Department of State August 18, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On March 15, 2013, the U.S. Department of State (the Department) issued a Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and To Conduct Scoping and To Initiate Consultation Consistent With the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for the Proposed Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, Line 67 Capacity Expansion Project (2013 NOI) in the Federal Register (78 FR 16565-67). The 2013 NOI informed the public that the Department would be preparing an SEIS in support of its review of a November 2012 application from Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (Enbridge) for a new Presidential Permit that would, if granted, authorize Enbridge to operate its existing Line 67 at the pipeline's full design capacity. A description of the proposed project is included in the 2013 NOI. Since that time, Enbridge has amended and supplemented its November 2012 application. In June 2014, Enbridge informed the Department that Enbridge intends to increase pumping capacity outside of the Line 67 ``border segment'' (the portion of Line 67 from the Canadian border to the first main line shut-off valve, which is the segment that would be covered by a Presidential Permit), and to interconnect Line 67 with another Enbridge line (Line 3) on either side of the border segment. Enbridge is proceeding with certain elements of these plans. Enbridge submitted documents for public release in July 2014 which can be found at https://www.state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/c55571.htm. In light of the changes in the project description, the Department is issuing this amended NOI and is conducting additional public scoping. In addition, a different third-party contractor is assisting the Department with the SEIS process than the firm that was named in the 2013 NOI.