Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC; Sabine Crossing, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage 5 Expansion Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Session, 70972-70975 [2023-22697]
Download as PDF
70972
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2023 / Notices
Filed Date: 10/3/23.
Accession Number: 20231003–5160.
Comment Date: 5 p.m. ET 10/16/23.
Any person desiring to protest in any
the above proceedings must file in
accordance with Rule 211 of the
Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR
385.211) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date.
The filings are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system (https://
elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/
fercgensearch.asp) by querying the
docket number.
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings
can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
other information, call (866) 208–3676
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
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.
Dated: October 4, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–22512 Filed 10–12–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. PF23–2–000]
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Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Sabine
Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC;
Sabine Crossing, LLC; Notice of
Scoping Period Requesting Comments
on Environmental Issues for the
Planned Sabine Pass Liquefaction
Stage 5 Expansion Project, and Notice
of Public Scoping Session
The staff of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an
environmental document that will
discuss the environmental impacts of
the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage 5
Expansion Project involving
construction and operation of facilities
by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC and
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Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC
(collectively, Sabine Pass) and Sabine
Crossing, LLC (Sabine Crossing) in
Cameron Parish, Louisiana and Jefferson
County, Texas. The Commission will
use this environmental document in its
decision-making process to determine
whether the planned pipeline project is
in the public convenience and necessity
and if the planned facility expansion is
in the public interest.
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 and
authorization. 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 Commission’s
NEPA process is described below in the
NEPA Process and Environmental
Document section of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission
requests public comments on the scope
of issues to address in the
environmental document. To ensure
that your comments are timely and
properly recorded, please submit your
comments so that the Commission
receives them in Washington, DC on or
before 5:00pm Eastern Time on
November 6, 2023. Comments may be
submitted in written or oral form.
Further details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public
Participation section of this notice.
Your comments should focus on the
potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to
avoid or lessen environmental impacts.
Your input will help the Commission
staff determine what issues they need to
evaluate in the environmental
document. Commission staff will
consider all written or oral comments
during the preparation of the
environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this
project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on February 22,
2023, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. PF23–2–000 to
ensure they are considered.
This notice is being sent to the
Commission’s current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and
local government representatives should
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notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment
on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this
notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about
the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the
planned facilities. The company would
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable
easement agreement. You are not
required to enter into an agreement.
However, if the Commission approves
the project, the Natural Gas Act conveys
the right of eminent domain to the
company. Therefore, if you and the
company do not reach an easement
agreement, the pipeline company could
initiate condemnation proceedings in
court. In such instances, compensation
would be determined by a judge in
accordance with state law. The
Commission does not subsequently
grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise
of that eminent domain authority. The
courts have exclusive authority to
handle eminent domain cases; the
Commission has no jurisdiction over
these matters.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC
entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
To Know?’’ addresses typically asked
questions, including the use of eminent
domain and how to participate in the
Commission’s proceedings. This fact
sheet along with other landowner topics
of interest are available for viewing on
the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under
the Natural Gas, Landowner Topics link.
Public Participation
There are four methods you can use
to submit your comments to the
Commission. Please carefully follow
these instructions so that your
comments are properly recorded. The
Commission encourages electronic filing
of comments and has staff available to
assist you at (866) 208–3676 or
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov.
(1) You can file your comments
electronically using the eComment
feature, which is located on the
Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov)
under the link to FERC Online. Using
eComment is an easy method for
submitting brief, text-only comments on
a project;
(2) You can file your comments
electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2023 / Notices
will be asked to select the type of filing
you are making; a comment on a
particular project is considered a
‘‘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 (PF23–2–000) 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.
(4) In lieu of sending written
comments, the Commission invites you
to attend one of the public scoping
sessions its staff will conduct in the
project area, scheduled as follows:
Date and time
Location
Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 4–7 p.m ................................
Johnson Bayou Recreation Center, 135 Berwick Rd., Cameron, LA 70631, (337)
569–2288.
West Side Development Center, 625 W Rev Dr Ransom Howard St., Port Arthur, TX
77640, (409) 984–9096.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 4–7 p.m ...........................
The primary goal of these scoping
sessions is to have you identify the
specific environmental issues and
concerns that should be considered in
the environmental document.
Individual oral comments will be taken
on a one-on-one basis with a court
reporter. This format is designed to
receive the maximum amount of oral
comments in a convenient way during
the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Central Standard
Time. You may arrive at any time after
4 p.m. There will not be a formal
presentation by Commission staff when
the session opens. If you wish to speak,
the Commission staff will hand out
numbers in the order of your arrival.
Comments will be taken until 7 p.m.
However, if no additional numbers have
been handed out and all individuals
who wish to provide comments have
had an opportunity to do so, staff may
conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. Please
see appendix 1 for additional
information on the session format and
conduct.1
Your scoping comments will be
recorded by a court reporter (with FERC
staff or representative present) and
become part of the public record for this
proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly
available on FERC’s eLibrary system
(see the last page of this notice for
instructions on using eLibrary). If a
significant number of people are
interested in providing oral comments
in the one-on-one settings, a time limit
of 3 minutes may be implemented for
each commentor.
1 The
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70973
appendices referenced in this notice will
not appear in the Federal Register. Copies of the
appendices were sent to all those receiving this
notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
using the link called ‘‘eLibrary’’. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this
notice. At this time, the Commission has suspended
access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room.
For assistance, contact FERC at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll free, (886)
208–3676 or TTY (202) 502–8659.
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It is important to note that the
Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received,
whether filed in written form or
provided orally at a scoping session.
Although there will not be a formal
presentation, Commission staff will be
available throughout the scoping session
to answer your questions about the
environmental review process.
Representatives from Sabine Pass and
Sabine Crossing will also be present to
answer project-specific questions.
Additionally, the Commission offers a
free service called eSubscription, which
makes it easy to stay informed of all
issuances and submittals regarding the
dockets/projects to which you
subscribe. These instant email
notifications are the fastest way to
receive notification and provide a link
to the document files which can reduce
the amount of time you spend
researching proceedings. 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.
Summary of the Planned Project
To support customer’s requirements
for natural gas, Sabine Pass and Sabine
Crossing plan to expand existing
liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and
construct a new natural gas pipeline to
provide a feed supply. The Sabine Pass
Liquefaction Stage 5 Expansion Project
(Project) would be located in Cameron
Parish, Louisiana and Jefferson County,
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Texas and would consist of constructing
the following facilities:
• Three natural gas liquefaction
trains;
• Two aboveground LNG storage
tanks;
• Flares;
• Boil off gas re-liquefaction unit;
• Operations and maintenance
building;
• A new 5.3-mile, 48-inch diameter
natural gas pipeline; and
• Other associated utility and
support facilities.
Sabine Pass also proposes
modifications to existing ship-loading
facilities.
The general location of the project
facilities is shown in appendix 2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities
would disturb about 1,013.4 acres of
land for the LNG facilities and the
pipeline. Following construction,
Sabine Pass and Sabine Crossing would
maintain about 884.1 acres for
permanent operation of the Project’s
facilities; the remaining acreage would
be restored and could revert to former
uses. About 60 percent of the planned
pipeline route parallels existing
pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way.
NEPA Process and the Environmental
Document
Any environmental document issued
by Commission staff will discuss
impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the
planned project under the relevant
general resource areas:
• Geology and soils;
• Water resources and wetlands;
• Vegetation and wildlife;
• Threatened and endangered
species;
• Cultural resources;
• Land use;
• Socioeconomics;
• Environmental justice;
• Air quality and noise; and
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2023 / Notices
• Reliability and safety.
Commission staff have already
identified several issues that deserve
attention based on a preliminary review
of the planned facilities and the
environmental information provided by
Sabine Pass and Sabine Crossing. This
preliminary list of issues may change
based on your comments and our
analysis:
• Permanent wetland impacts;
• Shipping channel traffic;
• Flooding and storm surge;
• Cumulative impacts; and
• Alternative facility designs.
Commission staff will also evaluate
reasonable alternatives to the planned
project or portions of the project and
make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various
resource areas. Your comments will
help Commission staff identify and
focus on the issues that might have an
effect on the human environment and
potentially eliminate others from further
study and discussion in the
environmental document.
Although no formal application has
been filed, Commission staff have
already initiated a NEPA review under
the Commission’s pre-filing process.
The purpose of the pre-filing process is
to encourage early involvement of
interested stakeholders and to identify
and resolve issues before the
Commission receives an application. As
part of the pre-filing review,
Commission staff will contact federal
and state agencies to discuss their
involvement in the scoping process and
the preparation of the environmental
document.
If a formal application is filed,
Commission staff will then determine
whether to prepare an Environmental
Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the
EIS will present Commission staff’s
independent analysis of the
environmental issues. If Commission
staff prepares an EA, a Notice of
Schedule for the Preparation of an
Environmental Assessment will be
issued. The EA may be issued for an
allotted public comment period. The
Commission would consider timely
comments on the EA before making its
determination on the proposed project.
If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS/
Notice of Schedule will be issued once
an application is filed, which will open
an additional public comment period.
Staff will then prepare a draft EIS that
will be issued for public comment.
Commission staff will consider all
timely comments received during the
comment period on the draft EIS, and
revise the document, as necessary,
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16:55 Oct 12, 2023
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before issuing a final EIS. Any EA or
draft and final EIS will be available in
electronic format in the public record
through eLibrary 2 and the
Commission’s natural gas
environmental documents web page
(https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/
natural-gas/environment/
environmental-documents). If
eSubscribed, you will receive instant
email notification when the
environmental document is issued.
With this notice, the Commission is
asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to
the environmental issues related to this
project to formally cooperate in the
preparation of the environmental
document.3 Agencies that would like to
request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this notice.
Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Galveston District and the
National Marine Fisheries Service have
expressed their intention to participate
as a cooperating agency in the
preparation of the environmental
document.
Consultation Under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act
In accordance with the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation’s
implementing regulations for section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, the Commission is
using this notice to initiate consultation
with the applicable State Historic
Preservation Office(s), and to solicit
their views and those of other
government agencies, interested Indian
tribes, and the public on the project’s
potential effects on historic properties.4
The environmental document for this
project will document our findings on
the impacts on historic properties and
summarize the status of consultations
under section 106.
Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list
includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and
agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest
2 For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer
to the last page of this notice.
3 The Council on Environmental Quality
regulations addressing cooperating agency
responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, 1501.8.
4 The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
regulations are at Title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, part 800. Those regulations define
historic properties as any prehistoric or historic
district, site, building, structure, or object included
in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register
of Historic Places.
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groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries
and newspapers. This list also includes
all affected landowners (as defined in
the Commission’s regulations) who are
potential right-of-way grantors, whose
property may be used temporarily for
project purposes, or who own homes
within certain distances of aboveground
facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project and includes a
mailing address with their comments.
Commission staff will update the
environmental mailing list as the
analysis proceeds to ensure that
Commission notices related to this
environmental review are sent to all
individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or
potentially affected by the planned
project.
If you need to make changes to your
name/address, or if you would like to
remove your name from the mailing list,
please complete one of the following
steps:
(1) Send an email to
GasProjectAddressChange@ferc.gov
stating your request. You must include
the docket number PF23–2–000 in your
request. If you are requesting a change
to your address, please be sure to
include your name and the correct
address. If you are requesting to delete
your address from the mailing list,
please include your name and address
as it appeared on this notice. This email
address is unable to accept comments.
OR
(2) Return the attached ‘‘Mailing List
Update Form’’ (appendix 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Sabine Pass and Sabine Crossing
file their application with the
Commission, you may want to become
an ‘‘intervenor’’ which is an official
party to the Commission’s proceeding.
Only intervenors have the right to seek
rehearing of the Commission’s decision
and be heard by the courts if they
choose to appeal the Commission’s final
ruling. An intervenor formally
participates in the proceeding by filing
a request to intervene pursuant to Rule
214 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR
385.214). Motions to intervene are more
fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/
how-intervene. Please note that the
Commission will not accept requests for
intervenor status at this time. You must
wait until the Commission receives a
formal application for the project, after
which the Commission will issue a
public notice that establishes an
intervention deadline.
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 197 / Friday, October 13, 2023 / Notices
Additional Information
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. Click on the eLibrary link,
click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the
docket number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’
field. 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 eLibrary link also
provides access to the texts of all formal
documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and
rulemakings.
Public sessions or site visits will be
posted on the Commission’s calendar
located at https://www.ferc.gov/newsevents/events along with other related
information.
Dated: October 6, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–22697 Filed 10–12–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. DI22–6–000]
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Bionics Avionics Energy Design
Analysis Lab Inc.; Notice of
Declaration of Intention and Soliciting
Comments, Protests, and Motions To
Intervene
Take notice that the following
application has been filed with the
Commission and is available for public
inspection:
a. Application Type: Declaration of
Intention.
b. Docket No: DI22–6–000.
c. Date Filed: March 22, 2022.
d. Applicant: Bionics Avionics Energy
Design Analysis Lab Inc.
e. Name of Project: BAEDAL
Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: The proposed project
would be located on Bartley Creek in
Bartley, McDowell County, West
Virginia.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Section 23(b)(1)
of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C.
817(b).
h. Applicant Contact: Gyounghyun
Bae; 7607 Karver Ln., Annandale, VA
22003; telephone: (703) 489–4616;
email: gbae@cox.net.
i. FERC Contact: Ashish Desai, (202)
502–8370, or Ashish.Desai@ferc.gov.
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16:55 Oct 12, 2023
Jkt 262001
j. Deadline for filing comments,
protests, and motions to intervene is
November 6, 2023.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing. Please file comments,
protests, and motions to intervene using
the Commission’s eFiling at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Commenters can submit brief comments
up to 6,000 characters, without prior
registration, using the eComment system
at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
ecomment.asp. You must include your
name and contact information at the end
of your comments. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)
208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659
(TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you
may submit a paper copy. 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. The first
page of any filing should include docket
number DI22–6–000. Comments
emailed to Commission staff are not
considered part of the Commission
record.
k. Description of Project: The
proposed BAEDAL Hydroelectric
Project would consist of: (1) a 5-foothigh outflow levy; (2) a series of up to
40 water wheels each mounted on a 7foot radial arm and connected to a 20kilowatt generator; and (3) appurtenant
facilities.
When a Declaration of Intention is
filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, the Federal Power Act
requires the Commission to investigate
and determine if the project would
affect the interests of interstate or
foreign commerce.
l. Locations of the Application: This
filing may be viewed on the
Commission’s website at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp.
Enter the docket number excluding the
last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. You may
also register online at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via
email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects.
For assistance, call 1–866–208–3676 or
email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for
TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
m. Individuals desiring to be included
on the Commission’s mailing list should
so indicate by writing to the Secretary
of the Commission.
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70975
n. Comments, Protests, or Motions to
Intervene: Anyone may submit
comments, a protest, or a motion to
intervene in accordance with the
requirements of Rules of Practice and
Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, and
.214. In determining the appropriate
action to take, the Commission will
consider all protests or other comments
filed, but only those who file a motion
to intervene in accordance with the
Commission’s Rules may become a
party to the proceeding. Any comments,
protests, or motions to intervene must
be received on or before the specified
comment date for the particular
application.
o. Filing and Service of Responsive
Documents: All filings must bear in all
capital letters the title ‘‘COMMENTS’’,
‘‘PROTESTS’’, and ‘‘MOTIONS TO
INTERVENE’’, as applicable, and the
Docket Number of the particular
application to which the filing refers. A
copy of any Motion to Intervene must
also be served upon each representative
of the Applicant specified in the
particular application.
p. Agency Comments: Federal, state,
and local agencies are invited to file
comments on the described application.
A copy of the application may be
obtained by agencies directly from the
Applicant. If an agency does not file
comments within the time specified for
filing comments, it will be presumed to
have no comments. One copy of an
agency’s comments must also be sent to
the Applicant’s representatives.
Dated: October 5, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–22552 Filed 10–12–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP22–491–001]
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America LLC; Notice of Request for
Extension of Time
Take notice that on September 29,
2023, Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
America LLC (Natural) requested that
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission) grant an
extension of time, until December 31,
2023, to complete construction of the
Crawford Line #3 Make Piggable Project
(Project) and place the Project facilities
into service.
On July 19, 2022, Natural filed a prior
notice application, pursuant to 18 CFR
E:\FR\FM\13OCN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70972-70975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22697]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF23-2-000]
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC; Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V,
LLC; Sabine Crossing, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments
on Environmental Issues for the Planned Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage
5 Expansion Project, and Notice of Public Scoping Session
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental document that will discuss
the environmental impacts of the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage 5
Expansion Project involving construction and operation of facilities by
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC and Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC
(collectively, Sabine Pass) and Sabine Crossing, LLC (Sabine Crossing)
in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and Jefferson County, Texas. The
Commission will use this environmental document in its decision-making
process to determine whether the planned pipeline project is in the
public convenience and necessity and if the planned facility expansion
is in the public interest.
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 and
authorization. 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 Commission's NEPA process is
described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental Document section
of this notice.
By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. To ensure
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your
comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or
before 5:00pm Eastern Time on November 6, 2023. Comments may be
submitted in written or oral form. Further details on how to submit
comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this
notice.
Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impacts. Your input will help the Commission staff determine what
issues they need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission
staff will consider all written or oral comments during the preparation
of the environmental document.
If you submitted comments on this project to the Commission before
the opening of this docket on February 22, 2023, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. PF23-2-000 to ensure they are considered.
This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this planned
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a pipeline company
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the planned facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable easement agreement. You
are not required to enter into an agreement. However, if the Commission
approves the project, the Natural Gas Act conveys the right of eminent
domain to the company. Therefore, if you and the company do not reach
an easement agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings in court. In such instances, compensation would be
determined by a judge in accordance with state law. The Commission does
not subsequently grant, exercise, or oversee the exercise of that
eminent domain authority. The courts have exclusive authority to handle
eminent domain cases; the Commission has no jurisdiction over these
matters.
A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' addresses typically
asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to
participate in the Commission's proceedings. This fact sheet along with
other landowner topics of interest are available for viewing on the
FERC website (www.ferc.gov) under the Natural Gas, Landowner Topics
link.
Public Participation
There are four methods you can use to submit your comments to the
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected].
(1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov)
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment is an easy method for
submitting brief, text-only comments on a project;
(2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located 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
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will be asked to select the type of filing you are making; a comment on
a particular project is considered a ``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 (PF23-2-
000) 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.
(4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you
to attend one of the public scoping sessions its staff will conduct in
the project area, scheduled as follows:
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Date and time Location
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Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 4-7 p.m Johnson Bayou Recreation Center, 135
Berwick Rd., Cameron, LA 70631,
(337) 569-2288.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 4-7 West Side Development Center, 625 W
p.m. Rev Dr Ransom Howard St., Port
Arthur, TX 77640, (409) 984-9096.
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The primary goal of these scoping sessions is to have you identify
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be
considered in the environmental document. Individual oral comments will
be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is
designed to receive the maximum amount of oral comments in a convenient
way during the timeframe allotted.
Each scoping session is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Central
Standard Time. You may arrive at any time after 4 p.m. There will not
be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session opens. If
you wish to speak, the Commission staff will hand out numbers in the
order of your arrival. Comments will be taken until 7 p.m. However, if
no additional numbers have been handed out and all individuals who wish
to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may
conclude the session at 6:30 p.m. Please see appendix 1 for additional
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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\1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendices were sent to all
those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at
www.ferc.gov using the link called ``eLibrary''. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. At
this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's
Public Reference Room. For assistance, contact FERC at
[email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY
(202) 502-8659.
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Your scoping comments will be recorded by a court reporter (with
FERC staff or representative present) and become part of the public
record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on
FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page of this notice for
instructions on using eLibrary). If a significant number of people are
interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a
time limit of 3 minutes may be implemented for each commentor.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form
or provided orally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review
process. Representatives from Sabine Pass and Sabine Crossing will also
be present to answer project-specific questions.
Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription, which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances
and submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe.
These instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive
notification and provide a link to the document files which can reduce
the amount of time you spend researching proceedings. 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].
Summary of the Planned Project
To support customer's requirements for natural gas, Sabine Pass and
Sabine Crossing plan to expand existing liquefied natural gas (LNG)
facilities and construct a new natural gas pipeline to provide a feed
supply. The Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage 5 Expansion Project
(Project) would be located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and Jefferson
County, Texas and would consist of constructing the following
facilities:
Three natural gas liquefaction trains;
Two aboveground LNG storage tanks;
Flares;
Boil off gas re-liquefaction unit;
Operations and maintenance building;
A new 5.3-mile, 48-inch diameter natural gas pipeline; and
Other associated utility and support facilities.
Sabine Pass also proposes modifications to existing ship-loading
facilities.
The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix
2.
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the planned facilities would disturb about 1,013.4
acres of land for the LNG facilities and the pipeline. Following
construction, Sabine Pass and Sabine Crossing would maintain about
884.1 acres for permanent operation of the Project's facilities; the
remaining acreage would be restored and could revert to former uses.
About 60 percent of the planned pipeline route parallels existing
pipeline, utility, or road rights-of-way.
NEPA Process and the Environmental Document
Any environmental document issued by Commission staff will discuss
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation
of the planned project under the relevant general resource areas:
Geology and soils;
Water resources and wetlands;
Vegetation and wildlife;
Threatened and endangered species;
Cultural resources;
Land use;
Socioeconomics;
Environmental justice;
Air quality and noise; and
[[Page 70974]]
Reliability and safety.
Commission staff have already identified several issues that
deserve attention based on a preliminary review of the planned
facilities and the environmental information provided by Sabine Pass
and Sabine Crossing. This preliminary list of issues may change based
on your comments and our analysis:
Permanent wetland impacts;
Shipping channel traffic;
Flooding and storm surge;
Cumulative impacts; and
Alternative facility designs.
Commission staff will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the
planned project or portions of the project and make recommendations on
how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas. Your
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental
document.
Although no formal application has been filed, Commission staff
have already initiated a NEPA review under the Commission's pre-filing
process. The purpose of the pre-filing process is to encourage early
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve
issues before the Commission receives an application. As part of the
pre-filing review, Commission staff will contact federal and state
agencies to discuss their involvement in the scoping process and the
preparation of the environmental document.
If a formal application is filed, Commission staff will then
determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present
Commission staff's independent analysis of the environmental issues. If
Commission staff prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may
be issued for an allotted public comment period. The Commission would
consider timely comments on the EA before making its determination on
the proposed project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of
Intent to Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued once an
application is filed, which will open an additional public comment
period. Staff will then prepare a draft EIS that will be issued for
public comment. Commission staff will consider all timely comments
received during the comment period on the draft EIS, and revise the
document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any EA or draft and
final EIS will be available in electronic format in the public record
through eLibrary \2\ and the Commission's natural gas environmental
documents web page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents). If eSubscribed, you will receive
instant email notification when the environmental document is issued.
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\2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the
last page of this notice.
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With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the
environmental issues related to this project to formally cooperate in
the preparation of the environmental document.\3\ Agencies that would
like to request cooperating agency status should follow the
instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this notice. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Galveston District and the National Marine Fisheries Service
have expressed their intention to participate as a cooperating agency
in the preparation of the environmental document.
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\3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, 1501.8.
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Consultation Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act
In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, the Commission is using this notice to initiate
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s),
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential
effects on historic properties.\4\ The environmental document for this
project will document our findings on the impacts on historic
properties and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
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\4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List
The environmental mailing list includes federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the project and includes a mailing address with their
comments. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to
this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations,
and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by
the planned project.
If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of
the following steps:
(1) Send an email to [email protected] stating your
request. You must include the docket number PF23-2-000 in your request.
If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure to
include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to
accept comments.
OR
(2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 3).
Becoming an Intervenor
Once Sabine Pass and Sabine Crossing file their application with
the Commission, you may want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an
official party to the Commission's proceeding. Only intervenors have
the right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214). Motions to intervene are more
fully described at https://www.ferc.gov/how-intervene. Please note that
the Commission will not accept requests for intervenor status at this
time. You must wait until the Commission receives a formal application
for the project, after which the Commission will issue a public notice
that establishes an intervention deadline.
[[Page 70975]]
Additional Information
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. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number
in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at [email protected] or toll free at (866) 208-3676,
or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides
access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission,
such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events along with
other related information.
Dated: October 6, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-22697 Filed 10-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P