Document ID: FERC-2021-1615-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Golden Pass LNG Terminal, LLC; Golden Pass LNG Export Variance Request, No. 15 Amendment Project
Posted Date: 2021-12-28T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73755-73756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28210]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP14-517-001]

Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC; Notice of Schedule for the 
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Golden Pass LNG 
Export Variance Request No. 15 Amendment Project

    On February 25, 2021 and supplemented on May 19, 2021, Golden Pass 
LNG Terminal LLC (Golden Pass) filed a Golden Pass LNG Export Project 
Variance Request No. 15 Amendment (Amendment). The Amendment involves 
modification to the ongoing construction workforce and work hours at 
the authorized Golden Pass LNG Export Terminal, in Jefferson County, 
Texas. If authorized, the Amendment would increase the workforce 
numbers, amount of traffic volume, and work week/hour limits that were 
not previously reviewed during preparation of the final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Golden Pass LNG Export Project (Docket 
Nos. CP14-517-000 and CP14-518-000), which the Commission authorized on 
December 21, 2016. Golden Pass's proposed Amendment would increase 
construction to 24-hour-day and 7 days a week at the Golden Pass LNG 
Export Terminal throughout the remaining construction period, which it 
anticipates completing in 2025.
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    \1\ Members of Congress, Sean Casten, Cheri Bustos, Bradley S. 
Schneider, and Danny K. Davis.
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    On November 3, 2021 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice of Amendment for the proposed 
project variance request No. 15. 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 Amendment and the planned 
schedule for the completion of the environmental review.\1\
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    \1\ 40 CFR 1501.10 (2020).
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Schedule for Environmental Review

Issuance of EA--February 7, 2022
90-Day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline--May 9, 2022

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

Project Amendment Description

    Golden Pass identified the need for an increased workforce at the 
Golden Pass LNG Export Terminal site. The final EIS for the Golden Pass 
LNG Export Project reviewed a peak construction workforce of 2,900 
employees; Golden Pass is requesting the authority to increase the 
potential peak workforce to 7,700 workers per day. Golden Pass is also 
requesting the authority to increase traffic volumes to accommodate the 
additional workforce, and a 7-day-per-week, 24-hour-per-day, 
construction schedule for the remaining construction period at the 
terminal site; Golden Pass anticipates completing the Golden Pass LNG 
Export Project in 2025. There are no revisions to land requirements for 
the Amendment.

Background

    On November 10, 2021, the Commission issued a Notice of Scoping 
Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Proposed 
Golden Pass LNG Export Variance Request No. 15 Amendment 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, James D. Kemp, 
RESTORE, Alfred V. Duhamel, and Donald F. Breeden expressing concerns 
on light pollution, air quality, noise pollution, impacts on 
socioeconomics and environmental justice communities, greenhouse gas 
emissions, climate change, public health and safety, and access to non-
proprietary information. 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.
    Additional information about the Project is available from the 
Commission's Office of External Affairs at (866) 208-FERC or on the 
FERC

[[Page 73756]]

website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ``eLibrary'' link, select ``General 
Search'' from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and 
``Docket Number'' (i.e., CP14-517), 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: December 21, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-28210 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P