[Federal Register: January 21, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 3588-3590]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ja09-71]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. CP03-75-003; CP03-75-004; CP05-361-001; CP05-361-002]
Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Freeport LNG Export and Bog
Liquefaction and Truck Delivery Facilities Projects and Request for
Comments on Environmental Issues
January 12, 2009.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
address the environmental impacts of the Freeport LNG Export Project
(Export Project) and Bog Liquefaction and Truck Delivery Facilities
Project (BOG/Truck Project) collective called the Freeport Projects
proposed by Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) in Brazoria
County, Texas.\1\ This EA will be used by the Commission in its
decision-making process to determine whether or not to authorize the
projects.\2\
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\1\ During routine terminal operations, ambient heat in the LNG
storage tanks and piping causes small amount of LNG to evaporate.
The vaporizing LNG is referred to as BOG or boil-off gas. The BOG
increases the storage tank pressure until a point where it must be
transferred, flared, or re-liquefied.
\2\ On November 19, and December 9, 2008, Freeport LNG filed its
applications with the Commission under section 3 of the Natural Gas
Act and Part 157 of the Commission's regulations. The Commission
issued its Notices of Application on December 2, and 16, 2009.
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This notice announces the opening of the scoping process we \3\
will use to gather environmental input from the public and interested
agencies on the projects. Your input will help the Commission staff
determine which issues need to be addressed.
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\3\ `We,' `us,' and `our' refer to the environmental staff of
the FERC's Office of Energy Projects.
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This notice is being sent to affected landowners; 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. State and local
government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
Summary of the Proposed Projects
Export Project
The purpose of the project is to add Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
export
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capabilities/functionality to the previously authorized Freeport LNG
Terminal Facilities located in Brazoria County, Texas. Freeport LNG is
seeking authorization to operate its facility for the purpose of
exporting LNG. Freeport LNG proposes to operate its existing Freeport
LNG Terminal facility to export LNG on a short-term basis by holding
cargos of imported LNG in its LNG tanks for re-export. To accomplish
this, Freeport LNG would replace a check valve and upgrade a control
valve. Both valves are on the existing dock of the Freeport LNG
Terminal. The existing dock is shown in the figure included as Appendix
1.\4\
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\4\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices are
available on the Commission's Web site at the ``eLibrary'' link or
from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 502-8371. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the Public Participation section of
this notice. Copies of the appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail.
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The proposed replacement and modification of the valves would allow
the LNG to be transferred from the LNG storage tanks through the
existing LNG transfer lines to the unloading/loading arms and to a
receiving ship for export and transportation.
BOG/Truck Project
The purpose of the project is to provide greater latitude to
acquire LNG for maintenance and operation of the existing Phase I
facilities at the previously authorized Freeport LNG Terminal
Facilities located in Brazoria County, Texas during periods when LNG
deliveries may not otherwise be available. The general locations of
these facilities are shown on the map in Appendix 1. The BOG
liquefaction facilities would consist of:
One BOG liquefaction heat exchanger;
One BOG liquefaction expander-compressor;
Two BOG refrigeration compressor units (approximately
1,380 horsepower each);
Natural gas piping, 4- to 12-inch-diameter aboveground
piping; and
LNG piping, 4-inch-diameter aboveground piping.
These facilities would allow Freeport to liquefy about 5 million
cubic feet per day of BOG and return it to the LNG storage tanks in
order to keep the tanks in the necessary cryogenic state. The BOG
liquefaction system would also require pressure and temperature
controllers; and associated electrical, control, lighting
instrumentation, and communication systems.
In addition, Freeport LNG is proposing certain facility
modifications to enable it to undertake LNG truck unloading activities
in the event that the BOG liquefaction facilities are not available.
LNG would be trucked in from an existing commercial LNG supplier (Clean
Energy Fuels Corporation) located 40 miles north of Houston. The truck
unloading facilities would require the installation of a single 4-inch-
diameter inlet connection and valves on one of the existing LNG
transfer lines and a 25 horsepower portable electric pump, if needed.
Freeport LNG would use these facilities to transfer the LNG from the
trucks to the existing tanks. Freeport LNG anticipates that it would
receive truck deliveries per day, totaling 66,000 gallons of LNG during
the periods when delivery by truck would be required.
If approved, Freeport LNG proposes to commence construction of the
proposed facilities in spring of 2009.
Land Requirements
Since the Freeport LNG Terminal already includes all required plant
components to facilitate the Export Project other than the valve
modifications, no land disturbance would be required.
The land that would be disturbed for the BOG/Truck Project would be
within the footprint of the existing LNG facility.
The EA Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action. The FERC will use the EA to consider the
environmental impact that could result if the project is authorized
under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to
discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This
process is referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping
process is to focus the analysis in the EA on the important
environmental issues. By this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff
requests public comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in
the EA. All comments received will be considered during preparation of
the EA.
In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed project under these
general headings:
Geology and soils;
Land use;
Water resources, fisheries, ballast water, and wetlands;
Cultural resources;
Vegetation and wildlife;
Threatened and endangered species;
Air quality and noise;
Hazardous waste; and
Public safety.
In the EA, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the
proposed projects, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid
impacts on affected resources.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be in the EA. Depending
on the comments received during the scoping process, the EA may be
published and mailed to federal, state, and local agencies, public
interest groups, interested individuals, affected landowners,
newspapers, libraries, and the Commission's official service list for
this proceeding. A comment period will be allotted for review if the EA
is published. We will consider all comments on the EA before we make
our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure your comments are
considered, please carefully follow the instructions in the public
participation section below
With this NOI, we are asking federal, state, and local agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues to formally cooperate with us in the preparation
of the EA. These agencies may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Additional
agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should
follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this NOI.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and
the environmental information provided by Freeport LNG. This
preliminary list of issues may be changed based on your comments and
our analysis.
Potential impacts on water quality.
Potential impacts on air quality and potential noise
emissions may occur.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the Freeport Projects. Your comments should
focus on the potential 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 that
your
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comments are timely and properly recorded, please send in your comments
so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before February
11, 2009.
For your convenience, there are three methods which you can use to
submit your comments to the Commission. In all instances please
reference the project docket number CP03-75-003 and CP03-75-004 with
your submission. The docket numbers can be found on the front of this
notice. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has
dedicated eFiling expert staff available to assist you at 202-502-8258
or efiling@ferc.gov.
(1) You may file your comments electronically by using the Quick
Comment feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site
at http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. A Quick
Comment is an easy method for interested persons to submit text-only
comments on a project;
(2) You may file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature, which is located on the Commission's Internet Web site at
http://www.ferc.gov under the link to Documents and Filings. eFiling
involves preparing your submission in the same manner as you would if
filing on paper, and then saving the file on your computer's hard
drive. You will attach that file as your submission. New eFiling users
must first create an account by clicking on ``Sign up'' or
``eRegister.'' You 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 may file your comments via mail to the Commission by
sending an original and two copies of your letter to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE.,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas Branch 2,
PJ11.2.
Environmental Mailing List
An effort is being made to send this notice to all individuals,
organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially
affected by the proposed project. This includes all who own homes
within distances defined in the Commission's regulations of certain
aboveground facilities.
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on our mailing list, please return the Information Request
(Appendix 2). If you do not return the Information Request, you will be
taken off the mailing list.
Becoming an Intervenor
In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an ``intervenor,'' which is an official party to the
proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are
able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if
they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor
formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to
intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the
User's Guide under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on
the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the ``eLibrary
link.'' Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and
enter the project docket number excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
CP03-75) 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 1-866-208-3676,
or TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet
Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued
by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the FERC now 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 http://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-1020 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P