Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project, 1571-1572 [2023-00345]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2023 / Notices report compliance with Form 1099–C reporting. The updated document is titled DCIA Aging and Compliance Data Requirements for Guaranty Agencies (the Requirements). The Department plans to issue the Requirements to the GAs in Fiscal Year 2023. The data requirements for GA’s are not changing. The updated document includes minor edits together with updated GA and FSA contacts. Dated: January 5, 2023. Kun Mullan, PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. [FR Doc. 2023–00331 Filed 1–10–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Docket No. 14–96–LNG] Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Alaska LNG Project (DOE/EIS–0512–S1). The Final SEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with Alaska LNG Project LLC’s (Alaska LNG) existing authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Alaska Gasline Development Corporation’s (AGDC) proposed Alaska LNG Project to non-free trade agreement countries. DOE prepared the Final SEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to inform its decision on rehearing under the Natural Gas Act (NGA). ADDRESSES: Availability of the Final SEIS: DOE mailed notification letters to announce the Notice of Availability of the Final SEIS to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Tribes; other interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. An electronic copy of the Final SEIS is available at https://www.energy.gov/ nepa/doeeis-0512-s1-supplementalenvironmental-impact-statementalaska-lng-project. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Jan 10, 2023 Jkt 259001 Paper copies of the Final SEIS will be available for public review at the following locations: Anchorage Public Library (Z.J. Loussac Library), 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503; Arctic Interagency Visitor Center, Mile 175 Dalton Highway, Coldfoot, AK 99701; Charles Evans Community School Library, 299 Antoski Drive, Galena, AK 99741; Noel Wien Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701; Kenai Community Library, 163 Main Street Loop, Kenai, AK 99611; Trapper Creek Library, 8901 East Devonshire Drive, Trapper Creek, AK 99683; Tri-Valley Community Library, Suntrana Road, P.O. Box 518, Healy, AK 99743; and Wasilla Public Library, 500 North Crusey Street, Wasilla, AK 99654. Additional copies of the Final SEIS may be requested from the point of contact set forth below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Lusk, NEPA Compliance Officer, National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, (304) 285– 4145, mark.lusk@netl.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management 1 is in the process of rehearing DOE/FE Order No. 3643–A, issued on August 20, 2020, in Docket No. 14–96–LNG (Alaska LNG Order).2 In the Alaska LNG Order, DOE authorized Alaska LNG to export LNG from AGDC’s proposed Alaska LNG Project to countries that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries), under NGA section 3(a).3 As approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on May 21, 2020, the Alaska LNG Project involves producing natural gas from resources on the North Slope of Alaska, transporting the natural gas on a proposed 806.9-mile-long pipeline, and exporting the natural gas in the form of LNG by vessel from a liquefaction facility to be constructed in the Nikiski area of the Kenai Peninsula in south1 The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) changed its name to the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) on July 4, 2021. 2 See Alaska LNG Project LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3643–A, Docket 14–96–LNG, Final Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Aug. 20, 2020), www.energy.gov/fecm/ downloads/alaska-lng-project-llc-fe-dkt-no-14-96lng-0. For all DOE documents referenced herein, please see the Alaska LNG docket at www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/alaska-lng-projectllc-fe-dkt-no-14-96-lng. 3 15 U.S.C. 717b(a). PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1571 central Alaska.4 Under the Alaska LNG Order, Alaska LNG is currently authorized to export this LNG in a volume equivalent to 929 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per year of natural gas (2.55 Bcf per day), for a term of 30 years. On April 15, 2021, in Order No. 3643– B, DOE announced that it was granting rehearing of the Alaska LNG Order under the NGA for the purpose of conducting additional environmental analysis.5 DOE stated that, based on findings from this additional analysis, DOE intended to issue an order under NGA section 3(a) in which DOE may exercise its authority to reaffirm, modify, or set aside the Alaska LNG Order, in whole or in part. Subsequently, on July 2, 2021, DOE published a ‘‘Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project’’ 6 under NEPA.7 The SEIS was to include analysis from two environmental studies, and DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) was tasked with conducting both studies.8 The Final SEIS being issued today supplements the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska LNG Project published by FERC on March 6, 2020, and adopted by DOE on March 16, 2020 (DOE/EIS–0512). Specifically, the Final SEIS (1) examines the potential upstream environmental effects associated with incremental natural gas production on the North Slope of Alaska to support Alaska LNG’s authorized exports of LNG, and (2) includes a life cycle analysis calculating the greenhouse gas emissions associated with exporting LNG by vessel from the proposed Alaska LNG Project to import markets in Asia (the markets targeted for exports from Alaska) and potentially in other regions. NEPA Process and Public Involvement DOE prepared the SEIS in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at title 40, 4 See Alaska Gasline Dev. Corp., Order Granting Authorization Under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, FERC Docket No. CP17–178–000, 171 FERC ¶ 61,134 (2020). AGDC, an independent, public corporation of the State of Alaska, holds the authorization from FERC to site, construct, and operate the proposed Alaska LNG Project. 5 See Alaska LNG Project LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3643–B, Docket 14–96–LNG, Order on Rehearing (Apr. 15, 2021), www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/ 2021-04/ord3643b.pdf. DOE’s Order on Rehearing granted a Request for Rehearing filed by Sierra Club. See id. at 1–2, 5–6. 6 See U.S. Dep’t of Energy, Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project, 86 FR 35280 (July 2, 2021); see also www.energy.gov/nepa/ articles/doeeis-0512-s1-notice-intent-july-2-2021. 7 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. 8 86 FR 35281. E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM 11JAN1 1572 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2023 / Notices Code of Federal Regulations, parts 1500–1508 (40 CFR part 1500–1508) and DOE’s NEPA implementing procedures at 10 CFR part 1021. DOE announced a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft SEIS on June 24, 2022, and published the NOA in the Federal Register on June 29, 2022.9 DOE invited public comments on the Draft SEIS during a 45-day period that began on July 1, 2022, and extended through August 15, 2022. During the public comment period, a virtual public meeting was held on July 20, 2022. DOE collected verbal and written comments during the public meeting and throughout the public comment period. All comments received during the 45day comment period were considered during the preparation of the Final SEIS. DOE Action DOE will consider the information provided in the Final SEIS, among other factors, as part of the Record of Decision (ROD) to reaffirm, modify, or set aside the Alaska LNG Order. The ROD will be issued no sooner than 30 days from the date that a Notice of Availability is published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal Register. In particular, DOE has announced that it will issue the final order and ROD on or before March 30, 2023.10 Signed in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2023. Amy Sweeney, Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of Resource Sustainability. [FR Doc. 2023–00345 Filed 1–10–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: This notice announces an inperson/virtual hybrid open meeting of the Environmental Management SiteSpecific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Oak Ridge. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register. DATES: Wednesday, February 8, 2023; 6 p.m.–8 p.m. ET. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: 9 87 FR 38730 (June 29, 2022). Alaska LNG Project LLC, Docket 14–96– LNG, Second Notice of Amended Schedule for Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Oct. 28, 2022). 10 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Jan 10, 2023 Jkt 259001 This meeting will be open to the public virtually via Zoom only. To attend virtually, please send an email to: orssab@orem.doe.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. Board members, Department of Energy (DOE) representatives, agency liaisons, and Board support staff will participate in-person, following COVID– 19 precautionary measures, at: DOE Information Center, Office of Science and Technical Information, 1 Science.gov Way, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831. Attendees should check the website listed below for any meeting format changes due to COVID–19 protocols. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melyssa P. Noe, Alternate Deputy Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM), P.O. Box 2001, EM–942, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; Phone (865) 241–3315; or E-Mail: Melyssa.Noe@orem.doe.gov. Or visit the website at www.energy.gov/orssab. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose of the Board: The purpose of the Board is to make recommendations to DOE–EM and site management in the areas of environmental restoration, waste management, and related activities. Tentative Agenda: • Comments from the Alternate Deputy Designated Federal Officer (DDFO) • Comments from DOE, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and Environmental Protection Agency Liaisons • Presentation • Public Comment Period • Motions/Approval of October 12, 2022 and November 9, 2022 Meeting Minutes • Status of Outstanding Recommendations • Alternate DDFO Report • Subcommittee Reports Public Participation: The in-person/ virtual hybrid meeting is open to the public virtually via Zoom only. Written statements may be filed with the Board via email either before or after the meeting. Public comments received by no later than 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, will be read aloud during the meeting. Comments will be accepted after the meeting, by no later than 5 p.m. ET on Monday, February 13, 2023. Please submit comments to orssab@orem.doe.gov. The Deputy Designated Federal Officer is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Individuals wishing to submit written public ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 comments should email them as directed above. Minutes: Minutes will be available by emailing or calling Melyssa P. Noe at the email address and telephone number listed above. Minutes will also be available at the following website: https://www.energy.gov/orem/listings/ oak-ridge-site-specific-advisory-boardmeetings. Signed in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2023. LaTanya Butler, Deputy Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–00362 Filed 1–10–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee Office of Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: This notice announces a hybrid virtual and in-person open meeting of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee. The Federal Advisory Committee Act requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register. DATES: Thursday, February 16, 2023; 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: This hybrid meeting will be open virtually for members of the public via Zoom only. Committee members, Department of Energy (DOE) representatives, agency liaisons, and support staff will participate in-person, strictly following COVID–19 precautionary measures, at: James V. Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Branscum, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586–4290; email: Luke.Branscum@ nuclear.energy.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose of the Committee: The Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy on national policy and scientific aspects of nuclear issues of concern to DOE; provides periodic reviews of the various program elements within DOE’s nuclear programs and recommendations based thereon; ascertains the needs, views, and priorities of DOE’s nuclear programs; advises on long-range plans, priorities, and strategies to address more effectively the technical, financial, and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM 11JAN1

Agencies

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1571-1572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00345]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. 14-96-LNG]


Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG Project

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of 
the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the 
Alaska LNG Project (DOE/EIS-0512-S1). The Final SEIS evaluates the 
potential environmental impacts associated with Alaska LNG Project 
LLC's (Alaska LNG) existing authorization to export liquefied natural 
gas (LNG) from Alaska Gasline Development Corporation's (AGDC) proposed 
Alaska LNG Project to non-free trade agreement countries. DOE prepared 
the Final SEIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (NEPA) to inform its decision on rehearing under the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA).

ADDRESSES: 
    Availability of the Final SEIS: DOE mailed notification letters to 
announce the Notice of Availability of the Final SEIS to federal, 
state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Tribes; other 
interested individuals and groups; and newspapers and libraries in the 
project area.
    An electronic copy of the Final SEIS is available at https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0512-s1-supplemental-environmental-impact-statement-alaska-lng-project.
    Paper copies of the Final SEIS will be available for public review 
at the following locations: Anchorage Public Library (Z.J. Loussac 
Library), 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503; Arctic Interagency 
Visitor Center, Mile 175 Dalton Highway, Coldfoot, AK 99701; Charles 
Evans Community School Library, 299 Antoski Drive, Galena, AK 99741; 
Noel Wien Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701; 
Kenai Community Library, 163 Main Street Loop, Kenai, AK 99611; Trapper 
Creek Library, 8901 East Devonshire Drive, Trapper Creek, AK 99683; 
Tri-Valley Community Library, Suntrana Road, P.O. Box 518, Healy, AK 
99743; and Wasilla Public Library, 500 North Crusey Street, Wasilla, AK 
99654. Additional copies of the Final SEIS may be requested from the 
point of contact set forth below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Lusk, NEPA Compliance Officer, 
National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, (304) 
285-4145, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management \1\ is in the 
process of rehearing DOE/FE Order No. 3643-A, issued on August 20, 
2020, in Docket No. 14-96-LNG (Alaska LNG Order).\2\ In the Alaska LNG 
Order, DOE authorized Alaska LNG to export LNG from AGDC's proposed 
Alaska LNG Project to countries that do not have a free trade agreement 
(FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with 
which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA 
countries), under NGA section 3(a).\3\
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    \1\ The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) changed its name to the 
Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) on July 4, 
2021.
    \2\ See Alaska LNG Project LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3643-A, Docket 
14-96-LNG, Final Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term Authorization 
to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations 
(Aug. 20, 2020), www.energy.gov/fecm/downloads/alaska-lng-project-llc-fe-dkt-no-14-96-lng-0. For all DOE documents referenced herein, 
please see the Alaska LNG docket at www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/alaska-lng-project-llc-fe-dkt-no-14-96-lng.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).
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    As approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on 
May 21, 2020, the Alaska LNG Project involves producing natural gas 
from resources on the North Slope of Alaska, transporting the natural 
gas on a proposed 806.9-mile-long pipeline, and exporting the natural 
gas in the form of LNG by vessel from a liquefaction facility to be 
constructed in the Nikiski area of the Kenai Peninsula in south-central 
Alaska.\4\ Under the Alaska LNG Order, Alaska LNG is currently 
authorized to export this LNG in a volume equivalent to 929 billion 
cubic feet (Bcf) per year of natural gas (2.55 Bcf per day), for a term 
of 30 years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Alaska Gasline Dev. Corp., Order Granting Authorization 
Under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, FERC Docket No. CP17-178-
000, 171 FERC ] 61,134 (2020). AGDC, an independent, public 
corporation of the State of Alaska, holds the authorization from 
FERC to site, construct, and operate the proposed Alaska LNG 
Project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On April 15, 2021, in Order No. 3643-B, DOE announced that it was 
granting rehearing of the Alaska LNG Order under the NGA for the 
purpose of conducting additional environmental analysis.\5\ DOE stated 
that, based on findings from this additional analysis, DOE intended to 
issue an order under NGA section 3(a) in which DOE may exercise its 
authority to reaffirm, modify, or set aside the Alaska LNG Order, in 
whole or in part.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Alaska LNG Project LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 3643-B, Docket 
14-96-LNG, Order on Rehearing (Apr. 15, 2021), www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/ord3643b.pdf. DOE's Order on Rehearing granted 
a Request for Rehearing filed by Sierra Club. See id. at 1-2, 5-6.
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    Subsequently, on July 2, 2021, DOE published a ``Notice of Intent 
to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska 
LNG Project'' \6\ under NEPA.\7\ The SEIS was to include analysis from 
two environmental studies, and DOE's National Energy Technology 
Laboratory (NETL) was tasked with conducting both studies.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See U.S. Dep't of Energy, Notice of Intent to Prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska LNG 
Project, 86 FR 35280 (July 2, 2021); see also www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0512-s1-notice-intent-july-2-2021.
    \7\ 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
    \8\ 86 FR 35281.
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    The Final SEIS being issued today supplements the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alaska LNG Project 
published by FERC on March 6, 2020, and adopted by DOE on March 16, 
2020 (DOE/EIS-0512). Specifically, the Final SEIS (1) examines the 
potential upstream environmental effects associated with incremental 
natural gas production on the North Slope of Alaska to support Alaska 
LNG's authorized exports of LNG, and (2) includes a life cycle analysis 
calculating the greenhouse gas emissions associated with exporting LNG 
by vessel from the proposed Alaska LNG Project to import markets in 
Asia (the markets targeted for exports from Alaska) and potentially in 
other regions.

NEPA Process and Public Involvement

    DOE prepared the SEIS in accordance with the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at title 40,

[[Page 1572]]

Code of Federal Regulations, parts 1500-1508 (40 CFR part 1500-1508) 
and DOE's NEPA implementing procedures at 10 CFR part 1021. DOE 
announced a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft SEIS on June 24, 
2022, and published the NOA in the Federal Register on June 29, 
2022.\9\ DOE invited public comments on the Draft SEIS during a 45-day 
period that began on July 1, 2022, and extended through August 15, 
2022. During the public comment period, a virtual public meeting was 
held on July 20, 2022. DOE collected verbal and written comments during 
the public meeting and throughout the public comment period. All 
comments received during the 45-day comment period were considered 
during the preparation of the Final SEIS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 87 FR 38730 (June 29, 2022).
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DOE Action

    DOE will consider the information provided in the Final SEIS, among 
other factors, as part of the Record of Decision (ROD) to reaffirm, 
modify, or set aside the Alaska LNG Order. The ROD will be issued no 
sooner than 30 days from the date that a Notice of Availability is 
published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the 
Federal Register. In particular, DOE has announced that it will issue 
the final order and ROD on or before March 30, 2023.\10\
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    \10\ See Alaska LNG Project LLC, Docket 14-96-LNG, Second Notice 
of Amended Schedule for Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(Oct. 28, 2022).

    Signed in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2023.
Amy Sweeney,
Director, Office of Regulation, Analysis, and Engagement, Office of 
Resource Sustainability.
[FR Doc. 2023-00345 Filed 1-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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