Document ID: FERC-2022-0382-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Scoping Period: Cameron LNG Amended Expansion Project
Posted Date: 2022-04-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19915-19918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07282]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP22-41-000]

Cameron LNG, LLC; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on 
Environmental Issues for the Proposed Cameron LNG Amended Expansion 
Project and Notice of Public Scoping Session

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) will prepare an environmental document, that will discuss 
the environmental impacts of the Cameron LNG Amended Expansion Project 
involving several design modifications and enhancements to the approved 
Cameron Expansion Project by Cameron LNG, LLC (Cameron LNG) in Cameron 
and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana. The Commission will use this 
environmental document in its decision-making process to determine 
whether the project is in the public interest.
    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 authorization. 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 May 2, 2022. 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.

[[Page 19916]]

Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they 
need to evaluate in the environmental document. Commission staff will 
consider all written or verbal 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 January 18, 2022, you will need to file 
those comments in Docket No. CP22-41-000 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 proposed 
project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

Public Participation

    There are four 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 also 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'';
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to 
the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP22-
41-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852; or
    (4) In lieu of sending written comments, the Commission invites you 
to attend the virtual public scoping session its staff will conduct by 
telephone, scheduled as follows:
    Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
    Time: 6-8 p.m. Central Standard Time.
    Dial-in Number: 888-790-1764.
    Participant passcode: 3375073.
    The primary goal of this scoping session is to have you identify 
the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be 
considered in the environmental document. Individual oral comments will 
be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter present on the 
line. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of oral 
comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted, and is in 
response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
    There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff. The 
scoping session is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Standard 
Time. You may call at any time after 6 p.m. at which time you will be 
placed on mute and hold. Calls will be answered in the order they are 
received. Once answered, you will have the opportunity to provide your 
comment directly to a court reporter with FERC staff or representative 
present on the line. A time limit of five minutes will be implemented 
for each commentor.
    Transcripts of all comments received during the scoping session 
will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system (see the last page 
of this notice for instructions on using eLibrary).
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form 
or provided orally at a virtual scoping session.
    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.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Cameron LNG proposes to amend its authorization under section 3 of 
the Natural Gas Act for the Cameron Expansion Project issued on May 5, 
2016 (Docket No. CP15-560-000). Specifically, Cameron LNG proposes to 
modify the approved Train 4 and perform associated design enhancements. 
In addition, Cameron LNG proposes to no longer construct Train 5. This 
project would increase the overall reliability and capacity of Train 4 
and eliminate impacts from construction and operation of Train 5. The 
overall maximum production capacity of the Amended Expansion Project 
would be reduced from 9.97 to 6.75 million tonnes per annum.
    The Cameron LNG Amended Expansion Project would consist of the 
following design enhancements of Train 4:
     Add a feed gas booster compressor;
     add propane refrigeration;
     use open art technology on natural gas liquid extraction 
process in lieu of a proprietary process;
     use a reduced temperature approach on air-cooled 
exchangers and add to the number of exchangers;
     add an End Flash Gas (``EFG'') cold recovery exchanger;
     add an EFG recycle compressor;
     replace the refrigerant compressor gas turbine drives with 
electric motor drivers;
     add hot oil heaters in lieu of the waste heat recovery 
units;
     add an enclosed ground flare to handle the acid gas 
stream;
     add a tie-in on the Thermal Oxidizer acid gas feed line as 
pre-investment for possibility of future carbon sequestration; and
     utility services would be dedicated to Train 4.
    The Amended Expansion Project will also include the following 
removal and relocation of facilities that have not yet been 
constructed:
     Removal of the approved Train 5 and associated utilities;
     removal of the approved LNG Tank 5 (T-205);
     removal of the condensate storage tanks permitted with the 
Expansion Project;
     removal of one boil-off gas compressor permitted with the 
Expansion Project; and
     relocation of the Entergy Switch Yard for the Expansion 
Project.
    In addition, Cameron LNG supplemented its application on March 18, 
2022, by proposing an additional design enhancement to allow for the 
capability to simultaneously load two LNG vessels at a rate of 12,000 
cubic meters/hour at both the North and South Jetties. The dual loading 
supplement would result in the following changes to the amendment 
application:
     Upgrade one of the four LNG In-Tank Pumps in each LNG 
Storage Tank

[[Page 19917]]

(the low capacity pump in each tank will be upgraded to match the three 
existing high-capacity pumps):
     addition of a parallel 36-inch-diameter loading line to 
provide the system hydraulics necessary for the increased dual loading 
rate, up to 24,000 cubic meters/hour (the line would be added using 
interconnections to the existing loading header);
     addition of a new impoundment basin adjacent to the 
existing impoundment basin serving the loading area; and
     addition of a pre-investment tie-in on the acid gas feed 
line to the Thermal Oxidizers for Trains 1-3 to allow future connection 
to potential carbon sequestration facilities that may be developed in 
the area (similar to the pre-investment tie-in proposed for Train 4).
    The general location of the project facilities is shown in appendix 
1.\1\
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    \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. At 
this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's 
Public Reference Room due to the proclamation declaring a National 
Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), 
issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact 
FERC at [email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 
or TTY (202) 502-8659.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    The Amended Expansion Project facilities would be within the site 
of the existing Cameron LNG Terminal. Construction of the project would 
be wholly within the footprint authorized by the Commission for the 
Expansion Project (Docket No. CP15-560-000).

NEPA Process and the Environmental Document

    Any environmental document issued by the Commission will discuss 
impacts that could occur as a result of the construction and operation 
of the proposed project under the relevant general resource areas. 
Commission staff have already identified the following preliminary list 
of resources that may be impacted by the project and would be included 
in our analysis:
     Environmental justice;
     air quality and noise; and
     reliability and safety.
    Commission staff will 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 
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. 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.
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    \2\ For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to the 
last page of this notice.
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    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.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing 
cooperating agency responsibilities are at title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, section 1501.8.
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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, 
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.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations 
are at title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, 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.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes: Federal, state, and local 
government representatives and agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American 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 CP22-41-000 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

[[Page 19918]]

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: March 31, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-07282 Filed 4-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P