[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81909-81910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23303]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP24-494-000]


Black Bayou Gas Storage, LLC; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Black Bayou Gas 
Storage Project

    On July 17, 2024, Black Bayou Gas Storage, LLC filed an application 
in Docket No. CP24-494-000 requesting a Certificate of Public 
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas 
Act to construct and operate certain natural gas pipeline and storage 
facilities in Cameron Parish and Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The 
proposed project is known as the Black Bayou Gas Storage Project 
(Project), and would create four salt storage caverns, with a total 
working gas capacity of 34.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf), 1.6 Bcf of peak 
daily natural gas injection capability, and 2.0 Bcf of peak daily 
natural gas deliverability, with an ability to cycle between injection 
and withdrawal services on short notice.
    On July 31, 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Application for the Project. 
Among other things, that notice alerted agencies issuing Federal 
authorizations of the requirement to complete all necessary reviews and 
to reach a final decision on a request for a Federal authorization 
within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff's 
environmental document for the Project.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the Project and the planned schedule 
for the completion of the environmental review.\1\ The EA will be 
issued for a 30-day comment period.
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    \1\ In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations, the unique identification number for documents relating 
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1726746869. 40 CFR 
1501.5(c)(4) (2024).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA February 14, 2025
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline \2\ May 15, 2025
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    \2\ The Commission's deadline applies to the decisions of other 
Federal agencies, and state agencies acting under federally 
delegated authority, that are responsible for Federal 
authorizations, permits, and other approvals necessary for proposed 
projects under the Natural Gas Act. Per 18 CFR 157.22(a), the 
Commission's deadline for other agency's decisions applies unless a 
schedule is otherwise established by Federal law.

    If a schedule change becomes necessary, additional notice will be 
provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the 
Project's progress.

Project Description

    The Project would include the following facilities in Cameron and 
Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana:
    <bullet> four underground salt dome natural gas storage caverns;
    <bullet> a central operations site inside the natural gas storage 
area, to include:
    [cir] a 44,000-horsepower natural gas-powered reciprocating 
compressor station;
    [cir] a brine leaching plant;
    [cir] an electrical supply facility;
    <bullet> nine freshwater wells;
    <bullet> nine saltwater disposal wells on three pads;
    <bullet> associated freshwater and brine piping and valve settings;
    <bullet> two 27.1-mile-long, 24-inch-diameter, looped bi-
directional header pipelines; \3\
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    \3\ A pipeline loop is a segment of pipe constructed parallel to 
an existing pipeline to increase capacity.
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    <bullet> ten metering and regulation stations;
    <bullet> five mainline valve sites; and
    <bullet> permanent and temporary access roads.

Background

    On August 28, 2024, the Commission issued a ``Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Black Bayou Gas Storage Project and Notice of Public Scoping Session'' 
(Notice of Scoping). The Notice of Scoping was sent to affected 
landowners; Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected 
officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American 
tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. 
In response to the Notice of Scoping, the Commission received comments 
from the Sierra Club, Fishermen Involved in Sustaining our Heritage 
(FISH), For a Better Bayou, Habitat Recovery Project, Healthy Gulf, 
Micah Six Eight Mission, Vessel Project of Louisiana, Restore Explicit 
Symmetry To Our Ravaged Earth (RESTORE), Louisiana Oil & Gas 
Association, Teamsters National Pipeline Labor Management Cooperation 
Trust, The Laborers' International Union of North America, Cameron 
Parish Police Jury, and Black Bayou Land Company, LLC. The primary 
issues raised by the commenters are impacts on fisheries, surface and 
groundwater pollution, pollution that will deter engagement in outdoor 
activities, air pollution, visual impacts, noise, traffic, 
destabilization of salt domes, positive and negatives economic impacts, 
and cumulative impacts on public health. All substantive comments will 
be addressed in the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the 
Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This service 
provides automatic notification of filings made to subscribed dockets, 
document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview to register for eSubscription.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fcb3acacbc9a998e9fd29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f706f6f7f595a4d5c11585049">[email protected]</span></a>.

[[Page 81910]]

    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select 
``General Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date 
range and ``Docket Number'' excluding the last three digits (i.e., 
CP24-494), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to 
eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208-3676, TTY (202) 502-
8659, or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#45030017060a2b292c2b20163035352a373105232037266b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1c5a594e5f5372707572794f696c6c736e685c7a796e7f327b736a">[email protected]</span></a>. The eLibrary link on the FERC 
website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by 
the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

    Dated: October 2, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-23303 Filed 10-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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