Elba Liquefaction Company, LLC and Southern LNG Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Elba Liquefaction Optimization Project, 55444-55445 [2023-17468]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 55444 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 15, 2023 / Notices Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Grand Chenier Compressor Station Abandonment Project (Project), proposed by Texas Eastern Transmission, LP (Texas Eastern) in the above-referenced docket. Texas Eastern requests authorization from the Commission to abandon by removal, its existing Grand Chenier Compressor Station in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Texas Eastern would disconnect and remove aboveground structures and associated appurtenances along with all piping and other buried structures to a depth of two feet below grade. Texas Eastern’s Line 41 and associated mainline valve would remain in-service. The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability of the EA to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; non-governmental organizations, environmental, and public interest groups; potentially interested Indian tribes; affected landowners; and newspapers and libraries in the Project area. The EA is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov), on the natural gas environmental documents page (https://www.ferc.gov/ industries-data/natural-gas/ environment/environmentaldocuments). In addition, the EA may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC’s website. Click on the eLibrary link (https://elibrary.ferc.gov/ eLibrary/search), select ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field, excluding the last three digits (i.e. CP23–57). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The EA is not a decision document. It presents Commission staff’s independent analysis of the environmental issues for the Commission to consider when addressing the merits of all issues in this proceeding. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the EA’s disclosure and discussion of potential VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Aug 14, 2023 Jkt 259001 environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal, it is important that the Commission receive your comments in on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 7, 2023. For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208–3676 or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded. (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; (2) You can also file your comments electronically using the eFiling feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on ‘‘eRegister.’’ You must select the type of filing you are making. If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing’’; or (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP23–57) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Filing environmental comments will not give you intervenor status, but you do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing or judicial review of the Commission’s decision. At this point in this proceeding, the timeframe for filing timely intervention requests has expired. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene out-of-time pursuant to Rule 214(b)(3) and (d) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214(b)(3) and PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (d)) and show good cause why the time limitation should be waived. Motions to intervene are more fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene. Additional information about the project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. The Commission’s Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at (202)502–6595 or OPP@ ferc.gov. In addition, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription. Dated: August 8, 2023. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–17476 Filed 8–14–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP23–375–000] Elba Liquefaction Company, LLC and Southern LNG Company, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Elba Liquefaction Optimization Project On April 28, 2023, Elba Liquefaction Company, LLC and Southern LNG Company, LLC (Companies) filed an application in Docket No. CP23–375– 000 requesting an Authorization pursuant to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act to amend existing authorizations E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM 15AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 156 / Tuesday, August 15, 2023 / Notices under CP14–103–000, originally approved by the Commission on June 1, 2016.1 The proposed project is known as the Elba Liquefaction Optimization Project (Project), and would involve new installations and modifications to existing liquefaction facilities at Southern LNG Company, LLC’s existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Chatham County, Georgia. On May 10, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff’s environmental document for the Project. This notice identifies Commission staff’s intention to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule for the completion of the environmental review.2 Schedule for Environmental Review Issuance of EA—March 8, 2024 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline 3—June 6, 2024 If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the Project’s progress. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Project Description The Companies propose to amend its June 1, 2016 Order (2016 Order) to modify certain Movable Modular Liquefaction System (MMLS) Dehydration and Heavies Removal units that would reduce the fouling rate in the liquefaction units, reduce the resultant flaring events associated with cold box deriming, and therefore allow the MMLS to operate in an optimized condition for longer periods of time without fouling within the existing Elba Island LNG terminal in Chatham County, Georgia. Specifically, the Companies would make modifications to ten MMLS units; construct and operate a new condensate plant; install three new liquid nitrogen vaporizers; 1 Elba Liquefaction Company, L.L.C., 155 FERC ¶ 61,219, (2016). 2 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020). 3 The Commission’s deadline applies to the decisions of other federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally delegated authority, that are responsible for federal authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the Commission’s deadline for other agency’s decisions applies unless a schedule is otherwise established by federal law. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Aug 14, 2023 Jkt 259001 and increase the total liquefaction capacity of the MMLS units up approximately 0.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from 2.5 to 2.9 MTPA. Background On June 9, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Elba Liquefaction Optimization Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of Scoping was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. In response to the Notice of Scoping, the Commission received comments from the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, citing concerns regarding impacts to noise sensitive areas, cultural landscapes, and endangered species from additional facility lighting and increased noise. All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA. Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https:// www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription. The Commission’s Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502–6595 or OPP@ ferc.gov. Additional information about the Project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, select ‘‘General Search’’ from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and ‘‘Docket Number’’ excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP23–375), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55445 at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. Dated: August 9, 2023. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–17468 Filed 8–14–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP23–513–000] Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Louisiana Connector Pipeline Amendment The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Louisiana Connector Pipeline Amendment, which involves 38 modifications to the previously authorized pipeline alignment, construction footprint, and installation methods for the Louisiana Connector Project, which was approved by the Commission on April 18, 2019, in docket no. CP18–7–000. Please note that the previously approved Louisiana Connector Project is not under reconsideration in this amendment. The Commission will use the environmental document referred to in this notice in its decision-making process to determine whether the 38 modifications proposed in the amendment are in the public convenience and necessity. This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested agencies regarding the project. As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission takes into account concerns the public may have about proposals and the environmental impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. This gathering of public input is referred to as ‘‘scoping.’’ The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the environmental document on the important environmental issues. Additional information about the E:\FR\FM\15AUN1.SGM 15AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55444-55445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17468]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP23-375-000]


Elba Liquefaction Company, LLC and Southern LNG Company, LLC; 
Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an Environmental Assessment 
for the Proposed Elba Liquefaction Optimization Project

    On April 28, 2023, Elba Liquefaction Company, LLC and Southern LNG 
Company, LLC (Companies) filed an application in Docket No. CP23-375-
000 requesting an Authorization pursuant to section 3 of the Natural 
Gas Act to amend existing authorizations

[[Page 55445]]

under CP14-103-000, originally approved by the Commission on June 1, 
2016.\1\ The proposed project is known as the Elba Liquefaction 
Optimization Project (Project), and would involve new installations and 
modifications to existing liquefaction facilities at Southern LNG 
Company, LLC's existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Chatham 
County, Georgia.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Elba Liquefaction Company, L.L.C., 155 FERC ] 61,219, 
(2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On May 10, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
environmental document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule 
for the completion of the environmental review.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--March 8, 2024
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \3\--June 6, 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other 
federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally 
delegated authority, that are responsible for federal 
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed 
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the 
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a 
schedule is otherwise established by federal law.

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    The Companies propose to amend its June 1, 2016 Order (2016 Order) 
to modify certain Movable Modular Liquefaction System (MMLS) 
Dehydration and Heavies Removal units that would reduce the fouling 
rate in the liquefaction units, reduce the resultant flaring events 
associated with cold box deriming, and therefore allow the MMLS to 
operate in an optimized condition for longer periods of time without 
fouling within the existing Elba Island LNG terminal in Chatham County, 
Georgia. Specifically, the Companies would make modifications to ten 
MMLS units; construct and operate a new condensate plant; install three 
new liquid nitrogen vaporizers; and increase the total liquefaction 
capacity of the MMLS units up approximately 0.4 million tonnes per 
annum (MTPA) from 2.5 to 2.9 MTPA.

Background

    On June 9, 2023, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Elba 
Liquefaction Optimization Project (Notice of Scoping). The Notice of 
Scoping was sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local 
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public 
interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and 
local libraries and newspapers. In response to the Notice of Scoping, 
the Commission received comments from the National Park Service and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, citing concerns regarding impacts to 
noise sensitive areas, cultural landscapes, and endangered species from 
additional facility lighting and increased noise.
    All substantive comments will be addressed in the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the 
Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service 
provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP23-375), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to 
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at [email protected]. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by 
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: August 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-17468 Filed 8-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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