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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 55157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22692]

[[Page 55157]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7574]

Final Public Meeting in Washington, DC for the Proposed Keystone 
XL Project

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of final public meeting in Washington, DC for the 
proposed Keystone XL project.

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SUMMARY: Following the release of the final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, Executive Order 13337 
calls on the Secretary of State, or her designee, to determine if 
issuance of a Presidential Permit to the applicant would serve the 
national interest. This decision on the application will take into 
account a wide range of factors, including environmental, economic, 
energy security, foreign policy, and pipeline safety concerns. No 
decision will be made until the completion of this thorough review 
process. The Department expects to make a decision on whether to grant 
or deny the Permit before the end of the year.
    As part of the review and analysis of the national interest, on 
August 26, 2011 the U.S. Department of State announced public meetings 
to be held along the proposed pipeline route in the Federal Register on 
pages 53525 and 53526 (volume 76, number 166). These meetings will 
provide opportunities for the public to comment on the project and the 
comments will be considered in the final decision. In addition to these 
meetings along the pipeline route, a final meeting will be held in 
Washington, DC.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Atrium Hall, 
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia 20004; 10 
a.m.-2 p.m.

Procedures for Public Meetings

    Speakers: All members of the public are welcome to attend the 
meetings and state their comments for the administrative record. 
Persons who want to speak at the meeting will need to sign up in person 
at the entrance of the meeting venue and be given a number. The order 
of speakers will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis, 
according to the sign-up sheet. Those wishing to speak must be present 
when their name or number is called or they will forfeit their time.
    Comments: Remarks made at the meetings will be recorded, 
transcribed, and entered into the administrative record for the State 
Department's consideration of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. Each 
speaker will be allowed 3-5 minutes to make remarks, depending on the 
number of people who sign up to speak. Speakers will be asked to state 
their name and any organization with which they are affiliated.
    Depending on attendance, it may not be possible for all those who 
sign up to have the opportunity to speak. The State Department 
encourages individuals who do not have the opportunity to speak or who 
are unable to complete their comments in the allotted time to submit 
comments on the national interest determination in written form. A 
State Department official will be available to accept written comments, 
and a summary of all comments will be incorporated in the record of 
decision for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The Department will 
also accept written comments on the national interest determination 
beginning on the date the final Environmental Impact Statement is 
issued. In order to ensure that comments are processed and considered 
before the decision is made on the permit application, all comments 
must be submitted by midnight on October 9, 2011.
    Purpose: These meetings are an opportunity for the public to 
express views on all aspects of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. 
Participants are encouraged to recount information illustrating their 
view about whether the issuance of a Presidential Permit for the 
Keystone XL pipeline project is in the U.S. national interest.
    Presiding Officer: The meetings will be chaired by a senior 
official from the U.S. Department of State. At the beginning of the 
meeting, the presiding officer will explain the status of the 
application for the permit and the Department's process for making a 
decision on the Permit, but will not answer questions. The presiding 
officer or an assistant will announce the name of each speaker from the 
sign-up list.
    Protocol: We ask attendees to respect the meeting procedures in 
order to ensure a constructive information gathering session. No signs 
or banners will be allowed inside the meeting venue. The presiding 
officer will use his/her discretion to conduct the meeting in an 
orderly manner.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A comprehensive description of the 
proposed Project and up-to-date information regarding the public 
meetings are available at http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov. The 
final Environmental Impact Statement, including a summary of public 
comments received during two prior public comment periods, will also be 
available online.
    Comments can be submitted by the following methods: Online at 
http://www.keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov; e-mail at keystonexl-nid@cardno.com; fax at 206-269-0098; or mailed to the following 
address: Alexander Yuan, Keystone XL EIS Project, P.O. Box 96503-98500, 
Washington, DC 20090-6503.
    As noted above, in order for comments to be considered they must be 
submitted by midnight on October 9, 2011.
    Media Contacts: Please contact Wendy Nassmacher at 202-647-6664 or 
via e-mail at NassmacherWL@state.gov.

    Dated: August 30, 2011.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 2, 2011.
John E. Thompson,
Acting Director, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and 
Scientific Affairs/Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2011-22692 Filed 9-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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