[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58066-58068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24764]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP99-580-002]


Southern LNG Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Sendout Modification Project and Request 
for Comments on Environmental Issues

September 21, 2000.
    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 Sendout Modification Project 
involving construction and operation of facilities by Southern LNG Inc. 
(Southern LNG) on Elba Island in Chatham County, Georgia. \1\ The 
project involves limited modifications to the sendout system at 
Southern LNG's existing, certificated liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
marine import terminal (Elba Island Terminal). This EA will be used by 
the Commission in its decision-making process to determine whether the 
project is in the public convenience and necessity.
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    \1\ Southern LNG's application was filed with the Commission 
under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and Part 157 of the 
Commission's regulations.
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Background

    In 1972, in Docket No. CP71-264, the Federal Power Commission 
(FERC's predecessor) authorized Southern Energy Company (Southern LNG's 
predecessor), to construct and operate the Elba Island Terminal. 
Southern LNG initiated construction in 1973. The terminal encompasses 
about 140 acres on the 840-acre Elba Island in an estuary of the 
Savannah River. Elba Island lies approximately 8 miles upstream of the 
river's discharge into the Atlantic Ocean and approximately 5 miles 
downstream from Savannah, Georgia. The existing authorized facilities 
at the Elba Island Terminal include the following:
    <bullet> LNG unloading facilities, including marine berth, pier, 
and arms for unloading LNG from vessels;
    <bullet> LNG storage facilities, including three double-wall 
storage tanks, each with the capacity of 400,000 barrels (four billion 
cubic feet vaporized equivalent);
    <bullet> LNG sendout facilities, including pumps and vaporizers 
with a maximum capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd);
    <bullet> Boil-off compressors;
    <bullet> Pressure relief, vent, and disposal systems;
    <bullet> Spill containment facilities, including a 400,000-barrel 
capacity main spill containment for each LNG storage tank; and
    <bullet> Fire water system sourced from a fresh-water pond and 
river water.
    Southern LNG commenced operation in July, 1978. Between 1978 to 
1980, the Elba Island Terminal was used to import LNG purchased from El 
Paso Algeria Corporation and delivered by cryogenic tankers. In April, 
1980, Southern LNG was unable to continue importation of LNG due to 
economic considerations. After LNG shipments were discontinued, 
Southern LNG retained an inventory of LNG through April, 1982.
    Since 1982, the Elba Island Terminal has been maintained in a 
limited state of readiness to ensure that the plant could be safely and 
reliably reactivated. An ongoing preventative maintenance program has 
been in place since that time and needed repairs, replacements, 
enhancements and additions have been identified for implementing during 
the recommissioning process.
    On July 13, 1999, Southern LNG filed an application with the 
Commission in Docket No. CP99-580-000, to recommission the Elba Island 
Terminal for the purpose of providing open-access service to shippers 
desiring to contract for receipt, storage, and vaporization of LNG and 
delivery of vaporized LNG at the existing point of interconnect with 
the interstate pipeline of Southern Natural. The project involved 
returning Southern LNG's existing, certificated Elba Island Terminal to 
active service. Southern LNG stated that the storage and vaporization 
facilities would not be significantly altered, replaced or relocated, 
and that the storage and throughput capacity of the facilities would 
remain the same as originally placed in service in 1978.
    In addition, in Docket No. CP99-579-000, Southern LNG requested 
Section 3

[[Page 58067]]

authorization under Subpart B of Part 153 of the Commission's 
regulations for siting of natural gas import facilities. This 
application was directly related to Southern LNG's proposal described 
above in Docket No. CP99-580-000.
    On August 9, 1999, we \2\ issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Elba Island Terminal 
Recommissioning Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues. On January 10, 2000, we issued a Notice of Availability of the 
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Elba Island Terminal 
Recommissioning Project. On March 16, 2000, the Commission issued an 
Order Issuing Certificate, Section 3 Authorization, and Denying Request 
for Rehearing (Order).
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff 
of the Office of Energy Projects.
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Summary of the Proposed Project

    Southern LNG proposes to amend the authorizations issued in the 
Commission's March 16, 2000 Order. Southern LNG proposes limited 
modifications to the sendout system at the Elba Island Terminal. The 
sendout modifications would increase the peak vaporization from 540 
MMcfd to 675 MMcfd and allow control of the heating value of vaporized 
LNG. The sendout modifications are required to enhance the flexibility 
and reliability of firm service by enabling the terminal to import LNG 
from various foreign production areas. These LNG supplies may have 
varying heating values, which may exceed the maximum in Southern LNG's 
tariff of 1,075 British thermal units per standard cubic foot (Btu/
scf). The location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 1.\3\
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    \3\ The appendices referenced in this notice are not being 
printed in the Federal Register. Copies are available from the 
Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call (202) 208-1371. 
Copies of the appendices were sent to all those receiving this 
notice in the mail.
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    The Sendout Modifications Project would include the following:
    <bullet> Replacement of the existing five 108 MMcfd Ryan Industries 
LNG submerged combustion vaporizers with five 135 MMcfd state-of-the-
art submerged combustion water bath heaters;
    <bullet> Install an additional secondary LNG pump to supply 
additional LNG for the increased capacity of the vaporizers; and
    <bullet> Install nitrogen or air injection facilities to control 
heating value of vaporized LNG. Injection of 2 percent nitrogen or 3.8 
percent air into the sendout stream would allow receipt of LNG with a 
heating value of 1,090 or 1,117 Btu/scf, respectively.

Land Requirements for Construction

    No additional land would be required by Southern LNG's proposal. 
All work would occur within previously disturbed and currently 
maintained areas. None of the proposed facilities would result in 
substantial changes to the appearance or previous function of the 
existing facilities.

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 
to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. 
We call this ``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 requests public comments on the 
scope of the issues it will address in the EA. All comments received 
are considered during the preparation of the EA. 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 EA will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of the proposed project under these general 
headings:

<bullet> Geology and soils
<bullet> Water resources, fisheries, and wetlands
<bullet> Vegetation and wildlife
<bullet> Endangered and threatened species
<bullet> Land use
<bullet> Cultural resources
<bullet> Air Quality and noise
<bullet> Public safety

    We will 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 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.

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 EA and considered by the Commission. 
You should focus on the potential environmental effects of the 
proposal, alternatives to the proposal, and measures to avoid or lessen 
environmental impact. The more specific your comments, the more useful 
they will be. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that 
your comments are received in time and properly recorded:
    <bullet> Send two copies of your letter to: David P. Boergers, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
    <bullet> Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the 
Gas Group I, PJ-11.1;
    <bullet> Reference Docket No. CP99-580-002; and
    <bullet> Mail your comments so that they will be received in 
Washington, DC on or before October 23, 2000.

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want 
to become an official party to the proceeding known as an 
``intervenor''. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process. 
Among other things, intervenors have the right to receive copies of 
case-related Commission documents and filings by other intervenors. 
Likewise, each intervenor must provide 14 copies of its filings to the 
Secretary of the Commission and must send a copy of its filings to all 
other parties on the Commission's service list for this proceeding. If 
you want to become an intervenor you must file a motion to intervene 
according to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214) (see appendix 2). Only intervenors have the 
right to seek rehearing of the Commission's decision.
    Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be 
granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they 
have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be 
adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor 
status to have your environmental comments considered.

[[Page 58068]]

    Additional information about the proposed project is available from 
the Commission's Office of External Affairs at 208-1088 or on the FERC 
website (www.ferc.fed.us) using the ``RIMS'' link to information in 
this docket number. Click on the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket #'' 
from the RIMS Menu, and follow the instructions. For assistance with 
access to RIMS, the RIMS helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2222.
    Similarly, the ``CIPS'' link on the FERC Internet website provides 
access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such 
as orders, notices, and rulemakings. From the FERC Internet website, 
click on the ``CIPS'' link, select ``Docket #'' from the CIPS menu, and 
follow the instructions. For assistance with access to CIPS, the CIPS 
helpline can be reached at (202) 208-2474.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-24764 Filed 9-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M