Document ID: FERC-2018-1149-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Train 4 Project
Posted Date: 2018-09-07T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45426-45427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19402]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP17-470-000]

Freeport LNG Development, L.P.; Notice of Schedule for 
Environmental Review of the Train 4 Project

    On June 29, 2017, Freeport LNG Development, L.P. (Freeport LNG) 
filed an application in Docket No. CP17-470-000 requesting an 
Authorization for siting, construction, and operation of a liquefied 
natural gas (LNG) facility pursuant to Section 3 of the Natural Gas 
Act. The proposed project is known as the Train 4 Project (Project), 
and would increase Freeport LNG's ability to liquefy and export by 5.1 
million metric tonnes per annum of natural gas at the existing Freeport 
LNG terminal.
    On July 14, 2017, 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 Assessment (EA) for the Project. This instant notice 
identifies the FERC staff's planned schedule for the completion of the 
EA for the Project.

Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of the EA--November 2, 2018
90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--January 31, 2019

    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 add a fourth liquefaction unit (Train 4) and 
associated infrastructure and utilities to Freeport LNG's terminal on 
Quintana Island in Brazoria County, Texas. The Project would also 
expand the Pretreatment Plant located about 4 miles north of the 
terminal in Freeport, Texas and includes a new pipeline to connect 
various facilities. The Project would be located adjacent to the 
facilities authorized and currently under construction for the Phase II 
Modification Project (Docket No. CP12-29-000) and Liquefaction Project 
(Docket No. CP12-509-000), which comprises three liquefaction trains 
and related facilities. The proposed fourth liquefaction train would be 
within the existing Freeport LNG Terminal site and the additions to the 
Pretreatment Plant would be within the current construction footprint. 
The proposed 10.6-mile-long, 42-inch-diameter pipeline would connect 
the existing Stratton Ridge meter station, the Pretreatment Plant, and 
the Freeport LNG Liquefaction Plant.

Background

    On August 19, 2015 the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned Train 4 Project and 
Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI). A subsequent change 
to the Project resulted in the Commission issuing the Supplemental 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Planned 
Freeport LNG Train 4 Project and Request for Comments on Environmental 
Issues (Supplemental NOI) on August 31, 2016. The NOI and the 
Supplemental NOI were issued during the pre-filing review of the 
Project in Docket No. PF15-25-000 and were 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 NOI and Supplemental NOI; the Commission received comments from the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Texas Historical Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Texas Parks and Wildlife, Sierra Club, and eight members of the public. 
The primary issues raised by the commentors are alternative pipeline 
routes, and impacts on land use, wetlands, protected species, visual 
landscape, noise environment, air quality, road traffic, marine 
traffic, and safety.

[[Page 45427]]

    The U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Energy are cooperating 
agencies in the preparation of the EA.

Additional Information

    In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to 
keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, 
the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. 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.
    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., CP17-470), 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 
[email protected].
    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: August 31, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-19402 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P