of an offshore natural gas export deepwater port known as West Delta LNG (West Delta LNG) that would be located in Federal waters approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the coast of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 57 to 60 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 feet. The deepwater port would allow for the loading of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading carriers. This Notice of Intent (NOI) requests public participation in the scoping process, provides information on how to participate and announces an informational open house and public meeting in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (the Act), Louisiana is the designated Adjacent Coastal State for this application. DATES: There will be one public scoping meeting held in connection with the West Delta LNG deepwater port application. The meeting will be held in Belle Chasse, Louisiana on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The public meeting will be preceded by an informational open house from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The public meeting 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 West Delta LNG deepwater port license application must reach the Federal Docket Management Facility as detailed below by Wednesday, November 6, 2019. ADDRESSES: The open house and public meeting in Belle Chasse, Louisiana will be held at the Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 Highway 23, Belle Chasse, Louisiana, 70037, phone: (504) 208– 1455. The public docket for the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application 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 license application is available for viewing at the Regulations.gov website: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD–2019– 0095. We encourage you to submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. If you submit your comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard copy. If you cannot submit material using https:// www.regulations.gov, please contact either Mr. Matthew Layman, USCG or Ms. Yvette Fields, MARAD, as listed in the following FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document, which also provides alternate instructions for submitting written comments. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up for email E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 193 / Friday, October 4, 2019 / Notices alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted. Anonymous comments will be accepted. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. The Federal Docket Management Facility’s telephone number is 202–366–9317 or 202–366– 9826, the fax number is 202–493–2251. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew Layman, U.S. Coast Guard, telephone: 202–372–1421, email: Matthew.D.Layman@uscg.mil, or Ms. Yvette Fields, Maritime Administration, telephone: 202–366–0926, email: Yvette.Fields@dot.gov. For questions regarding viewing the Docket, call Docket Operations, telephone: 202–366– 9317 or 202–366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Public Meeting and Open House We encourage you to attend the informational open house and public meeting to learn about, and comment on, the proposed deepwater port. You will have the opportunity to submit comments on the scope and significance of the issues related to the proposed deepwater port that should be addressed in the EIS. Speaker registrations will be available at the door. Speakers at the public scoping meeting 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 and/or transcribed for inclusion in the public docket. You may submit written material at the public meeting, either in place of, or in addition to, speaking. Written material should 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 website (see ADDRESSES). Our public meeting location is wheelchair-accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you plan to attend the 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 or MARAD (see FOR FURTHER VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:49 Oct 03, 2019 Jkt 250001 INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 business days in advance of the public meeting. Include your contact information as well as information about your specific needs. Request for Comments We request public comment on this proposal. The comments may relate to, but are not limited to, the environmental impact of the proposed action. All comments will be accepted. The public meeting is not the only opportunity you have to comment on the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application. In addition to, or in place of, attending a meeting, you may 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) website: https:// www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD–2019–0095. Public comment submissions should include: • Docket number MARAD–2019– 0095. • 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) website: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD–2019–0095. • By mail to the Federal Docket Management Facility (MARAD–2019– 0095), 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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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, all submissions PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53219 will be posted, without change, to the FDMS website (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 website 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 Federal Docket Management Facility or electronically on the FDMS website. 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 West Delta LNG deepwater port appears in the West Delta LNG Notice of Application, Thursday, September 26, 2019 edition of the Federal Register (84 FR 50880). 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 or MARAD project managers 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) evaluation of proposed deepwater port and onshore site/pipeline route 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 E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1 53220 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 193 / Friday, October 4, 2019 / Notices khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 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, 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 and MARAD will prepare a draft EIS. When complete, 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 or MARAD project manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You will have an opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EIS. The USCG, MARAD and other appropriate cooperating agencies will consider the received comments and then prepare the Final EIS. As with the Draft EIS, we will announce the availability of the Final EIS and give you an opportunity for review and comment. The Act requires a final public hearing be held in the Adjacent Coastal State. Its purpose is to receive comments on matters related to whether or not a deepwater port license should be issued to the applicant by the Maritime Administrator. The final public hearing will be held in Belle Chasse, Louisiana after the Final EIS is made available for public review and comment. Summary of the Application The application proposes the ownership, construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of a deepwater port terminal in the Gulf of Mexico to export domestically produced natural gas. In the nominal design case, the Venice Pretreatment Plant would process approximately 750 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of feed natural gas for the proposed West Delta LNG deepwater port. Based on an estimated production unit availability of 95.4 percent and an allowance for VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:49 Oct 03, 2019 Jkt 250001 consumption of feed gas during the liquefaction process, the proposed West Delta LNG deepwater port would nominally produce 5.0 MMtpa of LNG for export. In the optimized case, the proposed project would process approximately 900 MMscfd of feed natural gas to produce approximately 6.1 MMtpa of LNG for export, or the equivalent of 306 billion standard cubic feet per year of LNG. The trading carriers calling on the West Delta LNG deepwater port would have nominal cargo capacities ranging from 30,000 cubic meters (m3) to 180,000 m3. For trading carriers of 180,000 m3 capacity, the Applicant anticipates a steady state loading rate of 12,000 m3 that would allow a 24-hour turnaround period, including time for berthing, system connections, and custody transfer administration. For LNG trading carriers of 30,000 m3 capacity, the Applicant anticipates a shorter loading and turnaround time of 14 hours. The overall project would consist of offshore and marine components as well as onshore components as described below. Offshore and Marine Components of the Deepwater Port The West Delta LNG deepwater port offshore and marine components would consist of an LNG production and storage unit, a loading platform and marine berth unit and support facilities, as described below: • The proposed deepwater port will consist of thirteen (13) fixed bridge connected platforms with piles in Outer Continental Shelf West Delta Lease Block 44, approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the coast of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 57 to 60 feet, with the gas arrival platform located at latitude 29° 04′ 56.11″ N and longitude 89° 39′ 16.00″ W. Eleven (11) bridges would connect the platforms and marine berth and provide for piping, electrical, instrument/automation, and personnel transit between platforms. • The LNG production and storage unit will contain a gas arrival platform where liquefaction-ready gas would be supplied by the Venice Pretreatment Plant described below and a proposed 30-inch subsea pipeline that would terminate at the gas arrival platform. The production platform will consist of three (3) LNG production platforms capable of accommodating a total of six (6) liquefaction trains (two [2] trains per platform), with each liquefaction train system consisting of one (1) 0.83– MMtpa liquefaction unit and one (1) ethane extraction system. Additionally, the West Delta LNG deepwater port PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 would have five (5) LNG storage platforms outfitted with three (3) 20,000 m3 FSP storage tanks providing 60,000 m3 of LNG per storage platform for a total storage capacity of 300,000 m3. A flare tripod platform equipped with a flare stack, smokeless tips, and ignition system(s) and scrubbers would be provided to safely burn all vented gas. • The West Delta LNG loading platform and marine berthing facilities will contain a loading arm system located on the LNG loading platform that would be used to load LNG onto a single LNG trading carrier. The loading and marine berth would be capable of handling LNG trading carriers with nominal capacities ranging from 30,000 m3 up to 180,000 m3. The West Delta LNG deepwater port would include six (6) mooring dolphins and four (4) breasting dolphins. Breasting dolphins and mooring dolphins are marine structures used for berthing and mooring of vessels. • The support facilities will contain an accommodation platform for West Delta LNG personnel and shall include living quarters for up to 36 people, a control station, helideck, and an auxiliary command room. All main power and essential power, other than the dedicated emergency generator located on the accommodations platform would be created and distributed from the utilities platform. • The loading platform is connected to offshore LNG tankers with a 180,000 m3 nominal capacity for loading by two (2) 16-inch (40.6-centimeter) diameter standard liquid arms; one (1) hybrid (liquid/vapor) 16-inch diameter arm; and one (1) 16-inch diameter standard vapor arm. Depending on manifold restrictions, two (2) liquid arms and one (1) vapor arm would be used to load the 30,000 m3 nominal capacity LNG trading carriers. Onshore Components of the Deepwater Port The West Delta LNG deepwater port onshore components would consist of the proposed Venice Pretreatment Plant which would be located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana within the grounds of an existing 121-acre onshore natural gas processing facility known as the Venice Gas Complex. The onshore components are as follows: • The Venice Pretreatment Plant would receive natural gas from offshore Gulf of Mexico midstream pipelines and/or interstate pipeline feed gas from pipelines already interconnected with the Venice Gas Complex. The natural gas would be pre-treated to meet liquefaction specifications, compressed E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 193 / Friday, October 4, 2019 / Notices onshore, and sent to the West Delta LNG offshore deepwater port. • The proposed Venice Pretreatment Plant would contain the following major components for the pre-treatment and processing of sourced natural gas: Cryogenic trains to process offshoresourced gas, natural gas compressors, gas pretreatment packages, power generation units driven by gas turbines, waste heat recovery units, utilities to support the new gas pretreatment and compression equipment and a flare to combust waste gas from the pretreatment process. The onshore components connect to the offshore components by a single pipeline. This pipeline would be constructed to transfer the liquefactionready gas from the proposed onshore Venice Pretreatment Plant to the West Delta LNG deepwater port. The proposed pipeline’s outgoing onshore assembly is a 4.3 statute mile 30-inch diameter connection from the Venice Pretreatment Plant (measured from the proposed pig launcher to the high water mark) where this pipeline becomes the subsea pipeline supplying the offshore deepwater port. At this point, the pipeline continues, extending 15.5 statute miles beyond the high water mark to terminate at the proposed West Delta LNG offshore deepwater port. Privacy Act The electronic form of all comments received into the FDMS 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 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: 49 CFR 1.93). By Order of the Maritime Administrator. Gabriel Chavez, Secretary, Maritime Administration. [FR Doc. 2019–21567 Filed 10–3–19; 8:45 am] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4910–81–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:49 Oct 03, 2019 Jkt 250001 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Office of the Secretary [Docket No. DOT–OST–2019–0138] Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) DOT/FMCSA 009—National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) System of Records Office of the Departmental Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, DOT. ACTION: Notice of a Modified System of Records. AGENCY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Transportation proposes to update and reissue a current Department of Transportation’s system of records titled, ‘‘Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 009—National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners System of Records.’’ This system of records allows the Department of Transportation/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to collect and maintain records on Medical Examiners registering on the National Registry website and applying for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Medical Examiner certification, certified Medical Examiner designated administrative assistants and authorized representatives who have registered on the National Registry to perform reporting functions on behalf of a certified Medical Examiner, and commercial motor vehicle drivers examined by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration certified Medical Examiners listed on the National Registry. The categories of records collected and maintained in this system include several pieces of personally identifiable information as detailed in the ‘‘Categories of Records in the System’’ section of this system of records notice. The information for the record subjects is collected and used as part of the process of establishing and maintaining a current national registry of Medical Examiners that are certified by FMCSA to perform medical examinations of interstate commercial motor vehicle drivers and issue Medical Examiner’s Certificates as outlined in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The specifics regarding the information collected and how the Agency uses the information is more thoroughly detailed below and in the associated Privacy SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53221 Impact Assessment on DOT’s website at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. In addition to non-substantive changes to simplify the formatting and text of the previously published notice, we are revising this notice to reflect the following changes resulting from publication of the Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration final rule (80 FR 22790) and the Process for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Physicians to be Added to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners final rule (83 FR 26846). These changes include inclusion of additional information in the categories of records to address information collected using the CMV Driver Medical Examination Results Form, MCSA–5850 (2126–0006), addition of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Public Law 114–94, as an authority for the system, addition of one new routine use for the sharing of CMV driver information to State Driver’s Licensing Agencies, deletion of four routine uses duplicative of Department-wide general routine uses, and reduction in the retention disposition for records maintained in this system. This updated system will be included in the Department of Transportation’s inventory of record systems. DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before November 4, 2019. The Department may publish an amended SORN in light of any comments received. This new system will be effective November 4, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DOT–OST– 2019–0138 by any of the following methods: • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. • Fax: (202) 493–2251. Instructions: You must include the agency name and docket number DOT– OST–2019–0138. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received in any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53218-53221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21567]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2019-0095]


Deepwater Port License Application: West Delta LNG LLC

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in coordination with the Maritime 
Administration (MARAD), will prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) as part of the environmental review of the West Delta LNG LLC 
(Applicant) deepwater port license application. The application 
proposes the ownership, construction, operation and eventual 
decommissioning of an offshore natural gas export deepwater port known 
as West Delta LNG (West Delta LNG) that would be located in Federal 
waters approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the coast of Plaquemines 
Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of approximately 57 to 60 feet. The 
deepwater port would allow for the loading of liquefied natural gas 
(LNG) trading carriers.
    This Notice of Intent (NOI) requests public participation in the 
scoping process, provides information on how to participate and 
announces an informational open house and public meeting in Belle 
Chasse, Louisiana. Pursuant to the criteria provided in the Deepwater 
Port Act of 1974, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. (the Act), 
Louisiana is the designated Adjacent Coastal State for this 
application.

DATES: There will be one public scoping meeting held in connection with 
the West Delta LNG deepwater port application. The meeting will be held 
in Belle Chasse, Louisiana on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. 
to 8:00 p.m. The public meeting will be preceded by an informational 
open house from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    The public meeting 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 West Delta 
LNG deepwater port license application must reach the Federal Docket 
Management Facility as detailed below by Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The open house and public meeting in Belle Chasse, Louisiana 
will be held at the Belle Chasse Auditorium, 8398 Highway 23, Belle 
Chasse, Louisiana, 70037, phone: (504) 208-1455. The public docket for 
the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application 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 license application is available for viewing at the 
Regulations.gov website: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number 
MARAD-2019-0095.
    We encourage you to submit comments electronically through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If you submit 
your comments electronically, it is not necessary to also submit a hard 
copy. If you cannot submit material using https://www.regulations.gov, 
please contact either Mr. Matthew Layman, USCG or Ms. Yvette Fields, 
MARAD, as listed in the following FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this document, which also provides alternate instructions 
for submitting written comments. Additionally, if you go to the online 
docket and sign up for email

[[Page 53219]]

alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted. Anonymous 
comments will be accepted. All comments received will be posted without 
change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal 
information you have provided. The Federal Docket Management Facility's 
telephone number is 202-366-9317 or 202-366-9826, the fax number is 
202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew Layman, U.S. Coast Guard, 
telephone: 202-372-1421, email: [email protected], or Ms. 
Yvette Fields, Maritime Administration, telephone: 202-366-0926, email: 
[email protected]. For questions regarding viewing the Docket, call 
Docket Operations, telephone: 202-366-9317 or 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Meeting and Open House

    We encourage you to attend the informational open house and public 
meeting to learn about, and comment on, the proposed deepwater port. 
You will have the opportunity to submit comments on the scope and 
significance of the issues related to the proposed deepwater port that 
should be addressed in the EIS.
    Speaker registrations will be available at the door. Speakers at 
the public scoping meeting 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 and/or transcribed for inclusion in the public 
docket.
    You may submit written material at the public meeting, either in 
place of, or in addition to, speaking. Written material should 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 website (see ADDRESSES).
    Our public meeting location is wheelchair-accessible and compliant 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you plan to attend the 
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 or MARAD (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 business days in advance of 
the public meeting. Include your contact information as well as 
information about your specific needs.

Request for Comments

    We request public comment on this proposal. The comments may relate 
to, but are not limited to, the environmental impact of the proposed 
action. All comments will be accepted. The public meeting is not the 
only opportunity you have to comment on the West Delta LNG deepwater 
port license application. In addition to, or in place of, attending a 
meeting, you may 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) website: https://www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD-2019-0095.
    Public comment submissions should include:
     Docket number MARAD-2019-0095.
     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) website: https://www.regulations.gov 
under docket number MARAD-2019-0095.
     By mail to the Federal Docket Management Facility (MARAD-
2019-0095), 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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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, all 
submissions will be posted, without change, to the FDMS website (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 website 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 Federal Docket Management Facility or electronically on the FDMS 
website.

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 West Delta 
LNG deepwater port appears in the West Delta LNG Notice of Application, 
Thursday, September 26, 2019 edition of the Federal Register (84 FR 
50880). 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 or MARAD 
project managers 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) evaluation of proposed deepwater 
port and onshore site/pipeline route 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

[[Page 53220]]

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, 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 and MARAD will prepare a 
draft EIS. When complete, 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 or MARAD project 
manager identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You will have 
an opportunity to review and comment on the Draft EIS. The USCG, MARAD 
and other appropriate cooperating agencies will consider the received 
comments and then prepare the Final EIS. As with the Draft EIS, we will 
announce the availability of the Final EIS and give you an opportunity 
for review and comment. The Act requires a final public hearing be held 
in the Adjacent Coastal State. Its purpose is to receive comments on 
matters related to whether or not a deepwater port license should be 
issued to the applicant by the Maritime Administrator. The final public 
hearing will be held in Belle Chasse, Louisiana after the Final EIS is 
made available for public review and comment.

Summary of the Application

    The application proposes the ownership, construction, operation and 
eventual decommissioning of a deepwater port terminal in the Gulf of 
Mexico to export domestically produced natural gas. In the nominal 
design case, the Venice Pretreatment Plant would process approximately 
750 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of feed natural gas 
for the proposed West Delta LNG deepwater port. Based on an estimated 
production unit availability of 95.4 percent and an allowance for 
consumption of feed gas during the liquefaction process, the proposed 
West Delta LNG deepwater port would nominally produce 5.0 MMtpa of LNG 
for export. In the optimized case, the proposed project would process 
approximately 900 MMscfd of feed natural gas to produce approximately 
6.1 MMtpa of LNG for export, or the equivalent of 306 billion standard 
cubic feet per year of LNG.
    The trading carriers calling on the West Delta LNG deepwater port 
would have nominal cargo capacities ranging from 30,000 cubic meters 
(m\3\) to 180,000 m\3\. For trading carriers of 180,000 m\3\ capacity, 
the Applicant anticipates a steady state loading rate of 12,000 m\3\ 
that would allow a 24-hour turnaround period, including time for 
berthing, system connections, and custody transfer administration. For 
LNG trading carriers of 30,000 m\3\ capacity, the Applicant anticipates 
a shorter loading and turnaround time of 14 hours. The overall project 
would consist of offshore and marine components as well as onshore 
components as described below.

Offshore and Marine Components of the Deepwater Port

    The West Delta LNG deepwater port offshore and marine components 
would consist of an LNG production and storage unit, a loading platform 
and marine berth unit and support facilities, as described below:
     The proposed deepwater port will consist of thirteen (13) 
fixed bridge connected platforms with piles in Outer Continental Shelf 
West Delta Lease Block 44, approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the 
coast of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana in a water depth of 
approximately 57 to 60 feet, with the gas arrival platform located at 
latitude 29[deg] 04' 56.11'' N and longitude 89[deg] 39' 16.00'' W. 
Eleven (11) bridges would connect the platforms and marine berth and 
provide for piping, electrical, instrument/automation, and personnel 
transit between platforms.
     The LNG production and storage unit will contain a gas 
arrival platform where liquefaction-ready gas would be supplied by the 
Venice Pretreatment Plant described below and a proposed 30-inch subsea 
pipeline that would terminate at the gas arrival platform. The 
production platform will consist of three (3) LNG production platforms 
capable of accommodating a total of six (6) liquefaction trains (two 
[2] trains per platform), with each liquefaction train system 
consisting of one (1) 0.83-MMtpa liquefaction unit and one (1) ethane 
extraction system. Additionally, the West Delta LNG deepwater port 
would have five (5) LNG storage platforms outfitted with three (3) 
20,000 m\3\ FSP storage tanks providing 60,000 m\3\ of LNG per storage 
platform for a total storage capacity of 300,000 m\3\. A flare tripod 
platform equipped with a flare stack, smokeless tips, and ignition 
system(s) and scrubbers would be provided to safely burn all vented 
gas.
     The West Delta LNG loading platform and marine berthing 
facilities will contain a loading arm system located on the LNG loading 
platform that would be used to load LNG onto a single LNG trading 
carrier. The loading and marine berth would be capable of handling LNG 
trading carriers with nominal capacities ranging from 30,000 m\3\ up to 
180,000 m\3\. The West Delta LNG deepwater port would include six (6) 
mooring dolphins and four (4) breasting dolphins. Breasting dolphins 
and mooring dolphins are marine structures used for berthing and 
mooring of vessels.
     The support facilities will contain an accommodation 
platform for West Delta LNG personnel and shall include living quarters 
for up to 36 people, a control station, helideck, and an auxiliary 
command room. All main power and essential power, other than the 
dedicated emergency generator located on the accommodations platform 
would be created and distributed from the utilities platform.
     The loading platform is connected to offshore LNG tankers 
with a 180,000 m\3\ nominal capacity for loading by two (2) 16-inch 
(40.6-centimeter) diameter standard liquid arms; one (1) hybrid 
(liquid/vapor) 16-inch diameter arm; and one (1) 16-inch diameter 
standard vapor arm. Depending on manifold restrictions, two (2) liquid 
arms and one (1) vapor arm would be used to load the 30,000 m\3\ 
nominal capacity LNG trading carriers.

Onshore Components of the Deepwater Port

    The West Delta LNG deepwater port onshore components would consist 
of the proposed Venice Pretreatment Plant which would be located in 
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana within the grounds of an existing 121-
acre onshore natural gas processing facility known as the Venice Gas 
Complex. The onshore components are as follows:
     The Venice Pretreatment Plant would receive natural gas 
from offshore Gulf of Mexico midstream pipelines and/or interstate 
pipeline feed gas from pipelines already interconnected with the Venice 
Gas Complex. The natural gas would be pre-treated to meet liquefaction 
specifications, compressed

[[Page 53221]]

onshore, and sent to the West Delta LNG offshore deepwater port.
     The proposed Venice Pretreatment Plant would contain the 
following major components for the pre-treatment and processing of 
sourced natural gas: Cryogenic trains to process offshore-sourced gas, 
natural gas compressors, gas pretreatment packages, power generation 
units driven by gas turbines, waste heat recovery units, utilities to 
support the new gas pretreatment and compression equipment and a flare 
to combust waste gas from the pretreatment process.
    The onshore components connect to the offshore components by a 
single pipeline. This pipeline would be constructed to transfer the 
liquefaction-ready gas from the proposed onshore Venice Pretreatment 
Plant to the West Delta LNG deepwater port. The proposed pipeline's 
outgoing onshore assembly is a 4.3 statute mile 30-inch diameter 
connection from the Venice Pretreatment Plant (measured from the 
proposed pig launcher to the high water mark) where this pipeline 
becomes the subsea pipeline supplying the offshore deepwater port. At 
this point, the pipeline continues, extending 15.5 statute miles beyond 
the high water mark to terminate at the proposed West Delta LNG 
offshore deepwater port.

Privacy Act

    The electronic form of all comments received into the FDMS 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 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: 49 CFR 1.93).

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Gabriel Chavez,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-21567 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
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