

[Federal Register: October 17, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 199)]
[Notices]               
[Page 60325-60327]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17oc05-78]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[FERC Docket No. CP04-58-000, CP04-58-001, CP04-58-002, and CP04-58-
003; POLB Application No. HDP 03-079 SCH No. 2003091130]

 
Port of Long Beach, Sound Energy Solutions; Notice of 
Availability/Completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Report, Draft General Conformity Determination, and Draft Port Master 
Plan Amendment for the Proposed Long Beach LNG Import Project

October 7, 2005.
    The environmental staffs of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC or Commission) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB) have 
prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact 
Report (EIS/EIR) on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and 
natural gas pipeline facilities proposed by Sound Energy Solutions 
(SES) in the above-referenced dockets. The draft EIS/EIR was prepared 
to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A draft 
General Conformity Determination was also prepared by the FERC to 
assess the potential air quality impacts associated with construction 
and operation of the proposed project and is included as Appendix E of 
the draft EIS/EIR.
    The draft EIS/EIR includes an Application Summary Report that was 
prepared by the POLB pursuant to the requirements of the CEQA, the 
certified Port Master Plan (PMP), and the California Coastal Act for 
the proposed project. Based on data contained in the draft EIS/EIR and 
Application Summary Report, the proposed project is in conformance with 
the stated policies of the PMP. An amendment to the PMP would be 
necessary, however, to accommodate the LNG facility because LNG is not 
an expressly identified ``hazardous cargo'' as permitted within 
Terminal Island Planning District 4. The POLB has submitted a draft PMP 
amendment (draft PMP Amendment No. 20) to the California Coastal 
Commission in conjunction with submittal of the draft EIS/EIR.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is participating as a 
cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS/EIR because the 
project would require permits pursuant to section 404 of the Clean 
Water Act [33 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1344] and section 10 of the 
Rivers and Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. 403). The ACOE must comply with the 
requirements of NEPA before issuing these permits. The ACOE would adopt 
the EIS/EIR per Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 
1506.3 if, after an independent review of the document, it concludes 
that its comments and suggestions have been satisfied.
    The U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) within the U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security has elected to act as a cooperating agency in the 
preparation of the EIS/EIR because it exercises regulatory authority 
over LNG facilities that affect the safety and security of port areas 
and navigable waterways under Executive Order 10173; the Magnuson Act 
(50 U.S.C. 191); the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972, as amended 
(33 U.S.C. 1221, et seq.); and the Maritime Transportation Security Act 
of 2002 (46 U.S.C. 701). The Coast Guard also has authority for LNG 
facility security plan review, approval and compliance verification as 
provided in Title 33 CFR part 105, and siting as it pertains to the 
management of vessel traffic in and around the LNG facility. As 
required by its regulations, the Coast Guard is responsible for issuing 
a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of the waterway 
for LNG marine traffic. The Coast Guard plans to adopt the EIS/EIR if 
it adequately covers the impacts associated with issuance of the LOR.
    SES' proposed facilities would provide up to 1 billion standard 
cubic feet per day of natural gas to southern California, supply up to 
150,000 gallons per day of LNG vehicle fuel, and provide storage of up 
to 320,000 cubic meters of imported LNG to reduce fluctuations in the 
local natural gas supply. In order to provide LNG import, storage, and 
pipeline transportation services, SES requests authorization to

[[Page 60326]]

construct, install, and operate an LNG import terminal and natural gas 
pipeline facilities.
    The draft EIS/EIR addresses the potential environmental effects of 
the construction and operation of the following facilities:
     A 1,100-foot-long LNG ship berth and unloading facility 
with unloading arms, mooring and breasting dolphins, and a fendering 
system that would be capable of unloading one ship at a time;
     Two LNG storage tanks, each with a gross volume of 160,000 
cubic meters (1,006,000 barrels) surrounded by a security barrier wall;
     20 electric-powered booster pumps;
     Four shell and tube vaporizers using a primary, closed-
loop water system;
     Three boil-off gas compressors, a condensing system, a 
natural gas liquids recovery system, and an export ethane (C 
2) heater;
     An LNG trailer truck loading facility with a small LNG 
storage tank;
     A natural gas meter station and odorization system;
     Utilities, buildings, and service facilities;
     Associated hazard detection, control, and prevention 
systems; site security facilities; cryogenic piping; and insulation, 
electrical, and instrumentation systems;
     A 2.3-mile-long, 36-inch-diameter pipeline and associated 
aboveground facilities to transport natural gas from the LNG terminal 
to the existing local distribution system; and
     A 4.6-mile-long, 10-inch-diameter pipeline and associated 
aboveground facilities to transport vaporized C 2 from the 
LNG terminal to an existing refinery.

Comment Procedures and Public Meetings

    Any person wishing to comment on the draft EIS/EIR, draft General 
Conformity Determination, and/or draft PMP Amendment No. 20 may do so. 
To expedite the receipt and consideration of your comments, electronic 
submission of comments is strongly encouraged. See Title 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the FERC's Internet Web 
site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the eFiling link and the link to the 

User's Guide. Before you can submit comments, you will need to create a 
free account by clicking on ``Sign-up'' under ``New User.'' You will be 
asked to select the type of submission you are making. This type of 
submission is considered a ``Comment on Filing.'' Comments submitted 
electronically must be submitted by December 8, 2005.
    If you wish to mail comments on the draft EIS/EIR, draft General 
Conformity Determination, and/or draft PMP Amendment No. 20, please 
mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on 
or before December 8, 2005 and carefully follow these instructions:
    Send an original and two copies of your letter to:
     Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426;
     Reference FERC Docket No. CP04-58-000, et al. and POLB 
Application No. HDP 03-079 on the original and both copies;
     Label one copy of your comments for the attention of the 
Gas Branch 1, DG2E;
     Send an additional copy of your letter to: Robert Kanter, 
Ph.D., Planning Division, 925 Harbor Plaza, Port of Long Beach, Long 
Beach, CA 90802.
    In lieu of or in addition to sending written comments, we invite 
you to attend the joint public comment meeting that the staffs of the 
FERC and the POLB (Agency Staffs) will conduct in the project area to 
receive comments on the draft EIS/EIR, draft General Conformity 
Determination, and draft PMP Amendment No. 20. The joint meeting is 
scheduled as follows: Monday, November 14, 2005, 6 p.m. (PST), City of 
Long Beach, City Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, 
CA 90802. (562) 570-6555.
    The joint meeting will be posted on the FERC's calendar located at 
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx. Interested groups 

and individuals are encouraged to attend and present oral comments on 
the draft EIS/EIR, draft General Conformity Determination, and/or draft 
PMP Amendment No. 20. A transcript of the meeting will be prepared.
    In accordance with the POLB's new protocols for preparing 
environmental documents, the POLB will hold three additional public 
comment meetings for interested groups and individuals to attend and 
present oral comments on the draft EIS/EIR and/or draft PMP Amendment 
No. 20. Transcripts of these meetings will be prepared. The additional 
meetings are scheduled as follows:

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             Date                               Location
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Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 6  David Starr Jordan High School, 6550
 p.m. (PST).                    Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805.
                                (562) 423-1471.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005,  Robert A. Millikan High School, 2800
 6 p.m. (PST).                  Snowden Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815.
                                (562) 425-7441.
Thursday, December 1, 2005, 6  Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School, 2001
 p.m. (PST).                    Santa Fe Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90810.
                                (562) 951-7700.
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    After the comments from the meetings are reviewed, any significant 
new issues are investigated, and modifications are made to the draft 
EIS/EIR and draft General Conformity Determination, a final EIS/EIR, 
including a final General Conformity Determination, will be published 
and distributed. The final EIS/EIR will contain the Agency Staffs' 
responses to timely comments received on the draft EIS/EIR and draft 
General Conformity Determination.
    In addition, the POLB will consider comments on draft PMP Amendment 
No. 20 and prepare a final PMP amendment. The final PMP amendment will 
be presented to the Board of Harbor Commissioners for consideration of 
adoption when the final EIS/EIR is presented for certification. If the 
Board of Harbor Commissioners adopts the PMP amendment and certifies 
the final EIS/EIR, the PMP amendment will be submitted to the 
California Coastal Commission for review and certification. The POLB 
draft PMP Amendment No. 20 proposes to allow for the development of an 
LNG import terminal at Berth 126 on Pier T in the Terminal Island 
District (Planning District 4) of the POLB. The proposed project, if 
approved, is appealable to the California Coastal Commission. Copies of 
draft PMP Amendment No. 20 and the draft EIS/EIR are available to the 
public at the Harbor Department Administration Building or requests may 
be made to the Harbor Department, Planning Division at (562) 590-4158.
    Comments on the draft EIS/EIR, draft General Conformity 
Determination, and draft PMP Amendment No. 20 will be considered by the 
FERC and the POLB but will not serve to make the commentor a party to 
the proceeding.

[[Page 60327]]

Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a 
motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the FERC's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (Title 18 CFR part 385.214).
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on the draft EIS/EIR. 
You must file your request to intervene as specified above.\1\ You do 
not need intervenor status to have your comments considered and 
responded to.
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    \1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
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    The draft EIS/EIR, including the draft General Conformity 
Determination, has been placed in the public files of the FERC and the 
POLB and is available for public inspection at: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., 
Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8371 and Port of Long Beach, 
Planning Division, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90802. (562) 590-
4160.
    The draft EIS/EIR, including the draft General Conformity 
Determination, is also available for viewing on the FERC Internet Web 
site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link (see instructions 

for using eLibrary below).
    A limited number of copies are available from the FERC's Public 
Reference Room and as .pdf files on compact disk (CD) from the POLB as 
identified above. Copies of draft PMP Amendment No. 20 are available 
from the POLB as identified above. In addition, copies of the draft 
EIS/EIR, including the draft General Conformity Determination, have 
been mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies; elected officials; 
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; 
affected landowners; POLB tenants; intervenors in the FERC's 
proceeding; local libraries and newspapers; and other interested 
parties.
    To reduce printing and mailing costs the final EIS/EIR will be 
issued in both CD and hard-copy formats. In a separate mailing, the 
parties on the current mailing list for the draft EIS/EIR will be sent 
a postcard providing an opportunity for them to select which format of 
the final EIS/EIR they wish to receive. The FERC and the POLB are 
strongly encouraging the use of the CD format in their publication of 
large documents. If you wish to receive a paper copy of the final EIS/
EIR instead of a CD, you must return the postcard indicating that 
choice.
    Additional information about the project is available from the 
FERC's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the FERC 
Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click 

on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search,'' and enter the docket 
number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be 
sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, 
please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or 
toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The 
eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the 
texts of formal documents issued by the FERC, such as orders, notices, 
and rulemakings.
    In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called 
eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and 
submittals in specific dockets. 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. To register for this service, go to the eSubscription 
link on the FERC Internet Web site.
    Information about the project is also available from the POLB by 
calling the POLB Environmental Planning Division at (562) 590-4160.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E5-5706 Filed 10-14-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
