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Sempra Energy LNG, Sempra Energy International; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Port Arthur LNG Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of Scoping Meetings
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: December 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 76936-76938]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de04-62]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. PF04-11-000]
Sempra Energy LNG, Sempra Energy International; Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Port Arthur LNG
Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues and Notice of
Scoping Meetings
December 15, 2004.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) plans to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS)
that discusses the environmental impacts of the Sempra Energy LNG's and
Sempra Energy International's (collectively referred to as Sempra)
proposed Port Arthur LNG Project involving construction and operation
of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal, natural gas pipelines
and associated facilities in Jefferson County, Texas and Cameron,
Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes, Louisiana. This EIS will be used by
the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
The Port Arthur LNG is currently in the preliminary stages of
design and at this time a formal application has not been filed with
the Commission. For this project, the Commission is initiating the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review prior to receiving the
application. This allows interested stakeholders to become involved
early in the project planning and to identify and resolve issues before
a formal application is filed with the FERC. A docket number (PF04-11-
000) has been established to place information filed by Sempra and
related documents issued by the Commission, into the public record.\1\
Once a formal application is filed with the FERC, a new docket number
will be established.
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\1\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions
for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice.
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This notice is being sent to residents within 0.5 mile of the
proposed LNG terminal site; landowners along the pipeline routes under
consideration; Federal, state, and local government agencies; elected
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American
tribes; and local libraries and newspapers.
With this notice, we \2\ 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 EIS.\3\ These agencies may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies
which would like to request cooperating status should follow the
instructions for filing comments described later in this notice. We
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
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\2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects.
\3\ Agencies which have previously requested cooperating status
for this project need not request it again.
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Some affected landowners may be contacted by a project
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct,
operate, and maintain the proposed pipeline. If so, the company should
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. In the event that
the project is certificated by the Commission, that approval conveys
the right of eminent domain for securing easements for the pipeline.
Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the
company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with
state law.
Summary of the Proposed Project
Sempra proposes to construct and operate an LNG import terminal and
two natural gas pipelines to import LNG and deliver up to 1.5 billion
cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas during Phase I, increasing to
3.0 Bcf/d during Phase II, to existing intrastate and interstate
pipeline systems.
The LNG terminal proposal would be located approximately 10 miles
south of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas and 2 miles northwest of
the town of Sabine Pass. The terminal would be located on a 286-acre
site along State Highway (SH) 87, immediately adjacent to the J.D.
Murphree Wildlife Management Area and along the west bank of the
Sabine-Neches Waterway (Port Arthur Ship Channel).
The terminal would be designed to accept LNG cargo, temporarily
store and vaporize LNG, and would contain two ship berths, and up to
six storage tanks, each with a net usable volume of 160,000 cubic
meters (m3) or 1,006,000 barrels (each tank would be
approximately 150 feet tall and 250 feet in diameter). Phase I would
involve the construction of three storage tanks with an additional
three tanks being added in Phase II.
The terminal would contain a dedicated slip and berths capable of
accommodating the unloading of two LNG tankers. The berths would be
designed for LNG tankers, such that the entire ship within the slip
would be outside of the existing ship channel. One LNG tanker would
visit the terminal every 2 days in the initial phase, increasing to one
tanker every day in the second phase.
The pipelines would consist of two 36-inch-diameter natural gas
send out pipelines to transport the vaporized natural gas to the
existing interstate gas facilities. The first pipeline would consist of
a 3.0-mile long pipeline from the terminal, heading south to an
interconnection with the existing NGPL facilities in Jefferson County,
Texas. The second pipeline would consist of a 70.0-mile long pipeline
from the terminal, traveling northeast across Sabine Lake through
Jefferson County, Texas and into Cameron, Calcasieu, and Beauregard
Parishes, Louisiana to an interconnection with the existing Transco
pipeline system.
A map depicting the proposed terminal site and the pipeline routes
is provided in Appendix 1.\4\
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\4\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available on the
Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) 
at the ``eLibrary'' link or from the Commission's Public Reference and
Files Maintenance Branch at (202) 502-8371. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary refer to the last page of this notice.
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Non-Jurisdictional Facilities
The proposed project would require the relocation of approximately
3.3 miles of SH 87 as well as existing pipelines and other utilities
that parallel the highway. Sempra would relocate the highway on
property that is already owned by the company.
There are five gas or oil pipelines and a water line that would
also have to be relocated or abandoned. The length of each pipeline to
be relocated is approximately three miles. These pipelines would be re-
routed to the west of the LNG terminal along the east side of the re-
located SH 87. Telephone and power lines would also be relocated
concurrently with SH 87.
The proposed LNG terminal would require electrical service. Entergy
would install a new 230 kilovolt (kV) interconnecting transmission line
consisting of two independent 230 kV electrical transmission/
distribution lines and a new substation. The proposed substation would
be located on a 500 foot by 450 foot (approximately 5.17 acre) site
within the LNG terminal property boundary. The new Entergy substation
would provide dedicated and redundant service for the terminal.
[[Page 76937]]
Land Requirements for Construction
Construction of the proposed facilities would require approximately
190 acres for the terminal permanent facilities of which approximately
115 acres are for the marine facilities. An additional 68.5 acres of
area outside of the LNG terminal would be used for temporary
construction areas (laydown, office, and parking), for a total of 183.6
acres of disturbance for construction. The ship berths would require
dredging to achieve the required size and depth to accommodate the LNG
tanker ships.
The two pipelines would be constructed on a nominal 100-foot-wide
right-of-way with occasional increases in the right-of-way width for
additional workspace at waterbody, highway, and railroad crossings, and
for topsoil storage. Other temporary land requirements would include
land for pipe storage and equipment yards. Operation of the pipeline
facilities would require a nominal 50-foot-wide permanent right-of-way.
Construction of the 3.0 mile natural gas pipeline would affect a
total of 28.3 acres. Approximately 11.3 acres of the total would be
retained for operation of the pipeline and aboveground facilities.
Construction of the 70.0 mile natural gas pipeline would affect a
total of approximately 374.5 acres of land. Approximately 150.0 acres
would be retained for operation of the pipeline and above ground
facilities.
The EIS Process
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or an import
authorization under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also
requires us to discover and address concerns the public would have
about proposals. This process is referred to as ``scoping''. The main
goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the
important environmental issues and reasonable alternatives. By this
Notice of Intent, the Commission staff requests agency and public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EIS. All comments
received are considered during the preparation of the EIS. State and
local government representatives are encouraged to notify their
constituents of this proposed action and encourage them to comment on
their areas of concern.
The EIS discusses 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, and wetlands
? Cultural resources
? Vegetation and wildlife
? Air quality and noise
? Endangered and threatened species
? Hazardous waste
? Public safety
We may also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project
or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen
or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
Our independent analysis of the issues are included in the draft
EIS. Depending on the comments received during the scoping process, the
draft EIS would be published and mailed to federal, state, and local
agencies, Native American tribes, public interest groups, interested
individuals, affected landowners, newspapers, libraries, and the
Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day
comment period would be allotted for review of the draft EIS. All
comments on the draft EIS would be considered and the document revised
before issuing a final EIS. This draft EIS is used by the Commission in
its decision-making process to determine whether the project is in the
public convenience and necessity.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have identified several issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the proposed facilities and the
environmental information provided by Sempra. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your comments and our analysis.
? Geology and Soils
Assessment of dredged material management plan, including the
potential for beneficial uses of dredged material.
? Water Resources
Assessment of construction effects on water quality.
Review of wetland areas impacted on the terminal site.
Impacts of constructing pipelines through coastal marshes.
Impacts of construction through Sabine Lake.
? Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation
Effects on wildlife and fisheries including commercial and
recreational fisheries.
Potential effect of electric transmission lines on shore birds and
other birds.
? Endangered and Threatened Species
Effects on federally-listed species.
Effects on essential fish habitat.
? Reliability and Safety
Safety and security of the terminal and pipeline.
LNG shipping.
Public Participation
You can make a difference by providing us with your specific
comments or concerns about the project. By becoming a commentor, your
concerns may be addressed in the EA/EIS and considered by the
Commission. You should focus on the potential environmental effects of
the proposal, alternatives to the proposal (including alternative
locations and routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental
impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful they may be.
Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments
are received in time and properly recorded:
? Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
? Label one copy of the comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 2; and
? Reference Docket No. PF04-11-000 on the original and both copies.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we would include
all comments that we receive within a reasonable time frame in our
environmental analysis of this project. However, the Commission
strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions
or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the
instructions on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.gov
under the ``e-Filing'' link and the link to the User's Guide.
Before you can file comments you should create a free account which can
be created on-line.
If you do not want to send comments at this time but still want to
remain on our mailing list, please return the attached Mailing List
Retention Form (Appendix 2). If you do not return the form, you may be
taken off the mailing list.
Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
[[Page 76938]]
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the
FERC Internet website (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary
link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter
the docket number excluding the last three digits 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 for TTY,
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
In addition, the Commission 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.
Public Scoping Meeting
In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, we invite
you to attend the public scoping meetings we will conduct in the area.
The locations and times for these meetings are listed below:
January 11, 2005, 7 p.m. (c.s.t.), VFW Post 9854, 2292 Highway 109
South, Vinton, LA 70668, (337) 589-5832; and
January 12, 2005, 7 p.m. (c.s.t.), Holiday Inn, 2929 Jimmy Johnson
Boulevard, Port Arthur, TX 77642, (409) 724-5000.
The public scoping meetings are designed to provide state and local
agencies, interested groups, affected landowners, and the general
public with more detailed information and another opportunity to offer
your comments on the proposed project. Interested groups and
individuals are encouraged to attend the meeting and to present
comments on the environmental issues they believe should be addressed
in the EIS. A transcript of the meetings will be made so that your
comments will be accurately recorded.
Finally, public meetings will be posted on the Commission's
calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx
along with other related information.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-3792 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P