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Bayou Casotte Energy LLC; Gulf LNG Energy LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Casotte Landing LNG Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, Notice of Public Scoping Meeting, and Site Visit for Both Casotte Landing LNG Project and LNG Clean Energy Project
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: April 13, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 70)]
[Notices]
[Page 19433-19435]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ap05-93]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket Nos. PF05-9-000, PF05-5-000]
Bayou Casotte Energy LLC; Gulf LNG Energy LLC; Notice of Intent
To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Casotte
Landing LNG Project, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues,
Notice of Public Scoping Meeting, and Site Visit for Both Casotte
Landing LNG Project and LNG Clean Energy Project
April 7, 2005.
The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that
will discuss the environmental impacts of the Casotte Landing LNG
Project proposed for construction in Jackson County, Mississippi, by
Bayou Casotte Energy LLC (hereafter referred to as Bayou Casotte
Energy). The proposed facilities would consist of a liquefied natural
gas (LNG) import terminal and an interconnecting natural gas pipeline.
The Commission will use this EIS in its decision-making process to
determine whether the LNG terminal is in the public interest and the
pipeline is in the public convenience and necessity. This notice
explains the scoping process that we \1\ will use to gather input from
the public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help
us determine the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS.
Comments on the project may be submitted in written form or
verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are
provided in the public participation section of this notice. In lieu of
sending written comments, we invite you to attend a public scoping
meeting that we have scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 7 p.m. (CDT); Casotte Landing LNG
Project, and the LNG Clean Energy Project, Pascagoula High School, 1716
Tucker Avenue, Pascagoula, MS 39567.
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\1\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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At the public scoping meeting, you will also be provided with the
opportunity to provide comments on the LNG Clean Energy Project, which
is a similar project proposed for construction by Gulf LNG Energy LLC
at the Port of Pascagoula, in Jackson County, Mississippi. The LNG
Clean Energy Project is currently being reviewed by the FERC under
Docket No. PF05-5-000. Our Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the
LNG Clean Energy Project was issued on March 3, 2005.
The Commission staff will conduct a field trip for both projects
which will include the proposed LNG terminal locations, and portions of
the proposed send out pipeline routes. Anyone interested in
participating in the field trip may attend, but they must provide their
own transportation. We will meet on April 20, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. (CDT)
at: Wal-Mart parking lot in Pascagoula at the intersection of Highways
90 and 63.
FERC will be the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the EIS.
The document will satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
This notice is being sent to residents within 0.5 mile of the
proposed LNG terminal site; Federal, state, and local government
agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups;
Native American tribes; and local libraries and newspapers. We
encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of
this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of
concern.
Potentially affected landowners may be contacted by a project
representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct,
operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. If so, the company would
seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the
project is approved by the Commission, that approval conveys with it
the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail
to produce an agreement, the company could initiate condemnation
proceedings in accordance with state law.
FERC prepared a fact sheet entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas
Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?''. This fact sheet
addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of
eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission's proceedings.
It is available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web site
(http://www.ferc.gov). 
Summary of the Proposed Casotte Landing LNG Project
Bayou Casotte Energy proposes to construct and operate an LNG
import terminal and a natural gas pipeline to provide a new supply of
competitively priced natural gas to U.S. domestic markets. The facility
would be located on Bayou Casotte (East Harbor), Port of Pascagoula in
Jackson County, Mississippi, and would be accessible from the Bayou
Casotte ship channel. The Casotte Landing Project would receive LNG
from carrier ships and transfer it to onshore LNG storage tanks. The
LNG would then be vaporized and sent out to the existing interstate
natural gas pipeline system at an average rate of approximately 1.3
billion cubic feet per day. Bayou Casotte Energy anticipates that it
would send out natural gas through one or more of the four existing
pipelines in the vicinity of the proposed terminal site. The project
would consist of the following facilities:
? An LNG terminal consisting of a turning basin, berthing
slip and pier, and unloading facilities for a single LNG carrier. The
berthing slip and unloading facilities would be designed to accommodate
LNG carriers ranging in capacity from 138,000 to 200,000 cubic meter (m
3) capacity. The terminal would receive approximately 166
LNG shipments per year;
? Three onshore, approximately 160,000 m3
capacity, full containment LNG storage tanks;
? Vaporization facilities; and
? Pipeline facilities to transport natural gas from the
terminal to interconnect with one or more of four existing pipelines
located within five miles of the proposed LNG terminal facility.
A map depicting the proposed terminal site and nearby natural gas
pipelines is provided in Appendix 1.\2\
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\2\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being
printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, other
than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission's Internet
Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) 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 last page of this notice. Copies
of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail.
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Land Requirements
Bayou Casotte Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron
U.S.A., Inc. (CUSA). The LNG terminal would be located on a 95 acre lot
within a former industrial site adjacent to the existing CUSA
Pascagoula Refinery, on land that is either owned or controlled by
CUSA. The nearest residence is located greater than 1 mile away from
the proposed terminal site. Although the proposed terminal site is
located near the mouth of the Bayou Casotte ship channel, the project
would require dredging of a turning basin and berth to achieve the
required size and depth to accommodate LNG carriers.
Several alternatives for send-out natural gas pipelines are under
consideration. Pipelines would be located preferentially on land owned
or controlled by CUSA and/or situated so
[[Page 19434]]
that their right-of-way overlaps that of existing pipelines.
The EIS Process
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 issues and concerns the public may
have about proposals submitted to the Commission. 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, we are requesting agency and
public comments on the scope of the issues to be analyzed and presented
in the EIS. All scoping comments received will be considered during the
preparation of the EIS. To ensure your comments are considered, please
carefully follow the instructions in the public participation section
of this notice.
In the EIS, 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.
? Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands.
? Vegetation and wildlife.
? Endangered and threatened species.
? Land use.
? Cultural resources.
? Air quality and noise.
? Public safety.
? Cumulative impacts.
Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft
EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal, state, and local
government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public
interest groups; Native American tribes; affected landowners; other
interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; and the
Commission's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day
comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will
consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as
necessary, before issuing a final EIS. In addition, we will consider
all comments on the final EIS before making our recommendations to the
Commission.
Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has
already initiated its NEPA review under its NEPA Pre-filing Process.
The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage the early
involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve
issues before an application is filed with the FERC. A docket number
(PF05-9-000) has been established to place information filed by Bayou
Casotte Energy and other interested entities, as well as related
documents issued by the Commission, into the public record.\3\ Once a
formal application is filed with the FERC, a new docket number will be
established.
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\3\ To view information in the docket, follow the instructions
for using the eLibrary link at the end of this notice.
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With this notice, 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 EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once they have
evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Agencies
that would like to request cooperating status should follow the
instructions for filing comments provided under the Public
Participation section of this Notice.
Currently Identified Environmental Issues
We have identified several issues that we think deserve attention
based on a preliminary review of the project site and facility
information provided by Bayou Casotte Energy. This preliminary list of
issues may be changed based on your comments and our continuing analysis.
? Cumulative impacts including the LNG Clean Energy Project also
proposed for construction at the Port of Pascagoula.
? Water Resources.
--Assessment of construction effects on water quality.
--Review of wetland areas impacted on the terminal site.
--Dredge material management and potential impacts to water quality
associated with dredging and construction activities.
? Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation.
--Effects on wildlife and fisheries including commercial and
recreational fisheries.
--Potential impacts of water intake/discharge systems and their
potential impact on marine species.
? 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.
Our evaluation will also include possible alternatives to the
proposed project or portions of the project, and we will make
recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on the various
resource areas of concern.
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 will be addressed in the 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 measures to avoid or lessen environmental impact. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please carefully
follow these instructions:
? Send an original and two copies of your letter to:Magalie
R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
? Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas
Branch 2, DG2E;
? Reference Docket No. PF05-9-000 on the original and both
copies; and
? Mail your comments so that they will be received in
Washington, DC on or before May 6, 2005.
Please note that we are continuing to experience delays in mail
deliveries from the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, we will 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 Internet 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 will need to 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 Mailing List Retention
Form included in Appendix 2.
The public scoping meeting to be held on April 20, 2005, at the
Pascagoula High School, is designed to provide another opportunity to
offer 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 meeting will be generated so that your
comments will be accurately recorded.
Once Bayou Casotte Energy formally files its application with the
Commission, you may want to become
[[Page 19435]]
an official party to the proceeding known as an ``intervenor.''
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 Internet
Web site. Please note that you may not request intervenor status at
this time. You must wait until a formal application is filed with the
Commission.
Availability of Additional Information
Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC 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 docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number
field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary helpline can be reached at 1-
866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. 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.
Further, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/
EventsList.aspx along with other related information.
Finally, Bayou Casotte Energy has established an Internet web site
for its project at http://www.chevrontexaco.com/CasotteLanding.
The Web site includes a description of the proposed project, maps of the
proposed terminal site, and a link for the public to submit comments on
the proposed project. You can also request additional information on
the project or provide comments directly to Bayou Casotte Energy by
telephone at (877) 424-5495, by e-mail at casotte@chevrontexaco.com, or
by U.S. Mail at ChevronTexaco Global Gas, Re: Casotte Landing LNG
Project, P.O. Box 1404, Houston, TX 77351-1404.
Linda Mitry,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-1735 Filed 4-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P