[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50843-50845]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20746]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. PF15-26-000]

Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC, Cheniere Corpus Christi
Pipeline, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment
for the Planned Stage 3 Project, and Request for Comments on
Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Corpus Christi Liquefaction,
LLC's (CCL's) and Cheniere Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P.'s (CCPL's)
Stage 3 Project (Project) involving the expansion of the liquefied
natural gas (LNG) liquefaction and storage capacity of the previously
approved Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project (Liquefaction Project)
(Docket Nos. CP12-507-000 and CP12-508-000); and new associated bi-
directional interstate natural gas pipeline facilities (Stage 3
Pipeline) in San Patricio County, Texas. The Commission will use this
EA in its decision-making process to determine whether the Project is
in the public convenience and necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the Project. You can make a difference by providing us with
your specific comments or concerns about the Project. 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 EA. The Commission staff will also use the
scoping process to help determine whether preparation of an
environmental impact statement is more appropriate for this Project
based upon the potential significance of the anticipated levels of
impact. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded,
please send your comments so that the Commission receives them in
Washington, DC on or before September 16, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on June 9, 2015, you will need to file those
comments in Docket No. PF15-26-000 to ensure they are considered as
part of this proceeding.
    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 agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law.
    A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural
Gas Facility On My Land? What Do I Need To Know?'' is available for
viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). 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.

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at
(202) 502-8258 or<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please carefully follow these
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This 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 on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. 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.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project,
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address. Be sure to reference the Project docket number
(PF15-26-000) with your submission: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426.
    Please note this is not your only public input opportunity; please
refer to the review process flow chart in Appendix 1.\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'' or from the
Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE.,
Washington, DC 20426, or call<PHONE_NUMBER>. For instructions on
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice.
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Summary of the Planned Project

    CCL and CCPL plan to expand the LNG liquefaction and storage
capacity of the recently authorized Liquefaction Project. The planned
Project would include the addition of two liquefaction trains, each
capable of processing up to approximately 700 million cubic feet per
day of natural gas, one 160,000 cubic meter (m\3\) full containment LNG
tank, one 22-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline, additional
compression at the Sinton Compressor Station, and appurtenant
facilities located within San Patricio County, Texas. According to CCL
and CCPL, its Project would expand the Liquefaction Project's
production capabilities and increase the sale of domestic natural gas
as LNG to the global market.
    The Stage 3 Project would consist of the following facilities:
     LNG Facilities:
    [cir] Two LNG liquefaction trains, each capable of producing a
maximum of approximately 5 million tonnes per annum of LNG;
    [cir] One 160,000 m\3\ full containment LNG storage tank;
    [cir] Interconnecting piping and an LNG transfer line;
    [cir] Control and safety systems; and
    [cir] Utilities, infrastructure, and support systems.
     Pipeline Facilities:
    [cir] An approximately 22-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline
originating north of the City of Sinton, Texas and terminating at the
Stage 3 Project LNG facilities;
    [cir] Two electric motor driven compressor units to provide a total
of approximately 32 megawatts of additional compression at the existing
Sinton Compressor Station; and
    [cir] Meter and regulator (M&R) stations, launcher/receiver
facilities, and mainline valves (MLVs) at various locations along the
planned pipeline route.
    The general location of the Project facilities is shown in Appendix
2.

Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the LNG facilities would require approximately 826
acres of land, of which 658 acres will have been impacted by the
previously authorized Liquefaction Project. Following construction,
approximately 368 acres of land would be maintained for permanent
operation of the Project's LNG facilities, of which 351 acres was
previously approved for operation of the Liquefaction Project
facilities. CCL and CCPL are still in the design phase of the pipeline
facilities, and workspace requirements for the M&R stations, launcher/
receiver facilities, and MLVs have not been finalized. However,
construction of the 42-inch pipeline, which would generally parallel
the previously authorized 48-inch Corpus Christi Pipeline, and planned
facilities at the Sinton Compressor Station would temporarily disturb a
total of approximately 388 acres of land. Following construction, CCL
and CCPL would maintain approximately 110 acres for operation of the
new permanent pipeline easement. Permanent land impacts associated with
operation of the planned facilities at the Sinton Compressor Station
have yet to be determined.

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 whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NEPA also requires us
\2\ 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, the Commission requests public
comments on the scope of the issues to address in the EA. We will
consider all filed comments during the preparation of the EA.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the planned Project under these
general headings:
     geology and soils;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     socioeconomics;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts.
    We will also evaluate possible 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.
    Although no formal application has been filed, we have already
initiated our 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 FERC receives an application. As part of our pre-filing review, we
have begun to contact some federal and state agencies to discuss their
involvement in the scoping process and the preparation of the EA.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. We will
consider all comments on the EA before we make our recommendations to
the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section, beginning on page 2 of this notice.

    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues
related to this Project to formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EA.\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 no agencies have expressed their intention to
participate as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA to
satisfy their NEPA responsibilities related to this Project.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations 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, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with the Texas Historical Commission which has been given the role of
the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for Texas, and to
solicit the SHPO's review and those of other government agencies,
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the Project's potential
effects on historic properties.\4\ We will define the Project-specific
Area of Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO(s) as the
Project develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a
minimum encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples
include construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards,
compressor stations, and access roads). Our EA 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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Currently Identified Environmental Issues

    We have already identified several issues that we think deserve
attention based on a preliminary review of the planned facilities and
the environmental information provided by CCL and CCPL that we think
deserves attention. This preliminary list of issues may change based on
your comments and our analysis. The issues identified to date include
impacts on:
     threatened and endangered species;
     vegetation, wildlife, and fisheries;
     land use and aesthetics;
     socioeconomics;
     public safety and reliability;
     air quality and noise;
     water use and quality; and
     cumulative impacts.

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. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
planned Project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (Appendix 3).

Becoming an Intervenor

    Once CCL and CCPL file their application with the Commission, you
may want to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's 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 the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Motions to intervene are more fully described at
http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp. Instructions
for becoming an intervenor are in the ``Document-less Intervention
Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on the Commission's Web site.
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.

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 Web site (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 (i.e., PF15-
26). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll free at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or for TTY,
contact<PHONE_NUMBER>. 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 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 www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: August 17, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-20746 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register: April 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 73)]
[Notices]
[Page 19220-19221]
[DOCID:fr17ap07-83]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

    Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the
Government in the Sunshine Act, Pub. L. 94-409, that the Securities and
Exchange Commission will hold the following meeting during the week of
April 16, 2007:
    A Closed Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 2 p.m.
    Commissioners, Counsel to the Commissioners, the Secretary to the
Commission, and recording secretaries will attend the Closed Meeting.
Certain staff members who have an interest in the matters may also be
present.
    The General Counsel of the Commission, or his designee, has
certified that, in his opinion, one or more of the exemptions set forth
in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3), (5), (7), (9)(B), and

(10) and 17 CFR 200.402(a)(3), (5), (7), 9(ii) and (10), permit
consideration of the scheduled matters at the Closed Meeting.
    Commissioner Nazareth, as duty officer, voted to consider the items
listed for the closed meeting in closed session.
    The subject matter of the Closed Meeting scheduled for Thursday,
April 19, 2007 will be:

Formal orders of investigations;
Institution and settlement of injunctive actions;
Institution and settlement of administrative proceedings of an
enforcement nature;
Litigation matters; and
Other matters related to enforcement proceedings.

    At times, changes in Commission priorities require alterations in
the scheduling of meeting items.
    For further information and to ascertain what, if any, matters have
been added, deleted or postponed, please contact:
    The Office of the Secretary at<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: April 12, 2007.
Nancy M. Morris,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-7282 Filed 4-16-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010-01-P