```

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92921-92923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27474]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP24-512-000]

Texas Connector Pipeline, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period 
Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed Texas 
Connector Amendment Project

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental document, that will discuss 
the environmental impacts of the Texas Connector Amendment Project 
(Amendment Project) involving construction and operation of facilities 
by Texas Connector Pipeline LLC (Texas Connector), in Jefferson and 
Orange Counties, Texas. The Commission will use this environmental 
document 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 regarding the project. As part of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission takes into account 
concerns the public may have about proposals and the environmental 
impacts that could result from its action whenever it considers the 
issuance of an authorizing Order. This gathering of public input is 
referred to as ``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to 
focus the analysis in the environmental document on the important 
environmental issues. Additional information about the Commission's 
NEPA process is described below in the NEPA Process and Environmental 
Document section of this notice.
    By this notice, the Commission requests public comments on the 
scope of issues to address in the environmental document. To ensure 
that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your 
comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or 
before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 18, 2024. Comments may be 
submitted in written form. Further details on how to submit comments 
are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice.
    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 environmental document. Commission 
staff will consider all written comments during the preparation of the 
environmental document.
    If you submitted comments on this Project to the Commission before 
the opening of this docket on August 12, 2024, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP24-512-000 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

[[Page 92922]]

proposed Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of 
concern.

Public Participation

    There are three methods you can use to submit your comments to the 
Commission. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your 
comments are properly recorded. The Commission encourages electronic 
filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-
3676 or [email protected].
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment 
feature, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to FERC Online. Using eComment 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, which is located on the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov) 
under the link to FERC Online. 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.'' You will be asked to select the type of filing you 
are making; a comment on a particular project is considered a ``Comment 
on a Filing''; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the Commission. Be sure to reference the Project docket number (CP24-
512-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Additionally, the Commission offers a free service called 
eSubscription which makes it easy to stay informed of all issuances and 
submittals regarding the dockets/projects to which you subscribe. These 
instant email notifications are the fastest way to receive notification 
and provide a link to the document files which can reduce the amount of 
time you spend researching proceedings. 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 [email protected].

Summary of the Proposed Project

    On November 29, 2016, Port Arthur Pipeline, LLC (PAPL) filed an 
application with FERC for the Texas Connector Project in Docket No. 
CP17-21-000. In January 2019, FERC issued a final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) that analyzed the Texas Connector Project, together 
with the Port Arthur Liquefaction Project (Docket No. CP17-20-000), and 
the Louisiana Connector Project (Docket No. CP18-7-000). The Commission 
issued an Order authorizing those combined projects on April 18, 2019. 
In May 2023, in Docket No. CP17-21-003 et al., the Commission issued an 
Order, authorizing among other things, the abandonment by transfer of 
the certificated Texas Connector Project from PAPL to Texas Connector. 
Texas Connector further evaluated the Project and proposes 
modifications as part the Amendment Project.
    The Amendment Project includes the following modifications to the 
previously authorized project.
     The Southern Compressor Station would not be constructed, 
and the original site of the Southern Compressor Station would be 
utilized for a laydown yard and access road.
     The southern pipeline segment (Southern Segment) would 
decrease in length from 7.6 miles to 1.4 miles.
     Compression at the Northern Compressor Station (renamed 
Orangefield Compressor Station) would increase from three natural gas-
driven turbine compressors rated at 16,684 hp each, to four SolarTitan 
130 Gas Turbine driven compressors rated at approximately 24,009 hp 
each.
     The footprint and configuration of the Orangefield 
Compressor Station would shift slightly north and west and increase in 
size from 40 acres to 82.4 acres.
     The northern pipeline segment (Northern Segment) would 
increase in length from 26.6 miles to 29.6 miles and include several 
modifications to the alignment and workspace to accommodate landowner 
requests and development within the previously authorized right-of-way.
     Texas Connector proposes to use about 16,320 feet of the 
Big Hill Bayou south of Taylor Bayou and South Mansfield Ferry Road 
Canal as a water access routes. Big Hill Bayou would require dredging 
to facilitate vessel transit.
     The KMPL Meter Station would not be constructed.
    The general location of the Project facilities and maps showing the 
modifications associated with the Amendment Project are included in 
appendix 1.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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''. For instructions on 
connecting to eLibrary, refer to the last page of this notice. For 
assistance, contact FERC at [email protected] or call toll 
free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Requirements for Construction

    The modifications associated with the Amendment Project would 
result in additional impact footprint of 95.6 acres of land; including 
the pipelines; aboveground facilities; additional temporary workspaces; 
contractor staging and pipe storage yards/spoil storage areas; and new 
or improved access roads. Additionally, the Amendment Project's 
proposed water access routes encompass about 94.4 acres. The 
modifications associated with the Amendment Project would result in an 
additional 94.8 acres of permanent impact for operation of the overall 
Texas Connector Project.

NEPA Process and the Environmental Document

    Any environmental document issued by the Commission would discuss 
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation 
of the proposed project under the relevant general resource areas:
     Geology, soils, and sediments;
     water resources and wetlands;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     threatened and endangered species;
     cultural resources;
     land use;
     environmental justice;
     air quality and noise; and
     reliability and safety.
    Commission staff would also evaluate reasonable 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. Your 
comments will help Commission staff identify and focus on the issues 
that might have an effect on the human environment and potentially 
eliminate others from further study and discussion in the environmental 
document.
    Following this scoping period, Commission staff will determine

[[Page 92923]]

whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS). The EA or the EIS will present Commission 
staff's independent analysis of the issues. If Commission staff 
prepares an EA, a Notice of Schedule for the Preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment will be issued. The EA may be issued for an 
allotted public comment period. The Commission would consider timely 
comments on the EA before making its decision regarding the proposed 
Project. If Commission staff prepares an EIS, a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an EIS/Notice of Schedule will be issued, which will open up an 
additional comment period. Staff will then prepare a draft EIS which 
will be issued for public comment. Commission staff will consider all 
timely comments received during the comment period on the draft EIS and 
revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. Any EA 
or draft and final EIS will be available in electronic format in the 
public record through eLibrary \2\ and the Commission's natural gas 
environmental documents web page (https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/natural-gas/environment/environmental-documents). If eSubscribed, you 
will receive instant email notification when the environmental document 
is issued.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    With this notice, the Commission is asking agencies with 
jurisdiction by law and/or special expertise with respect to the 
environmental issues of this Project to formally cooperate in the 
preparation of the environmental document.\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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at 40 CFR 1501.8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultation 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, the Commission is using this notice to initiate 
consultation with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office(s), 
and to solicit their views and those of other government agencies, 
interested Indian tribes, and the public on the project's potential 
effects on historic properties.\4\ The environmental document for this 
Project will document findings on the impacts on historic properties 
and summarize the status of consultations under section 106.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at 36 CFR 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list Federal, State, and local government 
representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; Indian 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 
and includes a mailing address with their comments. Commission staff 
will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to 
ensure that Commission notices related to this environmental review are 
sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities 
interested in and/or potentially affected by the proposed project.
    If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would 
like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of 
the following steps:
    (1) Send an email to [email protected] stating your 
request. You must include the docket number CP24-93-000 in your 
request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure 
to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to 
delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and 
address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to 
accept comments.

OR

    (2) Return the attached ``Mailing List Update Form'' (appendix 2).

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 website at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the 
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number 
in the ``Docket Number'' field. Be sure you have selected an 
appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected] or (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, 
contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the 
texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, 
notices, and rulemakings.
    Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission's 
calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/events along with 
other related information.

    Dated: November 18, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-27474 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
```